In case you hadn't noticed, Halloween is next week. Those of you who work in offices are no doubt aware of this fact, as this is when the candy dishes get filled to overflowing with everything from candy corn to that Holy Grail of snack sizes: the Snickers bar.

And oh, isn't it just so bloody easy to grab a handful of those little bars? I mean, after all, they're "fun" size. Or some of them are even "bite" size. How much can a bite of anything hurt? Well, the fact is, ONE bite isn't going to hurt you much at all. In fact, if it kicks a sudden sweets craving in the teeth and sends it back into its hole, that bite might be a great thing.

However, how often do you ever stop at one bite? Be honest! Have you ever truly walked by a candy dish and grabbed just one item? Or if you did grab just one, did you orbit back and grab more as soon as the first one was in your mouth? It's OK. We all understand. We've all been there.

The trick to handling the treats is to do a little "disaster preparedness" work. Treat the integrity of your diet like you would a ship at sea. A snack-size Reese's cup hits you at the water line! Whip out one of those nifty 100-calorie snack packs from the same folks and have a far more enjoyable snacking experience for far less impact.

Or maybe a fun-size Snickers smacks you between decks. Quick! Head for the freezer and grab one of your frozen chocolate squares! By the time it's done melting its deliciousness across your tongue, the damage will be repaired and all will be well.

If fruity candies are your downfall, your choices are nearly limitless. Dried fruits will give you every bit as much sweet pleasure as a Starburst, and you'll get some nutritional benefits from them. Even kid snacks like Fruit Roll-Ups, while they have their share of sugar, are better for you than candy.

It's all about deflecting the cravings. If you've got the willpower to stand up to the craving, kick it in the teeth and send it whining away, more power to you. Me? I'm weak. I need my crutches around or I'll be falling face-first into every candy dish in range. I've admitted that, so now I own it and can handle it.

You are the best judge of what will help bust your cravings. But make sure you've got something on hand NOW. It's likely the candy dishes are already filled to overflowing, and temptations abound.

Tell Me A Story

With the holidays fast approaching, it's time to focus on the successes of the past year and use them as inspiration to get us all through the season intact. I want to hear from all of you! Have you overcome a personal challenge? Gotten good news from your doctor as a result of weight loss? Dropped a few sizes? Tell me about it and become part of an upcoming column! Let's celebrate together!