This week Americans will spend $2 billion dollars on candy. More candy is sold the week before Halloween than any other time of the year, and October 28^th is the biggest candy selling day of the year. In fact, the top five candy selling days of the year are all in October.

Americans purchase nearly 600 million pounds of candy every year for Halloween. The top sellers are Candy Corn, Snickers, Reese’s, Kit-Kat, and M&Ms. An incredible 90 million pounds of chocolate is sold during Halloween.

If you’re following The Simple 9^©, or even if you’re not, you know none of this candy is good for you. At the same time, it’s very tempting, and its vibrant colors fill bowls on countertops everywhere saying, “Eat Me—Now!”

So, what’s the best way to survive the Halloween zombie-candy invasion? It’s been our experience that one approach does not always fit all. That’s why we are giving you three possible options for surviving the next few days.

1. Total Abstinence

Just pretend Halloween isn’t happening, which may be pretty easy to do this year. Don’t buy any candy, don’t pass out any candy, and don’t eat any candy.

Or, put a blue pumpkin on your porch and pass out non-candy items, like glow sticks or small toys.

2. Healthy Participation

Instead of passing out tons of “Fun Size” or “King Size” candy bars at Halloween, buy some Simple snacks to hand out. Snack-size bags of nuts, seeds, dried fruit or trail mix are great to hand out to trick-or-treaters. Don’t be surprised if you find out your kids prefer a snack like this to their Kit-Kat bars.

If want to go with chocolate, Ghirardelli makes 86% and 92% cacao dark chocolate squares. You could literally “trick” the kids in your neighborhood into eating some serious antioxidants. Now that’s scary.

3. Moderate Participation

No one gets fat because they eat too much on one day. The problem is all the candy eating before and after Halloween. Follow these Simple rules to help you enjoy some Halloween candy without becoming the Thanksgiving Turkey!

• Eat 2 to 3 servings of fruit and 4 or more servings of vegetables every day (even on Halloween). I can’t say this enough, fruits and vegetable are full of water and fiber. They will help you feel full and satisfied on a fraction of the calories in the average serving of candy. If you get your fruits and vegetables in, you won’t be able to eat as much candy.
• Buy your Halloween candy October 30, or maybe even October 31. If it’s not in your house, you can’t eat it.
• Have a few of your favorite pieces of candy on Halloween day.
• Throw all of your leftover candy away on November 1. Yep, it’s not real food, so get rid of it or sell it to a candy buy back program.

Halloween is the official beginning of the holiday season. It’s the time when many of us put on a few pounds. We are here to help you make it to the new year without those few extra pounds. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you need some extra help.

Stay Strong and Healthy,

Bo Railey