How are you preparing to stay cheat-free for Halloween?

[cleochatra]

This might seem premature, but success = preparation!

Halloween is coming up, but you can still stay fairly safe this season. Some ideas I've implemented or am implementing...

1) Take the kids out for a fun time bowling in costume on Halloween instead of Trick-or-Treating

2) Don't buy candy before the holiday! Buy it the day OF!

3) If the kids do get to trick-or-treat, bag all their candy in small baggies, each with their name on it and a date so they know what they can have and on which days.

It will keep you accountable (you won't be able to sneak candy) and will keep kids from going nutso with the candy!

4) Don't totally go cold turkey. Sniff the candy wrappers once they're empty! I spent 30 minutes last Halloween with a 1 lb bag of Snickers on my face just inhaling deeeeeplyyyyyy..... It REALLY helps. Try it!


What are some things you'll be doing differently this year?

[ipopup]

I am going to purchase a piece of candy that I can have and a bag of suckers for the kids. Sniff the candy wrappers my foot; If I did that I would probably end up chewing the wrappers.

BJ Webb

[Elsie150]

I just plan not to eat them. I would not want to undo all the work I have done so far. I read way to many emails about how one taste lead to downfall and weight gain and months to get back on track. I can't do that to myself at this stage of my journey, I am worth more than that!! And I have done Halloweens in the past without eating any.

I will be buying individual bags of chips so that what I don't give out can be put in the kid's lunches. As for what they bring home...I take a different stance than you Cleo...I let my kids go nuts...eat what they want...after supper. If they want to eat their share all in one day then they are welcome to...but the rule is no whining if they get sick or if they finish their candy before the other. This way benefits me by not having to hear the nagging everyday for months as I dole out little helpings of it. The kids get tired of all the candy in less than 1 week. The novelty of all the candy wears out and I often throw out candy by Christmas because it is just sitting in their bowls not being eaten. I think it is better for them not to have candy everyday for months on end...would rather they eat it...get their fix and get tired of it and get back to thinking grapes and watermelon are treats(shhh..don't tell them it is healthy). Also we do not go to a lot of houses. Last year we did one trailer park and a couple of neighbors. So there is not a lot of candy anyway. There is no need for them to be greedy!! This way has worked for me so far. My kids are 7 and 9 this year.

[rybread]

Halloween is not about the candy for me - it doesn't tempt me. (I'm much more into the salty than the sweet, anyway). I love Halloween for the pumpkin carving (an EVENT at my house!) and the costumes and the magic that's in the air on that day. I can't wait.

[cleochatra]

I agree, rybread. I'm all about the decorating (isn't that what's important)? *l* Well, that, and the after-Halloween sales for next year...

[not2late]

I don't like Halloween candy. I'll tell you why.

When I was about 7 years old, my little sister and I went trick-or-treating like every other kid. Well, Beth ate alot of her candy that night and she ate alot of that candy corn stuff too. Around midnight, she woke me up to get mom (we shared a bedroom) because she was feeling sick. I was shoving my feet into my slippers when Beth sat up in her bed, leaned over my way and threw up all over my feet and pajama pants legs.

To this day whenever I see Halloween candy, it reminds me of that steaming chunky, multicolored goo my little sister vomitted onto me. That's why I don't eat Halloween candy, don't like the appearance of Halloween candy and definitely don't like the smell of Halloween candy.

[dreamof145]

YUCK <not2late> I understand why you don't like candy to this day. What a horrible experience.

All I need to do is take a look at my BEFORE photo and thats enough to scare the sugar cravings right out of my mind.

[Moochiecat]

omigod...what a story...lolol...sorry, but that's pretty funny, and I can totally see why the candy thing turns you off!

Seeing as theres just bf and I here, and we're in an apartment that doesn't have trick or treating, I'm off the hook when it comes to having candy around. In previous years I'd still go through a few bags of something though...hidden away of course.
Last year, my first year off sugar, it was tricky, but this year I'm just apalled at the amount of sugary crap people feed the kids! Piles and piles of it in the grocery store...it's almost horrifying.

[Peytonn]

Halloween is nothing for me... I live so far in the boonies.. NOBODY comes....I buy my nieces and nephews a little gift (usually non candy).. and we're done...

now CHRISTMAS... and those cella (sp?) liquid center chocolate covered cherries!!!!

what's the plan for resisting THOSE?

[ttdriver]

Frankly, I hate Halloween. Its never made a bit of sense to me to teach your kids NOT to take candy from people, then encourage them to do it on Oct 31. Talk about confusing for kids!

Betty