Halloween treats can expand waistline and decrease productivity

Watch out for that post-Halloween sugar crash on Monday, as well-meaning co-workers bring in buckets and bowls of leftover candy.

Too many leftover Halloween treats can expand your waistline and decrease your productivity, said Loyola University Health System registered dietitian Brooke Schantz.

A sugar high can lead to a few minutes of initial alertness and provide a short burst of energy. But beware of the scary sugar crash. When the sugar high wears off, you'll feel tired, fatigued and hungry.

Schantz offers these tips for coping with the abundance of office candy:
-- Make a pact with your co-workers to not bring in leftover candy.
-- Eat breakfast, so you don't come to work hungry.
-- Bring in alternative healthy snacks, such as low-fat yogurt, small low-fat cheese sticks, carrot sticks, or cucumber slices. "Vegetables are a great healthy snack. You can't overdose on vegetables," Schantz said.
-- If you must bring in candy, put it in an out-of-the-way location. "Don't put it in people's faces so they mindlessly eat it," Schantz said. She cited one study that found that office workers ate an average of nine Hershey's Kisses per week when the candy was conveniently placed on top of the desk, but only six Kisses when placed in a desk drawer and three Kisses when placed two feet from the desk. (The study was conducted by James Painter of Eastern Illinois University.)
-- If you have to have a treat, try to limit yourself to a small, bite-sized piece. Moderation is key.