OCTOBER 2016 POWERED BY QUOTE OF THE MONTH Sugar is a type of bodily fuel, yes, but your body runs about as well on it as a car would. - TERRI GUILLEMETS Healthy Halloween Love it, hate it, or ignore it, Halloween is when candy takes center stage. But October can be an opportunity to practice healthy habits that can last all year long. Learn more by visiting us online at www.magellanhealth.com/member. FEATURED ARTICLE FEATURED ACTIVITY VIDEO COACHING SESSION Fighting the Urge to Splurge Read this article for some practical tips to enjoy Halloween without sabotaging your healthy lifestyle. Tame the Candy Monster Control your candy consumption with some simple strategies. Healthy Pumpkin Treats! Join Coach Karrie for recipes to make tasty, easy, and above all, healthy, pumpkin treats. Learn more on page 24 Read more on page 44 Learn more on page 54 [ 1 ]
FEATURED ARTICLE Fighting the Urge to Splurge: Outsmarting Sweets on Halloween This holiday is all about fun, but don t feel you re doomed if you want to indulge a bit. Everything in moderation, right? This time of year, temptation is everywhere: your desk mate s candy dish, your kid s Halloween bag and pretty much every aisle at the grocery store. If it seems like everyone has candy to share, it s kind of true. A consumer survey reports that nearly 94 percent of Americans will buy candy, spending a whopping $2.1 billion on the sweet stuff. Here s our plan for helping you have a spooky-good time this Halloween with a few sweet treats and lots of healthy tips. Delay Your Shopping. Don t buy confections or any other Halloween treats too far in advance of October 31. No matter how impressive your willpower is, why risk it? One survey says 46 percent of consumers reported eating more than they should have of candy they purchased. Once you do buy the sweet stuff, don t open it until Halloween! Make sure you don t give in to sugary temptation in the days and weeks before the spooky day. Besides, if you eat those snacks early, you ll have to buy more for the kiddos. That could mean even more temptation for you! Avoid Trigger Candies. Love candy bars? Crave peanut butter and chocolate? You know your favorite treats, so here s the hard part: don t buy them! If you can t say no to trigger sweets, just don t have them in your cupboard. Instead store it somewhere out of the way and rarely [ 2 ]
accessed, or opt for Halloween candy that doesn t interest you. That way you won t have to wrestle with your urge to splurge. Small Servings. Plate your candies in a small bowl or tray. The smaller the container, the more noticeable it ll be if you sneak in one or two before Halloween. This visual reminder can help you keep cravings in check. When there are only a dozen sweets on a plate, it ll be easy to keep track of how many you actually ate! Smart Substitutions. It seems simple, but it s smart: buy treats that are better for you. Substitute licorice, mini dark chocolates and sugar-free gum for more fattening candies like those loaded with nougat, caramel, fat and sugar. You can also give out mini packets of dried fruit or pretzels. Challenge Yourself. You don t have to forgo all sweets on Halloween. Have a goody or two keeping in mind the moderation mantra. You can even play a game to keep your sweet tooth in check. For every mini candy you want to eat, drink a glass of water or eat two baby carrots. Chances are you ll fill up on veggies, not treats. Don t Eat the Extras. Try not to overbuy treats which can tempt you into nibbling Halloween candies after the holiday. Groups like Operation Gratitude and Operation Shoebox will take your candy donations to send as part of care packages to deployed service members. Used with permission from Healthy Dining Finder. [ 3 ]
FEATURED ACTIVITY Tame the Candy Monster If you have a sweet tooth, Halloween can be an especially challenging time to try to curb your sugar intake. But regardless of when the craving for candy strikes, there are some strategies you can use to take control and stick to your healthy nutritional goals. 1. Plan ahead. Keep healthy, bite-sized pieces of fruit or veggies ready for snacking whenever the urge for sugar strikes. 2. Make a deal. Before you eat a piece of candy, drink a large glass of water. This will not only keep you hydrated, but may make you feel full while giving you some time to think about whether you really want that candy after all. 3. Hide it! Store candy in an out-ofthe-way, not-so-easy-to-get-to location. Keep it out of sight and hard to reach. 4. Don t buy it. Consider giving stickers, small toys or other nonedible items to trick-or-treaters. If you don t have it, you can t eat it! Record each day in October you successfully tame the candy monster. [ 4 ]
FEATURED VIDEO COACHING SESSION Healthy Pumpkin Treats Did you know that pumpkin is chock-full of antioxidants, vitamins and low on calories? Join Coach Karrie to maximize the spirit of autumn and Halloween with these healthy and simple pumpkin recipes. Healthy Pumpkin Treats coaching sessions will be presented live on: Wednesday, October 5, 2016 12:30 p.m. (MST) Monday, October 10, 2016 12:30 p.m. (MST) Wednesday, October 12, 2016 5:30 p.m. (MST) Reserve your space now at www.magellanhealth.com/member [ 5 ]