Fall Wellness, Halloween Candy & Simple Balanced Meals
As the seasons change, we're heading into a time of holidays, gatherings, treats, and fuller schedules. This month, we're sharing a few practical ways to care for your health without striving for perfection.
Halloween + Healthy Habits: Finding the Balance
Halloween can be a fun and memorable part of the fall season, but it can also bring a lot of candy, sugar, and mixed feelings around food. There’s no need to make the holiday “perfect” or completely avoid treats. Instead, here are a few simple ways to find a balance that works for your family.
1. Buy Better-for-You Options
Thankfully, there are so many more candy options available these days for parents who want to avoid certain dyes, syrups, or other ingredients.
Some of our favorites include YumEarth, Unreal, and JoyRide. Some mainstream brands have also started removing artificial dyes from certain products, including M&M’s, Skittles, Sweethearts, Starburst, and Nerds Gummy Clusters.
Just keep in mind that being dye-free doesn't necessarily mean a product is free from other ingredients you may be looking to avoid, such as corn syrup. Ingredient lists can vary by product, so it's always worth checking the label.
You can also find some fun options at stores like Trader Joe’s, Fresh Thyme, and Whole Foods.
2. Host a “Better Candy” Trunk-or-Treat
If you're concerned about the types of candy your child receives, consider hosting a small trunk-or-treat or trick-or-treating gathering with friends.Everyone can agree ahead of time to bring candy options that fit the group's preferences. It keeps the fun of trick-or-treating while giving you a little more control over what's being handed out.
3. Try the Switch Witch
The Switch Witch has become a popular Halloween tradition, and there is so much room for creativity here!
Your child can leave some or all of their candy out on Halloween night, and while they sleep, the Switch Witch comes and swaps it for something else, such as a toy, book, craft, money, or another special treat.
And it doesn't have to be a witch! You could create your own magical Halloween character or even use a special stuffed animal that “comes to life” each Halloween.
4. Skip Trick-or-Treating
Not trick-or-treating is always an option, too!
Invite a few friends over for dinner and a movie, have a Halloween-themed family night, or go do something fun like bowling. Your kids can still have a memorable. Halloween without collecting a bucket full of candy.
5. Set Some Boundaries
You don't have to completely avoid candy to have some boundaries around it.
We love the idea of an 80/20 approach. Your child can enjoy the candy they collected while you still create some structure around how much and how often they're eating it.
Maybe they get a certain number of pieces each day or week, or it’s earned. The goal isn't to make candy off-limits, but to create some structure around it so the entire stash doesn't disappear in one afternoon.
There is no requirement to buy dye-free candy, swap out your child's candy, or avoid trick-or-treating altogether. Sometimes the healthiest approach is simply finding a balance that works for your family.
1. GET RID OF IT!
If you have leftover candy after Halloween, you certainly don't have to keep it in the house. If you know having a bowl of candy around will have you reaching for it all week, donate it, share it with friends or neighbors, or send it to work with your spouse. There is nothing wrong with deciding that keeping it around isn't worth it for you.
2. YOU DON’T HAVE TO GET RID OF IT ALL
You could choose a few pieces that you really enjoy and pass the rest along. If you're going to have a treat, make it one you actually want rather than mindlessly eating whatever happens to be in the bowl.
3. GIVE YOURSELF SOME BOUNDARIES
Maybe candy is something you enjoy after lunch or dinner rather than something you graze on throughout the day. You could also pair it with a meal or snack that includes protein and fiber to help make it more satisfying.
4. CREATE SOME DISTANCE
If you know you're going to keep reaching for it, don't make yourself practice willpower every time you walk through the kitchen. Put it in a cabinet, move it to the pantry, or freeze it if appropriate. A little extra friction can go a long way.
And if you're struggling with self-control around candy, here are a few things we don't recommend:
1. DON’T LEAVE IT SOMEWHERE HIGHLY VISIBLE
On the kitchen counter. On your desk. In the candy bowl by the coffee maker. If it's constantly in your line of sight, you're going to think about it more. Out of sight, out of mind can be a surprisingly effective strategy.
2. DON’T OBSESS OVER IT
If you're really craving a piece and you've been trying to talk yourself out of it for hours, sometimes the better choice is simply to have a piece and move on. Giving yourself permission to enjoy a small amount can be very different from eating the entire bag because you spent the afternoon trying not to eat any.
3. DON’T TURN IT INTO A MORAL ISSUE
Eating a piece of Halloween candy doesn't mean you've been “bad,” and eating more, than you intended doesn't mean you need to compensate for it the next day. Enjoy the treat, make your next nourishing choice, and keep moving. One night of candy isn't going to undo your health.
What Can You Do With Leftover Halloween Candy?
If you'd rather get the candy out of your house, consider:
Local food pantries or food banks: Some accept unopened, commercially packaged candy and other shelf-stable foods, but policies vary. Contact your local organization before dropping it off. Feeding America has a tool to help you find your local food bank.
Local shelters or community organizations: Some may accept individually wrapped candy for residents, clients, or community events. Call first to make sure they are accepting candy.
Military care packages: Organizations like Soldiers’ Angels collect leftover Halloween candy to include in care packages for deployed service members and veterans. Their Treats for Troops program has collection sites around the country, including participating dental offices. Check their website to find a participating location near you. Soldiers’ Angels Treats for Troops
Your workplace: Bring it in and let your coworkers take it off your hands!
Teachers, coaches, or youth organizations: Some may be able to use individually wrapped candy for classroom prizes or events. Always check with them first.
Friends and neighbors: Sometimes the easiest solution is simply to divide it up and send everyone home with a bag. One person's excess candy is another person's favorite Halloween treat!
Dentist offices: Some dental offices participate in Halloween “candy buy-back” or “Sweet Swap” programs, where kids can exchange their excess candy for cash, a small prize, or another treat. Some offices then donate the candy through a charitable program. These programs aren't offered by every dentist, so call your dental office to see if they're participating.
Nursing homes or senior living communities: Many nursing homes will accept unopened, individually wrapped candy to use as treats or for activities like bingo. Just call ahead to make sure they accept candy and ask whether they have any restrictions on certain types.
A final reminder: You don't have to have a perfect relationship with Halloween candy. The goal isn't to make Halloween “healthy.” It's to enjoy the fun, give yourself some flexibility, and remember that an occasional indulgence is part of a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
10 Quick & Balanced Meals for Busy Days
When building a meal that is quick and balanced, we always want to think about including a protein, carbohydrate, and healthy fat. Eating well can be much simpler than we sometimes make it!
Many of our staff enjoy cooking, and we love sharing recipes, but sometimes, in the busyness of life, we need quick, reliable staples we can return to time and time again. These are the kinds of meals you can throw together without a complicated recipe or a trip to the grocery store for 17 different ingredients.
1. Chicken, rice & broccoli
Grilled or rotisserie chicken + microwaveable rice + steamed or roasted broccoli + olive oil or avocado.
2. Steak, potatoes & a vegetable
Steak + roasted potatoes + your favorite vegetable + butter or olive oil.
3. Taco bowls
Ground beef or turkey + rice or tortilla chips + black beans + salsa + avocado. Add cheese or Greek yogurt if you enjoy dairy.
4. Eggs & avocado toast
Scrambled or fried eggs + gluten free or sourdough toast + avocado + fruit on the side.
5. Salmon, rice & green beans
Salmon + rice + frozen green beans + olive oil, butter, or avocado.
6. Turkey or chicken wraps
Turkey or chicken + a gluten free tortilla + hummus or avocado + spinach or other veggies. Add fruit on the side.
7. Burger bowls
Ground beef or turkey + roasted potatoes or rice + lettuce, tomato, pickles and avocado. Add your favorite burger sauce or dressing.
8. Quesadillas & veggies
A gluten free tortilla + chicken or black beans + cheese + salsa and avocado, with slicedpeppers, carrots, or another veggie on the side.
9. Rotisserie chicken plates
Rotisserie chicken + a grain or potato + a bagged salad or frozen vegetable + your favorite dressing or olive oil.
10. Breakfast-for-dinner
Eggs + turkey sausage or another protein + roasted potatoes or toast + fruit or sautéed vegetables. Breakfast doesn't have to be reserved for the morning!
Remember: Balanced doesn't have to mean complicated. While foods like microwaveable rice, rotisserie chicken, frozen vegetables, and bagged salad may not always be the “perfect” or most ideal choice, if they help you get a balanced meal on the table instead of hitting the drive-through, we are here for it!
Eating well doesn't require making everything from scratch. Sometimes it's simply about having a few convenient staples on hand and making a few intentional choices that help you nourish yourself and your family.
Meet Ashley, Founder of Functional Now
I'd change “The Heart Behind Functional Now” slightly for the blog.
Something like:
Meet Ashley Dishion, Founder of Functional Now
We’re excited to share a special feature on Functional Now’s founder, Ashley Dishion. In this interview with Voyage Ohio, Ashley shares the story behind her own health journey, the calling that led her to build Functional Now, and the faith and vision that continue to shape the practice. It’s a beautiful look at the heart behind the work we do and why caring for the whole person matters so much to us.
