Halloween candy can be a big temptation, whether you're raiding your child's Halloween bucket, eating leftover candy or stocking up on large bags because they're on sale. But exactly what does it take to burn off those extra calories? Here is an estimate of how much you'll have to run in Piedmont Park to make up for splurging. Make sure to add up the actual number of treats you eat, because who can eat just one fun-sized candy bar?
Estimates are based on a 150-pound person and use an online "calories burned" calculator:
A handful of candy corn: 98 calories – about .8 miles
Caramel apple: 360 calories – about 3.2 miles
Hershey's kiss: 22 calories each – about .2 miles
Hershey's miniature bars: average of 42 calories each – about .4 miles
Laffy Taffy: 53 calories – about 4.6 miles
Peanut M&Ms: 93 calories per fun-size bag – about .8 miles
Peeps: 16 calories – about .15 miles
Skittles fun size bag: 60 calories – about .5 miles
Snack-sized Reese's: 110 calories – about 1 mile
Snickers full size bar: 250 calories each – 2.2 miles
Snickers fun-size bar: 80 calories each – .7 miles
Snickers minis: 43 calories each – about .4 miles
Spree Candy: 60 calories – about .5 miles
SweeTARTS Chews: 50 calories – about .45 miles
Three Musketeer's minis: 26 calories – about .25 miles
Tootsie Roll Midgee: 23 calories – about .2 miles
You can save some calories and still indulge. The Mayo Clinic recommends the following tips for enjoying some Halloween treats without consuming too many calories:
Watch the candy, especially chocolate
Hard candies generally don't have as many calories as chocolate does. Usually they have 110 calories per ounce vs. 150 for chocolate.
Wait to buy Halloween candyWho hasn't bought Halloween candy and then started digging in days before the trick-or-treaters arrive? Wait to buy it until the day before Halloween, and don't pick your favorites. Sugar-free gum and small-sized bags of pretzels are good choices.
Consider other treats
If you're handing out treats, buy stickers or bags of Halloween-themed plastic rings or other non-candy items.
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