Happy Halloween!
I don’t know about you, but any holiday that is celebrated with sweets is a good one to me. One thing I have noticed over the years is that Halloween is like the “kick off” for the holiday season, from this day forward all “healthy” eating seems to go out the window and we feel granted permission to over induldge on sweets, party treats and comfort foods for the next three months.
Then the New Year hits and we are ready to get back in shape, loose the holiday weight gain and start fresh and new. But I have good news for you, your diet and lifestyle doesn’t have to take on that cycle year after year. Healthy eating is about balance, enjoying the foods that fuel your body, eating nutrient dense foods to help our bodies function well, and having a bit of fun sprinkled in there too!
Holidays are about treats, special foods that you don’t have year around and spending time with family.
So how do you find balance do you ask?
Simple.
Listen to your body.
If you want something sweet or are overwhelmed with the trays of goodies at the office party, Enjoy a treat a couple times a week and let it be something that you can’t get all the time. Candy bars, chocolate chip cookies, birthday cake, that is around all. year. long. Instead, savor that piece of your Grandma’s special pumpkin pie or those a toasty cup of hot chocolate.
There are also ways to bump up the nutritional value of some of your favorite treats to make sure that you are getting the most bang for your buck with the foods you are eating.
This week I made three fabulous recipes Whole Grain Apple Bundt Cake, a Whole Grain Banana Bread, and these fabulous Whole Grain Pumpkin Cupcakes Both are awesome treats for serving to your over night holiday guests or wrapping up and sharing with your child’s school teacher or neighbors.
I would also like to share some links for some great homemade candy.
These recipes satisfy the cravings for the high fructose corn syrup filled candy, but without the processed ingredients that build up in our body and break down our immune system.
Do you like Butterfingers? Make these Homemade Healthy Butterfingers to satisfy that peanut butter crunch.
or
How whip up a batch of these Homemade Rolo’s. The natural sugar in the dates makes them just as good and sweet as the original ones.
Remember, life is about balance, healthy eating is part of that balance and you CAN create a life full of flavor as well as nutritious, healthy foods.
Eat Well. Be Well. Live Well.
