Posts Tagged: Candy
Halloween kicks off the season of sweets
The season of sweets begins for many children at the end of October with a large bag of trick-or-treat candy, and then continues in earnest with the traditional candy-giving holidays of Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Easter. Children's access to so much candy has many parents asking how much is too much.
Candy occupies a very tiny slice of MyPyramid, the USDA’s dietary guideline. MyPyramid places candy in a category called “extras.” For children aged 2 to 8 years old, it recommends no more than 170 calories per day of “extras” – which would be two-thirds of a Snickers bar, one pack of Starburst or 17 Whoppers.
Michele Fisch, program representative for the Placer County UC Cooperative Extension Nutrition BEST program, gathered suggestions that will help parents enforce limits on their children’s candy consumption.
- Set a specific amount for each week and stick to it. Inform children of the limit and allow them to help decide when to indulge.
- Out of sight, out of mind. After a night of trick-or-treating, allow for a few pieces of candy and then put the rest out of sight. Most children will forget it is around within a few days.
- Help other families with the battle by offering something other than sweets for children. Small cans of play dough, boxes of crayons, and other toys can now be purchased easily where you shop for candy.
- Keep sweet but healthy alternatives around the house for snacks. Fresh fruit and yogurt are good choices.
- It's never a good idea to reward children with sweets. Instead offer love and praise for a job well done.
16 M&Ms fulfill a child's limit of "extras."
Sacramento Bee runs strange candy review
Valentine's Day 2010 is history, but with Easter around the corner, candy season is still in full swing. That justifies a look at a peculiar Valentine's-themed story from the Sacramento Bee about the possible nutritional benefits of candy, which was picked up by the Sun Sentinel in Florida this week.
"What if candy were as good for you as it is good tasting?" reporter Carlos Alcalá mused hopefully. "Some ingredients in candy may be healthful, but does that make the candy beneficial?"
Alcalá came up with reasons why specific candy might do a body good (listed below in parens), then provided the expert opinion on those purported nutrition benefits from UC Davis nutrition professor Judith Stern.
Almond Joy (High in fiber?)
"It's better than some of the bigger bars," Stern was quoted. "We don't get enough fiber, (but) it wouldn't be your first choice."
Sweet's Cinnamon Bears (Cinnamon lowers cholesterol, relieves arthritis and improves memory?)
"There's probably not enough cinnamon and it's mostly candy. It's calories. Brush your teeth afterward," Stern said.
Young and Smylie Licorice (Licorice helps with peptic ulcers, HIV infections, skin problems, hepatitis, PMS and more?)
"I don't think you want to take it for health," Stern told the reporter. Even if licorice root is beneficial, "I don't know that 11 pieces (per serving) would be enough."
3 Musketeers (Label says "45% less fat"?)
"The problem is the serving size," Stern said. The bar's 260 calories are more than an eighth of the daily allocation for an average woman.
York Peppermint Pattie (Peppermint oil effective in relieving irritable bowel syndrome?)
"Look where you find it on the list of ingredients," Stern advised. Alcalá noted that sugar and corn syrup are first and second on the list. "And the oil of peppermint at the way end," Stern added.
Dark Chocolate Raisinets (Label says, "Natural source of fruit antioxidants"?)
"Antioxidants are fine. You usually don't get much from chocolate," Stern was quoted. "What I care about with chocolate, please, is taste."
Snickers (Peanuts contain protein?)
"Most people get plenty of protein," Stern said. "You're not eating it for nutrition. You're eating it for the taste."
Starburst (50 percent of daily value of Vitamin C?)
"Mostly what you get from Starburst is sugar," Stern said. "It's like adding Vitamin C to Pepsi."
Judith Stern, left, and colleague Linda Bacon.
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