10 Ways to Maintain Weight Loss & Still Enjoy Halloween

It’s almost the day you’ve dreaded since you started your diet -- October 31st.

While the children have basked in the joy of picking out the perfect costume and planning their trick-or-treating route based on which houses give the best candy, you’ve been downright scared. You’re afraid all that Halloween candy will cast an evil spell over you, causing you to indulge in a frightening feast of candy corn, Skittles, 1,000 Grands, Tootsie Rolls and other sugar-coated candies.

Well, stop boo-hooing. America’s favorite energy coach Pam Smith says you can enjoy the fall festivities and stick to your dieting -- even if Halloween is just the beginning of the holiday season.

The author of The Diet Trap (Lifeline Press) and The Energy Edge (Harper Collins) says now is the best time to prepare yourself for the revelry to come.

“Realize that Halloween is JUST the start of the holiday roll,” she tells eDiets. “Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas are all just around the corner. Showing that overcoming spirit now builds your resolve to make this year the healthiest holiday time of your life. Your body will thank you!”

The whole concept of Halloween doesn’t sit really well with the mother-of-two who makes a living guiding people to good health. Maybe it has something to do with the idea of children begging for junk food or the oodles of candy that stay around the house well into December that doesn’t appeal to Smith. Regardless, no one can call Smith a party pooper. She’s found 10 ways to make this harrowing holiday healthy.

Smith knows Halloween can be a battle of wills, especially for those determined dieters who can’t seem to say no to their sweet tooths. But even if you do sneak a pack of Sweet Tarts here or a piece of caramel there, you can still make it through unscathed.

“Halloween is the virtual battleground for a dieter’s good intentions, a cosmic fight for the healthy habits and attitudes that have been established and rewarded!” says the renowned nutritionist and host of the nationally syndicated radio show Living Well.

You don’t have to give into the horrors of Halloween. Simply follow Smith’s tried-and-true tips for beating the Halloween blues.

Throw a Harvest Party and avoid the “trick or treating” issue altogether. The kids are so thrilled with the games and activities (Bob for Apples, Pin the nose on the Pumpkin, Costume Parade) that they don’t think about walking the neighborhood. Trust me, you’ll be too busy with the party to miss the candy, as well!