October is here. We are finally into the swing of things at school and the start of the holiday season is slowly approaching. I know, it makes everyone cringe, but it’s true. October 31st will be here before you know it. I personally mark Halloween as the start to the holiday season, because a month later is Thanksgiving and a moth after is Christmas and New Year’s. I like to call it the trifecta, or the Bermuda triangle for any girl’s diet. And as we get closer and closer to the colder weather, the steeper the slippery slope becomes to falling into the diet abyss. Healthy eating goes out the window. But at the same time, there are a few steps we can take to prevent this from happening. Time to conquer one cold weather holiday at a time! Here are some of my favorite sweets that remind me of October and Halloween without tipping the scales.
1. Candy Corn. The classic, Halloween candy is colorful, fun, and the epitome of Halloween candy. A handful will only put you back about 70 calories.
2. York Peppermint Patties. My ultimate favorite all year round. Even better, buy the sugar-free kind. Most pharmacies have a sugar free candy section, which I frequently visit.
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3. Three Musketeers. At only 25 calories per bite size treat, you’ll be floating in marshmallow heaven.
4. Glazed Pecans. To many, they don’t seem like a treat, but they are oh so good, and remind me of my mother’s pecan pie.
5. Caramel Apple Tootsie Roll Pop. I’m not a huge fan of tootsie roll pops, but this candy makes the cut because it takes just like a candy apple, perfect for fall weather.
Have tendencies of overindulging? I do. Make sure to buy fun size portions so you can keep track of the calorie count and servings consumed. Another thing would be to suck on hard candies, such as lollipops and jolly ranchers, because they take longer to eat, which leaves you satisfied and not craving seconds. Finally, try some minty candies like Junior Mints or York Peppermint Patties, because they generally lower in calories than most candies and studies have shown that smelling peppermint reduces anxiety and fatigue. Now how about that for your sweet tooth?