The weather is getting colder, coffee orders are getting hotter and pumpkins and spiderwebs are turning up in odd places. Halloween has arrived, and with it, giant bags of candy lining every supermarket shelf.

If you're trying to watch what you eat, Halloween can mark the beginning of a period of time which will test your willpower and strength. From pre-Halloween celebrations to Thanksgiving, all the way to Christmas and New Years, it's not going to be an easy ride.

Let's start this holiday season off right with a Halloween that won't leave you regretting your decisions. Here are 5 ways to stay on track this Halloween, before, during, and after the festivities. 

1. Buy --- and eat --- the right candy.

Not all candy is created equal. For those trying to lead a healthy lifestyle, there are some treats on par with the devil incarnate. Some of the worst offenders include the extraordinarily popular candy corn and the pumpkin-shaped Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Avoid these at all costs when at the grocery store or the local CVS.

Opt for candies with a dark chocolate base (at least 70% cocoa content is essential), as dark chocolate contains healthy antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, and helps to control blood sugar levels. Other smart choices are Peppermint Patties, Smarties, Dum-Dums, and mini versions of your favorite indulgences for portion control.

2. Water, water, and more water.

Be sure to drink the recommended eight glasses of water a day during the days leading up to Halloween, the day of Halloween, and after Halloween. This is crucial because it will help your body manage the extreme influx of sugar.

Sugar is not good for the body, especially in large amounts. It has been shown that even small amounts of sugar can be severely harmful to our bodies. In the world we live in, however, sugar is everywhere, and so we must learn how to counteract its potentially damaging effects.

By drinking lots of water before, during, and after the sweets onslaught, you will help your body flush out the toxic material. Sugar also causes dehydration and bloat, both of which can be countered with large water consumption.

3. Avoid all other liquids.

Do not sabotage yourself by doubling up on sugar and calorie intake in the form of liquids. Stick to one indulgence for the night -- either candy or your choice Halloween treat. Avoid all other unhealthy options on the night of Halloween. Fizzy sodas, sweet juices, alcoholic beverages, hot chocolate, pumpkin-flavored coffee drinks and hot apple cider are very popular this time of year. Unfortunately, they are full of empty, sugar-laden calories that your body does not need, especially not on Halloween. Make your calories count. 

4. Eat before you go out for the night.

Maintaining some semblance of willpower and avoiding over-indulging on unhealthy Halloween treats becomes increasingly difficult when you're already hungry. The vitamins and minerals the body needs when hungry are not going to be found in the sweets offered to you on Halloween night. In order to prevent your body from nutrient starvation, and therefore prevent overeating to some extent, load up on healthy meals throughout the day. Eating foods high in healthy fats, water content and nutrients -- such as avocados, nuts, and leafy greens -- will help keep you full throughout the night. That way, the candy will be a snack instead of your main meal.

5. Finish off your leftover goodies the right way.

Halloween is over, but the aftermath remains to tempt you for weeks to follow. Instead of letting your candy linger on shelves until Thanksgiving --- or even until New Years --- whip up a couple of easy recipes that lend a healthy twist to otherwise unhealthy ingredients. Give your reinvented candy treats to friends, coworkers and teachers to avoid eating it all yourself. Candy corn by itself is dangerous, but a few pieces combined with healthy, nutritious fats such as nuts, seeds and dried fruits will create a healthy, yummy Candy Corn Trail Mix. Candy corn can also be combined with low-calorie popcorn and crunchy, salty pretzels to create Candy Corn Popcorn, a Halloween-inspired movie snack. Or dip chocolate-covered bananas into Reese's Peanut Butter Cup pieces and freeze them to make Frozen Reese's Banana Pops, a great dessert treat for those with more of a sweet tooth. There are endless possibilities, and these recipes will get the temptation out of your house in time for the second round of holiday feasts. It will be here faster than you think.

Reach Staff Reporter Ashley Seruya here.