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How Many Pieces of Candy Did You Eat Yesterday?

FitSugar — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 03:30:00 -0700

Those fun sized candy bars can be so hard to resist. According to early returns on the which Halloween candy is worth the calories? poll, Reese's Peanut Butter Cup is looking like a winner! The morning after any food-related holiday, I find it wise to take stock of my actions from the previous day. Did I hold strong or did I overindulge? Now that we all know what candy we find most tempting, what I really want to know is . . .Source

How Many Pieces of Candy Did You Eat Yesterday?

I was not tempted and didn't eat a piece!

I ate just one little chocolate bar.

I ate a handful.

I ate at least 10 pieces.

Other – tell me below.

Which Halloween Candy Is Worth the Calories?

FitSugar — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 04:30:00 -0700

After seeing the Halloween Candy Breakdown, I'm happy to see that one little fun size piece of sugary goodness isn't that bad for me. Since I work out regularly, and eat a healthy balanced diet, I feel all right about indulging in a little Halloween yummyness.Reese's Peanut Butter Cups happen to be my favorite. Not only is chocolate and peanut butter the world's tastiest combination ever, but somehow I feel like because they contain peanut butter, they're a little bit healthier. Healthy sugar? Ha, I know, it's an oxymoron. So what about you . . .

Halloween Candy Breakdown

FitSugar — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 03:00:19 -0700

What is it about Halloween candy that makes it so enticing? All those miniature, bite-size, chocolatey morsels in brightly colored packages are so hard to resist. To prevent myself from eating half a bag of treats, I like to wait to buy my candy until the day before Halloween, and I also give out candy I hate. But when my girls come home with their trick-or-treat bags, a few pieces can't hurt, right? Unfortunately, all those little bites add up, so just to give you an idea, I've put together this breakdown.

The calorie content in this chart is based on one piece of Halloween "snack" or "fun"-size candy, not the full-size servings found in the candy aisle. The good news is that on most bags of bulk candy, the serving size includes two to three pieces or packets of each, so there's nothing wrong with indulging in a few of your favorites.

1 treat size (fun size)	Calories	Fat (g)	Sugar (g)
Snickers	71	3.6	7.6
Reese's Peanut Butter Cup	88	5.2	8
Reese's Caramel Cup	100	5	11
Reese's Nutrageous	95	5.5	7.5

If you don't see the candy you crave,

Halloween Survival Guide: Hand Out Candy You Hate

FitSugar — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 03:00:51 -0700

Growing up, we handed out the same candy every year — Smarties and Starbursts.

While I have a huge affection for these two treats, my mother can't stand them. For her, these candies rated zero on the temptation scale, unlike her favorite Snickers bar. So follow this age-old advice that I learned from my mom: Hand out Halloween candy that you don't like. Don't bring the temptations into your home where they can taunt, tease, and trick you.

I know it seems sacrilege, but the candy that tempts me the least is the Halloween favorite candy corn. Can't stomach buying candy you hate? Then wait until the last minute to buy it so you aren't too tempted. Tell me the candy that you can keep in your house without eating in the comment section below.

Source

Halloween Survival Tip: Wait to Buy Your Candy

FitSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 03:30:00 -0700

There has been a lot of Halloween talk at my house lately. However, there is one tradition I am trying to hold off on — buying the candy.

Even though I know that mini treats often lead to over indulgence, I often cave in to temptation. The candy calls to me from the pantry and I end up eating a good sized portion of the miniatures before a single trick-or-treater knocks on my door. Not good.

This year, I have decided to play it safe. If the candy is not in my house, I cannot eat it. I think I can make it through one night with the sweets in my house, so I will be buying my Halloween candy on Oct. 30. Unless you have an iron clad will, I suggest you do the same.

Source

Holiday Eating Tip: Healthier Easter Basket

FitSugar — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:45:00 -0700

Easter is coming up this Sunday, and for those of you who celebrate and are also trying to watch your weight, this means another holiday of dealing with candy and sweets. The positive side is that there is no rule that says you have to fill your Easter basket with pounds of chocolate eggs and jellybeans. Fill your basket with these healthier alternatives instead:

Carrots (since the Easter Bunny likes to share)
Fresh fruit
Homemade cookies that are filled with healthy ingredients like oats, raisins, dried cranberries, walnuts, and dark chocolate chips
Bars of Dark chocolate
Colored eggs made with homemade dyes
Dark chocolate covered peanuts, pretzels, or raisins
Mini banana bread muffins
Fitness DVDs
A scented candle
Animal shaped hand soaps (my girls love these)

If you want to see the other ideas then

Diet Tip: Keep Wrappers in Sight

FitSugar — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 07:30:00 -0800

If you have an affinity for candy like I do, and you find that you chow down on candy without even knowing it, you may want to keep all those wrappers around as you eat. Recent research has found that having a visual reminder of how much we eat, keeps us honest and keeps us eating less. We see the empty wrappers piling up and register that it may be time to stop. So instead of throwing the wrappers in the trash can immediately keep them around for a visual cue to stop mindless eating.

Source

Candy, Chocolate, and Sweets Oh My!

FitSugar — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 03:30:00 -0800

Since Valentine's Day is a day of indulging in chocolate truffles, candy hearts, and all kinds of sweets, I thought it'd be fun to test your nutritional knowledge of so many of our favorite treats. Find out if the candy you love contains trans fat or more calories than you ever imagined.

Source and Source

Food Court Survival: Part III

FitSugar — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 12:30:00 -0800

The mall is almost unavoidable during the holidays and something about all that running around and waiting in lines that makes me hungry. What's worse? Not only am I hungry but I also know there is a place where food is so easily accessible. A place that reminds me of the fast-food holy land: The Food Court. Don't worry, we can get through this.

One idea is to skip dessert shops, like Mrs. Fields, Cinnabon, and Nestles, altogether. They are just too tempting, especially when you are craving something sweet. If you absolutely need something sweet then head to a candy store and get some dark chocolate with a high cocoa content. Even better? Bring some from home in your purse. If I still can't convince you to stay away from Dairy Queen, then go with the vanilla soft serve (small). It has about 140 calories and 4.5 grams of fat — not too bad.

Newman's Own Peanut Butter Cups

FitSugar — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 10:15:00 -0800

Sometimes you just want to indulge in your favorite candy, but you want a healthier alternative. For those moments you can substitute you old standby Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, with Newman's Own Peanut Butter cups. This company makes great products that taste delicious and are filled with ingredients you recognize.

So are these any healthier for you than Reese's Peanut Butter Cups? To find out

Trick or Treat for Your Teeth

FitSugar — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 13:30:00 -0700

When it comes to Halloween, almost all of us are going to end up eating candy. That is just how the cookie crumbles. I've tried to let you guys know which candies are loaded with calories, but have you ever thought about which candies are the worst for your teeth? Take this short quiz (one question) to see if you get tricked on which treat does the least amount of damage to your teeth.

Halloween Survival Guide: Candy Breakdown

FitSugar — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 15:45:00 -0700

I have a love-hate relationship with Halloween. I love going pumpkin picking, making jack-o-lanterns, roasting pumpkin seeds, and creating costumes. Oh, who am I kidding? I also love the candy, the bags of tiny bite-sized servings are my weakness. To keep my candy intake in check, I buy my candy a few days before Halloween and buy the candy I don't like.

How bad are these tasty little morsels, really? A few bites can't hurt, right? To see how many calories haunt your favorite Halloween candy,

Halloween Survival: Hand Out Candy You Don't Like

FitSugar — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 15:45:00 -0700

Every Halloween of my youth, we handed out the same candy: Smarties and Starbursts. While I have a huge affection for these two types of sweet treats, my mother can't stand them. They created no temptation for her what-so-ever, unlike say her favorite Snickers bar. So follow this age old advice: Hand out candy you don't like. Don't bring the temptations into your home where they can taunt you.

I know it seems sacrilege, but candy that tempts me the least is the Halloween favorite – candy corn. Tell me yours in the comment section below.

Source

Halloween Survival: Don't Buy Your Candy Yet

FitSugar — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 15:45:00 -0700

I did it. I couldn't resist. The bags of candy were two for $5.00, so I thought I'd stock up for Halloween early, you know, for the trick-or-treaters. Bad mistake. I've already opened one bag just to have one taste after dinner, and now they're in the pantry calling my name after every meal. It is a slippery slope.

Seriously ladies, do yourselves a huge favor. I know there are tons of bags of candy at the grocery store and just about everywhere you look are signs of Halloween, but don't fall for it. The candy is for the kids who come a-knockin at your door, so if you buy it and eat it all, your body will feel crappy from downing all that sugar and you'll feel bad that you have none to give away.

So take my advice. Learn from my mistake. Wait to buy your candy until a few days before Halloween. We all know that holidays are the toughest time to stick to our healthy eating plan, so don't start earlier than you need to.

Source

Soothe Your Tummy With Reed's Ginger Candy

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 14:30:00 -0700

There are certain things I try to keep in my purse just in case - tissues, Advil, tampons, peppermint gum, an emergency $20 bill, and Reed's Ginger Candy.

Not only are Reed's Ginger Candy great for calming an upset tummy, they also soothe a sore throat, and really satisfy my craving for something chewy.

The recipe actually comes from Indonesia and it contains real ginger root, so this chewy treat has a bit of a bite to it. I love to pop one in my mouth after going out to eat, since sometimes restaurant food doesn't always agree with me.

Reed's Ginger Candy is made with a little sugar, so it also curbs my sweet tooth - once I have the taste of ginger in my mouth, I lose my craving for dessert. One delicious piece contains 25 calories, 0g of fat, and 3g of sugar. This just might be the healthiest candy I've ever eaten, and I wouldn't even call it candy since it's more like medicine. When I've got an upset tummy, I chew on Reed's.

Fit's Tips: Reed's also makes Ginger Brew, so if your tummy's feeling really bad, sipping down these gingerly bubbles always makes me feel better.

Diet Tip: Enjoy Your Favorite Foods

FitSugar — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 11:45:00 -0700

There are many reasons that DIET is known as a four letter word. One of them being most people try to give up their favorite food completely. But that is a bad idea, if you deny yourself your favorite indulgence over and over again, you are likely to binge on that food and go overboard. Instead of depriving yourself of your favorite food, figure out how to create some boundaries.

Here are a few ideas:

Cookies - don't buy a package of Chips Ahoy cookies, buy ONE fresh baked one from your local bakery. The quality of the fresh baked cookie is bound to be better than mass produced cookies that have been sitting on the grocery shelf for who knows how long.
Pizza - pick up ONE slice of pizza instead of ordering an entire pie. Sit down and really savor that slice of pizza and don't be embarrassed to soak up the grease with a napkin.
Candy - visit the bulk section of the grocery store and only buy a small portion of your favorite candy. Three malt balls will satisfy your craving and do a lot less damage than a bag of Whoppers.
Remember if the box of cookies, the entire pizza, or the Snickers is not in your house, you cannot eat them.

A Healthier Easter Basket

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 07:30:00 -0700

You've seen the Easter Candy breakdown. You cast your vote for your favorite Easter Candy over on YumSugar...and now you're thinking maybe I should make a healthy Easter Basket. Well you know I am going to second that option. I am going to go so far as to give you some suggestions.

Carrots - The Easter Bunny likes to share
Fresh fruit
Homemade cookies that are filled with healthy ingredients like oats, raisins, dried cranberries, walnuts, and dark chocolate chips

Bars of Dark chocolate
Dark chocolate covered peanuts, pretzels, or raisins
Mini banana bread muffins
An exercise DVD
A scented candle
Hand soap shaped like bird's eggs (my girls love these)
A jar of all fruit jam
Granola bars
A potted plant
Small picture frames
Herbal teas and a mug
A CD of relaxing music
Silly Putty - it comes in its own egg
For kids: a coloring book, colored pencils, puzzles, small toys, stuffed bunnies, stickers, play-doh, magnets, disposable cameras, packets of seeds and gardening tools, plastic eggs filled with coins, beads, and books about Easter.

Fit's Tips: I don't believe in denying yourself anything, especially during special family and holiday times. Make sure you do enjoy yourself (and the treats), and try the things you love, just don't go overboard and eat the ENTIRE 12 inch chocolate bunny in one sitting.

Source

No Wonder Kids Are Fat

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 14:30:00 -0700

Have you watched TV lately? Prime time evening shows are overflowing with commercials advertising junk food. Pizza, ice cream, candy bars, soda, sodium-filled snacks, and fast food. Where are the ads with fresh salads, fruits and whole grain snacks? Can you blame kids for the unhealthy choices they make when all they're exposed to is crap?

For years, health officials have warned us that kids were flooded with too many commercials glorifying unhealthy foods. Finally researchers studied the effects of these commercials.

Researchers monitored thirteen TV networks from late May to early September of 2005. On average, children ages 8-12 saw about 21 food commercials a day - that's 7,600 a year.

Of the food ads, 34% were for candy and snacks, 29% for cereal, 10% for drinks, 10% for fast food, 4% for dairy, 4% for prepared meals, and the rest for breads, pastries, and restaurants.

In December 2005, The Institute of Medicine concluded that these food commercials contradicted dietary guidelines for children and were putting children's health at risk. The Institute recommended that these companies change their marketing strategies and gear them towards healthier choices for impressionable and budding consumers.

In November, 10 major food and beverage companies including Coco-Cola Co., McDonald's, and PepsiCo Inc., agreed to voluntarily devote at least half of their kid-directed ads towards advertising healthier diets and lifestyles.

Don't get too excited just yet. Nothing has really changed so far, but researchers believe that this study that was recently released will help jumpstart these companies into following through with their health kick.

What's Your Movie Theater Diet Killer?

FitSugar — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 11:24:22 -0800

What's Your Movie Theater Diet Killer?

Popcorn - Extra butter, extra calories!

M&M's - At the rate I am eating them, the only place they melt is in my tummy.

Giant Cola - Who cares if I am running to the restroom half way through the movie!

Sno-Caps - It doesn't snow enough where I live so I have to get my snow elsewhere.

Other. Tell me below!