So, I step into the grocery store for a quick few things and on the way in, I see this:
Nope, I’m just getting a few things – I won’t be bogged down by that insanely addictive lineup there. (Just step into the grocery store to be reminded what the next holiday is!)
Twenty minutes later I circle back by this end cap and let’s be honest, “hmm….I actually have 3 of those ‘buy 5 save $5’ items in my cart now…so grabbing 2 bags would make 5: what a good deal! Just a few for me and the rest for the trick-or-treaters.” RIGHT!
Halloween is not for 55 days y’all! Let’s not be fooled! Research shows the sweet treat you enjoy today won’t light up the brain’s pleasure centers tomorrow…unless you have 2 of them! And the next day it will take 4…and then next day – 8, and then BOOM! The bag is empty…with 51 days still left until the poor trick or treaters come visit!
Did you know that “The weight of all the candy sold for one year’s Halloween is equivalent to six Titanics” (Madarang, 2013)?
So, what is a smart shopper to do?
- Shop when you are fresh and not distracted, ideally in the morning on a full stomach.
- Make a menu plan for the week first and then shop with your grocery list. Don’t be sidetracked by sales or overly motivated by coupons (they are usually on junk food anyway).
- Choose the shortest checkout aisle and check the Best Body in 52 Facebook page for more tips while in line :), or play skip counting games with your kids. Whatever you do, don’t look around! That’s where they’ll get you!
- Consider options like Kroger Click-list or Walmart Grocery. They may not only be helpful for planning (just type recipe ingredients right into your cart, and view the labels/ingredients, too), but also to limit your exposure to those strategically placed saboteurs (insert crinkly candy wrapper sound here).
Having groceries delivered to your trunk will also save you about an hour that you can spend on meal prep and move time! (Last night for example: within the hour-ish it usually takes me to grocery shop, instead I jogged the trail around my son’s soccer practice fields while he practiced, and then we dropped by to get a trunk-full of groceries for the week on our way home). I am a FAN! And my family is happy because I’m less likely to forget to get that ‘one critical ingredient.’ (If you want to try it, you can use this code for $10 off :). Woohoo!|
Whatever you do, just know the math so you can decide if it’s worth it (not trying to haunt you with this, but knowledge is power, right? :). It’ll take 10 minutes of straight burpees to burn off 1 of those Reese’s Cups (or you can run 1 mile for each one consumed). That’s more SCARY than any haunted house you’ll visit in the next 55 days.
What if this was the year that you just gave the end-cap your spooky laugh as you walked by? Look the candy in the ‘eye’ (since you know they strategically paid to be at your eye level) and say “bwahaha! I’m not falling into your spooky trap!” You might look crazy, but I’d rather be crazy and fit then sabotaged and sorry!
