Candy and Halloween Events
Now that it’s October, Halloween season is in full swing. Stores have seasonal decorations and foods in almost every aisle, and if you have kids (or you are a kid), no doubt your calendar is packed full of parties, parades, trunk or treat events, and other happenings this month. It’s very likely that every event you go to this month will have one thing in common: candy. Candy can be a hot button issue- for some people it’s a fear food, for some a restricted food, for some, a binge trigger. Our hope, as eating disorder dietitians, is that candy will someday be a food that you like or dislike, strictly for how it tastes. At Namaste Nourished, we are big fans of candy all year, but we love this time of year. Read on for 3 tips for navigating all the candy coming up this month.
Remember Candy is Just Another Food
At Namaste Nourished, we preach that “all foods fit.” But what does this mean? It means there are no good or bad foods, and everything deserves a place on your plate. Variety is important for nutritional needs, for supporting your body, and for enjoyment. Intuitive Eating can seem like a radical concept if you’ve never heard of it before (and if you haven’t, be sure to check out our blog on Intuitive Eating here). Intuitive Eating promotes the idea that you can have access to all foods, and your body will know what is best for you in that situation. Intuitive Eating isn’t ideal for everyone (specifically severe eating disorder patients, those with chronic diseases, or those with food insecurity). But if Intuitive Eating is right for you, you can have candy as just another food in the house. Your kids won’t eat solely candy, and you won’t either. At first, it might feel like you will only eat candy (or any food you restrict and then allow), but if you follow the steps of Intuitive Eating, candy will be a neutral food in your eyes.
Keep Up With Your Regular Meals and Snacks
When you have a party or an event where you know there will be candy or other fun foods, the urge to restrict or compensate might feel strong. But we know that restriction only results in greater cravings and binge eating, and viewing food as something “good” or “bad” has a negative effect on your mental state. Whether you have a meal plan or eat meals and snacks at regular times or intervals, stick to what you do normally, even when there’s something different on your schedule. If you’re worried about not being hungry when you’re at a special event, know that you can have something yummy to eat, and it’s OK. Emotional hunger is when you eat, not necessarily because of physical hunger, but because the event calls for it. Read about the differences between emotional and physical hunger in our blog here. Eating an apple cider donut at the orchard with your child is an example. You might not be craving one, but having a donut alongside your child is a way to connect, and remind both you and your child that eating is about so much more than food.
Have a Plan for Spooky Scenarios
Everything above might sound great on paper, but if you have an eating disorder, reality can feel very different. Your eating disorder thrives on keeping you safe and keeping everything around you controlled. It’s still so important to challenge your eating disorder, and enjoy the holiday season, though. What are some things you can do to plan ahead of moments, events, or food that might scare you and keep you away from experiencing the fun of the season? A few ideas include:
Choosing one scary thing to try at an event. Even if it’s just one, it’s still a huge step.
Bringing a support person- whether a parent, friend, significant other, or a classmate, having a person who knows how tricky an event is for you can give you someone to lean on and push you to do the scary thing.
Talk to your care team ahead of time, AKA “Cope Ahead”. Your therapist and dietitian are there to support you, so ask them for help! Talk through the upcoming event, your fears, what you can do to stay calm and grounded, and what you can do to challenge yourself at the event.
Bring something to ground yourself at the event. Wear a cozy sweater that feels good on your body, pull your hair up off your neck, bring a fidget, or apply an essential oil to your wrists and smell it as often as you need support.
We hope this Halloween season is all fun and no frights for you. And above all, remember that there is no “right” way to celebrate a holiday or be around food that might feel tricky. Showing up, trying, and being present is how recovery happens. It’s not linear, it is messy, and you CAN do it. If you feel like you need additional support this holiday season, please reach out to us. Our team loves candy, and we want to help you love it too.