Be The Healthy U!
  • Healthy Blog
  • Healthy Recipes
  • Online Cooking Classes
  • I Can Help
  • 28-Day Program
  • Healthy Dog Blog
  • About Terri
  • Resources
  • Ask Dr. Terri
  • Testimonials

Halloween Dilemma

10/31/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Sugar here, sugar there, sugar, sugar everywhere! Halloween originated as a celebration dedicated to remembering the dead. One of today’s Halloween traditions is for kids to dress up in costumes of their favorite heroes and characters, and as soon as the sun goes down, go out trick-or-treating, which essentially means that they knock on doors and ask for a treat (typically candy) and threaten a trick (prank) if they don’t get a treat.

So here’s my dilemma: I love all the trick-or-treaters that come to my house in all their cute little costumes, and I love to give them treats! However, I know that sugar is highly addictive, makes people fat, rots teeth, and is detrimental to good health. So how can I feel good about handing out individually-wrapped sugar bombs? Sure, I can say that it’s all in good fun. They’re not my kids. I won’t have to deal with the sugar highs and crashes. C’est la vie.

I can give out healthier treats, but that most likely would have to be something I make myself. And what parent in their right mind would let their kids eat something that’s homemade and given to their kids by a complete stranger? Besides, I remember when I was kid. Those were the kind of treats that I didn’t want anyway. So that’s out.

As I was searching the seasonal candy isle in my local grocery store and about to give up because I couldn’t find any sugar-free candy, I found YumEarth Organics Organic Pops. Hmmm. “Made with Real Fruit Juice”. Hmmm. According to Phil Lempert, TODAY Show food editor, “The BEST Lollipop I’ve ever tasted”. Hmmm. “No High Fructose Corn Syrup”. I like that!

The ingredient list includes organic evaporated cane juice, organic brown rice syrup, non-gmo citric acid from beet (not corn) sugar, natural flavors, organic black carrots, organic black currant, organic apple, organic carrot, organic pumpkin, and ascorbic acid.

Ok, I know, the first two ingredients are sugar, and that’s still a lot of sugar. However, these pops use unrefined sugars that have a lower glycemic index (55 and 25 respectively) than white sugar (64) or high fructose corn syrup (62), meaning they have less of an effect on blood sugar levels. Of course, I would prefer to have found candies with an even lower glycemic index rating. Maybe next year.

I decided to try one. You know, test it out before giving it out. OMG – these are REALLY GOOD!!! I won’t feel like I’m tricking the kids tonight with something they’re not going to like!

Other alternatives include peanut M&M’s, preferably with dark chocolate, since the peanuts have protein, fiber, and other nutrients, and dark chocolate has antioxidants. Or Planters sells boxes of individually-wrapped nuts, which have protein, fiber, and nutrients, without the sugar.

I’d love to hear what healthier alternatives you’ve used for trick-or-treaters! Please leave a comment.

Happy Halloween!

Resources
  • http://www.fitsugar.com/Glycemic-Index-Where-Do-Sweeteners-Fall-3031565


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Terri Quenzer, PhD

    Terri has a passion for good health and for helping others find happiness in themselves through better health! Through her scientific and life experiences, her goal is to help you reach your healthy goals!

    ​Be The Healthy U!: nominated for San Diego's Best Nutrition/Cooking Classes of 2016!

    Picture
    Catch Terri's interview about plant-based nutrition on KCQB 1170 AM - click here.

    How Not to Die: Terri interviews New York Times Bestselling Author Michael Greger, MD. Listen below.
    Terri speaks with Jordan Hoffman of Jordan Hoffman Acupuncture about what to eat and East vs West.
    Picture

    Click Here To Sign Up For Your Free Newsletter

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    September 2017
    May 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012

    Categories

    All