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Healthy Ways to Ease Candy Cravings



It's that time of year, Halloween, the ideal time for our sweet tooth to sparkle and our indulgences to ramp up.




Cravings. We all have them.









Did you know? Food cravings are a common response to what we’re going through or experiencing and can cause the desire to munch on foods we wouldn’t normally eat such as processed junk like salty potato chips, candy or sweet chocolate brownies. Studies have shown that cravings for certain foods come from a variety of reasons, including memories, emotions, weather, and stress.





Ever wonder why you crave chocolate during PMS? Our bodies literally get rid of magnesium and if we don't replenish properly we become deficient when we are stressed, menstruating, have poor sleep quality, anxiety, thyroid disorder or are eating too much sugar. Magnesium is actually present in quality dark chocolate and can help boost magnesium in the body and help deal with these issues. Incorporating foods into your diet that are rich in magnesium could definitely help you get the levels you need.




 

Ignoring that voice inside your head calling for a sweet isn’t always easy, I know. During this time of year when every house and office has bowls of candy and baked goods up for grabs, it can be especially hard to quiet that voice in your head and stay in tune with your body. In the moment, getting a sugar fix might feel like it will satisfy your needs, but giving into processed sweets often leads to further cravings and overindulging.





Before diving head first into the pool of cravings, try these suggestions to help you navigate them mindfully:





Deconstruct your craving




Are you craving candy or are you actually hungry or thirsty? Is it just momentary? Are you lacking something in your life and filling the void with food? Instead of giving in and reaching for a sweet, deconstruct what your body is truly telling you and decide what will fulfill it. That's where the magic happens! Emotions can lead to crave something your body doesn’t actually want or need, especially with all the excitement around the new season and the holidays to come.




Take a step back




Seeing the grocery store shelves stocked with colorful bags of candy that remind you of childhood can cause your brain to think it’s something you want. But in reality, before you walked down that aisle, you had no desire for candy at all. Take a moment to be mindful about what you are in search of and understand your craving before you grab that big bag of sugar, additives and GMOs. Typically, when you take the time to reassess what your mind and body are telling you, you’ll have a better understanding of what you really want.




Opt for naturally sweet foods




Instead of tearing open a candy bar or taking a cookie (or two) that your coworker shared, soothe your cravings with more wholesome options. If you know you have a sweet tooth and a hard time resisting a craving, keep fruit or dark chocolate made with 80% cacao (get that magnesium) or more on hand. This way, it’ll be easier to make the better choice towards a healthy sweet snack. You can also find recipes like these pumpkin breakfast cookies that use real ingredients, which can often help satiate those cravings while still keeping your blood sugar in check.




Enjoy it – in moderation




If you have a continuous craving for something but have been resisting it, allow yourself to enjoy it in moderation. If a craving is constantly ignored, it can lead to giving in and over consuming it eventually. Listen to your body and know that it’s okay to enjoy something you’re craving without overindulging and choose healthier options.








Check out these Halloween Candy Swaps that are much safer options for you AND the neighborhood kiddos!




psssstt my favorite is Justin's Organic Peanut Butter Cups (as an Ex Reese's obsesser)















I'm telling you, being healthy (and safe) can still be fun.
Have a Happy Healthful Halloween!



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