The things I remember most about Halloween growing up are school-wide costume parades, making inventory lists of the candy I acquired from the neighbors, and a soggy Peter Pan hat that I tried to flush down the toilet. 

Overall, my halloween memories have been positive and fun–with the downside being soggy hats or itchy tights that rode up–but that’s not always the case for most kiddos. In fact, a lot of adults end up reflecting on their Halloween experiences and remembering their parents hiding their candy from them or rationing it out as if it were the great depression. Many adults knew the calorie count of a Kit Kat bar before they even knew why they needed to know the calorie count.

And so, while Halloween should be a time of pure enjoyment for everyone, the pervasive influence of diet culture often casts a shadow over the festivities. And as someone who is rather partial to Halloween but is not impartial to shoving diet cultured beliefs on children, I find myself increasingly frustrated by the way societal pressures around food and body image creep into what should be a carefree celebration. The constant chatter about calories, "good" versus "bad" foods, and post-Halloween diets can turn a joyous occasion into an anxiety-fueled minefield of guilt and atonement for many.

The Joy of Halloween Candy

The positive memories I have of Halloween candy is a long list. I remember the first year I got a Heath bar and I also remember the years when we ended up in the richy-rich neighborhood, getting full-size candy bars dropped into our pillowcases. I remember caramel apple lollipops and one time accidentally swallowing a butterscotch candy whole (okay, not the most positive memory).

All this to say it is possible to have positive memories of a holiday filled with candy and calories without having the calories take stage front and center. You’re allowed to let your kids (and yourself) enjoy the candy of this holiday without worrying they’ll lose every last tooth. 

Halloween after all isn't a holiday just about personal indulgence; it's a social experience that brings people together. There's a unique joy in trading treats with friends, surprising coworkers with their favorite candies, or seeing a child's face light up when they receive that coveted chocolate bar. These small acts of sweetness create bonds and memories that last far longer than any sugar rush.

The Dark Side: Diet Culture's Intrusion on Halloween

So, as I’m sitting here in September, before October imminently rolls around, and I am already dreading seeing what will come around this year in terms of the inevitable diet-culture articles and social media posts about how many jumping jacks it takes to burn off a fun-size candy bar or lists ranking Halloween treats from "best" to "worst" choices. 

This hyper-focus on the nutritional content of candy over the emotional and nostalgic content undermines the spirit of the holiday and promotes an unhealthy relationship with food over and over again.

I can’t stand hearing phrases like "I'll need to diet for a week after this," "I'm being so bad for eating this candy," or "I can't believe how many calories are in these tiny bars." None of these comments are necessary but even worse is that they are each potentially harmful in the way that they burrow into susceptible, anxious-ridden minds, fostering an even greater fear of calories than anything else. These comments reinforce the idea that enjoying treats is something to feel guilty about, rather than a normal and pleasurable part of life. And that friends is just one way that disordered eating can begin for a previously intuitive or “normal” eater.

The Impact of Diet Culture on Halloween Enjoyment

In particular, for people (kids included) who are already struggling with or recovering from eating disorders, the increased focus on food and body image during Halloween and this time of year can be beyond triggering and more like constantly challenging. For them, the constant discussion of calories, dieting, and "earning" treats is a pretty good way to re-trigger their restrictive behaviors and/or binge-eating periods. Which not only makes recovery for them harder but also disrupts the recovery journey they were already on and can make them feel like the efforts they have already put in were for nothing or not counted. (Which, is not true by the way)

So, when we find ourselves preoccupied with counting fun-size calories or feeling guilty about enjoying candy or our favorite Halloween desserts, we miss out on the true essence of this holiday. Instead of fully engaging in costume parties, pumpkin carving, or trick-or-treating with loved ones, we become distracted by unnecessary food anxieties, diminishing the joy and connection that make Halloween special.

Reframing Our Approach to Halloween Treats

Okay, let’s reframe this now that we’ve talked diet-culture to death (I wish!). 

This year, instead of viewing Halloween candy as something to be feared or rigidly controlled, let’s try to approach it instead with a mindset of abundance and enjoyment. There is an endless supply of Halloween candy (one peek inside Target will tell you that) and all candies and foods are able to fit into a normal, healthy lifestyle. Eating snacks and candy are already a normal part of eating, and so by allowing ourselves to savor Halloween candy without guilt, we can actually develop a healthier, more relaxed relationship with food.

It's crucial to recognize and challenge the diet culture messages that surround us during Halloween. By questioning the validity of articles about "burning off" candy or the need to "compensate" for treats, we can start to dismantle these harmful ideas and create a more positive environment for ourselves and others.

Tips for a Diet-Culture-Free Halloween

I’m going to tell you all now, if you have friends or family members who often make triggering comments about candy or food, it is absolutely, positively okay to set boundaries with them. You can explain to them upfront that you prefer not to discuss calories or diets this year because it just doesn’t fit with your preferences. And you can even change the subject to the more enjoyable aspects of the holiday if they continue to bring those topics up. Nobody’s gonna know. How would they know?

Yes! Halloween candy is a HUGE, fun part of Halloween. But it's really not the only part of the holiday festivities. You can definitely shift some of your focus to the other enjoyable activities like creating the perfect costume, carving pumpkins, decorating your space, watching scary movies, or participating in local Halloween events.

Remember folks that enjoying Halloween candy doesn’t make you a bad person or negate your overall health. (Far from it actually). So instead, make some space to practice self-compassion alongside the holiday and remind yourself that it's a-okay to have the snacks without guilt or the need to "make up for it" later.

Final Thoughts

Really, as we’ve seen now, Halloween is a time for creativity, community, and yes, candy. By embracing all aspects of this super fun, themed holiday without the burden of diet culture and food guilt, we can choose to fully experience the magic and excitement that makes this time of year so special.

This Halloween, I encourage you to push back against the pressures of diet culture. Make space to enjoy your favorite treats, celebrate with loved ones, and focus on creating joyful memories rather than counting unnecessary calories. 

Oh, and really, the only candy you should be avoiding on principle is black licorice so go have fun this Halloween season!

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If you're looking for other articles I've written for QueerPsych, you can find them here! Or, if you want to talk more about this topic, I'd be happy to chat with you in my DMs on Instagram. You can find me at @thefriendineverwanted.