Enjoy some Halloween candy

Who doesn’t like some left over Halloween candy?  My husband showed me an article about the “best and worst Halloween candies” apparently ranked by dietitians.  The article was interesting and we will give some highlights.  I don’t expect Halloween candy or any candy to be healthy.  But, if it has some chocolate, there is some nutritional value to chocolate.  And nuts – say hello to peanut M&M’s or PayDays.  Candies that contains some chocolate and/or nuts at least provide some nutritional value.  Read about what candies dietitians rated the highest and why.

How do two dietitians rank some popular Halloween candy? 

Dietitian 1 Ranked the top 3 as:

  • PayDay - one of my favorites.  Ranked number 1 because it contains peanuts and chocolate.  This candy bar actually provides some protein, up to 7 grams depending on the size you buy.  And surprising for a candy, PayDay provides some fiber, about 2 grams.  One of these candy bars is not only a sweet treat but the fiber and protein help fill you up.  (Nuts are so healthy, see Enjoy a handful of nuts a day for good health.)
  • Twizzlers – These wouldn’t be on my list, but one dietitian ranked them second.  The reason a dietitian gave this candy high marks is that is has no fat, especially no saturated fat.  But it does provide a lot of sugar and no real nutritional value.  This candy is really just a treat.
  • York Peppermint Patties – These patties are also ranked high because these candies are low in saturated fat.  I am not sure what candies are actually high in saturated fat but this dietitian focuses a lot on fat content.  I like peppermint patties and one big advantage is that they have chocolate, which helps boost, at least a little, the nutritional value of this candy.  

Dietitian 2 Ranked the top 3 candies as:

  • York Peppermint Patties – this dietitian notes the ingredients in peppermint patties are mostly “real” ingredients.  The ingredient that you may not recognize is “polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR).  But the dietitian notes this ingredient is listed as not a chemical to be concerned about by the Center for the Science in the Public Interest.  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also has this ingredient on the GRAS list – the Generally Recognized as Safe list. 
  • 100 Grand – these used to be called the $100,000 Bar.  These bars contain milk chocolate, caramel and crisped rice.  Ranked number 2 as this candy has no “questionable artificial ingredients”. 
  • PayDay – 2 dietitians rank the PayDay in their top 3.  I also would rank the PayDay high because of the peanuts and the chocolate.  
PayDays provide some protein and fiber.

 

If your kid comes home with a lot of candy this year, what are some candies ranked at the bottom by these 2 dietitians?  Skittles goes to the bottom because they say these candies have no nutritional value and are mostly sugar.  Starburst is another ranked low because for some it seems addictive.  Also, very high in sugar.  Not just “sugar” but also corn syrup.  The oil in these candies is palm oil, which is high in saturated fat and not a heart healthy oil.  Then there are all the artificial colors:  “red 40, yellow 5, yellow 6, and blue 1” so not the best choice. 

The dietitians recommend you enjoy some Halloween candy.  Putting treats like candy “off limits” can be damaging to your and your kids’ “long-term eating habits”.  Instead, enjoy these treats, but in moderation.  I know some people bring the extra bags of candy to work for their co-workers to enjoy as they don’t want the temptation at their house.  And nothing wrong with that.  Or, pull out some PayDays and Peppermint Patties and know you are getting some nutritional value. 

Sources:  article , PayDay , Twizzlers , York Peppermint Patties , 100 Grand , contain , candy , colors Image sources:  Payday    , Patties , Grand

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Stay Hydrated This Summer

Image
At long last, SUMMER!!    With the heat and humidity, we need to focus on staying hydrated.   Water is always a good choice for hydration.    MSN has an interesting article on  5 Easy Ways to Stay Hydrated This Summer .   Stay away from the sugar sweetened beverages loaded with sugar and calories.   Yes, enjoying some lemonade is fun but it is not a juice and it is loaded with added sugar.    What are some ways to stay hydrated?   How do you know you need hydration?   Thirst is the first sign of becoming dehydrated.   Your body is telling you to drink more fluids.   Eight cups is a good goal but you may need even more when exercising outside or being outside in the heat. Unsweetened Coffee – most people think coffee dehydrates you, but coffee is a fluid and can count towards your daily fluid intake.   And coffee can help you feel more alert and keep you energized.     Unsweetened Ice Tea – ice tea is a favorite in the South.    Skip the added sugar.   Or if you must have som
Read more

Get Ready for New Food Labels!

Image
This week the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced proposed changes in our food labels.    Major changes in the food labels appearing on everything from chips to soup haven’t changed much in 20 years.   So what are some of the proposed changes? Serving sizes – ever look at the serving size on ice cream.   It states one half cup is the serving size, yet who eats only one half cup?   In teaching my nutrition class, I show a video in which the dietitian notes the one half cup serving size on ice cream.   The students are always surprised it is so low.   When I told my husband, he insisted that one half cup was too low and went to the freezer to prove it.   Of course, the ice cream container verified that one half cup is the serving.   So one of the proposed food label changes is to increase the serving size on foods such as ice cream to reflect what people actually eat.   Thus, for ice cream the serving size will increase from one half cup to one cup.   FDA notes , By law,
Read more

Easy food habits to adopt for a healthier you in 2023.

Image
So many people develop New Year’s Resolutions focusing on giving up things or on losing weight.   Why not focus on adopting some healthier habits in 2023 and some healthier lifestyle changes?   Last year I discussed some recommendation by a   nutritionist in London, Kate Llewellyn-Waters, on how you can adopt a healthier lifestyle.   Below are some of her easy-to- adopt suggestions and I have added some suggestions of my own. Protein at every meal – Protein is filling and helps stave off those hunger pains between meals.   What are some high quality protein foods?   All animal foods provide high quality protein.   Focus on lean proteins like chicken breasts.   Chicken and other lean meats, provide not only high-quality protein but also many nutrients like iron, zinc, selenium and many B vitamins.   B vitamins are known as the energy vitamins as they help your body produce the energy needed for all your activities.   A top-rated protein is found in eggs.   Actually, eggs are rated
Read more