Healthy Alternatives to Halloween Candy

For people who are eating a healthier diet, leftover Halloween Candy can be a difficult and daunting reality. Depending on how much trick or treating your kids were able to do and how much candy you were left with, you could be looking at bags and or buckets of candy just sitting around your house! We put together a list of alternatives so you don’t sabotage your weight loss goals after the revelry has ended.To get the candy out of your house, consider donating any wrapped candy to a food bank, homeless shelter, hospital, or to a military care package program.Here’s what we suggest as healthy alternatives:High Quality Dark ChocolateHigh quality dark chocolate with a high percentage of real cocoa is actually good for you in very small doses. Though chocolate in general is high in fat and calories, it is also rich in antioxidants. Just make sure that the chocolate is at least 60% cacao; several gourmet chocolates on the market offer a high cocoa percentage. Also check out the brand Diet and Weight Loss Centers™ offers called “Healthy Chocolate,” these delicious treats are available in a variety of flavors including: coconut, coffee, dark chocolate, mint, orange, and raspberry. They are sugar-free, diabetic friendly, made with 70% cocoa, vegan, and naturally sweetened.Dried FruitSometimes our bodies crave sugar. When we feed ourselves sugars and give into these urges, we crave more and more. Low-sugar dried fruits, however, are sweet, but also good for you and high in antioxidants and Vitamin C. This means that it does not trigger the intense sugar cravings that candy triggers. We suggest eating a handful of dried cranberries, raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries to get you through the sugar craving.Sugar-Free Homemade CandiesEven though homemade chocolates and candies still have the some of the sugars, fat, and calories, they don’t have the preservatives, which makes them better options. Use ingredients like sugar and fat substitutes, low sugar or sugar-free dark chocolate, and nuts in your candied treats to boost the nutritional and protein content.Finding Healthier TreatsThere are definitely ways to incorporate healthier alternatives after Halloween is over. Simply look at the nutritional information when you find a treat that looks like it has potential. A good start is to visit a natural grocer or health food store. These companies are usually good at carrying healthier candies and treats. If you do not see what you need, you can always have them special ordered or find good recipes online.It’s okay to satisfy a sweet tooth once in awhile, as long as you don’t interfere with your health or weight loss goals!About Diet and Weight Loss Centers™ of Palm Beach Gardens:Diet & Weight Loss Centers™ is the leader in Medically Optimized Weight Loss™ solutions. The company focuses on a medically sound, comprehensive approach to losing weight.Diet & Weight Loss Centers™ takes a unique approach to weight loss that begins with a full medical evaluation by a licensed medical professional; this helps us determine a personalized approach to healthy weight loss that will work for individual lifestyle needs. Diet & Weight Loss Centers™ has an in-house, specialized team of medical weight loss professionals with extensive experience who have helped many types of people lose weight successfully.The highly qualified staff and doctors at Diet and Weight Loss Centers™ can help you create positive eating, lifestyle and fitness habits so you can meet your weight loss goals and keep the weight off long-term!Call 1-800-414-DIET for more information.