You’ve seen them creep into grocery store aisles and maybe pop up in your kids’ backpacks. They have a way of crawling into the trickiest of places and only multiplying. 

No, we’re not talking about spiders or other creepy crawlies that haunt retro scary movies. We’re talking about something much worse…candy.

Halloween is only a few weeks away, and after that we won’t get a break from treat temptation until after the holidays. Cue the sighs. Thankfully, we have some good news. There are tricks you can use to combat the treats. If you’re looking for ways to avoid seasonal weigh gain, here are some tricks that may help. 

1. Keep it out of sight. 

If you’re stashing up for trick or treaters, make sure your candy is kept out of sight and out of mind. Most people like to put their Halloween stash above the refrigerator or in the back of the pantry. We like to go one step further and put it in the garage or keep it in the car at night — anywhere you can’t easily access without putting on shoes and trekking a couple yards outside your door. 

2. Only eat the good stuff. 

We all have our favorite Halloween candy. For some it’s the pumpkin-shaped Reese’s (which taste just like the regular peanut butter cups but for some reason when it’s shaped like a pumpkin, it just hits different.) For others it’s candy corn (we know who you are and yes we are judging you). Whatever your favorite candy is, allow yourself to get one bite this season and make that it. Resist the mindless snacking — especially when it’s the candy you don’t absolutely love. It’s not worth it! 

3. Don’t avoid the labels. 

Most of us, out of habit, avoid the nutrition label when we know it’s not good for us. Instead of avoiding the scary calorie counts, face the truth head on. If you’re able to work it into your macros for the day, go for it! But, more likely, it’ll be a hard “no” once you see all the sugar and ingredients that don’t aid in any recovery or muscle growth. If you’re really craving something chocolatey, mix up a protein shake instead. 

4. When November 1^st comes, trash it! 

This might hurt, but when Nov. 1 rolls around, throw any excess candy in the trash. If no one is around to take it off your hands, the trashcan is where it belongs! This allows you to start fresh with a new month and zero temptation. 

We hope these tips help. Even if you still find yourself tempted to sneak a handful of treats from your kids’ candy stash, know that one day of “bad eating” won’t ruin months of hard work in the gym. Just commit to making better choices the next day. Don’t let a bad day turn into a bad week. You got this!