Are you ready for the stockpile of candy your children are about to bring home? How about all the pieces of pie you’ll be devouring in the next couple of months?! Almost every upcoming holiday includes eating our way into a Dietary New Year’s Resolution. Fear not! We have a few ideas on better ways to snack and tricks to all the treats that are anticipated.

1. Just Don’t!

This might sound harsh, but snacking can really get us into trouble. This is especially true when it comes to mindless snacking. All of a sudden, that bag of chips you just opened is gone! How’d that happen? We’ve all been there. Let’s curb it by not participating at all. This might sound impossible, but here are some ways to go about it:

Eat More Rounded Meals: When mealtime comes around, actually eat the whole meal. Plan meals out. Eat more balanced food. There’s proof that if you eat healthier, you won’t crave as many unhealthy things. This doesn’t mean you must have a dry salad for every meal. Indulge in that cheesy broccoli! Provide meals the whole family likes so they won’t want to snack later.
Plan Meals: When the meals are planned, you won’t be tempted to have cereal for dinner like we probably have all been guilty of at least once. If you are stuck with no ideas, here’s a few pre-made plans with shopping lists included!
Stick to the Grocery List: If you’ve carried through with meal planning, you will have a list of ingredients and staples to pick up. Don’t divert from it! Take another family member to keep you honest.
Don’t Shop the Middle Aisles: This one is a little radical, but proven to be helpful! With exception to a few aisles, the middle section is where all the Little Debbies, chips, cookies, and candies that we adore so much reside. Avoiding them gives us the upper hand to just not buy them.

2. Snack Healthier

If you looked at #1 and thought “No way! I’m a snacker and will always be a snacker!”, we hear you. Some health experts argue that snacking is a better way to eat instead of stuffing ourselves full at mealtimes. If that’s your style, stick with it, but know that there are better ways to snack that are healthier!

A nice trick to use is thinking back on what you’ve eaten for the day or last eaten. Ask “what nutrient or food group is missing from my choices?” Pick the one that’s missing! Broccoli, carrots, fruit, high fiber cereal, and nuts are all good snack choices! This does involve using your logic over your emotional impulses. However, we don’t judge you if you’ve had a rotten day and all you need is that pint of ice-cream. It happens! Don’t beat yourself up. Indulging in a treat every once and a while is natural. It’s all about balance.

3. Celebrate Around Something Else than Snacks

Holidays are the worst for snacking. Switch that narrative. Choose alternate activities that don’t include candy. Make trick or treating a one-time event. Yes, we are talking to the parents that haul your kids around every Trunk-or-Treat in town. Take them to a Fall Farm Festival instead and pick up some apples!

What about events you can’t control? Every party has a snack table and then there’s birthday cake! It seems unavoidable. Don’t sweat it! The occasional birthday cake will happen. If you are really worried about taking your child to another cake eating party for the 3rd time in one week, maybe eat a big healthy dinner before you go. Fill them up with good things so that they won’t be tempted to eat at the party.

4. Narrow Down on Candy or Make it Disappear

So… going back to that stockpile of candy you are about to adopt this Halloween. How do you deal with that? This is especially tricky because your little darlings consider it theirs. How can you even bargain with them? We have a few ideas…

Have you ever heard of the Sugar Sprite Fairy that comes and visits the candy pile after bedtime? This fairy needs sugar for her village of sprites that depend on it as fuel. She will take the candy she needs and leave a present!

Now this might not work on your older children, but the young ones might buy it. Barter with your children with something else to replace a portion of the candy like more time on the video game or a coloring book. They’ll learn to accept it and maybe even look forward to it. Take that candy to your work or simply throw it away.

Bonus Tip for Sugar & Your Teeth!

Brush your teeth after eating a meal to avoid snacking. We often don’t want to eat right after we brush, so that might help. Another practice you should use is to try to wash away sugar after it is consumed. Swish a swig of water if you can’t brush.

Bottom Line for Better Ways to Snack

As a dental office, we should state our bias. Sugar is not our friend when it sits on your teeth. It is often a contributor to a lot of tooth decay and cavities. Eating a balanced diet is good for your health, but definitely your dental health! We hope these better ways to snack have helped!

Looking for a new dental home for you and your family? Schedule a visit with us! We’d love to show you why our care is something to smile about.