When I was a kid, Halloween was fun, not scary.
- Homemade costumes with maybe a plastic mask.
- Trick or treating around the neighborhood until the flashlight battery got low.
- Getting a full-size Cadbury bar at Mr. Anderson’s house. To make sure you only rang the bell once, he invited you and your parents inside for warm cider and to ask about your costume (there was always a line).
- Getting a cold fresh apple from my older neighbor around the corner (before unwrapped fresh food wasn’t allowed).
- Having older siblings be extra nice so they could eat some of my candy when I got home.
I didn’t watch scary Halloween-themed movies or go into haunted houses, so not a very scary time of year for me.
Until I was an adult, and I was the one on the other side of the door. You see, I never lived in a house that got a lot of trick or treaters. Ever.
But it never stopped me from buying lots of candy, just in case. Therein lies the problem.
Actually, the problem usually started in early October every year when large bags of candy and/or bite-sized snacks go on sale at every single store.
- There are lots of kids in the neighborhood, I thought.
- Buy a few large bags of candy just in case, I decided.
- Put the candy someplace safe. I lied.
And then, sometime before Halloween, some candy would ‘disappear.’ Back to the store for more.
And when the doorbell only rang a few times, there I was. Like the plates at a dim-sum meal, the wrappers were a reminder of what used to be. Willpower did not make it past 8pm.
When I decided to change to a plant-based lifestyle over a decade ago to improve my own health, I thought I knew just what to do – vegan candy! I found vegan and fair-trade chocolate and candies online (few choices in local stores back then) and ordered them in early October. Guess what happened? They started to disappear, more slowly (since they were more expensive) but there were still less than before.
That is when I realized the power of processed foods, even vegan processed foods, to hijack our brains. Adding salt, fat and sugar to foods and making them super palatable, yummy and addictive was not going to help my health improve. I even tried buying candies I didn’t like, but when given the opportunity in large quantities, I ate them too.
While whole plant foods are a great foundation for better health, processed foods were purposefully messing with my self-control. I read several books about how the food industry is manipulating our foods to get us to eat impulsively. I knew I needed to take back control and retrain my brain. So, I got certified as an overeating coach so that I too could master my own cravings.
The very first food craving I tackled for myself was how to master Halloween. After learning why willpower and habits were not enough, how to use intellect over impulse, combined with the power of whole plant foods to regulate blood sugar, the cravings disappeared instead of the candy!
Fast forward to today and I no longer need willpower to survive Halloween or the holidays. Instead, we can just love the food that loves us back. Without cravings for treats, we no longer buy candy and instead hand out all sorts of little toys and games instead, which the kids also love.
Staying healthy during the holidays is far less scary than the alternative.
ps. Need some support to stay on track during the scary holiday season? I can help.
