Halloween Tips!

WOO! Halloween is on the way. We all know what that means….CANDY. and lot’s of it!

Now there’s only so much candy you can give away to your co-workers, your family and friends. And well, what’s Halloween without treating yourself to a delicious Reeses or Snickers bar (mini bar, that is!).

Here are some tips I was emailed from Ms. Beppel, on behalf of SELF Magazine- one of my favorite mags!

“Six Ways Candy Can Fight Disease and Weight Gain:

1.      Go to the Dark Side: A new study backs up the best excuse ever to eat a Milky Way Midnight: People who ate a little chocolate every day were 40 percent less likely to have a heart attack or stroke, according to the study in the European Heart Journal. Pick a piece of dark chocolate the size of a Hershey’s Kiss.

2.      Scare Up a Daily Splurge: Fans of fruity candy, rejoice! It’s not all about chocolate anymore. People who eat confections of any kind have a lower body-mass index and a smaller waist than their candy-skipping pals, researchers at Louisiana State University find. Balancing healthy eating with the occasional treat is key.

3.      Have a Ball: The corn in that sticky popcorn ball has fiber and antioxidants. Nuke 1/2 cup honey for 10 seconds; add 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips. Pour over 6 cups popcorn mixed with 1 cup salted peanuts. Stir; form into balls; chill on wax paper until firm.

For full list: http://www.self.com/takecareofyou/healthy-candy-slideshow#slide=1

Examples of guilt-free treats for under 200 calories

1.      4 Dove Dark Chocolate Promises = 168 calories. You get the benefit of dark chocolate’s antioxidant boost, plus inspiring motivational messages to get you in the mood to party.

2.      22  Tasty Brand Organic Fruit Snacks = 150 calories. Sweet and satisfying with no artificial colors, flavors or high fructose corn syrup.

3.      2 Dum Dums = 50 calories. You’ve been sucking on these gluten-free lollipops since you were a kid. Only decision? Cotton Candy vs. Cream Soda.

4.      Halloween Trick Mix = 130 calories. DIY treats that you put together in your kitchen are almost always a better bet, because you can control the ingredients. Mix 1/4 cup of Peanut Butter Puffins cereal with 1 tablespoon mini chocolate chips and 2 tablespoons chopped dried apricots. Bundle them up into individual portion bags tied with black and orange ribbon, and you’ll win the prize for most creative (and healthiest) snack.

5.    For full list: http://www.self.com/health/blogs/healthyself/2011/10/6-guilt-free-halloween-treats.html >
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PERFECT! Thank again SELF magazine for some awesome tips. Now, go enjoy yourself this Halloween but be safe! 🙂