Tesh Tuesday- Halloween Treat Survival Tips

Halloween Survival Tips

You wouldn’t eat a cocker spaniel for Halloween! Yet each year, statistics show that the average North American eats 24 pounds of candy – or the weight of an average dog – mostly around Halloween. So, here’s a list of survival tips to help keep all that candy from settling around your waist! These come from Dave Zinczenko, co-writer of the popular Eat This, Not That books:

• Halloween survival tip #1: Toss the candy dish. Research has shown that people who keep snacks easily within reach while watching TV consume more calories per day overall! So, limit your temptation to grab handfuls of sweets during commercials by keeping candy in its original bag, stored on a high shelf in the kitchen.
• Halloween survival tip #2: Consume drinks before treats. A study found that drinking a glass of water before meals can help you lose weight, because the water fills your stomach, and limits hunger. So, use that same strategy to curb your candy cravings. Just make sure you drink water, and not soda, because a can of soda contains more sugar than two Hershey’s chocolate bars!
• Another survival tip: Don’t skip dinner. Eating a healthy dinner will take the edge off your candy cravings – especially if you choose a meal rich in fiber and lean protein. Think chicken breast.
• Also: Plan a workout on Halloween morning, because exercise will reduce your blood sugar levels by15%. So, by the time you eat candy, the sugar will be more likely to stay in your bloodstream – to provide energy to your cells - instead of settling around your waist.

In case you’re thinking “a few small bites” of candy won’t hurt you on Halloween, consider this:

• Just three miniature Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups have more sugar than a glazed doughnut.
• Half a pack of Skittles has more sugar than a scoop of Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream.
• Nine Twizzlers carry as many calories as a Wendy’s Double Stack Burger!

tesh.com