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Halloween candy showed up in August (as though we needed to get a jump on our holiday shopping!) and will still be on sale in November. What is the trick to managing your weight when the food you love is everywhere?

Scaring Away the Cravings. Halloween can be a scary time of year for those trying to eat less. You may be haunted by all the candy in the house, leading to a full-blown chocolate binge, sugar hangover, and vows to do better tomorrow - also known as the Eat-Repent-Repeat Cycle.

The tricky part is that labeling the foods you love as evil actually increases their power over you. When what you really crave is considered "bad," you feel guilty for even wanting it and deprived because you can't have it.

The result? You find yourself foraging treats from the pumpkin basket and burying the candy wrappers at the bottom of the garbage can so your children won't find out. Of course they inevitably discover that you've been sneaking and stealing their candy. Talk about guilt!  

How to Stop Raiding Your Kid’s Trick-or-Treat Loot

Minimize your exposure. Wait until the last minute to buy Halloween candy then buy only what you really think you'll need for the big night. Get the stuff kids love rather than bags and bags of your favorites.

Remember, it's not your food. All too often we eat whatever shows up - candy, donuts in the break room, or samples in the grocery store. But you didn't choose to put it there so stop mindlessly putting it in your mouth!

Share!  If you really want some candy, ask your child to share a few pieces with you. Through observation, they learn that it is possible to balance eating for nourishment with eating for enjoyment.

Eat fearlessly without guilt. We all know that guilt leads to eating more, not less, so let it go.  Take a P90X Peak Performance Protien Bar and cut it up into 12 pieces. Each piece is about 25 calories of chocolatey, chewy, protein goodness. I like to keep mine in a plastic bag in the freezer - they're even better frozen!! Or, grab some Chocolate Shakeology and whip up a frosty, delicious shake - no guilt there!

Save room for dessert. If you're going to eat Halloween candy (you know you are!), then adjust for it. After all, does it really make sense to eat all your dinner to earn dessert?

If you love it that much, act like it! At 3.5 calories per piece, enjoy those chocolate M&Ms® one at a time. Let them melt in your mouth. M'mmm.

Just right! Grab a single fun-sized treat (at 70-80 calories) for a few mindful bites of heaven. And those first few bites are always the best. Consider the calories and think before you dive in for more. Some wiser choices, for around 50 calories, include:

• Two Hershey's Kisses
• Two Dum-Dum lollipops
• Three Mini-Tootsie Rolls
• One Nerds mini-box
• Ten pieces of candy corn
• Two small Laffy Taffys
• Two Jolly Ranchers
• One Junior Mints mini-box
• One Mike-n-Ike mini-box
• One small York Peppermint Patty

Don't torture yourself with exercise. Being physically active feels good and provides numerous benefits for your health. Just be careful not to turn it into punishment for eating or penance for eating something “bad.” Add some fun to your workout, Turbo Jam and Hip Hop Abs both have a party vibe.

Pass it on. Halloween is a great time to teach your kids how to enjoy a little candy as part of a healthy and active lifestyle.

Your thoughts....

How do you handle Halloween candy?