Cheap candy
Don't Get Tricked by Your Treats
Nearly one quarter of annual candy sales -- the equivalent of $2 billion -- occur around Halloween. That's a lot of sugar. But if you think it's just Snickers and Butterfingers dominating the supermarket aisles, you're missing the many off-brand, cheap candy options for this fun fall holiday. The standard sweets often go on sale in the days leading up to Halloween, but bags of generic candies can be found for less than a dollar at some retail outlets.
Sounds enticing, for sure. But is cheap candy too much of a good thing? The average child collects at least 50 pieces of candy on Halloween, according to a poll on KidsHealth, and 25 percent eat it all within a week. Ingesting this many sweets at such a rapid clip may lead to health problems, such as stomach aches and cavities. Excessive candy consumption can also get kids all wound up and then crash hard when the energy is spent. There's no definitive link between candy consumption and obesity in children, although eating too many sweets can make kids too full to eat a proper meal, thus robbing children of the nutrients vital to their growth.
Then there's the matter of chemicals. Back in 2008, Cadbury recalled Chinese-made chocolates because they contained melamine, a chemical that has caused sickness and death. Some colorful candy also includes synthetic food dyes, such as Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6, which the Center for Science in the Public Interest claims can cause cancer.
And let's not forget the teeth. In an article posted on MSN, Dr. Margaret Mitchell, a Chicago dentist, says tacky or gummy candy that sticks to the teeth should be avoided. Hard candy and lollipops are also out because they can lead to tooth decay and tooth breakage.
So parents, what are your options? Assuming you decide to let your kids eat cheap candy or the name-brand varieties, the best strategy is to choose products with low levels of sugar and some nutritional value. Candy with nuts -- if your child isn't allergic to them -- is a possibility because nuts pack protein. One serving (nine pieces) of Hershey's Milk Chocolate with Almonds Kisses, for example, delivers 4 grams of protein along with 200 calories, 13 grams of fat, 20 grams of sugar, 1 gram of fiber, and small amounts of calcium and iron.
Sugar content seems unrelated to the price of candy or the name on the label. An individual packet of Sweetarts Skull and Bones, for example, has 12 grams of sugar and 50 calories and one Tootsie Roll Pop contains 10 grams of sugar and 60 calories. A serving (six pieces) of Bit-O'-Honey chews contains 19 grams of sugar and, with three grams of fat, climbs the calorie ladder to 160. That tally is bested by a five-piece serving of Hershey's miniature bars, which contain 22 grams of sugar, 13 grams of fat, and 210 calories.
But rather than fighting the sugar and empty calories packed into cheap Halloween candy treats, try offering healthier alternatives in food or toy form:
Dried fruit sort of looks like candy but contains at least some vitamins and minerals. Hand out a mini box of raisins or dried cranberries.
Nutless trail mix is a cinch to make, with equal parts raisins and antioxidant-friendly dark chocolate bits.
Mini bags of popcorn can be popped at home after the neighborhood crawl and enjoyed while watching a Halloween movie.
Pumpkin seeds boast a name that suits the holiday and provide fiber and iron, but beware the salt.
Pretzel sticks are another salty departure from all the sweetness; buy in bulk and package into small plastic bags in your kitchen.
Stickers scream out to younger kids, who love to decorate school binders and notebooks.
Colored pencils and erasers are take-aways that won't disappear overnight and can be put to good use for upcoming holiday art projects.
