Posted by Lisa Hendey in Health on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 2:30 PM
I’ve been known in my home for making strategic raids upon my kids’ treat stashes around this time of the year - with the onset of holiday parties, “fun size” Milky Way bars are not safe in my home unless they are well hidden from Mom!
How do you handle all of the goodies that get brought home from various social events at this time of the year? It seems that between mid October and January, our calendar is filled with all kinds of events that may bring unneeded candy, cookies and other treats into our house.
All joking aside, this avalanche of sweets around the holidays can get a bit out of control. I always appreciate parties where the gift bag that comes home with the kiddo includes creative things that aren’t sticky sweet.
But just in case you do find your home filled to the brim with goodies, you may want to take this very interesting Trick or Treat Candy Quiz over at SparkPeople.com. Do you know, for example, which has fewer calories: a “fun size” Almond Joy bar or 22 pieces of candy corn? Take the quiz to find out!
It may make you want to alter your choices on which treats you sneak from the kids’ candy stashes!
And as a lovely gift for all of you Marthas out there, here’s a recipe for homemade Candy Corn. I don’t know if it’s lower in calories than the store bought version, but it sure is pretty!
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Yikes! I only got 2 out of 9 questions right. At least I got the Whoppers question right. I know my Whoppers. My kids know to hide those from me.
I know most people probably think this is unfair, but I let my kids have a few treats for a week and then whatever is leftover I send it to work with my husband. He works on a college campus and the students their need the sugar rush more than my boys.
With 6 children, we end up with loads of candy (plus, neighbors & local grandparents tend to give them extra). We allow the children to choose 10 or 12 favorite pieces, & the rest goes in a decorated basket to the local homeless shelter downtown.
Fortunately, our children tend to like the hard & chewy varieties of candy & leave the chocolate to my husband & I. ;o) Sometimes I’ll unwrap all the plain chocolate candy & freeze it to use later in baking desserts...of course, there is always the temptation to open the freezer & nibbble on a piece, now & then.
Halloween is the only time that I can indulge in Baby Ruths and Almond Joys. I never buy candy bars for the heck of it. I let the kids totally indulge for a day or two, then we drop off all the candy at a local elementary school. The Eagle Scouts usually have a candy drive for the Iraqi children.
I usually let the kids eat for a day or two as well, but a local dentist accepts candy donations to send to the soldiers in Iraq. Last year, he sent over 5000 lbs. The kids are actually glad to share.
I squirrel away the M&Ms;, Skittles, and anything else that can be used to decorate our Advent gingerbread houses. I make 3 every year—one for us, one for a teacher, and one for a “surprise delivery” to someone who has been especially kind to us that year.
For directions on how to make a solid gingerbread house, click here: http://extraordinarymomsnetwork.wordpress.com/2008/09/20/make-a-gingerbread-house-an-advent-tradition/
We try to limit the number of houses our four kids visit on Halloween to keep candy quantities manageable. After trick-or-treating, the candy gets sorted, with one pile going to the breakroom at my DH’s office, another pile of questionable brands and mystery candy going in the trash (recalls aside, some candy is just plain scary), and the rest going into the large family treat jar. After a few treats on Halloween night, the kids get to choose a treat only after a healthy meal that ends with fruit.
Sad to say, mom and dad raid the stash at will once the kids are in bed. Chocolate does not last long at our house =o).
Wow! I am surprised I got 7 out of 9 correct! call me Crazy! 
My kids eat a bunch at first and then totally forget about it if I don’t leave it in plain sight. I have to send it to work with my husband or I eat it all. I really have no self control. I like the idea of saving some for baking or gingerbread houses, though. I think I’ll do that. (I’m pretty sure I won’t eat it if it’s in the freezer or if I know I’ll be using it in a recipe.)
I’ve never made a gingerbread house before, but now I’m inspired! (And I’m only working part-time.)
Our family of 9 rarely buys candy. However, we are *happy* to get mini size candies from different holidays and parades. The kids get to indulge then dump their excess into the family candy jar. Then we use those candies as incentives whenever the mood strikes. It makes cleaning more fun on a dreary day! And usually our stash lasts until the next holiday. In fact, my eldest was just starting his chocolate Easter bunny the other day ...
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