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Published: October 24, 2007 07:43 pm
Health Matters: Check out Web site for candy carb counts
By Jan Chait
THE TRIBUNE STAR (TERRE HAUTE, Ind.)
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. —
Is it almost time for Halloween already? Seems like it was summer just the other day. At any rate, you may have a couple of things on your mind, namely candy and costumes. We’ll take candy first.
Many people are counting carbohydrates either for health or for personal reasons. I can just see people scratching their heads next week over the number of carbs in that bag of candy corn (13 grams for 10 pieces), KitKat mini (10 grams) Air Heads (15 grams), or, or, or …
Have I got a deal for you! The best list on the Web is for Halloween candy carb counts is at www.insulin-pumpers.org/howto/halloween.shtml. Yes, it’s a diabetes site. Trust me when I say that a group of people with diabetes are likely to know the carb count of just about any food you can name — especially the good stuff — or knows where to find it.
The list would also be good in helping you decide what to buy at the after-Halloween sales.
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As for costume ideas, how about disguising your eyes?
First of all, let me point out that you can’t just walk into a place and get contacts — specialty or otherwise.
You have to already have a prescription for contact lenses or, at some places, don’t need vision correction. “There is one medical caveat to mention, says AP&S Clinic’s marketing guru, Susan Snider. “Contact lenses are medical devices. If a customer is interested in ordering the lenses and doesn't currently wear contact lenses, a lens fitting is required.”
If you don’t meet those requirements, time constraints mean you may be unable to get contacts for this Halloween, but keep it in mind for next year.
That said, Wild EYES choices include cat eyes as well as some really wild ones with names like Wild Fires, Ice Fire, Zoomin’ and Hypnotica. In between, you can find jaguar, zebra, black-out, red hots, white-out and more, says Teresa Wilson, an optician at Indiana Eye Specialists, 76 W. Springhill Road.
If you’re interested in dressing your eyes up, too, check with your eye doc. Do it soon, because the lenses may have to be ordered. Dr. Andrew S. Farber says his office can get them overnight; Snider says it takes 5-7 days at AP&S (but ask if they can rush it for you).
If you place your Wild EYES order by Oct. 31 at AP&S, you can get them for $35 per lens (!) instead of the regular price of $80, Snider says.
Custom lenses also are available. “One of our customers is a huge Colts fan and had horseshoe lenses made,” Snider says.
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The more you eat out at fast-food restaurants, the more you weigh, say researchers attending the North American Association for the Study of Obesity meeting in New Orleans.
Ya think?
Why not just eat the healthier items on the menu? Well, say the researchers, “Americans are less willing to pay more for healthy menu items and are more likely to agree with the statement that healthy foods taste bland.”
If you do want to get away from the mega-burgers and such, “choose items that are not fried, not breaded, and not loaded with fatty or sugary condiments, such as gravies or sweet sauces like honey mustard or barbecue, mayonnaise, etc.,” says Tracy Arini, a registered dietitian with the Union Hospital Diabetes Education Center.
“Also, aiming for meals with less than 700 mg sodium and less than 5 grams of saturated fat would be a good starting place for heart healthy choices.” That’s the top for the entire meal, she emphasizes, meaning that all of your choices added together don’t exceed those guidelines.
Arini says you can also reduce calories by getting your salad dressing on the side, then dipping your fork first into the dressing and then picking up a bite of salad. “Also,” she says, “ask for cheese or cheese sauce to be omitted, opt for mustard over mayo, take off half of the bun, split an order with a friend, and don’t super-size.”
You can look up nutritional information about a restaurant even before you go there at www.calorieking.com. If you want to just focus on the healthier choices, try www.healthchecksystems.com/ffood.htm.
To further fortify your willpower, go rent “Super Size Me.” Don’t forget to watch it, too.
Jan Chait writes for The Tribune Star in Terre Haute, Ind.
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