If your fear the temptation of Halloween treats, protect yourself with these healthy diet tricks. Weight Success Centers has your guide to surviving Halloween without gaining weight.
Trick 1: Devour Nutritious Foods - Often, we fall victim to unhealthy treats simply because we are hungry. The trick is to sink your teeth into nutritious foods before hunger strikes. This way you do not devour too many sweets, treats, and greasy chips at Halloween events. Strategically planning to eat healthy meals with protein, nutrients, and fiber will help you avoid overeating junk foods.
Trick 2: Pick Pure Pumpkin - You might carve a bad-looking jack-o-lantern, but there is some good stuff on the inside of that pumpkin. Fiber-filled pumpkin pulp and protein-rich seeds are full of nutrients.
As a warning, don’t be tricked by the drive-thru pumpkin latte with no actual pumpkin pulp. Those are often full of sugar and fat. There are healthy diet tricks to get your pumpkin spice flavor plus the perks of minerals, carotene, and vitamins A, B6, and C in pumpkin pulp. Choose cooked, purred, or liquified pulp with your favorite spices for drinks, soups, fillings, muffins, pies, and other baked goods.
Trick 3: Deceive Your Tastebuds - Undoubtedly, Halloween treats are made to delight your tastebuds. Homemade treats, however, can be just as delicious but much healthier than storebought items. Simply melt dark chocolate over clusters of nuts, apple slices, grapes, or other fruits to form nutritious candies. Almonds, walnuts, berries, and high-quality dark chocolates are loaded with minerals and antioxidants.
For a fun and healthy diet trick, scoop out cantaloupe or melon balls and dip half of each side in melted dark chocolate. Let harden and then add white sprinkles to decorate as deceivingly delicious eyeballs.
Trick 4: Don’t Be Scared of Swaps - You could also deceive your senses by making healthy ingredient swaps. If baking, consider using applesauce instead of oils or eggs, honey instead of refined sugar, or sugar-free sprinkles that are naturally colored.
Also, if you are hosting a party or bringing a dish to a friend’s party, consider healthier versions of appetizers and dips. For example, use low-fat yogurt instead of milk or sour cream in recipes. Also, cook with extra virgin olive oil instead of butter.
Trick 5: Practice Portion Control - A medically supervised weight loss program or customized diet will include portion control and reminders to be careful with serving sizes when you do indulge in a traditional treat. Also, healthy diet tricks are made easy when you disguise guilt-free foods as fun treats.
For example, use Halloween-shaped molds to make frozen-yogurt pops in small serving sizes. You could also use cut-outs to press apples, melons, or other fruits into shapes like a ghost or pumpkin. Strategic meal planning will not only help you survive Halloween, but it will also make weight management easier.
Hope these healthy diet tricks help you enjoy Halloween! Contact one of our Weight Success Centers near you for information about healthy living, weight loss, and medical solutions.