It’s that time of year again. Holidays, celebrations, food, food, and more food. From now through New Years, we all swing from enjoying the fun to bemoaning the excess. Let’s consider Halloween. Most kids love it! Some adults go “over the top” to celebrate it. Others quietly take part and observe. For families living with diabetes, it can be a challenging event.
Consider the following tips when someone in your house has diet restrictions:
- Do not single out the person or child living with diabetes. Plan their needs into the overall celebration and foods.
- Plan ahead and eat before celebrating. Treats will be less tempting if you’re not hungry.
- Celebrate the holiday “your way”. Take the focus off the sugar rush and more on games or other celebration non-food treats, e.g., pencils, Play-Doh, notepads, pencils, and bubbles.
- Host a talent show, costume party, face-painting, or pumpkin carving contest. As the host you can control the food options.
- If your little goblin, superhero, or princess goes trick-or-treating, remember some of that candy could be helpful if hypoglycemia occurs. The best candy for treating hypoglycemia is fat-free candy.
- Is there a way you and your little one(s) can share the Halloween experience with someone who is unable to trick-or-treat? Think nursing homes or pediatric units in hospitals. Here again, celebrate Halloween “your way.”
- A bag full of goodies shouldn’t be consumed all at once. Divide it out and pace its consumption.
- Remember most Halloween treat-size candies have almost the same or less carbohydrates than a slice of bread. Plan how you spend those carbohydrates and keep moderation in mind. Consider:
- Snickers, fun size: 4 grams fat, 10.5 grams carbs
- Skittles Original, fun size: 0.5 grams fat, 14 grams carbs *
- Jolly Rancher: 0 grams fat, 5.6 grams carbs *
- Charms Blow Pop: 0 grams fat, 17 grams carbs *
- Peanut M&M’s, fun size: 5 grams fat, 10.5 grams carbs
(* Good choices to treat lows)
There are many celebrations in life. Having diabetes shouldn’t mean not taking part in those celebrations. While persons living with any chronic disease are more likely to experience mental health challenges than the general population, participation in the same normal activities as persons not living with a chronic illness builds good self-esteem and promotes mental well-being.
So, make a plan, work the plan, and have fun. Remember . . .
Misery might love company, but so does joy. And joy throws much better parties.
~ Billy Ivey