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.

World's Largest Hips, Self Love, and Obesity

I was watching The Talk at my office a few days ago-- I work in Public Relations, and we have various news and consumer programs on during the day to find media opportunities for them -- and the ladies at The Talk were also discussing this woman.

This is Mikel Ruffinelli, a 39 year old woman with "The Largest Hips in the World." She weighs 420 pounds, has a 40 inch waist, and measures 100 inches around the hips. That's more than 8 feet, folks.

Mikel has said in articles that she must buy two airline seats to accommodate her hips, and often has trouble getting around. Another video circulating the internet shows Mikel manipulating her body to walk through the halls of her house, or having to stand sideways to fit in her shower.

I applaud everyone who feels great in their skin -- if you're big and beautiful -- You are a rockstar of self esteem and confidence, and I look up to you as you've achieved something I still struggle with. However, I do believe that 420 pounds is not a healthy weight for anyone. For context, I also think that 92 pounds is also an unhealthy weight.

If she's healthy, then I have nothing to say -- may her self esteem seep into other women around the world. However, interviews features her children admitting that Mikel cannot stand for very long, a feat which a healthy woman should be able to do.

I think it comes down to a health issue. Being obese does not make this woman ugly. She is not ugly. She is beautiful. However, having that excess weight may be extremely unhealthy -- and that's something to consider and rethink, I believe.

The ladies of The Talk ended their segment with the following:

Do you see 85 year old people who weigh 400 pounds? 

I'm curious to hear people's thoughts on this issue and their comment.