They're sweet and appealing — but those candy bars and little treat bags are not your friends! Scarf down too much of the stuff and you'll be packing on pounds for sure. Here are some ways to satisfy your sweet tooth without fouling up your health.
They're everywhere — the vending machine, the grocery store checkout, the newsstand, the drugstore, that bucket of Halloween candy that's still hanging around your house. They're candy bars, boxes of gummy treats, and bags of chocolaty sweets. And when you're craving a little something between classes or after school, you automatically reach for one to give you a little boost.
However, not only will these snacks make you put on the pounds, they'll also make a personal foul on your energy level: You'll just get tired and be even hungrier within a half hour or less when you go from sugar high to sugar crash. Here's why: When you eat foods that are so high in sugar, they digest very quickly and leave you feeling sluggish and hungrier than before. If you eat healthy, natural foods, like fruits and vegetables with a little protein and healthy fat, you will feel much more satisfied, and at the end of the day you won't be starving for dinner.
Here's another reason to watch the candy: As much as you may love the taste, it can really hurt your health if you overdo it. Candy and other sweets contain a lot of fat, sugar, and calories, all of which lead to excess weight and the potential for certain illnesses — not to mention cavities! Healthy foods keep your body working properly — sweets don't. Plus, the extra pounds they add to your body will make it harder for you to run, jump, and play sports, which you know you don't want to give up.
But that doesn't mean you can't have sweets — it just means you have to be smarter about which ones you choose and how much of them you eat. Here are some tips:
- Choose candies you really like instead of ones that are just so-so. This one may sound a little obvious, but sometimes we're tempted to eat candy we don't even really like just because it's in front of us. Don't waste your time with just any old candy — eat only the stuff you really enjoy.
- Don't go for the family-sized bars and bags — instead, choose fun-size bars or single-serving bags. Keep the number you eat at one or two a day.
- If you do get a bigger bar or bag of candy, just take a little bit and save the rest for later. This way, you get to enjoy your treat more than once!
- Got a craving for gummy candies? Try fruit snacks made with whole fruit (such as fruit leathers) instead. They taste more like the real thing than artificially flavored gummies do, and they're better for you.
- Instead of reaching for candy, pop a piece of sugar-free gum. It'll satisfy your sweet tooth without giving you any extra calories.
- Choose candies that last longer, like sucking candies or a lollipop, and eat them slowly. Really take the time to savor each piece and make it last as long as you can. You'll end up eating less, and you'll get to enjoy them more!
NOTE: This Web site offers a lot of information about eating better and getting fit, and not all of it will be right for all kids. Always check with your parents before you make any changes in the way you eat or exercise — they'll know best what's right for you.