It's Spooky Season!

You don’t have to earn Halloween candy.

You shouldn’t feel guilty for eating Halloween candy.

Candy is not bad and you are not bad for eating it.

Don't be afraid to enjoy yourself a little. 

Happy Halloween, friends!

Friendly reminder that food -- including Halloween candy -- is not "good" or "bad."

Foods have no moral value. They're a neutral collection of nutrients, some of which are more necessary for our health than others, some of which contain more energy (in the form of calories) than others.

Any thoughts and feelings we have about what's "good" or "bad" when it comes to any food, including Halloween candy, is based solely on:
1. Whether we enjoy it (good) or not (bad)
2. What culture and society has told us is "healthy" (good) or "junk" (bad)

If you enjoy Halloween candy, eat some. Yes, for real.

I encourage eating it slowly and mindfully so you don't overdo it and end up with a stomachache, basically the same advice you'd probably give your kiddos. 😉

If you do eat "too much" and end up feeling less-than-stellar, that's also not "bad." It's not something to dwell on, feel guilty about, or beat yourself up for.

Feeling overfull, uncomfortable, or a little queasy from too much candy is just the body's way of saying, "Hi! That was too much! We're good! No more, please!"

Again, it's a neutral signal that you're satiated or that you've consumed more than your body needed.

It's not a judgment about you, your willpower, your health, or your goodness. Any meaning you add on to it comes from decades of cultural conditioning; it's not real or true.

Another piece of cultural conditioning is the concept of not being able to keep it in the house because you'll eat it all, and only buying candy you don't like so you don't eat it.

Yes, if it's easily accessible, you'll be more likely to eat it, AND if you keep telling yourself you can't have it and it's "bad," you're going to want it even more.

Allowing yourself to have some candy makes it seem like less of a "treat" or a novelty and just another food item that you could eat or not.

Plus, if you're only downing mini Reese's and Twix by the handful at Halloween, it's not going to make a major impact on your health in the grand scheme of things.

So this Halloween, let go of any notions that you "can't" have candy, that candy is "bad," and that you'll have to work it off.

If you don't like candy, cool, don't eat it.

If you do like Halloween candy, cool, eat some. Preferably slowly and mindfully so you don't feel sick!

And encourage your kiddos to do the same.

They pick up on everything, and comments like "I can't eat that" or "Ugh, I'm so bad for eating this" or "I'm going to need to work this off" send the wrong messages about candy and treats.

Encourage them to enjoy their favorites, leave the others, and teach them that candy is an ok "sometimes food" so they don't feel the need to sneak treats or start restricting from a young age.

For more information on how to handle Halloween treats with your kids, check out this post from Kids Eat in Color, and follow @kids.eat.in.color on Instagram for more guidance.

Halloween only comes around once a year, and allowing yourself to enjoy your holiday and your treats is part of having a healthy relationship with food.

If that stressed you out or you need support in finding your "sweet spot" when it comes to food and/or exercise, hit reply to this message and let me know!

Happy Halloween, everyone!