Trick or Treat! Avoid these this Halloween!

If you have kids – or even if you don’t – Halloween is likely a big deal. I know it’s definitely one of my sons favourite holidays. I mean how can a kid resist costumes and treats!

When my son was a baby I used to dread the idea of Halloween. How was I going to keep him from eating all the candy that I was so against him eating and prevent him from feeling left out from all of the festivities?

My priority as a mom is to keep my son healthy and for me that means keeping him away from food additives, artificial colours and flavours and processed sugar. There are so many dangers and side effects to this stuff that its scary!

What makes it most scary is that there are thousands of food additives, which means that they are in thousands of foods and candies our kids are exposed to. And of course at Halloween they get a hit with a ton of them all in one day  – all disguised in pretty colourful packages that are hard for them to resist.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has put together a handy guide to the 12 most harmful additives that we should steer clear of  Dirty Dozen Guide to Food Additives. Sadly, you’ll find many of these 12 additives in kids candy. Among them, artificial colors and flavours.

Artificial colors are derived from petroleum or crude oil. Yuck! Animal lab test have shown that artificial colors can cause cancer. And studies on children have found that mixtures of synthetic colorings and the preservatives were associated with hyperactivity. The strange thing is that artificial colors they don’t enhance flavour in any way, they are simply for aesthetics and completely unnecessary.

Artificial flavours are also derived from petroleum and according to The Food Babe they are mixed with solvents, emulsifiers, flavor modifiers, preservatives that aren’t labeled, so you don’t even know what you’re putting in your body.

Sugar of course is another big one that I find myself battling with everyday when it comes to my son. It’s everywhere! Even in organic non-gmo foods, which really ticks me off. Excess sugar is one of the causes of hyperactivity, weight gain, depression in children. Not to mention that many of the forms of sugar found in candy and processed foods is GMO, which poses yet another list of possible problems.

Excess sugar is something I feel really strongly against. If kids are filling up on candies, there is little room for the nourishing stuff. And we all know how yummy it can taste and how addictive sugar can be, so really it should be seen as a treat and not part of our kids daily life. I mean how many of us have tried to quit sugar to lose weight and feel better and failed! It’s seriously addictive stuff that leaves us feeling unhappy and overweight and it can do the same for our kids.

So what do you do as a parent on a holiday that revolves around harmful candies? This is what works for me:

Since my son wanted to trick or treat at the age of 4, I have been doing a trade with him. I don’t want him to be deprived of the experience of going out with his friends to collect candy, so we barter. He goes trick-or-treating and then he trades his loot of a lego or book that he wants. My son is eight now and he still looks forward to this trade.

Of course I am always spending time to explain to him why I don’t want him eating candy and why whole foods are essential. But at the end of the day he’s a kid and while he really gets it, he also wants to eat and do what others do, so it’s a struggle sometimes, but a worthwhile one in my books. As a mom sometimes I am tested constantly, especially on holidays and at parties, and sometimes I don’t have the will to fight it, so I give in…and then of course I regret it. All this to say that I am not perfect, but I do try my best.

And in case you’re wondering if I’m the Halloween scrooge, I’m certainly not. I just give out organic gummies or any other healthier options that still taste good, but don’t contain all the junk found in most candies. In this article by The Food Babe she gives a great list of options you can use.

This is what works for me, but if you have any great ideas that work for you please share!

Happy Halloween to you and your kiddos!:)

Daniela

PS- If you’re interested in reading more on the dangers of artificial colours and flavours, here are a few great articles:

Is Sugar Bad for You? Here’s How it Destroys your Body

Colors To Die For: The Dangerous Impact of Food Coloring

Much Love,

Daniela

Daniela Nahas

Certified Health Coach

CHEK Holistic Lifestyle Coach


Are you feeling stuck? Not sure what steps to take next to make real change in your life? Have you tried every diet, exercise program, but nothing seems to stick? Join me on a Body Transformation Discovery Call where you will discover:

What’s been stopping you, slowing you down or keeping you from having the body you want.

A powerful vision for your Body Transformation, and what it will mean you and for your life.

Which foods and lifestyle habits are bringing your body down…and what to do about it.

A step-by-step plan to create a Total Body Transformation in 90 days or less!

If you’re ready click on the link: Body Transformation Breakthrough Session


In my blog posts I share my own experiences, passions, and what works for me and has worked for my clients. I am not a doctor or certified health practitioner. My blog posts are not meant to treat or diagnose. Please consult your medical practitioner before beginning a new protocol of supplements or new exercise program.

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KARSTEN DICKIE

Hey BBBC family! My name is Karsten Dickie and I am a coach at King West Best Body Bootcamp.

Growing up I was very involved in sports. I played competitive volleyball, basketball and hockey. I was always fascinated with how the body works, nutrition, strength training and anything that involved athletics. Applying my knowledge I noticed improvement of my health, energy and body transformation which then had me hooked on weight training. That’s when I knew I wanted to help impact people’s lives and share my knowledge about exercise, mobility and nutrition to help achieve their goals.

I received my diploma from Algonquin College for Fitness & Health Promotion and I have been doing group training for six years now. Additionally, I’ve trained hockey teams, volleyball teams, large event groups, and one-on-one training.

I’m passionate about enhancing the health, fitness and overall well-being of clients. With my skills and knowledge, I help clients achieve their goals in and out of the gym.

Outside of training I like to do yoga, read, play team sports, and spend time with my friends and family.

CERTIFICATIONS/ACHIEVEMENTS:

Algonquin College Fitness & Health Promotion
CanFitPro PTS
Lucas Parker Barbell Cycling
CPR/AED2

ANDY RANDHAWA

Hey there!
I’m Andy Randhawa, the newest addition to the Best Body Bootcamp family.

You can’t hear my accent while reading this but I’m Australian.
I grew up playing a lot of sports like tennis, basketball, boxing and footy (Aussie rules football) and competed professionally in tennis.

I have transformed bodies for over 12 years and also helped them show it off on stage.

I have an extensive knowledge about training and nutrition which I can apply to my clients to bring them closer their goals.

When I’m not making people sore or make them complain while training I spend my time doing filmmaking, videography and hanging out with friends (I need new ones in Canada).

Look forward to making you get your dream body.

CERTIFICATIONS/ACHIEVEMENTS:

Diploma of Fitness
Bachelors of Exercise Science
BoxFit Level 1&2

DANIELA NAHAS

My journey in fitness and health began about 15 years ago. Before that, like many of you I struggled with yo-yo dieting, and doing countless hours of cardio just to stay looking slim. Boy I wish I could talk some sense into my past self! But health is a journey and I am so grateful for all of my experiences, which have shaped what I have to offer our members today.
Over the years I have experienced first hand the life changing benefits of incorporating the right kind of exercise into my life. That motivated me to become a personal trainer 15 years ago, and it still continues to motivate me today. I want everyone to be able to to experience what exercise can do for their well being, self confidence and physique.
I used to struggle with my nutrition in a big way, so I completely empathize with you, if this is the hardest part for you when it comes to seeing long term change. I once struggled with eating disorders, followed by any years of a very negative relationship to food, even during my initial years as a personal trainer.

It occurred to me one day that I could not help my clients make changes and make better choices, without first focusing on myself. It was through completing my Holistic Lifestyle Coach Certification that I was able to change my relationship to food and be able to genuinely help clients get closer to their goals.

My increasing passion for nutrition and health led me to become certified as a Health Coach. As a health coach, I am able to help my clients delve deeper into your relationship with food and their health. What lies beneath our patterns and habits is fascinating and when you can tap into that it can have an incredibly powerful impact on our lives, and bring about real change!

These days I leave most of the bootcamp training to our awesome trainers, but I continue to share my passion for nutrition and fitness in our private member facebook group and work on our ever evolving member offerings.

My other passion? I am the luckiest mom to a 9-year-old boy. He keeps me on my toes and I must admit has helped me grow in ways I never thought possible. Together with hubby Roger Nahas, we like to spend plenty of time outdoors, along with the latest family hobby – board games.

When I get me time, I like to do yoga, read, cook, and spend time in nature.

I look forward to having you join us!

CERTIFICATIONS/ACHIEVEMENTS:

Health Coach Certification – Health Coach Institute
C.H.E.K Holistic Lifestyle Coach Level 2
C.H.E.K Holistic Lifestyle Coach Level 1
Scientific Core Training , C.H.E.K Institute
Program Design, C.H.E.K Institute
Human Kinetics Exercise Anatomy
SPI Advanced Training for General Fitness
SPI Technical Aspects of Strength Training
SPI Nutrition for Sport and Performance
Emergency First Aid & CPR

ROGER NAHAS

My journey in fitness and nutrition is a little different than most. You see, I’m a former fat kid! The kid who was a total introvert! I was always the guy who was too embarrassed to take his shirt off at the beach! But I remember the day everything changed for me – I looked in the mirror and wasn’t happy with what I saw. I made the decision to change my body and my life. It was 1999 and I took a before pic and measurements and body fat and I entered the Body for Life Challenge. Over the next 90 days, I completely changed my eating habits, and worked out regularly. I actually was awarded the Canadian Grand Champion for my age category!

I was no longer the fat kid. I looked forward to getting to a beach so I could take my shirt off and I became more outgoing and fun! After seeing the difference it made in my life I decided that I wanted to dedicate my life to helping people realize the amazing benefits of optimal health and fitness.

I started out as most trainers do in your typical gym. After years of working in a gym setting, I was getting disillusioned with how Big Box Gyms operated. I wanted to train people functionally and to make their bodies strong in the movements they used in the real word. I wanted to make working with a highly trained instructor more affordable, and I wanted to make fitness fun because let’s face it; if you are having a blast, it makes it that much easier to stick to it. The result was the launching of Best Body . I have to tell you that although I looked great in the after pic above, the food and exercise plans I followed to get that after pic, hurt me in the long run. It made me look good from the outside but my body was breaking down on the inside. The way I was working out and what I thought was healthy eating was in fact hurting me in the long run. I was over training, taking longer to recover from my workouts, I tore my rotator cuff and had gut issues. Nothing I could do was helping and then I was introduced to a C.H.E.K Holistic Lifestyle Coach who helped me. Turns out I was stressing my body beyond repair and then giving it food that wasn’t helping but was actually stressing my body even more. He made me look at my body and the food I put into it in a totally different way.

That lead me to complete my certification as a C.H.E.K Holistic Lifestyle Coach and we pass that knowledge on and encourage holistic nutrition to our members.

In addition to running the day-to-day operations of Best Body Bootcamp, I also work with individual clients doing fitness training as well as holistic nutrition and lifestyle coaching.

When I’ve got a bit of free time, I spend as much of it as possible with my wife and son, I bike year round, play hockey, practice Tai Chi daily, read & take courses.

I hope to see you soon so we can transform your body and life!

CERTIFICATIONS/ACHIEVEMENTS:

C.H.E.K Golf Performance Specialist
C.H.E.K Holistic Lifestyle Coach Level 2
C.H.E.K Holistic Lifestyle Coach Level 1
Scientific Core Training , C.H.E.K Institute
C.H.E.K Golf Performance Specialist
C.H.E.K Holistic Lifestyle Coach Level 2
C.H.E.K Holistic Lifestyle Coach Level 1
Program Design, C.H.E.K Institute
Program Design, C.H.E.K Institute
Scientific Core Training , C.H.E.K Institute

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I’ve been a member now for about 3 months and can’t say enough great things about this place! I stopped seeing results in my usual workouts and felt like I plateaued until I joined BBB. The trainers are all very friendly and knowledgeable and I love how they change the workouts every 4 weeks! Definitely recommend this place!!

Christina Mansour-Ariganello