With Halloween just one day away, new information suggests the amount of candy consumed on the joyous holiday may seem downright spooky, especially if you're a dentist, nutritionist or health-conscious parent.
According to Harry Balzer, the chief industry analyst for the NPD Group, which does market research on eating trends, about four percent of all candy consumed in this country occurs on Halloween. Almost every child in the USA will have candy on Halloween, and about half of the adults will eat some too. That compares to 24 percent of all adults and kids who have candy on a typical day, he says.
According to USA Today, the percentage by age of those eating candy on Halloween include:
* Children 6-8 years old consume 87 percent of candy
* Children 9-12 years old consume 67 percent of candy
* Teenagers 13-17 years old consume 50 percent of candy
*Adult men (18 and older), consume 54 percent and adult women 46 percent
Sarah Krieger, a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics offers advice on how to enjoy Halloween candy for a few days without being haunted by it or extra pounds. Krieger suggests cutting back on something else that's sweet such as sugary drinks, cookies or granola bars, if you decide to have some Halloween candy. Krieger advises parents to talk to their kids about the plan for all the Halloween candy.
"It is sad to hear parents arguing with their kids about how much candy the kids eat when the parents are the ones taking them trick or treating," she said. "Whatever your plan is, it needs to be discussed before you go out."
Krieger, a mother of three said on Halloween she prepares healthy meals for her kids.
Keith Ayoob, an associate professor of pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, agrees that most kids get more candy than they really like and should only keep their favorites and give the rest away. Ayoob said the number one rule is parents can not go wrong if they allow one small treat a day. Proton control is essential with all candy.
"It's also only 5 to 15 calories apiece and keeps kids' mouths busy for longer," Ayoob said.