Sally Squires, the Health and Nutrtion columnist for the
Washington Post, is one of the most cogent, sensible and
prolific writers on these subjects on the web. You should
bookmark her site and read her regularly. In this typically
insightful piece on Halloween eating issues, Sally discusses
ways to deal with the health issues raised by this holiday. Here
are some of her points. Dark chocolate is more healthful than
regular milk chocolate. As always, portion control matters.
Limit consumption of candy to something reasonable. Protein bars
have somewhat better health benefits and lower calorie content
than many normal candies. Popcorn is a wise choice since it is
whole grain and naturally low in calories, if you skip the
butter. Processed fruit snacks are a good substitute for candy.
Portion control can help limit calories. Food companies are
providing small, individually packaged portions of popular
foods, including Nabisco 100 Calorie Packs, downsized servings
of Oreos, Chips Ahoy, Wheat Thins, Honey Maid Cinnamon graham
crackers, Planters Peanut Butter Cookies, Kraft Cheese Nips and
Ritz Snack Mix. All have three grams or less of fat (although
not all are trans-fat-free). Snyder's one-ounce pretzel bags are
a sugar-free, no-fat option that clocks in at 110 calories. I
would add that one of the keys to coping successfully with all
of the caloric issues raised by this uniquely American holiday
is to try to avoid making the holiday all about the candy. Focus
on the decorations, the costumes, and the celebration of the
day, rather than the eating, per se. Also, burn as many calories
as you can. When trick or treating with the kids, do some extra
walking or keep moving as you wait for the kids at the curb.
(But safety of the kids comes first, obviously.) When preparing
for the celebration at your home, burn some extra calories by
aerobically putting up copius decorations and doing preparations.
|
