Halloween Candy? No Thanks...

I get this question all the time, since there are many families with kids in our neighborhood:
"What are you going to give the trick or treaters?"

APPLES!

No, I'm not kidding.  

While we don't have kids of our own, I recognize via my clients that raising kids Paleo does run the risk of making your young ones feel uncomfortable. (This, I AM familiar with; growing up with a Hippie Mom, I was sent to kindergarten with alfalfa sprouts on homemade brown bread....you get the idea!) 

We certainly don't live in a bubble, and what my clients with kids do is to keep them Paleo at home, and allow them to eat 'normal' foods when they're out at a birthday party or something of that sort (this is excluding kids who have Celiac disease, peanut allergies, Autism, ADHD or other maladies that are such that keeping Paleo is a MUST, or at least keeping gluten free!).

So, while all the other homes around us will likely be giving candy, we'll be the 'mean' couple distributing the apples...

I just can't swallow the idea of dispensing liquid sugar to the kids myself!!

On a related note, how does an adult keep away from the candy at the office or the Halloween Party?  Just DON'T eat it!  As always, keep on top of your healthy, #PaleoDiet eating, don't show up to the party starving and choose any splurge that you are going to have wisely.  Plan it.  Do you REALLY want to eat a junky piece of old candy that's been sitting around for ages?  How about an all-fruit sorbet instead?

At any rate....carve a pumpkin, make a pumpkin smoothie (click HERE for the link to a post I did with my recipe), start your holiday shopping... and stay clear of the candy!

Comments

[jane mccoy]

Such great words of wisdom! Thanks for the reminder - sad that I have to be reminded but this really helped make me realize - there are no "days off" when it comes to feeding your body the best nutrients. This is one for the refriderator magnet!!

[Nell]

Thats awesome that youre posting a reminder
on the fridge!

Nell Stephenson
www.nellstephenson.com
BS EXSC, USC ACSM H/FI

Sent from my iPhone

[Pensguys]

I think I need that reminder too sometimes. I've been so brainwashed by "diets", on a diet, off a diet, this food isn't on my diet, etc, that it is hard (but I'm getting there) accepting something (dealing with my eating) as a lifestyle. I'm definitely getting there though.

[Nell]

Its all part of the journey!

[Pensguys]

I think a lot of what is helping me (this time) is that I notice how I feel (GREAT!) as long as I'm following my Paleo eating. "MY" Paleo eating....I didn't read a label well enough on my coconut milk and there was the dreaded guar gum. I wikied (after I had drank it) and found out that the it comes from the guar BEAN!! Ugh. Tummy troubles! Feeling better today though. I"m changing my thinking from "I can't have that" to "I get to eat THIS because it makes me feel good and strong and my performance is strong." That kinda helps take the feeling sorry for yourself out of the equation. :)

[Nell]

That is absolutely a perfect way of looking at it- thats what I try to teach clients in a nutshell!

[Gina]

I would love that recipe for the Pumpkin sorbet. The link was not working. Is it just mu computer? If you have a minute, will you please repost the link?
Thank you!

[Silviu]

Giving out apples is a nice idea, but I think most parents would throw those out just to be safe. I know I was never allowed to keep apples or any food that could have been tampered with!

[Nell]

I dont have a post on pumpkin sorbet, but here is my link to my pumpkin smoothie:

http://stephenson.typepad.com/train_with_nellie/2009/11/fall-breakfast-on-the-go--pumpkin-smoothies.html

[Nell]

I realize thats a challenge for parents as well; its a dilemma- packaged (and therefore safe (?) candy) vs. not packaged fresh fruit... yikes!