Treats are an important part of life, however it is important to monitor your 'treat consumption'. How often do you deserve a treat? Is it everyday? Once it becomes frequent, it is no longer a treat, but a part of your diet. There are lots of reasons to limit candy consumption, but here are the biggies:
- Excess sugar is stored as fat
- Sugar decreases the immune system making your body more susceptible to colds and flu
- Sugar causes hyperactivity, anxiety, crankiness and can contribute to osteoporosis, gallstones, obesity and many other diseases and illnesses
It is hard when the office is littered with welcoming bowls of mini chocolate bars. Walking from your desk to the printer can be dangerous! I would suggest giving yourself a limit and a day. For example on Friday allow yourself one treat after lunch and one late afternoon. And that's it. No more. The rest of the week. Have fresh fruit, vegetable sticks and homemade baked goods to satisfy your sweet tooth. A bowl of raw almonds is a better offering for your desk.
And how about the kids?
There are many philosophies when it comes to managing the large amounts of collected Halloween candy. You can let your kids gorge themselvs over a day or two and be done with it. You can also institute a limit, and throw out the rest. My favourite is the Halloween Witch. Allow your child to pick out a set amount of candy (10 pieces, 20 pieces, you decide). The remaining candy is put in a bag and left on the windowsill inthe kitchen for the Halloween Witch. In the morning the bag of candy will be gone and in it's place a toy. I think this is a great compromise; just make sure to throw out the remaining candy, not take it with you to work!!!
Make sure you and your kids have a great Halloween, one that teaches your kids moderation and enjoyment!
