Sunday, November 1, 2020

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.  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.  
Peanuts provide protein and some 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

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