Archive for October, 2010

Trick, or Treat? by Becky Vaschak OSU Dietetic Intern

Sunday, October 31st, 2010

The Not So Sweet on Halloween Candy!

Fall has arrived! The changing of the leaves not only brings about all things pumpkin but signifies Halloween is just around the  corner.  While ghosts and ghouls can frighten many, the plethora of candy can certainly frighten your diet! Even though Halloween is one night only, the endless amounts of sweets can haunt your house (and mind!) for many days after.  So if you’re looking for a treat to satisfy that sweet tooth, do so in moderation!  Choosing the fun size portion is a great way to indulge in your favorite Halloween candy but without adding a lot of extra calories or pounds to your day. Here are the calorie listings for some favorite fun size treats:

Reese’s Peanut  Butter Cups (2 cups): 232 cals,  13 g fat

York Peppermint Pattie (1.5 oz): 165 cals, 3 g fat

Kit Kat (2 mini bars): 104 cals, 5 g fat

M&M’s Peanut (10 pcs): 103 cals, 5 g fat

Almond Joy (fun size): 91 cals, 5 g fat

Baby Ruth (fun size): 83 cals, 4 g fat

Milky Way (fun size): 78 cals, 3 g fat

Snickers (fun size): 74 cals, 3.5 g fat

Hershey’s Milk Chocolate (fun size): 67 cals, 4 g fat

M&M’s Milk Chocolate (10 pcs):  34 cals, 1.5 g fat

Some sweet solutions to help curb your sweet tooth:

  • Always opt for the fun size version
  • Portion control! Limit yourself to one piece a day
  • Keep candy out of sight
  • Try fruit for a snack or dessert.  Frozen grapes offer sweetness and a crunch!
  • Explore the dark chocolate version if available to pack in some antioxidants

So don’t let Halloween scare you away from enjoying some of your favorites.  There are many different ways to curb a sweet craving without adding a lot of extra calories.  Explore and find out what works for you!