Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween & Trick-or-Treat!

Don’t let the Trick-or-Treat candy trick you into extra calories this Halloween!

Did you know that an extra 100 calories per day can lead to a 10 pound weight gain per year! Calories add up so fast that you really need to be mindful of every bite you put in your mouth. Including fun size candy bars! What’s 100 calories?

All of the following are 100 calories or close to it!

4 Hersey Kisses
3 Laffy taffies
1 fun size Mr. Goodbar
2 small boxes of Mike and Ikes
2 Reese’s mini cups
1 fun size Reese’s PB cup
5 small tootsie rolls
2 tootsie roll bars

Your favorite candy not on the list? Get more nutrition facts at Food Pedia

Here are some tips to help you and your children mange all of that Halloween candy.

1.       Treat yourself! (Anyone watch Parks and Rec?) Allow a little splurge, but stay mindful.

-Keep the wrappers visible so that you can see how much you are eating.  
-Let your kids handle their candy. You may ask them to pick 5 of their favorite candies to have that evening. And ask them to put what they don’t like so much in another pile. Get rid of it or put it up, “out of sight, out of mind!” Some experts are even recommending to buy the candy from your kids…I don’t know about that one.   
-Take the rest of the candy and divide them up into 100 calorie baggies.         

I watched a good episode of The Middle this past week. The mother told her son that he could have as much candy as he wanted that night but the next day they were going to donate. The boy took this as a challenge and ate an entire pillow case full of candy! So, please don’t challenge your children.

   2.       Help the neighborhood kids by giving out kid friendly alternatives to sugar packed candy:

Stickers, Party Favors, Pretzels, Miniature flash lights, Silly putty
Raisins, Dried Fruit

I have actually heard of a lot of parents doing this and the kids don’t mind it.

3.       Take that extra candy and DONTATE it to the troops! The Halloween Candy Buy Back Program! Halloween Candy Buyback Program

Since B and I don't have little ones we are getting off easy because I know some of you are saying "you try and tell my kid they can only eat 5 peices of candy!" Good Luck! I am avoiding the candy all together. We didn't even buy any this year.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Be safe!!

Continue reading as I continue my mission: Healthy Huggins!