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How much is too much?
Erika Webster, a Gundersen Lutheran registered dietitian, said moderation is the key with children eating their Halloween treats.
But Webster suggests that children wait to get home to eat the candy.
“Lay out the candy on the table and allow kids to have two or three of their favorite pieces,” she said. “Then have the kids bag up four or five pieces in each bag and then put the treats away.”
Children can have the treats as dessert for the next few days, she said. “But after a week, you have to get the candy out of the house or do away with it,” Webster said. “My advice is to enjoy everything in moderation, but only for a few days.”
Too many people buy candy a month or two before Halloween, and everyone is eating it for several weeks, she said. “It’s easy to consume a lot of calories quickly with Halloween candy,” Webster said.
A typical miniature candy bar contains 80 calories. “Moderation is also a key for adults,” she said. “I suggest picking a favorite candy, and really enjoying it bite by bite.”
— Terry Rindfleisch
Examine candy closely; X-rays available
Those concerned about potential dangers lurking below the wrappers of candy gathered during trick-or-treating can have the stash X-rayed at Franciscan Skemp Medical Center at no cost by calling (608) 392-4138.
Neither Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center nor the La Crosse Police Department offer the screenings.
Gundersen has screened candy in the past but stopped more than 10 years ago because of a false sense of security and lack of participation, said spokesman Chris Stauffer.
Police also offered these safety tips:
n Do not eat homemade candy unless you know the giver.
n Do not consume candy with a wrapper that appears to be opened.
n Parents should inspect their children’s candy collection.
n Remember that bite-size candy pieces are choking hazards for small children.
Tooth trouble
Melissa Deyo hands out toothbrushes and toys as Halloween treats. You’ll have to excuse her because she’s a dental hygienist, and she is concerned about your teeth.
Her point is it takes your mouth 20 minutes to recover from the acid produced by Halloween candy. Stay away from eating Milk Duds and other sticky, caramel candy, she said. “Also sucking hard candy coats the teeth with acid over a longer time,” Deyo said.
Deyo, who works for dentist Michael Gavin at Valley Dental in Onalaska, Wis., said eating candy over a short time allows the mouth to recover from an acid attack. “It’s better to eat the candy with a meal because it reduces the acid,” she said.
For the ninth year, Gavin is offering a sweet deal for area trick-or-treaters. Gavin will pay children 12 and younger $1 per pound of candy brought to his office. He has a 10-pound limit for each child.
Gavin then ships the candy to soldiers in Iraq. Last year he collected 800 pounds of candy, Deyo said.
Children, accompanied by an adult, can bring their candy to his office, 1637 Main St., Onalaska, from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 1, and Monday, Nov. 5.
— Terry Rindfleisch
Candy prices stable for now
Halloween candy prices are about the same as a year ago, but consumers may see a price increase for Easter candy, said Dave Hegenbarth, who with his wife owns Piggly Wiggly grocery stores in La Crosse, Galesville, Sparta and Arcadia, Wis.
Food prices in general have been increasing in the past couple months because of higher costs of such commodities as corn, soybeans, wheat and milk, and likely will continue to go up in coming months, Hegenbarth said Friday. But retailers, suppliers and manufacturers commit to holiday candy purchases and prices about nine months in advance, he said. The candy is made shortly before the holiday. Candy prices in general “are starting to go up, but you won’t see it reflected in holiday candy until Easter,” he said.
Meanwhile U.S. candy consumption has been rising in the past few years after declining before that, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Per capita consumption of candy by Americans in 2006 was 25.5 pounds; it has been increasing since 2001, when it was only 23.6 pounds. But per-capita consumption is still down from 27.2 pounds in 1997.
— Steve Cahalan
Candy bar poll
Earlier this month, visitors to www.lacrossetribune.com were asked to vote on their favorite candy bar in a nonscientific poll. Here are the results from the 1,602 participants:
Candy bar Votes
Snickers 392
Butterfinger 109
Milky Way 104
Hershey’s Milk Chocolate 80
3 Musketeers 78
Kit Kat 75
Salted Nut Roll 75
Almond Joy 68
Twix 62
Caramello 49
Heath 46
$100,000 Bar 44
Whatchamacallit 44
Baby Ruth 42
Mounds 37
Nut Goodie 36
Mr. Goodbar 26
Mars Bar 24
Skor 23
Nestle Crunch 17
Charleston Chew 10
5th Avenue 10
Zagnut 9
Chunky 8
Bit-o-Honey 7
Krackel 5
Oh Henry 4
Clark Bar 0
Other 81
None 37
To read more about the Clark Bar, which received no votes, check out Chris Zobin’s blog at
ww.rivervalleyblogs.com.
LAXGIRL wrote on Oct 28, 2007 10:32 AM: