Let’s be honest: we’re gonna be eating some Halloween candy tonight.

Maybe even a lot.

Mini-Snickers, Twix, and Kit Kats. That’s what I’ll be trying to steal from my kiddo’s stash tonight.

Good thing Halloween only comes around once a year, right?

5 ways to enjoy a healthier Halloween

Candy’s high holiday doesn’t have to take you out entirely, though.

Here are some tips to help you keep Halloween a wee healthier — tonight, and the day after:

#1: Fill ‘er up — Eat a healthy, satisfying meal before the witching hour. This means before you open up the Halloween candy and pour it into a big bowl, or before you head out with your kids for trick-or-treating. Personally, I love a big bowl of chili before heading out. Taking care of your hunger will help make the candy less appealing to you. I'm not saying you'll be bulletproof, but this will definitely help you mitigate the damage.

#2: Hydrate — Drink plenty of water throughout the day (and night) to help you flush toxins and keep the body happy. Yes, yes, I know you might be filling your hydroflask with a trick-or-treating road soda tonight. That’s even more reason to hydrate!

#3: Exercise — Be sure to show up for your workout tomorrow. It’ll feel good to sweat out all that sugar (and maybe some adult bevvies as well).

#4: Exorcise — After Halloween, remove any leftover candy from your home. Donate any sweets and treats that will be calling your name after dinner, when you’re bored or stressed, or when you feel like you “deserve” a reward. Instead, treat yourself to a real reward that supports your wellness, such as a hot bath with Epsom salt, self-massage with some yummy essential oils, or an hour alone to read a great book.

#5: Flush it out — For the next several days, make it a priority to eat lots of leafy greens, salads, and cruciferous veggies such as broccoli and cauliflower. This will nourish your body, and help detoxify refined sugar (and its effects) from your system. Refined sugar can also weaken your immune system, so be sure to get plenty of sleep, exercise, and fresh air to keep colds at bay.

Bonus tip — if you do end up indulging more than you wanted to, don’t get drawn into any drama or shame about it. Just move on. Say to yourself, “Weird, so that happened.” And then take the next right step to get back into alignment. Throw out or donate the leftover candy so it can't tempt you anymore, and blend up a green smoothie or grab a salad for lunch.

I believe we are reborn in each new moment — with each next bite, with each decision to go for a walk or hit the gym, and with each sip of clean water.

Which is to say you’re not your past (the candy), and you’re not your future (“maybe I’ll change… tomorrow”).

Stay grounded in the present moment, because that’s where the magic happens.

I hope these tips come in handy for Halloween — and the aftermath that might follow 🙂

Happy Halloween!
Monica

PS: I have a new batch of recipes to share, including a yummy Pumpkin Spice Smoothie Bowl with Granola, Vegetarian Tortilla Soup, and the Almond Joy Shake (hmmmm… wonder where the inspiration for that last one came from!).

Also, if you go all out on Halloween night, my FREE 5-Day Reboot Guide might come in handy. It’s a free, downloadable, printable PDF that includes a game plan and recipes. Just click here to download your freebie.