I have been successfully off of sugar since my post Conquering Sugar Addiction:  The First Step Towards A Healthy Diet (and the toughest), but I know I am always just one bite of a brownie away from falling off the wagon.  And now there is another huge temptation - Halloween.  It seems like everywhere I go I am faced with those giant bags of Halloween candy.  The next few weeks are going to be a real test of my new-found willpower.

It's nice to know I'm not the only one struggling with Halloween candy temptations.

From Demoiselles - Just bought Halloween candy...not sure if it's for me or the kids...

I bought a bag of Halloween candy (they had a combo pack of Skittles and M&M’s.. my favorites!!).. they are sitting in my pantry right now. We usually don’t buy Halloween candy until the week of Halloween, so I’m having a little trouble figuring out whether I bought it for me or the trick-or-treaters. I did have Sam put it on the very top shelf and in the back corner, so that I can’t reach it. (And if I do, at least I would have gotten some exercise getting up there!) So far, so good.

From the Suburban Life - I should have never bought that Halloween candy...

I made a big mistake. Huge. Humongous. I should have known better. I should have recognized my own weaknesses. I should have known when to say “no.”

I should have never bought that Halloween candy…the party pack, no less.

. . .

Moral of this story: DO NOT BUY HALLOWEEN CANDY ONE MONTH BEFORE ACTUAL HOLIDAY!! You will not save it, no matter how good your intentions are. It can be hazardous to your health…or at least the size of your thighs.

From Keeper of the Home - How Much Sugar Are You Really Consuming?

Ever wondered just how much sugar is in your favorite drink, snack or dessert? Wonder no more!

I just discovered the site Sugar Stacks today (hat tip to Local Nourishment), and was both appalled and thrilled to see such a vivid demonstration of the amount of sugar in a number of typical foods.

From The Parent Squad - Over Sugared and Under Nourished...

Let me say right at the forefront of this post, I love me some sugar. I don't think I'll ever get to the point where I've entirely eliminated sugar from my diet. But the more I read, the more I'm convinced that sugar, along with simple carbohydrates, is at the root of many of the rampant health problems in our culture, and I'm doing all I can to reduce the sugar I serve our family.

From Janis Taylor Living - The Holiday Diet: How to wake up thinner...

The holiday season is fast approaching as evidenced by the displays of Halloween Candy on each and every counter top in America. As we all know all too well, the holidays present a multitude of stresses that together can create the perfect ‘fat’ storm. Of course, front and center, the main event of the season is the food! Ever-present platters of holiday cheer in one form or another, enticing, calling your name day-in, day-out, morning, noon and night from Halloween through the New Year.

It won't be easy, but I think I can do it.  And you can too.  Here are my three tips to help anyone who is attempting to maintain a healthy diet through the Halloween season...

1.  Avoid the candy isles at all costs, and never go shopping on an empty stomach.  Because once you buy the candy and it is in your house, it's only a matter of time before you eat it.

2.  If you have to buy candy, only buy candy you do not like (at all).

3.  Do not buy your 'trick-or-treating' candy until the day you need it.  You could also consider non-candy options to hand out on Halloween.

What are your tips for avoiding candy cravings during the Halloween season?

Also See:

• From CafeMom - Healthy Halloween: Avoid Eating Too Much Candy
• From Frances Ellen Speaks - 6 Easy Diet Snacks
• Low Sugar Desserts Can Help Reduce Your Sugar Intake
• Healthy Halloween Snacks
• From Women's Online Magazine - Stop the Halloween Candy Cravings

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com and Women4Hope