The Great Halloween Candy Debate

Happy Halloween Foodies!

I'll be honest, I've never been big into Halloween. When I was a little girl, it was a time for class parties and candy, but as I got older, there was always this burden of finding a clever costume. Truth be told, the best part of Halloween in my adult life?

FOOD NETWORK HALLOWEEN SPECIALS!

(Regular readers of this blog should not be surprised)

Anyway, I bring Halloween up in this post, because I've noticed a fair bit of controversy in regards to the candy aspect of the holiday, and I'm very curious to hear people's thoughts.


First, Self Magazine posted an article entitled, "Halloween Candy: Is It Worth It?" earlier this month. The article states that before you reach for candy, you should be aware of how hard you'll have to work to burn off the following:

• 8 Starbursts = 160 calories (50 minutes of Pilates)
• 3 miniature York Peppermint Patties = 150 calories (17 minutes biking at a moderate pace)
• 19 pieces of Candy Corn = 140 calories (19 minutes playing tennis)
• 2 Reese's Peanut Butter Pumpkins = 350 calories (33 minutes running at a 6 mph pace)
• 1 caramel apple = 250-350 calories (40 minutes moderate effort on standard rowing machine)
• 3 Hershey's Milk Chocolate Snack Size Bars = 190 calories (1 hour of moderate weight lifting)
• 1 roll Smarties = 25 calories (6 minutes treading water)
• 2 fun size Snickers = 160 calories (22 minutes vigorous Vinyasa Yoga)
• 1 package Skittles (61g) = 250 calories (27 minutes of aerobic workout with 6-inch step)

Granted, the target audience of this article is specifically not the general public. That is, the majority of Self Magazine's readers are either trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle, or trying to reach a healthy weight or take steps toward living a healthy lifestyle. However, does the article go too far? 

Second, a woman the media is dubbing, the "Halloween Grinch". Check out the video below:

Is this woman also going too far? Should children be allowed to enjoy the innocence and candy of Halloween, or does it embody and breed the culture of gluttony and obesity? Lay those thoughts on me!

Third, Biggest Loser host Alison Sweeney appeared on Ellen DeGeneres' Halloween episode to discuss how she deals with her children's Halloween candy.

I will say this about the "Switch Witch" and I invite people to agree or disagree with me. I very much disagree with labeling foods as "bad" or "good" and I believe that Alison's approach causes her children to believe that candy is "bad". I think that certain foods are healthier than others, but I don't think anyone should start believing that any food (in moderation) is completely off limits. Feel free to post your comments below


In closing, with my resolve to live a healthy and fitness-filled lifestyle, I tend to be lukewarm about candy. I don't deny myself candy, but I also know that I'd MUCH rather have a nice pasta dinner than a few candy bars. Or, if I do want a sweet, I'd much rather have one of the gourmet bon-bons that the Manfriend and I picked up from a chocolate class we took at 2 Chicks With Chocolate yesterday.

That being said, I'm not condemning anyone who IS enjoying the fruits of Halloween. Frankly, It's one night of the year so Snickers on, good friends.

Recipe: Spiced Pumpkin Soup

One thing I love about being on Weight Watchers -- the recipes!!! This one my meeting leader shared on her Facebook, and I'm sharing it with all of you!

Fall is pumpkin season, but before you reach for a pumpkin spiced latte (5 WW Points for a tall!) -- try this soup to warm you up.

Spiced Pumpkin Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 TBS canola oil
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 1 tsp curry powder
• 1/4 tsp cardamom
• 1/4 tsp salt [or salt substitute]
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 2 cups reduced sodium, fat free broth (chicken or vegetable)
• 1 (15 oz) can pumpkin
• 1 (12 oz) can evaporated fat free milk
• 6 TBS plain fat free Greek yogurt

To Make:

1. In a large pot, heat oil. Add onion and cook for 3 minutes, or until soft. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the rest of the spices, salt and pepper.
2. Whisk in broth and pumpkin. Bring to just a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add milk and simmer for 2 minutes.
3. Using an immersion blender, puree soup until smooth. For thinner texture, add more broth. 
4. Ladle into bowls and garnish with yogurt.

Servings: 6

Each Serving: 104 calories, 14 g carbs, 3 g fat, 7 g protein, 3 g fiber, 3 WW Points Plus

Restaurant Review: Dos Cubanos

Hi Foodies,

I don't usually do restaurant reviews, but I wanted to make an exception and give a very very special shout-out with this post.

Dos Cubanos, in Paramus, NJ,  is the largest Cuban restaurant in Bergen County. You may have seen their recent Groupon for a bottle of wine, appetizer, and two entrees for $40.

The Manfriend and I did, and were able to celebrate a very special anniversary at Dos Cubanos, thanks to the incredible and incomparable hospitality of the manager, George.

For those unfamiliar with Cuban cuisine, Cuban fare is a fusion of Spanish, African and Caribbean flavors. The result Most of the dishes involve sauteing ingredients or stewing them over a long period of time. Frying is not common and there are very few heavy sauces -- which make it a relatively healthy choice. Common spices include garlic, cumin, oregano and bay leaves. Cuban cooking often involves a "sofrito"-- a quick saute of onion, pepper, garlic, oregano and ground pepper to infuse a base flavor into dishes. The food is not overly spicy, but intensely flavorful overall.

For an appetizer, the Manfriend and I chose Chorizo con Sofrito, a spicy Cuban sausage with sauteed peppers and onions in a fire roasted tomato sauce. I'm a big fan of chorizo, and the fire roasted tomato sauce was so delicious. We were actually fighting forks over the last bite -- right in the middle of the restaurant. The one negative would be that the appetizer didn't come with any bread to scoop up the last of the sauce.

For his entree, the Manfriend ordered Ropa Vieja, twice cooked tender shredded flank steak with Cuban Criollo sauce. I tried it, and it was unbelievably tender. My entree was Bistec a la Plancha, thinly pounded steak that had been marinated in lime and garlic. The combination of the lime and garlic truly brought out a note of freshness that I really hadn't anticipated, or tasted before in beef dishes. Truly a winner.

I recommend Dos Cubanos to all my NJ readers. The food is flavorful, the waitstaff is attentive and the decor is festive. Just make sure you make a reservation -- the place was packed, another mark of an incredible spot.

Thanks again to George for making it quite an evening!

WW Points for Beer

I just discovered this wonderful blog, The Complete Weight Watchers Point and Reference Guide (Recently rerouted to OneMorePound.com, which lists WW points plus for items that might not be in the WW system. 

As a big craft beer drinker, I'm particularly pleased to see the following chart -- which I have reposted as a reference guide. Keep in mind, unless specified, these values are for 12 oz. of beer.

Cheers!

WEIGHT WATCHERS POINTS FOR BEER (12oz Serving Unless Otherwise Specified)

ITEM	POINTS	CALORIES
Anchor Porter	4	209
Anchor Steam	3	153
Anheuser Busch Natural Light	2	95
Anheuser Busch Natural Ice	3	157
Aspen Edge	2	94
Blatz Beer	3	153
Blue Moon	3	171
Bud Dry	3	130
Bud Ice	3	148
Bud Ice Light	2	110
Bud Light	2	110
Bud Light Lime	2	116
Budweiser	3	145
Budweiser Select	2	99
Busch Beer	3	133
Busch Ice	3	169
Busch Light	2	110
Carling Black Label	3	138
Colt 45 Malt Liquor	3	174
Coors	3	149
Coors Light	2	104
Extra Gold Lager	3	152
Flying Dog Doggie Style	3	158
Flying Dog Dogtober Fest	3	146
Flying Dog Double Dog Pale Ale	6	292
Flying Dog Gonzo	5	269
Flying Dog Horn Dog	6	314
Flying Dog In Heat Wheat	3	131
Flying Dog K-9 Cruiser	4	181
Flying Dog Old Scratch	3	150
Flying Dog Road Dog	3	158
Flying Dog Snake Dog	4	179
Flying Dog Tire Bite	2	124
Genesee Beer	3	148
Genesee Cream Ale	3	162
Genesee Ice	3	156
Genesee Red	3	148
Geaorge Killian's Irish Red	3	162
Guinness Draught - 1 Pint	4	210
Guinness Stout	4	176
Icehouse	3	132
Icehouse 5.0	3	149
Icehouse Light	2	103
Hamm's Beer	3	144
Keystone Premium	2	111
Keystone Ice	3	142
Leinenkugel Honey Weiss	3	149
Leinenkugel Northwoods Lager	3	163
Leinenkugel Original	3	152
Leinenkugel Creamy Dark	3	170
Leinenkugel Red	3	166
Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat	3	165
Leinenkugel Light	2	105
Leinenkugel Amber Light	2	110
Lowenbrau Dark	3	160
Lowenbrau Special Beer	3	160
Magnum Malt Liquor	3	157
Michael Shea's	3	145
Michelob Amber Boch	3	166
Michelob Beer	3	155
Michelob Golden Draft	3	152
Michelob Golden Draft Light	2	110
Michelob Honey Lager	4	175
Michelob Light	2	113
Michelob Ultra	2	95
Mickey's Fine Malt Liquor	3	157
Mickey's Ice	3	157
Miller Chill	2	110
Miller Genuine Draft	3	143
Miller Genuine Draft Light	2	110
Miller Genuine Draft '64'	1	64
Miller High Life	3	143
Miller High Life Light	2	110
Miller Lite	2	96
Miller Lite Brewers Collection Amber	2	110
Miller Lite Brewers Collection Blonde	2	110
Miller Lite Brewers Collection Wheat	2	110
Milwaukee's Best	3	128
Milwaukee's Best Light	2	98
Milwaukee's Best Ice	3	144
New Belgium 1554	4	205
New Belgium 2 Below	4	200
New Belgium Abbey	4	200
New Belgium Blue Paddle	3	140
New Belgium Fat Tire	3	160
New Belgium Mothership Wit	3	155
New Belgium Trippel	4	215
New Belgium Sunshine Wheat	3	145
O'Doul's	1	70
Old Milwaukee Light	2	114
Old Milwaukee Beer	3	146
Olde English 800	3	160
Olde English 800 7.5	4	202
Olde English High Gravity 800	4	220
Olympia Premium Lager	3	146
Pabst Blue Ribbon	3	153
Pabst Extra Light Low Alcohol	1	67
Pete's Wicked Ale	3	174
Red Dog	3	147
Red Hook ESB	4	179
Red Hook IPA	4	188
Rolling Rock Extra Pale	3	142
Rolling Rock Premium Beer	2	120
Sam Adams Boston Lager	3	160
Sam Adams Boston Ale	3	160
Sam Adams Cherry Wheat	3	166
Sam Adams Cream Stout	4	195
Sam Adams IPA	4	175
Sam Adams Light	2	124
Sam Adams Pale Ale	3	145
Schaefer Beer	3	142
Schlitz Beer	3	146
Schlitz Light	2	110
Schlitz Malt Liquor	4	185
Sierra Nevada Anniversary Ale	4	190
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot	7	330
Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale	4	214
Sierra Nevada Draft Ale	3	157
Sierra Nevada Early Spring Beer	4	190
Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale	4	215
Sierra Nevada India Pale Ale	5	231
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale	4	175
Sierra Nevada Pale Bock	4	218
Sierra Nevada Porter	4	194
Sierra Nevada Stout	5	225
Sierra Nevada Summerfest Beer	3	158
Sierra Nevada Wheat Beer	3	153
Signature Stroh Beer	3	153
Southpaw Light	2	123
Steel Reserve	4	222
Steel Reserve Triple Export	4	222
Steel Reserve Six	3	160
Stroh's Beer	3	149
Stroh's Light	2	113
Tuborg Deluxe Dark Export	3	163
Tuborg Export Quality	3	156
Winehard's Private Reserve	3	150
Winehard's Amber Light	3	135
Winehard's Hefeweizen	3	151
Winehard's Blonde Lager	3	161
Winehard's Pale Ale	3	147
Yuengling Ale	3	145
Yuengling Porter	3	150
Yuengling Premium Beer	3	135
Yuengling Light	2	98
Yuengling Lager	3	135

Recipe: Roasted Asparagus & Ricotta Pasta with Red Pepper Flakes

This is a simple vegetarian meal, with -- added bonus -- just a few ingredients.

Ingredients:

• Bundle fresh asparagus
• 4 oz dry pasta (any variety)
• 1/2 cup fat free ricotta
• 1 TBS olive oil
• Red pepper Flakes
• Salt and pepper (to taste)

To Make:

• Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F. Clean and prep asparagus on a sheet pan, coated with non-stick spray. Season asparagus with salt, pepper and 2 tsp olive oil. When oven is preheated, roast asparagus for 20 minutes, or until tender.
• Cook pasta according to directions on box
• Serve roasted asparagus on top of cooked pasta. Flake ricotta cheese onto pasta/asparagus mixture. Drizzle remaining olive oil over pasta, ricotta and asparagus. Top with red pepper flakes and serve.

Servings: 2

Per Serving: 325 calories, 50 g carbs, 8 g fat, 15 g protein, 8 WW Points Plus