Halloween help: learn how to survive the candy craze

October 28, 8:59 AMPhiladelphia Healthy Food ExaminerStacey Matthews

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Halloween candy

Photo credi: amykclark

Halloween is right around the corner. We all know ghosts and goblins can be scary but there is something else to beware of this Halloween....candy!!!

The sugars in candy can reek havoc on your teeth but can also leave your thighs with a few extra dimples. Did you know, if you maintain your normal eating habits and eat just 3 Halloween sized candy bars each day for 1 week you could gain up to 1/2 a pound? It's true, each miniature candy bar contains approximately 80 calories- that is an extra 240 calories per day!

Follow these tips so you and your family can have a happy and healthy Halloween.

Trick-Instead of handing out your favorite candy, give the trick-or-treaters a type of candy you dislike. Chances are you will be less likely to snack on leftovers!

Treat- Everyone deserves a treat once in awhile but instead of eating candy, (which is packed with sugar and provides no nutrients) try to satisfy a craving with something sweet but more nutritious such as pumpkin bread.

Still craving candy? Usually 3-5 bites can satisfy a craving, so pick a piece (or two) of your favorite candy and chew it at least 20 times making sure to enjoy the texture and flavor.

Once the week is done, stop the fun- Have everybody in the family put a maximum of 14 pieces of their favorite candy aside for the week. This is enough to have 1-2 pieces per day for 1 full week, after that put the candy dish away & donate leftover candy to a local shelter or an orphanage.  Many children don't get to go trick-or-treating and they would greatly appreciate the donation. Just remember you should never skip meals to make room for candy or sweets.

Walk it off -Increase your activity to burn off some of those extra calories. Walking is great exercise and virtually everyone can participate, click on the link to figure out how much walking you must do to burn off your favorite  Halloween treats.

For more information contact: stacey@staceymatthewsnutrition.com