…or is it????
Did you get to go out and trick or treat with your family over the weekend or were you one of the smart ones that stayed home and gave it out instead??? It doesn’t take a brain surgeon (or any doctor for that matter) to tell you that kids just LOVE candy. But did you know that as Americans, we eat almost 7 tablespoons on average of the stuff everyday! Sugar is hidden in a variety of different formats, such as sucrose, dextrose, or glucose, but almost all of it provides the empty calories that can be the fast track gateway to diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis. But there is an easy solution – simply try to eat less of it. Even the smallest change can and will make a difference to your overall health.
So think about your dentist’s offer to buy back your Halloween candy, (some offer up to a dollar for every pound of candy you bring in!) and try fooling your sweet tooth with one of these healthy snack alternatives instead:
- Fresh fruit
- Yogurt
- Homemade frozen Popsicle’s
- Baked apples
- Homemade Fruit smoothies
- Nuts and seeds
- Celery with peanut butter
- Raw carrot sticks, cucumber slices, green pepper wedges (or any fresh vegetables, for that matter) served with a small amount of yoghurt based dip or hummus
and of course, please always remember to brush your teeth or swish with water after you indulge – your dentist will love you for it.
