Halloween Candy

The holiday 'season' starts with Halloween.  I think of it as the start of the feeding frenzy.  If we don't pay close attention to what we are eating, this season can get out of hand, as can our weight. 

Halloween candy is everywhere.  I've noticed that there have been stores selling Halloween candy since as early as September.  Now it's all on sale-not to mention the amount of free candy everywhere. 

What do you do with all of the candy that children pick up on Halloween night?  In Vermont, it's a little more difficult, but it's not hard to go to 50 houses to get candy.  If each of those houses give out 1 piece of candy, that means that children have 50 pieces of candy to eat for the next day, week, month or year. 

Let's assume that you eat 50 'fun size' pieces of candy.  This could add up to an estimated 4000 calories and 150 g of fat.  I have heard all different ways to deal with this candy, none of which sound like a terrific solution.  (throw it away, give it away, freeze it, eat it all...) 

So, what do we do with all of this candy?  It doesn't mean that we can't have it, but it's important that we watch our portions.  Because, after Halloween comes Thanksgiving, and then Christmas.  Remember that these holidays are just one day, not months.  It's ok to have a treat, but if that treating starts with 'trick or treats' and ends with 'Christmas treats', we're going to have some inches added to our waistlines.