Candy Bars To Consider For Your Holiday Festivities

For most of its history, candy has been sold by weight. Early Americans could visit their local general store and pick up a pound of peppermints or nonpareils. These sweet treats were usually unwrapped, which made them relatively cheap. But as automation increased and the number of candy factories grew (there were over 400 of them in the U.S. by the middle of the 19th century), it became possible to wrap each candy individually. Of course, it did not make much sense to wrap most candy at the time, since it was so fragile. The candy bar changed all that.

Though it was more expensive than the loose or bulk variety, wrapped candy was far more convenient. It could be transported in pockets or in lunch, boxes and it would not make a mess. And because it was much larger than the early "pieces," it made for a more satisfying snack.

The first candy bar was created in 1847 by Fry's Chocolate Factory in Bristol, England. It took them nearly two decades to get the recipe just right, but their bars were finally ready for public consumption in 1866. Chocolate products of all kinds flourished during the last quarter of the 19th century. There were chocolate candy boxes, Easter eggs, and peanut brittle. But the original candy bar did not catch on.

It wasn't until a company on the other side of the Atlantic took a chance on chocolate bars that the public finally embraced it. The Hershey Company introduced their first candy bar in 1900. Encouraged by strong sales of the original Hershey Bar, most chocolatiers started working on candy bars of their own. The first half of the 20th century is generally seen as the Golden Age of Candy in America, especially with regard to the candy bar.

The Health Bar, the O'Henry! Bar, the Baby Ruth, the Mounds Chocolate Bar, the Milky Way Bar, Mr. Goodbar, the Heath Bar, the Snickers Bar, and many, many more were all introduced during this period. Though our society has ostensibly become more health-conscious in recent years, candy is more popular than ever.

Americans consume nearly 3 billion pounds of chocolate each year, which is around 11 pounds for each man, woman and child. Not surprisingly, the United States is the world leader in chocolate production. Shoppers spend about 7 billion dollars on chocolate treats each year, and most of them are purchased for the holidays.

The candy bar and Christmas have never has a particularly strong association. Candy canes and loose chocolate treats are far more common during the holiday season. However, there are a few candy bars that have made the leap and have become popular holiday treats. Let us take a moment to discuss them.

Advent Calendar

Most kids count the days to Santa's visit; and an advent calendar make the experience even sweeter. Traditional calendars have twenty-four cardboard doors that can be opened to reveal a treat and a secret message. Oftentimes, they educate kids on the history of the holiday. The most common treats found in advent calendars are miniature chocolate bars wrapped in festive holiday foil.

Holiday Miniatures

Perfect for stuffing a stocking or for a holiday goodie bag, chocolate miniatures are probably the most popular candy bars that are served during the winter months. Though Hershey's miniatures lead the pack, most candy companies that make chocolate bars offer miniature bars for the holidays. They typically come in festive red, green, or silver foil.

Chocolate Thin Mints

Sweet, smooth and refreshing, chocolate thin mints have long been a favorite of holiday revelers. They are so popular during the winter months that most of the top mint makers, like Andes, produce holiday candies wrapped in green and red foil. The classic mint features a Crème de Mine green layer sandwich between two thin dark chocolate layers. The result is as tasty and as satisfying as any classic combination-chocolate and peanut butter, Oreos and milk, cheese and crackers, etc.

With the exception of the advent calendar, most holiday candy can be purchased by the pound, which often means big cost saving for consumers. There are presently a number of candy bars sellers on the internet that offer big discounts to bulk buyers during the holiday season.

Chocolate bars are a tasty and refreshing alternative to the traditional candy cane, which is ubiquitous during the holidays.

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Posted in: Candy,Consider,Festivities,Holiday

Secrets to Not Gaining Weight This Holiday Season

The time of year that we all love and we all hate has arrived. From October until January we have so many great reasons to eat so many great foods that we almost always end up packing on holiday pounds. Then we work like crazy from January to April in hopes of losing those added pounds before swimsuit season arrives. It is a vicious cycle that needs to be broken.

Believe it or not there are secrets to not gaining weight this holiday season and they do not include missing out on the goodies. You can eat what you want and still not gain weight if you follow some of these tips.

i) Do not eat food just because it is on your plate. If you are at a party and you put something on your plate and then discover that it really is not as good as it looked, then do not eat it.

ii) The drinks you are having may be full of calories you are unaware of. Be careful with all of those drinks that have dollops of whipped topping, or that include caramel in them. Drinks can contribute to our holiday weight gain more than the food we eat. Beverages containing alcohol can be loaded with calories. Try sipping a glass of white wine instead of having the mixed drink and you will cut your caloric intake down by at least one half.

iii) Do not stand near the buffet table to talk. After you have gotten the food you want then leave the area where the food is. Most people will continue to pick at food and sample treats if they are standing close to the table. Get away from the temptation.

iv) Engage in conversations, dance, and be more physically active when you are at parties. The more you move around the more calories you are burning. This will even count for the amount of time you are moving your jaw so keep talking.

v) Take the stairs instead of the elevator when you are shopping. The exercise will do you good.

vi) Do not try to park in the closest space to the door. Save that space for the elderly and you can burn more calories.

vii) Drink plenty of water and get plenty of sleep. It has been proven that people who are under stress from dehydration and the lack of sleep will eat more food to try to comfort their bodies.

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Posted in: Gaining,Holiday,Season,Secrets,Weight