I know it’s November but I can’t let it go!! Halloween is my favorite holiday of the year. And despite the fact that I’m a sugar addict in recovery, it was never about the candy for me. I loved the smell of leaves in the chilly fall air, the flickering lights of jack o’lanterns, the thought that I might catch a glimpse of a witch crossing the cold full moon. True, I did keep that pillowcase full of candy bars in my bedroom till the last Snickers bar disappeared sometime in December. But for that one night, the spectacle of autumn in all her glory, the visions of ghouls and goblins, were enough to drive the candy to the back of my mind.
Whatever their motivation, kids – and not a few adults – are obsessed with Halloween. Per the US Census Bureau, in 2002 the estimated number of trick or treaters was 40 million. And in 2004, 36.4 million children between the ages of 4 and 13 participated in this tradition. Sadly, what this means is that youngsters who need rich, nutrient-dense foods, are instead being injected with gallons of sugar and artificial coloring. Halloween accounts for 25% of annual candy sales. That translates to 2 billion dollars. In case you’re wondering what else you could spend two billion dollars on, have a look at Forbes.com’s suggestions. And here’s some idea as to what the average family spends per month on groceries: responses range from$500 for a family of 6 (are they eating cereal for every meal??) to over $800 for a self-professed “health nut” family of five. As with the rest of the food we eat, corn is king – in this case, candy corn. This orange and white treat was created in the 1880s. In 2001, approximately 20 million pounds, or 8.3 billion kernels, were sold. Trick or treaters potentially feasted on products from 1,040 different chocolate and cocoa-producing companies.
Here’s the interesting thing. I’ve found that if you’re pretty healthy and eat primarly whole, unprocessed, organic foods, you have a baseline of feeling pretty good and energetic. When you eat something like Halloween candy, it makes you feel sick. Do any of you experience this?
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