Halloween’s Scariest Dietary Secrets

Posted by Ben:

It’s now the middle of October, so if you haven’t already put out your Halloween decorations, carved your pumpkins and bought your candy, you only have a few more days to get ready before the big night. But aside from the ghastly ghost and ghouls running around and scary stories being told in the dark, do you know the really scary details of this sweet-intensive holiday?

 
 
No, I’m not talking about the origins of Halloween, or All Hallows' Eve. That's a different kind of scary. Modern day Halloween has become a feast of sweets and treats, and with the sugar rush comes a truly dark side to October 31st.
 

Indeed, the scariest part of Halloween is the massive intake of sugar and candy to the detriment of our health and our teeth. I remember gathering bagfuls of my favorite candy and hording it all away in a giant stash of chocolaty gooey goodness in my closet. I’d eat candy for days and days after Halloween was over, ruining the healthy diet my mom tried so hard to keep us kids on.
 

So what are the hard facts? Well, to give you a taste of the nutritional hit during this holiday, here are some facts on the more popular treats handed out to young trick-or-treaters:
 

• Snickers fun size:  71 calories, 4g fat, 1g saturated fat
• Milky Way fun size:  77 calories, 3g fat, 2g saturated fat
• Skittles fun size:  81 calories, 1g fat, 1g saturated fat
• Butterfinger fun size:  83 calories, 3g fat, 2g saturated fat
• Almond Joy fun size:  91 calories, 5g fat, 3g saturated fat
• M&M’s fun size:  74 calories, 3.3g fat, 2g saturated fat
• Kit Kat fun size:  78 calories, 3.9g fat, 2.7g saturated fat
• Reeses Peanut Butter Cup snack size:  100 calories, 6g fat, 2.5g saturated fat

Source: www.fatsecret.com

Now, those numbers may not seem so bad at first. But what are the chances that your kids or grandkids or any other kids will eat just one piece of candy at a time? I know I sure didn't hold back as a kid. You can't have just one piece, that's almost impossible. So even though they're labeled as "fun size" or "snack size," when eat you five or six at a time the calories and fat add up quick.
 

Obesity rates are climbing in this country, especially among children. Can we really afford to miss this yearly opportunity to teach our children and grandchildren about the importance of healthy eating? I’m not saying we should ban candy or Halloween or do away with tradition. But I do think we can use this time to show how we can enjoy food in moderation, including sweets.
 

I discovered an excellent article posted at 365halloween.com that offers up a lot of healthy ideas, including substitution ideas for your favorite home-baked treats that may come in handy over the next week or two. Check out all their ideas here.
 

But I want to know what you think. How do you celebrate Halloween? Do you do anything to try to balance out the fats and sweets with healthy eating options? And because we’re having an employee costume contest here at Swanson Health Products, I need to know what your favorite costumes are so I have some inspiration to work with!

 
Posted by Ben