Halloween Candy in Moderation

Halloween is a fun holiday, but can be nutritionally challenging for everyone in the house, including parents. Studies show that more than 90 percent of children go trick-or-treating and 90 percent of parents eat treats from their children’s candy bags.
Sound familiar?
Even though we take an “everything in moderation” approach to eating, the majority of us have little room in our diet for “discretionary” calories (those calories from foods that provide no nutritional value.) So, it is important to know how many extra calories these Halloween treats provide. “Everything in moderation” becomes hard to do when the Halloween bag lasts until Thanksgiving! Below are some average numbers.

1 “fun size” chocolate candy bar: 80-100 calories
1 “bite size” chocolate candy bar: 40-55 calories
25 small jelly beans: 140 calories
20 pieces of candy corn: 100 calories
2 caramel chews: 80 calories
Licorice (3 sticks): 130 calories

The caloric content of these candies may not seem too high, but if you eat two, three or even more treats per day, those extra calories can add up quickly. It only takes an extra 250 calories per day above your daily caloric needs to make you gain ½ pound each week.
Here are ideas to protect yourself from extra calories, but still keep Halloween fun for kids.
• Hand out non-edible Halloween treats that kids love like glow-in-the-dark stickers, glow sticks, rubber creepy crawly snakes, spiders, worms, Halloween themed rings, bracelets, hair bands, pencils, crayon packs or washable tattoos. Dollar stores or online novelty stores often carry these fun treats.
• Out of sight, out of mind. Don’t keep the leftover candy in a bowl on the counter. Keep the candy in a cabinet or freezer so you or your kids won’t be tempted to grab just “one piece” every time you pass by.
• Make your own 100 calorie treat bags. Pack some snack size bags with a couple pieces of candy that equals 100 calories. It’s an alternative to the 100 calorie snack chip bags you buy at the store.
• Hand out candy that doesn’t appeal to you! The leftovers won’t be as tempting.
• Hand out sugar-free gum packs.
• Wait until the day of Trick-or-Treating to buy candy to give out.
• Increase your exercise so you can fit in the extra “discretionary” calories!
• Set a time line. Throw away any uneaten candy by November 7.
• Limit yourself to one “treat” per day and enjoy every bite!

Adapted from mom-rd.com