How to Enjoy Halloween While Losing Weight

Trick or Treat With the Kids Without Blowing the Diet

Oct 13, 2009

Halloween is fun for kids of all ages. However, for a diabetic or a person trying to lose weight, Halloween can be a hard night of temptation. Everyone wants to have fun.

It's Halloween again. The store shelves are lined with gooey sweets and treats to tempt even the most disciplined connoisseur. There are ways to combat the cravings for sugar on this most hallowed eve of sugary treats.

Healthy Alternatives to Sugary Treats and Eats

Yogurt : Choose yogurt instead of ice cream. Yogurt has less sugar than most ice cream choices and carries an added punch as a good source of calcium and dietary protein. Companies like Yoplait, Breyers and Fiber One have come out with taste tempting flavors to replace traditional dessert choices. Fiber One also adds the bonus of dietary fiber to a satisfying treat.

Oatmeal: Studies show that oatmeal can lower cholesterol, help prevent Type 2 Diabetes and can ward off hunger. Oat flour offers many of the same benefits. Make oat flour at home by pulverizing rolled oats in a food processor. Oat flour can be substituted for up to half of the all-purpose flour in most pancake, muffin and cookie recipes.

Popcorn: Popcorn is filling and an excellent source of dietary fiber. It is best eaten air popped. For a tasty Halloween Treat, popcorn can be made into a low-fat popcorn ball that is diabetic approved.

Sugar Free Gum: A recent study took 115 regular gum-chewers, men and women ages 18 to 54, and asked them to chew sugarless gum for 15 minutes each hour between lunch and snack time. The study showed they ate 40 fewer calories and snacked less between meals. The participants also reported they were less drowsy and had more energy throughout their day. Sugar free gum can also help prevent cavities caused by the sugar in other foods. Chewing sugar-free gum is a good way to help remove sticky sugar from teeth and if chewed 20 minutes after eating other foods, actually helps make teeth more cavity-resistant.

Pretzels: Pretzels are a great low-fat alternative to Halloween candy. Companies like Snyders of Hanover have created little 100 calorie snack packs. These little packs are the perfect size for snacking and for dropping into trick or treat bags.

Water: Fill up on water before heading out for trick or treating and Halloween parties. Replace high calorie foods with low calorie, low-fat foods that are high in fiber and water content. These foods will satisfy hunger and give the body a sense of fullness. Choose foods like spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, carrots, watermelon, berries and apples to snack on at home and at parties.Try to drink 8 to 10 glasses of water each day to keep the body hydrated and ward off hunger and sugar cravings.

A Few Closing Remarks and Lyrics

An old folk song by Peter Paul and Mary is a Halloween favorite. The name of this song is "Soal'in" and the chorus says, "Soal, a soal, a soal cake, please give missus a soal cake. An apple, a pear, a plum, a cherry, any good thing to make us all merry." Make wise Halloween choices this year and choose healthy alternatives like fresh fruit instead of traditional treats and sweets. Remember, any good thing to make us all merry.

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