Halloween has come and gone, but the extra pounds that may have showed up haven’t been as eager to leave.

Luckily, one bad night of eating isn’t the end of the world. By being aware of the implications of your daily diet decisions, you will be able to enjoy a healthy and energetic life even after a weekend of cramming candy in your mouth.

Judith Lukaszuk, doctor of exercise physiology and associate professor of nutrition and dietetics, told me when it comes to losing weight the equation is quite simple.

“Increase [your] exercise; decrease what [you’re] eating,” Lukaszuk said.

If you are burning off more calories than you are consuming, you will lose weight.

Of course, you could eat nothing but Almond Joys and Kit Kats and still lose weight from a calorie deficiency.

But losing weight and eating a healthy diet can be completely separate issues, and eating candy all day certainly won’t provide your body with what it needs.

Similar to a bad girlfriend or boyfriend, candy can look very good but wreak havoc.

“For candy in general it’s the sugar and the fat and the lack of nutrients,” Lukaszuk said. “Candy doesn’t offer satiety.”

Nutrient deficiencies can lead to a wide range of illnesses and health conditions.

This is not a good combination for students hoping to stay in shape and perform optimally in their classes.

With all that in mind, why do we still eat candy?

“Everyone is eating it,” said Katherine Buck, junior nutrition and dietetics major, one day after Halloween.

While Buck generally eats a healthy diet, she said she knows where the temptation lies when it comes to sweets.

“If I see it, I’ll want it,” Buck said. “You’re more likely to have candy in your house around Halloween.”

Oh, yeah, there’s the fact that candy tastes like heaven. But there are healthier alternatives that can satisfy your sweet tooth and fill you up.

“[You can try] apple slices with cheese or a banana with peanut butter or sunflower butter,” Lukaszuk said.

The problem with eating too much trash can be avoided at the grocery store: If you don’t buy candy and other junk food in the first place, you won’t eat it. Rid the temptation and rid the chance of eating junk.

While you might not have bought all the Halloween candy you now have, you can still alleviate your desire by removing it from your sight.

Another way to combat a sugar binge is to bring some of your holiday stash to class, work, parties or club meetings.

If you can’t bring yourself to do this, keep your candy hidden at home rather than out in the open where you’re likely to snag a piece each and every time you walk past it. That way you’re eating it over a long period of time rather than pigging out over just a few days.

Halloween is a tempting time for those of us who do our best to stay healthy, but it doesn’t always have to be hard to avoid eating poorly.

If you are struggling with your diet or have any questions about how you can improve your health on campus, visit the Health Enhancement website at niu.edu/health/.