Treats that won’t trick your diet

October, especially Halloween, can be a tricky time when it comes to eating healthy. The season is changing, summer produce is no longer in abundance, and we find ourselves gravitating towards those crunchy or sweet pantry items. 

 

As a mom of two, on a constant mission to get my kids away from sugary snacks, Oct. 31 is quite the challenge. In fact, one does not have to be a kid to face these temptations. The health coach in me, however, always has a few tricks up her sleeve to make staying on track a bit easier.

 

As with the other 11 months of the year, I find that being prepared with healthy options is the ultimate way to stay on track. When it comes to planning out our meals, I always recommend that they consist of a healthy fat choice and a healthy protein choice. That is the formula for staying satiated. Just like a regular car would not work with diesel gasoline, our bodies too require the right fuel to keep us going. When we are not satiated, we are more likely to crave high-carb, sugary foods. Snacks are no different. Having a good quality snack can be the difference between having one or five Kit Kat candy bars later. The key is being prepared. 

 

Some of my favorite fall healthy snacks include apples with a nut butter, which provides fiber, protein and fat. Another favorite is organic Greek yogurt with some chopped up bananas, pumpkin seeds, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. I am also a big fan of home-baked pumpkin muffins, which I make without any added sugar, using coconut oil as the healthy fat, and eggs for a healthy protein. Turkey jerky is easy to throw into your bag for an emergency grab-and-go option.

 

For my kids, it’s all about setting limits and making sure they have a healthy meal before they set off trick-or-treating. Just like adults, if kids are hungry they will want more and more of that candy. Rules are important too. In our family, we try to create them together, allowing the kids to voice their opinion on what is a reasonable amount of candy. Kids are more likely to abide by rules that they helped create, just as they are more likely to eat a healthy meal that they helped prepare. Of course, there is some adult tweaking when it comes to this specific topic. Another trick is to bring some healthier snacks for them to nibble on so they are less tempted to eat the candy. Pretzels and sliced apples will never compete with chocolate, but having these healthy options available makes limiting the amount of candy the kids keep asking to eat a little easier.

 

Just as not all snacks are created equal, neither is all candy. Dark chocolate is better than milk chocolate, and organic lollipops are better than conventional suckers. they can eat as many of those pretzel bats and ghosts as they want.

 

Leeann Rybakov is a functional medicine certified health coach who lives on Daniel Island. For more information, visit her website at LeeannRybakovWellness.com or email LeeannRybakov@gmail.com.