This is the one week of the year when you can buy a half-dozen bags of candy and nobody thinks twice.
Is Halloween a great holiday, or what?
That’s always been my thinking until starting this weight-management project. Now, I know the really scary part of Halloween is having leftover candy around to tempt me.
I’ve learned a couple of tricks for coping with treats. So I’m passing along these tips I’ve picked up from Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers.
1. Don’t buy the candy brand you love. My younger son shares my love of Reese’s Cups, so I always bought plenty with the rational “I’d pack the extras in his lunches.” Yeah, right. They ended up packed on my hips.
2. Don’t buy candy days in advance. If it’s not sitting around the house, it’s not a temptation. Also, by waiting, you’re likely to get a good deal on prices.
3. Don’t buy extra “in case” you have a larger number of costumed visitors at your door. Moms, we all know about how many trick-or-treaters to expect based on previous years — and unless you live in huge family-filled subdivisions, it’s not several hundred. Just buy what you need, then turn out the porch light when that’s gone.
4. Eat filling foods for dinner. That way, you’ll be less hungry when passing out candy.
5. Keep your mouth full, just not with candy. Pop in some sugar-free chewing gum to appease your craving for sweets. If you’ll be going door-to-door with the kids, carry along a thermos of a favorite low-cal drink.
6. Donate leftovers. Take surplus candy to the office or give it to a food pantry. Just don’t keep it around the house. (See Rule No. 1: Again, it won’t make it to the lunch sack.)
7. Do your disappearing act. If you don’t live in a neighborhood that gets trick-or-treaters, or your kids are grown, then make plans to be out with friends on Halloween so you don’t even have to buy candy.
Best and Worst Candy Choices
In the Weight Watchers world, everything has a points value. Points are based on a formula using calories, fat grams and fiber. One point is great, four or more is the equivalent of a dinner entree.
Based on that scale, here are Weight Watchers’ best bets for Halloween candy choices.
1 Point Value
* 1 Atomic fireball
* 2 pieces Dubble Bubble gum
* 1 snack-size Heath bar
* 3 pieces Jolly Rancher
* 1 Charms Blow Pop
* 1 small box Nerds
* 1 Twix mini bar
* 3 rolls of Smarties
* 4 small Tootsie Rolls
High scorers
* 7 Points: 1 regular Twix (286 calories, 14 fat grams)
Substitute: One Twix mini bar (1 point)
* 5 Points: 1 M&M’s Crispy (200 calories, 9 fat grams)
Substitute: 1 fun-size pack of M&M’s plain or peanut (2 points)
* 5 Points: 2 snack-size Hershey bars (210 calories, 12 fat grams each)
Substitute: 3 Hershey kisses (2 points)