What scares a lot of us about Halloween has nothing to do with bats or ghosts: It's the prospect of all that candy within arm's reach. Most of us, in fact, succumb.

According to the National Confectioners Association, 90 percent of parents admit to snitching candy from their children's trick-or-treat bags. Two 50-calorie bite-size candy bars may not seem like much, but 100 extra calories a day for a year can result in a 10-lb. weight gain. That's why you need a "candy plan" for this chocolaty season. Follow these tips to prevent Tootsie Rolls from turning into belly rolls.

Delay Purchase

If you have trouble resisting sugar's siren song, postpone purchasing your treats until Oct. 31. For extra insurance, buy the kind of candy you like least.

Substitute

Is Halloween night your caloric Waterloo? Win the battle by eating a nutritious dinner before you answer the doorbell. Also, make a healthy, low-cal snack and munch on that while handing out goodies. Air-popped popcorn -- coated with no-cal butter-flavored spray and sprinkled with your choice of cinnamon, Parmesan cheese or Cajun or ranch seasoning -- is ideal, says Cynthia Sass, co-author of Your Diet Is Driving Me Crazy.

Execute your candy plan

It's just like you tell the kids: A little candy won't hurt you, but don't overindulge. Select only the candy you like best and bundle what you plan to consume into sandwich bags that add up to no more than 100 calories each. (This is about two bite-size candy bars.) Then factor one pack into the calories you allot to yourself each day, suggests Melinda Johnson, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. That means you eat this 100-calorie treat instead of something else, not in addition to what you normally consume.

Out of sight, off your hips

Studies show that we're more likely to eat food when it's visible, so clear that counter! Keep Halloween goodies out of your line of vision until the doorbell rings. When the kids bring home their haul, "Put it in a sealed container, in a cupboard," where it won't tempt you, advises Sass. If you can't trust yourself not to nibble, "Give custody of the candy to the strong-willed person in the house," suggests Malena Perdomo, of the American Dietetic Association.