If you plan on passing out Halloween candy to trick-or-treaters this year, you may already be eyeing the candy on sale at the grocery store. Maybe you’ve already bought a bag. How do you resist the temptation to rip it open a few days early?
Maybe you don’t resist. You think “No one will miss one or two little bars.” And, before you know it, you’re left with a half-eaten bag of snack-size candy bars for the big night, which obviously won’t work so you go ahead and polish off the bag so you can go back to the store and start over.
Realizing you just ate an entire bag of Snickers may send you into a state of regret, but before you hang your head in sugar-induced shame, know that you are not alone.
After all, that craving is biologically programmed into you. While the average American consumes around 152 pounds of sugar each year, that number slowly climbs each year. Research shows a few reasons for that, mainly because sugar is biologically addictive: the more you eat, the more you crave. If those sweets are coated in chocolate, that pull could be even stronger. Chocolate, while not a true addictive substance, does trigger a release of endorphins when consumed, which can act as one, some researchers say.
So, while you fight off the urge to steal all the candy from your kid’s stash (or eat that entire bag of candy you bought a week ago), here are some tips to combat that sugar craving:
- Don’t go cold turkey ““ Little tastes of what you crave are better than eschewing sweets entirely. Just make sure you have the willpower to only dabble. Cravings will ebb after 48 to 72 hours, should you decide to give up sweets completely, though they rarely disappear entirely.
- Don’t forgo favorites ““ Chances are, if you do, you’ll feel deprived. If your temptation is a candy bar, those Halloween fun-sized versions can be the perfect solution, as long as you do stick to one or two.
- Sugarless gum is your friend ““ The sweet taste combined with chewing can trick those cravings into remission, experts say. Most brands have relatively few calories per stick, usually less than 10, so it’s a pretty harmless way to get that sugar fix.
- Fruit is a friend, too ““ Sure, it’s not covered in chocolate, but a nice piece of fruit can satisfy that sugar craving without adding to your waistline. An added bonus: You get needed fiber and nutrients, along with part of your daily vitamin requirements.
- Combine treats to keep sugar intake down ““ If you give in to a chocolate yearning, combine a small piece with fruit, nuts or granola. You satisfy your craving while filling up on healthier fare.
- Eat regularly ““ According to several studies, sugar cravings increase when your blood sugar levels dip. To avoid those cravings, eating “” even if only a snack “” every 3-5 hours will keep blood sugar levels regulated.
- Distract yourself ““ When cravings hit, find some activity to do instead. You can trick yourself into associating those cravings with something other than treats, behaviorists say.
Following these tips will also help you avoid another Halloween scare: The sight of your spinning bathroom scale.
