We're nearing Halloween and whether you have kids or are just a kid at heart - candy will most likely become a temptation sooner or later. Here's an article I found to be interesting - when it comes to candy, which is the lesser of two evils? Did you guess right?...
It’s Reese’s for the win. They have almost 1/3 of the calories,
19 grams fewer carbs, and about 1/3 of the saturated fat of a
Butterfinger. Plus- since they’re made with
actual peanut butter, they contain 5 grams of protein, which helps to
balance out their sugar content and keeps you satisfied for longer.
In terms of calories and saturated fats, these bars are nearly
identical, so go ahead and feast on your favorite. However, a Hershey’s bar has slightly more sugar and two extra ingredients,
so you may be slightly better off with a Dove bar.
If you’re going to have a candy bar, choosing one with nuts is a smart move because they supply some
satisfying, healthy fat. PayDay’s 7 grams of protein
make it a better option than a Snickers, which has only 4 grams of
protein—not to mention that a PayDay contains significantly less
saturated fats and sugars, and no partially-hydrogenated oil.
It’s always a good idea to stay away from fake foods, which, with corn syrup, artificial colorings, and lots of preservatives, is basically what
Twizzlers are. If you’re okay with the slightly medicinal taste of
traditional black licorice, have it instead.
In spite of the difference in size, you’re actually better off with
Starbursts than Skittles. Starbursts contain 1/3 less sugar than
Skittles, and are fat and saturated fat-free. They also
contain fewer artificial ingredients, hydrogenated oils, and artificial
coloring. Don’t be fooled by the amount of vitamin C in Skittles—it’s
listed as 1/2 of your recommended daily intake. You’ll get a whopping 3
teaspoons of sugar in return.
This decision centers on the perennial issue of portion control. While
Hershey’s Kisses are individually wrapped—and therefore take a little
longer to eat than a handful of M&Ms—it’s hard not to make a serious
dent in what’s usually a large bag. Nonetheless, they lack the sugar-
and artificial coloring-filled outer layer of candy of M&Ms, which
works in their favor.
Smarties are the perfect cure to mindless eating. Only 25 calories for one roll! Nerds have triple the
calories in just 1 tablespoon of candy and contain 3 sources of
sugar in the ingredients list, which is a lot for such a tiny product.
Though hard candies are less likely to damage your waistline since they
take longer to consume, they are not friends to your teeth. To minimize
dental damage, choose a Jolly Rancher. A Blow Pop has a
sweet, chewy, bubble-gum center, which glues sugar to your teeth as you
chew on it. Three Jolly Ranchers contain almost the same number of
calories as a single Blow Pop, meaning you can spread out your sucking,
and enjoy them at a few different points during the day.
Though Junior Mints provide 4x more iron, a York Peppermint
Patty wins in terms of calories, saturated fats, and sugar—and gets
bonus points for coming in an individual portion size. Compared to a
standard candy bar, a 140-calorie Peppermint Patty is a major calorie
bargain, especially since it has only 2.5 grams of fat.
