Binge Eating & Halloween Lollies
Halloween is meant to be fun, dress-ups, decorations, and a whole lot of lollies.
But if you’ve ever found yourself binging on lollies and chocolates, wondering “why can’t I stop?”, you’re definitely not alone.
As Halloween becomes more popular in Australia, so does the overwhelm around sugar, rules, and managing the lolly stash, especially if you’re working on your relationship with food.
Let’s unpack why this happens, how to shift the “binge and guilt” cycle, and how to help both yourself and your kids build a calmer, more balanced approach to lollies.
The “Shiny Toy” Analogy: Why Lollies Feel So Powerful
Think about how kids react to a brand-new toy, the bright colours, the excitement, the “I have to play with it right now!” energy.
Halloween lollies work in a very similar way.
They’re colourful, special, and only around once a year. That sense of novelty turns them into something your brain sees as exciting and important. And when food feels special or rare, we naturally want more of it.
So what happens next?
You might plan to “just have a few,” but the novelty and reward pull you in for more.
You might feel out of control, even though it’s just a reflection of how your brain reacts to “special” or “forbidden” foods.
And once you’ve had a lot, the novelty wears off, and you’re left with guilt or regret, not because you did anything wrong, but because you’ve been taught to label certain foods as “bad” or “too much.”
The “shiny toy” idea helps us understand that bingeing on lollies isn’t about willpower. It’s about how our brains respond when food feels off-limits or overly special.
Why You Might Be Bingeing on Halloween Lollies
There are a few really common reasons why this happens and none of them are personal failings.
1. Restriction and Rebound
If you’ve been avoiding lollies or sugar for a while, Halloween can feel like the ultimate “permission” day. The brain’s natural response to restriction is to want the forbidden food even more. That’s why one lolly often turns into twenty, it’s not lack of control, it’s survival mode.
2. Emotional Connection
Halloween brings up a mix of excitement, nostalgia, or even stress, especially for parents managing kids, costumes, and late nights. When food has been used as comfort or a way to cope, those emotions can drive you straight to the lolly bowl.
3. Hunger and Skipping Meals
If you’ve skipped meals during the day to “save room” for treats, you’re setting yourself up to binge. Physical hunger plus emotional excitement is a powerful mix.
4. The Reward Response
Lollies are designed to be rewarding, the perfect mix of sugar, fat, and salt triggers your brain’s pleasure centres. That “just one more” feeling is literally chemical, not moral.
5. Habit Loops
Sometimes bingeing becomes a pattern, the brain associates certain situations (like Halloween, weekends, or being alone at night) with high-reward foods. Awareness is the first step to breaking that loop.
How to Talk to Yourself Around Lollies
If you do find yourself feeling anxious or out of control around sweets, try talking to yourself with compassion rather than criticism.
Some grounding reminders:
“It makes sense that I want these — I’ve restricted them before.”
“I can have lollies any time I want. I don’t have to eat them all right now.”
“This isn’t about willpower. My body is trying to protect me.”
“I can pause and notice how my body feels, no rush, no guilt.”
“If I’ve overeaten, I don’t need to punish myself. I can move on with kindness.”
Giving yourself permission to eat the lollies actually reduces the urge to binge on them. When food is no longer a shiny toy, it becomes just another thing you can enjoy in balance.
Talking to Kids About Lollies
Parents often tell me they’re torn between wanting to set boundaries and not wanting to raise kids who feel guilty about food. Here’s how to strike that balance.
1. Keep language neutral.
Avoid calling foods “good” or “bad.” Lollies aren’t evil, they’re just high in sugar. Kids learn more from how you talk about food than the food itself.
2. Make lollies part of normal life.
Let them have some lollies after dinner or as a snack. When it’s just another food, the novelty wears off and the power struggle fades.
3. Involve them in decisions.
Ask questions like, “How many lollies do you think you’d like tonight?” or “What should we do with the leftovers?” This builds trust and helps them learn internal cues rather than relying on strict rules.
4. Encourage them to check in with their body
Try asking, “How’s your tummy feeling right now?” or “Do you think you might start to feel a bit sick if you kept eating?”
It’s not about guilt, it’s about helping them get curious about their body’s signals and building trust with those cues.
4. Model a relaxed approach.
Enjoy treats around your kids without guilt or big reactions. If you show ease, they’ll mirror that.
5. Avoid hiding or restricting too tightly.
When kids know lollies will disappear or be locked away, they’ll try to eat as many as they can while they can. Predictable access helps them regulate naturally.
Practical Strategies for Managing Lollies (for Everyone)
Eat regular meals. A balanced dinner with protein, carbs, and fats before the treats helps prevent the “I can’t stop” hunger spiral.
Keep lollies visible but boring. When they’re not forbidden or hidden, they lose their shiny-toy appeal.
Plan leftovers. Decide ahead of time — keep a few favourites, share the rest, make into rocky road or just pace them over the next few weeks?
Practise mindful eating. Choose a lolly, slow down, and actually taste it. The goal isn’t to control, it’s to experience and enjoy.
Normalise the day after. If you or your child ate more than planned, resist the urge to “make up for it.” Regular meals, water, and compassion are all that’s needed.
Reflect without judgement. Ask yourself, “What might I have needed before that binge — food, rest, comfort, permission?” That’s where healing starts.
The Takeaway
Halloween lollies aren’t the problem, it’s our relationship with them that matters.
When you remove restriction and guilt, they stop being something you lose control around and become just another enjoyable part of life.
If you’re working on binge eating or emotional eating, Halloween can actually be a great time to practise permission and mindfulness. You’re not failing — you’re learning.
Need Extra Support?
If you’re finding it hard to stop the binge–guilt cycle or to feel calm around lollies, support from a dietitian can make a huge difference.
I help people rebuild trust with food, understand their body’s signals, and find a peaceful balance that lasts, for both adults and kids.
Book an appointment with me today and let’s work together to make food feel easier.
Not ready to book but want to learn more? Download my FREE Binge Eating Recovery Workbook here.