Trick About Treats

It's been established that I am a bit of a pumpkin freak. Well, make that pumpkin SPICE freak. For someone who could take or leave Halloween, I do love this time of year when the flavor of fall comes in so many packages.

And just because Culver's has Pumpkin Spice Shakes and DQ has Pumpkin Pie Blizzards does not mean we have to make unhealthy choices. For example, I do like the new Pumpkin Spice Cheerios. They are good by themselves – with milk or as a dry snack – or mixed with vanilla yogurt. There are some yogurt brands with pumpkin flavors as well. (Chobani is the best I've had so far.)

But let's face it. Fall and Halloween time are not about healthy choices, are they? They are all about the pile...

The reality is that if you're buying bulk candy and it's still September, it's not for the trick-or-treaters. It's for your own personal stash. It's for you to get dibs on your favorite, like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, for example. (Not that I would know, of course.)

You don't want hubby to find it so you take it for work for the "candy dish" on your desk. Only you don't share it with your o-workers. It's for you to eat your emotions at 3 o'clock in the afternoon after you get stuck with another project and are forced to hate life.

They're for stealthily consuming in the kitchen on the down low while you make noise about needing more fresh fruit in the house and rifle through the cupboards so no one hears the wrapper tear. (Here's a tip: If you want to inhale quickly in case of an intruder, stick with the non-caramel or chewy variety. Peanut Butter Cups, Crunch Bars and Kit-Kats work well for this. Snickers and Baby Ruth, not so much.)

Practice looking shocked when your family finds candy wrappers on the floor the next morning ("Santa must have been here!" or "That darn cat!")

I read the following statement on the Internet, so it HAS to be true: This is the only time of year when there's no shame in buying mini chocolates 50 pieces at a time. So I figure we, I mean you, should stock up. Not for the 5 trick-or-treaters in your neighborhood. And not for your co-workers.

Do it for yourself for the other 364 days a year when life is just too darn much and you need medicinal chocolate or caramel or peanut butter or, well, sugar!

Do it for your health. Do it for your family. Do it for your sanity. Do it for you.

*This message has not been approved by Weight Watchers or any person or entity associated with a healthy eating plan.