Trick or Treat

Americans buy about 600 million pounds of candy during the Halloween season, which means that children could be on a endless sugar high straight through to the Super Bowl. While I'm sure no parent is under the fantasy that all this sugar is good for their kids, wouldn't it be nice to know how all these Halloween candies match up nutritionally..

There really is no "healthy" candy. There's more just "unhealthy" and "slightly less unhealthy".  Obviously no one is eating candy for its nutritional value, but none the less people especially kids are indulging in it around Halloween.  

While we know all candy is high in sugar some contain more than twice as much as some of the others.  Other differnces can be found in calories, unsaturated fat and staurated fat.  Beside these, a lot of these items contain quite a bit of trans fat, which, after "deadly poison," is probably the worst ingredient you could have in your food.


So what is the better choice the Reeses' Peanut Butter Cup or the Snickers?  M&M's or Skittles?  A KitKat or a Twix?  Iv'e put together side-by-side comparisons of some of Halloween's most popular candy choices to help you make the best choice this Halloween!

After your kids have done their door-to-door candy collecting you should determine a reasonable number of days they will be allowed to enjoy their candy (5-6 days is a good goal for this).  Have your child actively participate in dividing up their candy and making little treat bags they can enjoy, one each day. 


Most kids collect more candy then needed even after divided up.  Candy is 
supposed to be a treat so you don't want kids getting used to eating it everyday.


Now, what do you with all the left over candy after you have divided it up into several days of treats?!  There will definitely be extra candy kids should not eat.  Here are a few options:

1. You can put the candy in a plastic bag ad keep it in a cabinet for a later party or event. (Out of sight, out of mind.)
2. Save candy for Christmas to make a gingerbead house.
3. Send it to the troops or donate it to a shelter.

Turn this Halloween into a healthy and fun oppurtunity to teach your child how to make healthy choices!