I have always loved the fall. The weather gets cooler and leaves turn beautiful colors and halloween decorations adorn homes. As a kid, Halloween meant trick or treating in my best friend's neighborhood and I vividly remember sitting on her kitchen floor with piles of candy all around us. We dumped our loot, and sorted through to find our favorites! Halloween was about who had the best candy in their bag at the end of the night, not anything more. If we wanted to eat some, we did. If we wanted to save some for the next day or the following week, we did. It wasn’t a special night because we got candy- it was a special night because we could stay up late! It was a happy holiday that we looked forward to!
So, as a parent now myself, if you have little children, let them enjoy their candy! It’s ok to ask them to consider stopping when they feel full, and remind them that they can have more any time. And let them have more.
Truly, there is nothing wrong about eating candy- really. I do believe in having less processed sugar and foods made with “real” ingredients. And I do believe in moderation. And so, to experience a fun and stress-free Halloween, abandon the negative thoughts about candy and let go of rules about healthy vs. unhealthy, good vs. bad, or right vs. wrong foods. Chase away the “food police'', that voice in your head judging if what you are doing is''good” or ''bad”. This is the voice of diet culture and challenging it is crucial when returning to intuitive eating. Try to give yourself full permission to eat. Gain awareness of how you feel when eating- are you enjoying it as much as you thought? Does it taste as good as you hoped it would? How does it make you feel? What treats give you a sense of satisfaction and which ones will not make it on your list for next Halloween? Thinking in this way, you might be surprised at how this mind shift can change your relationship with food.
Exploring something new can feel confusing, overwhelming, and not as simple as the practical may suggest. If I can help you explore your journey of your self discovery, please contact me at rachel@livehealthynyc.com