Nutrition

31 October 2011

Halloween Candy!!!



This is the beginning of the toughest time of the year. Starting at Halloween and ending on Valentine’s Day, Americans put on an average of about 10 pounds. The holiday season has many speed bumps that can slow down your health and wellness goals. This is why we need to be ready and make better choices during these challenges.

The first one is Halloween and with all the candy, it really starts us off with a bang. The best choice is to avoid all of the candy and sweets in the first place. This is easier said than done, so we can at least try to choose the better options for an occasional indulgence.

 

Stay away from snickers! Your children may love the house on the block that gives out the full candy bars. If you eat one of these with them it will cost you almost 300 calories. This may not taste the same or be similar in any way, but if you have a roll of Smarties you will only have consumed 25 calories.

Almond Joy has coconut and almonds, that must be healthy right? Wrong! This bar alone will give you 50% of recommended daily amount of fat for your day. If you go for a snack size York Peppermint Patty, that will only be 60 calories.

Skittles may look fruity but they are not even close. They contain 47 grams of sugar, which is equal to about 10 teaspoons of sugar. Go for the Starburst which are only 15 calories per square.

I could go on all day but when we feel like we need something sweet, go for a stick of sugar free gum. It is only 5 calories, it will last you a while and there are so many different flavors available.

Good luck and have a Happy Halloween!