Robin DeCicco, Certified Health Counselor, Nutritionist and Label-Reading Expert in Bergen County, NJ

Who Says Halloween Candy Has to be Crappy?

10/28/2013

Refined sugar, a ton of full-fat dairy, preservatives and food-dyes are the leading ingredients of most of the popular Halloween candy on the market.

- 21 grams of sugar sneak into Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

- Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil is in Snickers (TRANS FAT that is so bad for us, it’s actually banned in New York City restaurants)

- Artificial Flavor in KitKat Bars

- Hydrogenated Palm Oil and corn syrup in Skittles

So, instead of eating these artery-clogging and teeth-rotting candy bars, try my favorites this Halloween!

1.) Righteously Raw Caramel Cacao Bar (Raw, Vegan, Non-GMO, Kosher, Organic, Gluten-Free, Refined Sugar Free) Made with only the raw cacao bean – one of greatest superfoods in the world with high antioxidant value. Increases blood flow through the body, reduces blood pressure and decreases inflammation. ONLY 7 GRAMS OF SUGAR!

2.) Almond Cacao LOVE Cups (Raw, Vegan, Organic, Non-GMO, Gluten-Free, Refined Sugar Free) – Low-glycemic delectable treat made with rich cacao in a perfectly sized cup!

3.) Buddha Cup Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cup (Raw, Vegan, Non-GMO, Gluten-Free, Refined Sugar Free) - Who needs a Reese’s now that these bad boys are here? The simplest ingredients like cacao, almond butter and coconut palm crystals make up these cups with only 3 GRAMS OF SUGAR!

4.) Rawmio Trail Mix Raw Chocolate Bar (Raw, Vegan, Non-GMO, Gluten-Free, Organic, Refined Sugar Free) - With vitamin-rich goji berries, high fiber pumpkin seeds and almonds, this cacao bar will satisfy a sweet-tooth and an empty stomach. ONLY 8 GRAMS OF SUGAR AND 5 GRAMS OF FIBER!

5.) Hail Merry Chocolate Macaroons (Raw, Vegan, Non-GMO, Gluten-Free, Kosher, Refined Sugar Free) - These chewy treats will make you and your kids forget about candy bars. Made with coconut oil and fair trade dark cocoa, these will melt in your mouth. ONLY 5 GRAMS OF SUGAR!

6.) Gnosis Chocolate Cool Mint Clarity Bar (Raw, Vegan, Organic, Gluten-Free, Kosher, Refined Sugar Free) – Move over Peppermint Patties and make room for this refreshing chocolate bar full of peppermint essential oil and gingko to keep you feeling cool, calm and centered. ONLY 6 GRAMS OF SUGAR!

4 Comments

It's all about the farm

10/16/2013

2 Comments

We hear all the time how much healthier it is to buy LOCAL produce and to visit farmer’s markets….. but why?

The answer is because if we are buying strawberries at DePiero’s Farm in Montvale and they are grown here, we are eating produce that has been picked at its prime and put into a container. It’s as simple as that. We are avoiding the hundreds and sometimes thousands of miles most produce travels before landing in our shopping cart.

We often don’t think about it when we are putting peppers from Mexico and kiwi from Argentina in our carts - - but the truth of the matter is that when produce travels this long of a distance, the nutrients are pretty much gone.

The process of how produce from other countries gets to us entails quite a few steps. Once it is picked, it might sit in the sun for days before trucks pick it up and then it travels on trucks or planes – which we hope are clean- for a couple days or more before it lands in the loading dock of our supermarkets and is unpacked.

The whole point of eating fruit and veggies is to feed our bodies with rich vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to boost our immune system and prevent disease, so it remains frustrating that most of the produce available to us has traveled a far way from home.

I recently took advantage of the soon to be ending tomato and eggplant season by buying a lot of each at DePiero’s Farm. The farm did carry produce that was from other parts of the world, but I just stuck to what was grown in Montvale.

I decided to use both fresh ingredients to make a healthier version of eggplant parmesan, which was delicious!

Recipe for 2 – with leftovers for the next night:

1.) Slice 2 eggplants thin and roast in the oven at 425 degrees on baking sheets until softened.

2.) Put tomato sauce on bottom of casserole and layer softened eggplant on top, with sauce in between the layers and on top.

3.) Slice 2 tomatoes and place them on the top layer of the eggplant.

4.) Season the casserole with black pepper and oregano.

5.) Place pieces of fresh basil and a handful of parmesan cheese on the top.

6.) Bake at 350 degrees until crispy.

2 Comments

Author:
Robin DeCicco

Robin DeCicco is a passionate food educator who wants to help you live your healthiest life!

Robin's blog is dedicated to educating the public on why we gravitate towards certain foods and what this says about our mindset, in addition to explaining the reasons for eating certain kinds of food and brands over others. Pick up tips on how to feel your healthiest and keep up to date with all the latest health news by reading this nutritionally-dense blog!

Who Says Halloween Candy Has to be Crappy?

It's all about the farm

Author:
Robin DeCicco

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Who Says Halloween Candy Has to be Crappy?

It's all about the farm

Author: Robin DeCicco

Archives

Categories

Author:
Robin DeCicco