Ah yes, the end of October. It’s the unofficial start to what I like to call the eating season. It’s more than a season, though. It’s actually approximately half the year. 
October brings with it Halloween, which used to mean a night of trick-or-treating and the bowl and sack of candy that accompanied it. Not anymore. Now it means specialty cupcakes and impossible to resist orange filled oreos. I know. I’m weak. And I should never grocery shop when I’m hungry.
After the sugar high of Halloween, we get into the comfort food of Thanksgiving. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy. Yum. And if we must throw in a veggie or two why not put them in a casserole with extra calories and deliciousness? Of course we finish the whole thing off with pie. Um, I mean pieS. Who can choose between apple, pumpkin, and pecan? Why choose? Have some of each. And yes, please, I would like some whipped cream on it.
Then, the very next day, we’re into the Christmas season. Hot chocolate and Christmas cookies are in abundance (even if the low temperatures in my area don’t even require mittens). Specialty items are everywhere, including those cursed Trader Joes candy cane chocolate dipped oreo knock-offs. They are insane.
And don’t forget Hanukkah. Whether you celebrate it or not, those hot golden fried potato latkes are a tradition not to be missed. And what’s Hanukkah without a little bit of chocolate gelt?
Before you know it, February shows up on the calendar, with heart shaped boxes declaring your love for your sweetheart. The bigger the box, the more you love them. Or the more of them there there will be to love, anyway.
It seems that the minute those heart shaped boxes hit the clearance aisle they are replaced by Easter candy. It used to be jelly beans and chocolate bunnies, but now it’s so much more. 
My personal Achille’s heel are the Cadbury mini eggs. These are not the chocolate goo filled eggs (which, not surprisingly, I also enjoy), but the small candy shelled bits of yumminess. They must be milk chocolate, though. The dark chocolate ones just don’t do it for me. And the Christmas version of candy shelled red and green balls isn’t quite the same either. Apparently I’m a Cadbury mini egg snob.
So there you go, a breakdown of the October to April feeding frenzy that I’m hoping to navigate with some type of success. My only saving grace is that I also bought fruit, and I know how to eat it!
BulgingButtons 
October 29, 2013 at 6:44 am
That’s the bonus of Australia…Halloween is pretty much a non-event, no Thanksgiving…there’s Christmas and then as soon as that’s over Easter eggs and Hot Cross Buns hit the shelves, usually before New Year’s Day.
October 29, 2013 at 12:36 pm
Yes, we Americans have many many opportunities to over indulge! But Easter before New Year’s Day? Wow.
October 29, 2013 at 9:51 am
At the risk of sounding preachy (not my intent), I’ll share what I’ve discussed on my blog many times: life shouldn’t be about depriving yourself of the stuff you love (nor should it be about crazy crash diets to atone for the indulgence).
The simple science is calories in versus calories out. Eat what you like (within reason), as long as you burn more than you consume. That means moving more.
It’s only when the amount you consume is greater than the amount you burn that you are in a net weight gain situation.
Consider investing in a device like the armband by BodyMedia. It will give you visual proof of how much you’re burning and compare it to how much you’re consuming (if you enter your food consumption). Then you can make the decision to have another Oreo or not, based on the stats.
Hope this helps!
October 29, 2013 at 12:34 pm
Sound advice and not preachy at all. I’m at the point of my life where depriving myself is no longer a consideration. It’s moderation I’m working toward. And of course, I completely agree that exercise is the key.
Thank you for the logical and considered response, and the armband information. I will check it out! 🙂
October 29, 2013 at 10:53 am
LOL! In Canada the feeding frenzy starts even earlier because we celebrate Thanksgivng in mid-October! My nemesis is the party and office food. I can generally manage to regulate my home intake/ouput of calories, but I am weak-kneed and helpless in the face of a buffet table or an office kitchen full of treats.
October 29, 2013 at 12:37 pm
Yes, there are so many parties this time of year to navigate! Good luck and enjoy the festive food season. 🙂
October 29, 2013 at 3:00 pm
I’m in he UK. Halloween is only one night and only for the kids. I don’t like cheap sweeties so it’s no temptation at all for me. I like Belgian chocolates not Haribo jellies.
We have bonfire night, also known as Guy Fawkes night, on 5th November but that isn’t big on food. It’s mostly about fireworks and freezing half to death in a field. I love bonfire night, the whole of he UK is covered in a thick fog of gunpowder smoke -as opposed to the thick fog of cloud we usually have in November.
No thanksgiving here (because we’re not very grateful). Just Christmas and New Year’s Eve to cope with. New Year’s Eve is all about getting drunk and I don’t drink so no problem there.
Christmas used to be much harder but I have got it down to a fine art now. I only indulge on Christmas day.
Christmas Eve, Christmas parties, etc don’t count. They are healthy nice food days. They aren’t Christmas day so I don’t have to eat enough for three people just to be polite.
There’s only so much you can eat in one day!
October 29, 2013 at 3:59 pm
Many years ago I was a study abroad student in York, and my housemates and I threw a wonderful Halloween party. It was quite a novelty for our British friends (in the 80’s anyway). I have fond fuzzy memories of Guy Fawkes night too.
I’m impressed with your resolve. I need to work on mine!
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