Better Halloween Candy Choices
I'm looking forward to this weekend because it's my birthday! I planned a trip to the spa and then will be going out for dinner later that night. It's hard to believe that Halloween is just around the corner! Are you looking forward to it? Have you decided what kind of candy you will be handing out this year? It is impossible to avoid Halloween candy altogether, especially if you have kids. I never get many trick-or-treaters at my house, so I usually end up with all of the leftover candy. Last year I got something I would eat, but the year before, I purposely got something that I couldn't eat so I could give all of the leftover candy away. When picking out Halloween candy, you don't have to go with the standard Snickers or Smarties. The kids will probably love them, but there are some much healthier candy options out there that will not only be better for the kids, but, if you're eating all of the leftovers, they will be better for you too! If you are looking for healthier options, there are several ingredients to look out for when picking out your candy:
Artificial coloring - food dyes are are in most candies, so beware of that. They have been linked to cancer, behavioral problems, and asthma. Look for a color with a number after it. (Ex: Red 40) You can find some candy that is not artificially colored and is dyed with something natural such as beet juice.
High fructose corn syrup - This is in most candy, but the gummy candies especially. This is just another form of sugar, and it's the one we want to avoid the most. So, if you are looking for healthier options, this is a huge one to try to avoid.
Those are just 2 ingredients that I would recommend avoiding. I also recommend avoiding any ingredient that you can't pronounce as this is likely an artificial ingredient that was created in a lab that we probably should not be consuming. My recommendations when picking candy out:
Look for candy with the least number of ingredients, and preferably ones that you recognize. (try to avoid the ones listed above though if possible)
You can go to a health food store such as Whole Foods, Sprouts, or whatever you have in your area, and find more natural candy. You can look for organic candy, and a lot of these will be allergy free (which is something we have to be careful with nowadays as many kids have food allergies), non-GMO, corn syrup free, and free from artificial colors. These tend to be a little more expensive, but try not to buy more than you think you will need. Last year I bought Yum Earth Lollipops. They were free from all of that stuff, and they actually tasted pretty good - just like a normal sucker. There are many other brands out there that have healthier options.
You can hand out something other than candy. I remember, when I was a kid, getting peanuts (this is something that you need to be careful of now as so many kids have peanut allergies), raisins, and sometimes even non-food items. This, of course, was not as exciting as getting candy, but it will definitely be better for the kids health.
If you do choose to hand out standard Halloween candy instead of opting for the healthier options, and you are stuck with a bunch of leftovers, I would recommend bringing it into work to share or there are even places that you can donate it to. I know it is so tempting this time of the year to eat Halloween candy, and sometimes even a lot of it! If you find yourself a few pounds heavier after Halloween, and would like to jump start your weight loss or reset your body, I offer several programs that can help you do that. Check them out by clicking here. This is the beginning of the time of the year that many of us spiral out of control...Thanksgiving will be next and then the all of the Christmas cookies, candy, and holiday parties. What better time to start! Also, if you are interested in a free Discovery Session, click here.
