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Less than a week later, there may still be mountains of Halloween candy. Are you struggling with the urge to stress-eat those fun-sized treats? You’re not alone. For emotional eaters, leftover Halloween candy can trigger a cycle of guilt, anxiety, and overconsumption.
Let not your heart be troubled. There are good ways to manage these sugary temptations without feeling deprived.
Can we first say that it’s perfectly normal to feel challenged by excess candy? It’s there. You can see it. Other family members and office mates may not bothered by it, but it’s calling your name. How do we manage?
Take a breath – this is a real challenge for stress and emotional eaters. You are not alone, and we can use these strategies to effectively manage all the leftovers:
Remember “out of sight, out of mind.” Opaque containers can be your best friend. Store the candy above your eye level or in a cupboard you don’t often use. Visual cues can trigger emotional eating, so keep it out of sight. There’s no need to make it hard on ourselves by leaving it in plain view every time we walk past. Be kind to yourself.
Abstainers and those who do not eat sugar, I know you just say no. For my moderators, create a plan so you can avoid mindless consumption. We don’t enjoy it that way. Save your favorites for a particular time so you can really enjoy it. Please don’t hide or eat it over the sink or trash can. Choose your time, chew it slowly, and enjoy it. When we decide on a particular time, it reduces the anxiety that comes from – will I or won’t I? Save yourself that constant pressure.
The fun-sized version helps with portion control — as long as we don’t eat too many of them. ENJOY one, maybe two, and be content. When we slow down and enjoy whatever food, we tend to eat less.
Emotional and stress eating always happen for a reason, so think about what you really need when you’re reaching for food. What was the trigger driving your choice? What, other than food, can meet that need?
If you need a little help, join the coaching group that started earlier this week. You’ll get some coaching and support for managing stress and emotional eating during the holidays. Join us by registering here: https://bit.ly/Ontrack2024 It’s only $199 for coaching and support from now until January 6th. Bargain!
