Halloween doesn’t have to be a scare-fest! Stick to your intuitive eating guns and find pleasure in the trick-or-treating festivities.
Halloween is the start of the holiday season, and though it can be merry and bright for some, for others struggling with food and body image, it can be the beginning of a stressful and complicated few months.
The key to surviving the most candy-saturated holiday of them all, though, is to remember one basic promise: You are allowed to feed yourself.
Seems simple, right? Too simple? I don’t think so.
There are way too many guides out there on how to avoid “indulging” in the Halloween shenanigans; tips on how to feel full or trick yourself out of your treats. And hey, maybe they work. But do they also make you feel like that Snickers bar is literally whispering sweet nothings to you? Yeah, I thought so.
So what if this Halloween, instead of looking for ways to get out of the whole thing, you tried embracing it instead? What if you looked at the bigger picture, and remembered that hey, this holiday, like all holidays, is actually about spending time with loved ones, and NOT obsessing about food? What if you put on a costume and went to a party and drank the punch and dabbled in the candy and the sweets? What if you could do all that without feeling guilty or ashamed, or bartering with your inner demons? What if?
I think if you remembered that one simple phrase, you might just be able to: You are allowed to feed yourself. And not only are you allowed to feed yourself, but you’re allowed to feed yourself anything and everything, and however much of it you want.
No diet tricks. No tools to circumvent the sugar.
My secret is leaving all that diet bullsh*t behind, and acknowledging that you, yes you, are allowed to eat that candy. All of that candy, if you want. Eat the damn candy. Feed yourself. Enjoy the holiday. Really, it can be that simple.
If you want to explore more on gentle nutrition and intuitive eating,
the best way is to check out our introductory online course, “Dipping your Toes into Intuitive Eating.”
This program will help you learn:
- Why diets don’t work (Hint: it’s not YOUR fault, but the fault of diets and diet culture).
- How using mindfulness can help you become more aware of your body’s innate sensations of hunger and fullness.
- How satisfaction is the missing key to discovering authentic nutrition.
- That you CAN free yourself from chaotic patterns of dieting such as under-eating and/or over-eating to ultimately find food freedom.
“Diving into nutrition too early can derail your intuitive eating journey.” – Erica Leon
Written by Ashley Seruya, B.A.
Erica Leon is a Registered Dietitian and practices from a Health at Every Size (HAES®) lens. She is certified as an eating disorder specialist and is passionate about helping women at midlife, menopause and beyond to make peace with food and body image.
Erica is a highly sensitive nutrition therapist who takes the time to learn where you or your family are in the pursuit of health. Respectful of your individual needs and lifestyle, she will provide an honest assessment of whether or not you are a good fit to work together. Click here to schedule a 15-minute Discovery Call with Erica to let us know about your needs, and to see which of our Dietitians is the best fit for you!
Download our Free Intuitive Eating Guide and get off that Diet Roller Coaster for good!
