Practical Nutrition: Don't Get Bitten by Halloween Candy

On October 31, do your kids trick or treat, or attend alternative candy-filled activities? Do you greet superheroes, princesses and ghouls with treats, or do you cut out your lights and hide?

Whether or not you celebrate Halloween, you can't escape the extra candy around now. It's everywhere and conveniently packaged in fun-size portions.

Don't be fooled by those little sizes either. They still have calories, which add up quickly if you eat more than one. Find your favorite candy on the chart and see how it stacks up.

Many labels suggest two or three fun-size bars as one serving. One fun-size Snickers bar has 80 calories, 4 fat grams and 10.5 grams of carbohydrate. A regular-size Snickers (2 ounces) has 271 calories, 13.6 grams of fat, 34.5 grams of carbohydrate. Eating three small bars is almost the same as eating one full-size bar.

I took a casual poll among friends to determine the favorite Halloween candy. It turns out there are as many favorites as there are varieties. Many adults prefer some form of chocolate, with peanut-butter cups being popular. Kids like chocolate too, but prefer sugary Skittles, Gummy Worms, SweeTarts and Smarties. All ages like candy corn.

Enjoy your candy this Halloween, but try some of these strategies to help keep it under control. Remember, everything in moderation.

• Buy candy at the last minute, so you won't eat it all before the trick-or-treaters come. Buy candy you don't like, so you won't be tempted in the first place.

• Set a limit of what candy you and your family eat each day. Don't throw away the wrappers so you can keep track of what's eaten.

• Don't buy candy on sale the day after Halloween unless it has a specific purpose. It makes great stocking stuffers, but hide it with the presents so you won't be tempted.

• Donate leftovers to a worthy cause. Know anyone collecting candy for the troops? But don't take it to work. Those who have successfully removed temptation at home may not appreciate the renewed challenge.

• Some people opt to give out healthful treats instead of candy. Consider individual packs of pretzels, raisins, cheese and crackers, sugar-free gum, or healthful granola bars.

• Nonfood items are also gaining popularity. Some treats you may see are temporary tattoos, stickers, pencils, holiday erasers, small plastic toys, plastic jewelry, bubbles or glowsticks. You can even wrap up small amounts of loose change.

I have one friend who gives out full-size candy bars, and has yet to have his house toilet-papered or egged. Double-check your treat choices with a pint-sized expert so you won't get tricked.
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