Should you let your kids gorge on Halloween candy?
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Photos: Candy you can't get anymore
From Hershey's
Every year, trick-or-treat sacks are full of familiar candy: Hershey bars, Snickers minis, Necco wafers and SweeTarts, for example. Which makes you wonder: Whatever happened to ...? Bar None, for example, was introduced by Hershey in 1987 and had chocolate wafers with peanuts and chocolate cream. The recipe was changed in the '90s, and the bar was discontinued in 1997. Here are some other candies you can't get anymore (at least in the United States):
Photos: Candy you can't get anymore
From Beech Nut
These days, Beech-Nut is best known for its baby-food products. But in the early and mid-20th century, the brand was one of the leading purveyors of chewing gum. You can still find its Fruit Stripe gum -- made by a different company -- but the mint flavors are no longer.
Photos: Candy you can't get anymore
From Nabisco
Bonkers were Starburst-like chews that featured a fruit filling. Introduced by Nabisco in the '80s, they were phased out a decade later. In 2014, Leaf Brands picked up Bonkers, but the company is still in the process of arranging distribution. One wonders if they'll also bring back the commercials.
Photos: Candy you can't get anymore
From Nestle
The Butterfinger chocolate bar has been around since the 1920s, and an offshoot -- Butterfinger BBs -- was introduced in the early 1990s, with Bart Simpson as a spokescharacter. Unlike "The Simpsons," however, the ball-shaped chocolate didn't last, and it was discontinued in 2006.
Photos: Candy you can't get anymore
From Nestle
Choco'Lite, a Nestle product, was introduced in the early '70s. Similar to an Aero bar -- a popular candy overseas -- the chocolate was aerated and included toffee-like crispy chips. But despite strong early sales, by the end of the 1980s, they had vanished. They are much missed.
Photos: Candy you can't get anymore
From Mars
The Marathon bar took a "good long time" to get through -- and no wonder, given that it was 8 inches of chocolate-covered caramel. But despite its ubiquity in the 1970s (and that of commercial spokesman Marathon John, played by Patrick Wayne), it was phased out in the 1980s. Maybe it took too long to eat.
Photos: Candy you can't get anymore
From Mars
PB Max was peanut butter to the max: The chocolate-covered bar also included oats and a cookie along with peanut butter. But the bar, introduced around 1990, was gone within a few years. These days, there's an active Facebook page devoted to bringing it back.
Photos: Candy you can't get anymore
From Peter Paul Halajian
The candymakers at Peter Paul were well known for Almond Joy and Mounds. ("Almond Joy's got nuts; Mounds don't," the commercials explained.) But for a while there was a third chocolate bar: PowerHouse, which contained peanuts, fudge and caramel. Peter Paul obtained the rights in 1966 through a merger with another company. In the late '80s, Peter Paul was bought by Hershey, and somewhere along the way, PowerHouse vanished.
Photos: Candy you can't get anymore
From Wayne Candies
The Reggie bar was a product of a particular time: late-'70s America, when New York Yankees slugger Reggie Jackson hit three home runs in one 1977 World Series game. By Opening Day 1978, Reggie bars were being handed out at the Yankees' home opener (and thrown on the field in celebration). The round bar, which consisted of caramel and peanuts in milk chocolate, was gone by the early '80s, though it had a short-lived comeback in the early '90s, when Jackson made the Hall of Fame. Technically, you can still get it under its original name: the Bun bar.
Photos: Candy you can't get anymore
From General Foods
Ah, Space Dust. The late '70s candy was an offshoot of Pop Rocks, but both products quickly became the subject of schoolyard urban legends. (You don't want to know what allegedly happened to Mikey!) You can still buy Pop Rocks, but Space Dust has bitten the ... well, you know.
Photos: Candy you can't get anymore
from Nestle
Originally the Nestle Magic Ball, the Wonder Ball was a hollow chocolate ball filled with candy. It was introduced in the '90s, reworked and reintroduced in 2000. But even that edition lasted only until 2004. They do exist online -- now made by Frankford -- but have long disappeared from stores. So much for candy surprises.
Story highlights
Jill Castle, dietitian: Candy is not great, but OK for kids to eat it at Halloween if there's a plan for portions
She says the trick is to deal with the candy left over after the holiday, and there are several good strategies for that
I have been through many Halloweens. As a pediatric nutritionist, and a mom to four kids, I have faced the annual candy conundrum: We want our kids to eat healthy things all year round, but on this one day, we allow a mountain of candy into our homes and say: OK, you can eat that. Most of us, at least.
Is this a disastrous idea? It would seem that way at first: Candy is scary for many parents, and for good reason.
Jill Castle
Courtesy of Jill Castle
According to the World Health Organization, kids are only supposed to be eating about 10% of their daily caloric intake from sugar.
But the grim reality is that many of them are exceeding this recommendation, even on non-Halloween days. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 16% of boys’ daily calorie intake comes from added sugar, and girls are getting about 15% of their daily calories from the sweet stuff, including in seemingly “healthy” food, such as spaghetti sauce, yogurt and cereal.
Photos: Halloween in Hollywood: Best celeb costumes
Sean Zanni/PMC/PatrickMcMullan.com via AP Images
Jessica Rabbit, is that you? Heidi Klum dressed as the iconic "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" character for her 16th annual Halloween party in New York. Here are some other celebrities' costumes from Halloween 2015.
Photos: Halloween in Hollywood: Best celeb costumes
Mike Coppola/Getty Images for heidi klum
Singer-actress Jennifer Lopez and boyfriend Casper Smart dress as stylish skeletons for Heidi Klum's Halloween party.
Photos: Halloween in Hollywood: Best celeb costumes
Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Heidi Klum
Model Gigi Hadid dressed as Sandy from "Grease" at Heidi Klum's Halloween party.
Photos: Halloween in Hollywood: Best celeb costumes
from instagram
Kourtney Kardashian dressed as Wonder Woman in a red and gold jumpsuit while her three children were done up as mini-superheroes in this family selfie posted to Instagram on Saturday, October 24.
Photos: Halloween in Hollywood: Best celeb costumes
Todd Williamson/Getty Images
Nick Jonas showed up at the Maxim Halloween Party on Saturday, October 24, dressed as his criminal alter ego, the Hamburglar.
Photos: Halloween in Hollywood: Best celeb costumes
Thorpe/Splash News/Corbis
"Glee" actors Ashley Fink, Chris Colfer and Will Sherrod got frisky at Matthew Morrison's 6th Annual Halloween Masquerade Ball in Los Angeles on October 25.
Photos: Halloween in Hollywood: Best celeb costumes
Michael Tullberg/Getty Images
"Dancing With the Stars' " Mark Ballas and girlfriend BC Jean brought some grungy glamor to the Maxim party as Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love.
Photos: Halloween in Hollywood: Best celeb costumes
Thorpe/Splash News/Corbis
"Modern Family" actress Sarah Hyland dressed as a snow-white kitty for Matthew Morrison's Halloween Masquerade Ball.
Photos: Halloween in Hollywood: Best celeb costumes
ABC
Chrissy Teigen rode the bus to flavortown and killed it as TV chef Guy Fieri on ABC's "FABLife."
Photos: Halloween in Hollywood: Best celeb costumes
Michael Bezjian/Getty Images
Devilish duo John Stamos and Josh Peck attend Carlton's Halloween Nightmare! on October 24 in Beverly Hills.
Photos: Halloween in Hollywood: Best celeb costumes
Michael Bezjian/Getty Images
Christina Milian gave her best big cat impression at Carlton's Halloween Nightmare! party.
Photos: Halloween in Hollywood: Best celeb costumes
from instagram
Australian model Miranda Kerr, dressed as Marilyn Monroe, shared this selfie on Sunday, October 25.
Photos: Halloween in Hollywood: Best celeb costumes
from instagram
Model Emily Ratajkowski shared this selfie on Friday, October 23. "Debbie Harry Halloween?" she asked in an ode to the Blondie frontwoman.
Photos: Halloween in Hollywood: Best celeb costumes
from instagram
Actor Colton Haynes and actress Emily Bett Rickards reveal their Halloween costumes in a selfie shared on Instagram on Sunday, October 25. Haynes was Ursula from "The Little Mermaid," and Rickards was Sailor Moon.
So it’s small wonder that in an American Dental Association survey of parents with children aged 5-13 who trick-or-treat, 70% of them agreed it would be good if their kids received less candy on Halloween, and 59% agreed their kids ate too much candy on Halloween.
Well-intentioned parents may try to tightly control these treats, but that’s an approach that may backfire, according to researchers. Studies show that the more strictly parents control certain foods, such as sweets, the more desirable those foods may become for children. In other words, there may be a thin line between restrictive candy control and candy obsession.
For all these reasons, parents do best when they keep a realistic perspective and a candy strategy in mind at Halloween.
During trick-or-treating
It’s exciting to take your dressed-up baby or young toddler out on Halloween for the first time. And when it comes to candy, many babies and young toddlers are clueless. Keep it this way if you can. Yes, a little sweet taste might slip in here and there for little ones (hello, first birthday cake!), but remember that very young children don’t have room in their diets for sugary treats. High nutrient needs and tiny tummies make every little morsel important for their growth and development. Halloween candy doesn’t qualify.
Photos: 2015's most popular Halloween costumes
Warner Bros.
The most popular Halloween costume this year - according to Google Trends - is Harley Quinn, who will be seen in 2016's "Suicide Squad." The on-and-off girlfriend of the Joker has been on the scene since 1992, first appearing on "Batman: The Animated Series."
Photos: 2015's most popular Halloween costumes
Lucasfilm
"Star Wars" characters are almost as popular as Harley, and surely some of the new characters from "The Force Awakens" are among them.
Photos: 2015's most popular Halloween costumes
Marvel/CMTG
Once again, superhero costumes are all the rage this Halloween.
Photos: 2015's most popular Halloween costumes
Disney Pictures
Pirates made a major comeback with the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies and that interest hasn't waned much.
Photos: 2015's most popular Halloween costumes
Warner Bros. Entertainment
Batman has always been a popular costume and the upcoming "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice" has kept the caped crusader in the public eye.
Photos: 2015's most popular Halloween costumes
HECTOR MATA/AFP/GettyImages
Minnie Mouse is a big costume this year (sorry, Mickey).
Photos: 2015's most popular Halloween costumes
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
It wouldn't be Halloween without a few wicked witches roaming the streets.
Photos: 2015's most popular Halloween costumes
illumination entertainment
Minion fever is bigger than ever since this past summer's hit movie. You're sure to see a few kids dressed up as the gibberish-spouting creatures.
Photos: 2015's most popular Halloween costumes
@davidayermovies/Warner Bros.
Just as Batman has been popular, the Joker has been as well. Jared Leto's new take on the character in "Suicide Squad" means we may see some people dressed as this new version.
Photos: 2015's most popular Halloween costumes
warner bros.
Wonder Woman has been a perennial Halloween favorite, but the upcoming "Batman v. Superman" has likely driven up interest.
Toddlers and preschoolers are still learning about Halloween, including how to knock on the front door and say “Trick or treat?” This is the perfect time to start a candy policy. One piece per year of age is a simple rule of thumb: A 2-year-old gets two pieces, a 4-year-old would gets four, etc. Whatever limit you set, the point is to be sure there is one and stick to it.
Older children often have more freedom on Halloween night, which means parents may have less control over how much candy they eat. Despite this, parents can still set candy guidelines. For example, determine how many pieces of candy are allowed that evening, or have a rule about checking and counting candy before eating it. I allowed a few pieces while my kids went trick-or-treating, but the rest was saved so it could be checked, sorted, and traded at the end of the night.
Remember to keep candy guidelines realistic, consistent, and positive. Halloween is not about arguing or controlling candy– it’s about having a plan from the start that everyone can follow.
After Halloween
The Halloween candy binge could go on and on, if allowed, and this can certainly get in the way of your child’s health. Thus, you’ll need an ongoing candy strategy.
Chuck Hodes/FOX
Cookie from 'Empire' —
You'll need your fiercest party dress, perfect makeup, silky brown locks (yours or purchased) and maybe a hat to complete this look. Wear cheetah prints and drop a couple of "Boo Boo Kitty" disses and people will be calling you "Cookie" in no time. Look through the gallery for more topical costume ideas.
Courtesy Matt Little/Jukin Media
Pizza Rat —
A hungry varmint nicknamed Pizza Rat captivated our hearts this summer with his determination to make off with a slice bigger than himself. It's one of those meme-worthy moments that makes for a great Halloween costume idea. Wear your best gray sweatsuit, slap on a rat nose from Party City and swipe a slice of pie from the party table, perhaps carrying it in your new portable pizza pouch. Voila!
Tom Brady —
Poor, persecuted quarterback Tom Brady is an easy guy to mimic this Halloween if you've got a Patriots jersey lying around. Just paint a dimple in your chin and carry around a flattened football to complete the Deflategate look. Bonus points for his silly hat.
FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images
Abby Wambach —
Got a soccer star in the family? Repurpose their cleats and uniform and top it all off with the chicest headband you can find. Wear a medal around your neck to channel your inner Abby Wambach, or another member of the World Cup-winning U.S. women's team.
Ty Wright/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Kim and Joe Davis —
Couples' costume alert! While Kentucky court clerk Kim Davis' staunch opposition to same-sex marriage got her noticed, her fashion sense garnered the spotlight too. To dress up as Davis and her equally folksy husband, Joe, you'll need to do the following: Layer, layer layer! Kim is a fan of short Ts over long sleeves and even longer skirts. If you have flowing hair and a pair of wire spectacles, you're in. Hubby Joe is simple: Overalls and a straw hat. To sell the whole look, carry a Bible and print out a provisional marriage license from the Web.
Peanuts.com
Charlie Brown —
There's a new "Peanuts" movie coming up, and Charlie Brown is as popular as always. If you're bald, this one is a slam dunk. Get crafty and cut out black felt or construction paper in a zigzag shape and staple it to your brightest yellow shirt. Slip on black shorts and brown shoes -- and maybe carry a tangled kite -- to be the most loveable sad sack at the party.
Rob Carr/Getty Images
Left Shark —
Did you already forget about Left Shark, of Katy Perry Super Bowl halftime show fame? For shame! Dress up in ocean blue and cut a fin out of cardboard that you can decorate with tin foil or construction paper. Or if you've got an old Hotdog on a Stick uniform lying around, you can be Katy herself.
PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images
Woman on the $10 bill —
This one takes a bit of dedication because it can be unwieldy -- you'll need a long piece of cardboard or stiff paper to decorate like a $10 bill. Cut a hole in the middle for your face and you can be the highly anticipated woman who replaces Alexander Hamilton on the tenner.
redbubble.com
Netflix and chill —
There are a few ways to go about "Netflix and chill," one of the Internet's more subtle euphemisms for inviting someone over for sexual purposes. The key component is a T-shirt to signify Netflix, maybe one with the company's logo or the slogan "and chill," as depicted here. The remaining props could include a bag of ice (get it?) or an overnight bag containing wine, condoms, comfortable socks, a toothbrush and anything else you might bring along for that not-so-spontaneous hookup.
Universal Pictures
Minions —
This costume, based on characters from the "Minions" and "Despicable Me" movies, doesn't require much: yellow t-shirt, overalls and round goggles. The harder part will be perfecting their crackly cartoon voices.
AMC
Mellow Don Draper —
The final episode of "Mad Men" showed us a side of Don Draper we had not seen before: a relaxed, meditative Don on the verge of a creative breakthrough. This one's easy if you have khakis and a white button-up made of linen or oxford. You may still want to carry whiskey and cigarettes to make it clear who you are. Just work on your "om."
Lucasfilm
'Star Wars' characters —
With the upcoming release of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" in December, any character from the hit franchise will do. Han Solo is probably doable with a few pieces from your closet or the nearby thrift store, but a Chewbacca costume might require a greater investment.
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
Miley Cyrus —
Channeling the 2015 Video Music Award incarnation of Miley Cyrus is arguably less controversial than the 2013 version. Play up the rainbows and stuffed animals and minimize the racial appropriation. Keep the crazy tongue wagging, though.
HBO
Dead Jon Snow —
It's "Game of Thrones" fans' favorite guessing game: Is Jon Snow dead? Or alive? Either way, you can pay tribute to the brooding Night's Watch commander by growing a beard and donning a shaggy brown wig, dressing in dark winter clothes and carrying a sword. Use red duct tape to make a big red "X" over yourself and you're set.
Set reasonable parameters while you’re trying to use this stuff up without setting up needless conflict. Try a no-candy rule before or during school. Pack just one or two pieces as part of lunch or a few pieces with an after-school snack. Consider storing all candy in a central location in your home instead of a child’s bedroom.
Have a timeframe in mind. The goal isn’t to eat all the candy your child hauled in on Halloween! Have a date when you believe your children have enjoyed it and should be ready to move on. For my family, a week or so after Halloween was over, the Halloween candy made its way to the freezer – and was forgotten (and eventually tossed).
There are many creative ways to disperse candy on the back end of Halloween. The Switch Witch, buy-back programs, and donations are all popular and successful strategies families can use.
The Switch Witch – that is, you – comes in the middle of the night and swaps a new toy for Halloween candy. Candy buy-back programs allow children to sell their Halloween candy (yes, for money) to their dentist, who then ships it to troops overseas. Last, Operation Gratitudesends care packages to an array of soldiers and veterans throughout the year. At Halloween, they accept donations of candy for shipment to soldiers, veterans, military families, and more.
Remember, Halloween is just one night. Eating candy, no matter how much, on that night won’t ruin your child’s overall health. There’s more to healthy eating than simply avoiding candy (or any other food). The sweet spot is an overall balance of foods that promote health and enjoyment.