Halloween is known for its sugary treats but don’t let this holiday interfere with your journey to a healthier you.
This is the first of many holidays, success can carry over to other holidays by establishing healthier habits. It is good that you recognize that you do have a condition that will prevent you from continuing some traditions but will allow you to create new ones. Know what your body needs and how you can best prevent prediabetes from progressing.
Why should someone with prediabetes be cautious about all the candy and treats available during the Halloween holiday?
Prediabetes means your blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough to be considered Type 2 diabetes. Since blood sugar is already high eating a lot of sweets during Halloween is something you should avoid doing. But Halloween is a fun time of year, and if you enjoy attending parties, Halloween events or have children who love trick-or-treating, there's no need to miss out. Instead, consider the following tips to celebrate while prioritizing your health:
- Choose treats wisely: Don’t be afraid to turn down candy, if you don’t want to decline a treat, then you may choose to give it away
- Donate some of your candy: Don’t throw out your candy just yet, donate it to foundations like Treats for Troops that accept candy donations
- Don’t wait: Eat before trick-or-treating or attending a party, this will help you avoid being too hungry and accidentally indulge on unhealthy treats
- Take part in the Teal Pumpkin Project: A movement that encourages the community to pass out non-food treats for Halloween
If you plan on giving out sweets for trick or treaters think about purchasing sweets that you don’t like, healthy treats, or non-food treats like crafts or toys, to avoid the temptation.
Prediabetes friendly activities
People with prediabetes may feel like there is a limited list of activities they can do for Halloween but in reality there is a wide range of activities that focus on the spookiness of Halloween. Below is a list of ways you can celebrate the holiday in a healthy way:
- Carving pumpkins with family or friends
- Going to haunted houses around your neighborhood
- Navigating through corn mazes
- Creating or listening to a Halloween playlist
- Having a bonfire and telling spooky stories
- Hosting a Halloween craft night
- Going on a haunted hayride
- Having a Halloween game night
- Watch Halloween movies with family or friends
- Going to Halloween themed amusement parks
- Making healthy snacks disguised in Halloween theme
There are so many ways to make Halloween fun, even if you are someone with prediabetes. Don’t let your condition make you feel like you have to skip over this holiday. By choosing alternative activities you can continue to be on track in your health journey.
Healthy Treat Recipes for Prediabetes
These Apple Mummies are quick and easy healthy Halloween treats. The fruit provides fiber and vitamins making it a nutritious treat.
Ingredients (makes 2):
- 1 green apple
- 4 mini chocolate chips or dried blueberries
Instructions:
- Cut apple in half vertically and carefully remove the core
- Starting at one edge, use a vegetable [peeler to remove haphazard strips of apple peel
- Lay each apple half on a plate or serving tray and press two eyes into the apple in an area where the peel has been removed. If you’re using mini chocolate chips, push the pointy end in first. If you’re using dried blueberries, it may help to use a paring knife to make tiny divot in the apple where you want each eye to go, and then gently press the blueberry eyes in.
These Frankenstein Kiwis are a fun and simple Halloween snack. This fruit provides fiber and vitamins making it a great treat.
Ingredients (makes 1):
- 1 kiwi fruit
- 2 pretzel sticks
- 2 mini chocolate chips or dried wild blueberries
Instructions:
- Slice one end off the kiwi, so the kiwi sits upright and flat.
- Beginning at the cut end of the kiwi, use a vegetable peeler to remove some of the kiwi’s fuzzy skin. As you get toward the top of the kiwi, pull the kiwi’s skin away in little jagged bits so that the skin remaining at the top of the kiwi will look like messy Frankenstein hair.
- Break a pretzel stick into a small piece, roughly about ½” to ¾” long, and gently push that piece lengthwise into your kiwi to make a mouth.
- Break a pretzel stick so you have two end pieces that are each about ½” long. Shove those low into your kiwi, to form the bolts in your Frankenstein’s neck.
- Use two chocolate chips or two dried wild blueberries for eyes, gently pushing each into position above the pretzel mouth.
It is important to remember that eating healthy also involves portion control. If you are really craving a treat someone brought to a party, it is okay to take some as long as you do not overconsume those calories. If you do not enjoy counting calories Nutu App can help! With our food logging feature you never have to count calories again, just log what you plan to eat and Nutu App will suggest modifications accordingly.
Bottom Line
Even if you are on your journey to reversing prediabetes you don’t have to skip over the fun of celebrating Halloween. There are so many ways to avoid indulging in sweets and instead celebrating the spookiness of Halloween. Enjoy the celebration with your friends and family but remember to stay mindful of your health goals and any limitations it might impose on certain aspects of the holiday.
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https://diabetes.org/food-nutrition/navigating-halloween-child-diabetes
https://diatribe.org/lifestyle/halloween-diabetes-navigating-holiday-safely
https://www.foodallergy.org/our-initiatives/awareness-campaigns/living-teal/teal-pumpkin-project
https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention-type-2/prediabetes-prevent-type-2.html
https://twohealthykitchens.com/apple-mummies-a-healthy-halloween-treat/
https://twohealthykitchens.com/frankenstein-kiwis-another-healthy-halloween-treat/
