Post by Tomspy77 on Dec 4, 2013 13:02:55 GMT -6
9 Tricks for a Healthy Halloween
t might be Reese’s. Maybe it’s Snickers. Perhaps it’s M&M’s. No matter what your form your candy vice arrives in, it’s sure to be tempting you left and right this Halloween season.
If you’re not careful, all that digging around in the candy bowl can do a frightful number on your waistline. Below, Kimberly Gomer MS, RD, LDN, a dietitian from the Pritikin Longevity Center, shares her expert tricks for resisting all of those tempting treats this Halloween.
1. Buy candy you don’t like.
Love Snickers bars? Leave them on the store shelf. Otherwise, you can bet you’ll be breaking into that bag days before the costumed kiddies arrive at your doorstep. (And let’s not even talk about what happens if there are Snickers left over at the end of the evening.) Buy candy that does not call out to you, and on November 1, throw any leftovers out or take them to a homeless shelter.
2. Think outside the candy box.
"On Halloween night, trick or treaters love non-food goodies, too," recommends Pritikin dietitian and educator Kimberly Gomer, MS, RD. Look in the party aisle of your favorite discount or dollar store for treats like glow stick necklaces (your little neighborhood princesses will love you!), spider rings, stickers, decorative pencils, stamps, notepads, erasers, balloons, play tattoos, game cards, and more. Better yet, buy treats that encourage kids to be physically active, like little bouncy balls, Frisbees, jump ropes, hacky sacks, and sidewalk chalk for drawing hopscotch or foursquare games.
3. Fuel up your little ones before they go trick-or-treating.
Before the kids head out the door, try to get them to relax (we know this isn’t easy!) and sit down to dinner, or, at least, a fruit plate and a cup of yogurt. That way, their appetites for the rest of the evening will be curbed, somewhat. (Maybe they’ll be happy with 6 little chocolates, not 16.)
4. Be firm but loving.
Keeping junk out of the house most of the year is important. "But realize that some junk on Halloween and other rare events is inevitable, and that’s okay. Embrace those moments, and at the same time make sure your kids understand how important it is to keep these indulgences occasional," counsels Tom Rifai, MD, Medical Director of the Metabolic Nutrition and Weight Management program at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Oakland, Michigan, and member of the Pritikin Scientific Advisory Board. Always emphasize the many positive outcomes of eating fresh whole foods like fruits and vegetables, like a leaner body, clearer skin and excellent energy for all their activities and sports.
5. Perform trick-or-treat triage.
Read more: www.examiner.net/article/20131129/NEWS/311299956/10123/LIFESTYLE#ixzz2mXCA3z1j
If you’re not careful, all that digging around in the candy bowl can do a frightful number on your waistline. Below, Kimberly Gomer MS, RD, LDN, a dietitian from the Pritikin Longevity Center, shares her expert tricks for resisting all of those tempting treats this Halloween.
1. Buy candy you don’t like.
Love Snickers bars? Leave them on the store shelf. Otherwise, you can bet you’ll be breaking into that bag days before the costumed kiddies arrive at your doorstep. (And let’s not even talk about what happens if there are Snickers left over at the end of the evening.) Buy candy that does not call out to you, and on November 1, throw any leftovers out or take them to a homeless shelter.
2. Think outside the candy box.
"On Halloween night, trick or treaters love non-food goodies, too," recommends Pritikin dietitian and educator Kimberly Gomer, MS, RD. Look in the party aisle of your favorite discount or dollar store for treats like glow stick necklaces (your little neighborhood princesses will love you!), spider rings, stickers, decorative pencils, stamps, notepads, erasers, balloons, play tattoos, game cards, and more. Better yet, buy treats that encourage kids to be physically active, like little bouncy balls, Frisbees, jump ropes, hacky sacks, and sidewalk chalk for drawing hopscotch or foursquare games.
3. Fuel up your little ones before they go trick-or-treating.
Before the kids head out the door, try to get them to relax (we know this isn’t easy!) and sit down to dinner, or, at least, a fruit plate and a cup of yogurt. That way, their appetites for the rest of the evening will be curbed, somewhat. (Maybe they’ll be happy with 6 little chocolates, not 16.)
4. Be firm but loving.
Keeping junk out of the house most of the year is important. "But realize that some junk on Halloween and other rare events is inevitable, and that’s okay. Embrace those moments, and at the same time make sure your kids understand how important it is to keep these indulgences occasional," counsels Tom Rifai, MD, Medical Director of the Metabolic Nutrition and Weight Management program at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Oakland, Michigan, and member of the Pritikin Scientific Advisory Board. Always emphasize the many positive outcomes of eating fresh whole foods like fruits and vegetables, like a leaner body, clearer skin and excellent energy for all their activities and sports.
5. Perform trick-or-treat triage.
Read more: www.examiner.net/article/20131129/NEWS/311299956/10123/LIFESTYLE#ixzz2mXCA3z1j