How to Have Your Healthiest Fall of All!

Don’t be TRICKED by all the Halloween TREATS this year! With Halloween around the corner, it is easy to be tempted by sugar and sweets, however, for runners, nutrition is often just as important to a training cycle as logging miles. If you have PR or other health-focused goals, this can be a tough time of year to find that healthy balance, so we’ve put together some not-so-spooky tips and tricks to help you stay on track, but also enjoy Halloween with family and friends!

Remember, it is a holi-DAY, not holi-DAYS. Nutrition, health, and wellness are all about balance, and the best way to get the best of both is to remember that Halloween is one day, not one week, or one month. The number one way to stay on track toward your goals is to enjoy a few sweet treats on Halloween itself, but stay on track in the days leading up to and following the 31st. If you have a favorite type of candy, save it as a special sweet treat for Halloween to celebrate. This makes it more special, more satisfying, and best of all guilt-free!

Candy isn’t the only Halloween Treat! Not all Halloween treats have to involve candy. Below are some alternative, fall-themed, “healthy swap” recipe ideas that are sure to get you in the spirit without distracting from your nutrition goals:

• Pumpkin Banana Oat Bars and other fall recipes by Tone It Up
• Tangerine Pumpkins & 8 other fruit themed snacks by www.BrenDid.com
• High Protein Halloween Dirt Cups by Laura Fuentes
• Spooky Popcorn Hands by EatPlant-Based.com

Pumpkin Spice, for life! Watching your calories doesn’t mean you have to trade in your PSL. Instead, make a “healthy swap” from a traditional Pumpkin Spice Latte, and try it iced. If you’re ordering at Starbucks, here is a healthier way to order that will still give you that pumpkin flavor:

• Order a Grande Iced Coffee, no classic syrup, add 1 pump sugar free vanilla, 1 pump pumpkin, and 1 stevia packet. Top with cinnamon and/or pumpkin spice. This is under 100 calories and has significantly less sugar than a traditional iced pumpkin spice! Plus, it’s perfect for the Texas heat – a win-win!

“Costumes, Carvings, and 5Ks, oh my!” Like any holiday, Halloween is not only about the food, but also about having fun with friends and/or family. There are other ways to celebrate, like trading your sugar high for a runner’s high and participating in a themed virtual run. Dress up and be active, all at the same time! Heading to a pumpkin patch, carving pumpkins, costume contests, decorating your home, and enjoying your favorite Halloween themed movie are all other great ways to celebrate without the sugar crash!

Happy Fall and Happy Halloween from AMPT Running!