Trick or Treat?
The beginning of the holiday season can feel very overwhelming for many of us. While fall is a beautiful time of year - leaves changing, weather getting cooler (unless of course you’re in southern California like us - hello, sweater weather? We’re still waiting!) Routines start to shift and we settle into the new groove of things, letting go of the warmth of a busy summer. Some may feel comfort as the seasons change, while others may have the opposite experience based on our relationship with our bodies and food.
This time can come with a whole new set of anxieties - especially when we are bombarded with pumpkin spice, caramel apple treats and Halloween candy galore! It is easy for us to feel out of control around these fun foods if we already struggle with food, body image and disordered eating behaviors. Thoughts about how we will prepare to engage in these things or compensate for them can become the biggest concern on our minds. Maybe you feel overwhelmed at Halloween, knowing there is a bowl full of candy out nearly everywhere you go.
So what can we do to make this time of year a little easier? It's not always easy - but try practicing mindfulness, acknowledging (and overcoming) your personal food rules/biases, and offering ourselves some gentleness as we work toward body neutrality and acceptance. Here are a few ideas:
Making sure to eat enough throughout the day.
Listening to your hunger and fullness cues and eating regular, balanced meals and snacks as you usually would is a great first step in setting yourself up for success.
If you need help remembering to eat, try setting reminders on your phone so you don’t end up skipping any. Nourishing ourselves regularly is important.
Feel like some candy? Enjoy it mindfully!
Ex: Choose pieces that you genuinely prefer (not the ones you think you should eat). Then, pay attention to each bite, notice the flavors and textures as you chew it. Check in with yourself-do you want another one? Are you satisfied with what you’ve had?
The important thing is giving yourself permission to enjoy it and to be mindful! Remember, some foods are body nourishing and some are soul nourishing, and both are beneficial! Lastly, if things don’t go exactly as you’d like, you can always try again later.
Happy Halloween!
