Most trick-or-treaters come home with a bag of candy so big it seems to never go away!! The big question is...how long does candy actually last? A month..a year..2 years..? When it comes to the basics the National Confectioners Association has listed the best ways to make that candy last...

• Chocolate. Dark chocolate can be kept for one to two years if wrapped in foil and stored in a cool, dark and dry place. Milk and white chocolate have a more limited storage time-no more than eight to 10 months.
• Hard candy (lollipops, hard mints, butterscotches). Hard candies can last up to a year when stored at room temperature in a cool, dry location.
• Soft candies (gum drops, jellied candies). If the packaging has been opened, soft candies should be covered away from heat and light at room temperature. Stored in this manner, the candy should last six to nine months. If the packaging has not been opened, soft sweets will last approximately 12 months.
• Candy corn. If opened, candy corn should be stored under the same conditions as soft candies and will last approximately three to six months. Unopened, packages will last about nine months.

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Halloween is a time for scary movies, costumes, and yes..the oh so dreaded bag of goodies that will be staring you in the face for the next couple of months. According to the National Confectioners Association:

-90% of parents admit to sneaking goodies from their kids' Halloween trick-or-treat bags.
-Four-in-ten (41%) adults admit that they sneak sweets from their own candy bowl.

It's an exciting weekend for your little ghosts and goblins and it's important that you take the steps to ensure a healthy and safe experience for your family!

SAFETY TIPS

KNOW THE BASICS: Everyday safety such as not getting into cars, talking to strangers, watching both ways before crossing streets are essential.

PICK A SAFE COSTUME: Make sure the eye holes are large enough to see properly.

WATCH YOUR JACK-O-LANTERN: Make sure they are far enough out of the way so that kids costumes won't be set on fire.

PROPER PROPS: Costume props should have smooth edges in case your child were to accidentally fall on it.

REMEMBER THE ROUTE: Know the route your kids will be taking if you aren't going with them.

SUPERVISION: Try to make sure an adult or teen aged sibiling can go along.

LIGHT THE WAY: Take a flashlight with you to ensure a safe walk through the neighborhood at dark.

NCA's HEALTHY HALLOWEEN TIPS

EAT BEFORE TREAT: Serve a healthy and nutritious dinner before your children head out to collect candy. Your kids will be happier and full, which will help reduce the temptation to eat candy at each trick-or-treat stop.

SORT & SAVE: Allow your kids to enjoy some of their Halloween bounty on trick-or-treat night. Then work with them to portion out two or three treats into separate small bags to be enjoyed beyond October 31.

MAKE IT OR BREAK IT: Most candies are now available in snack size portions. For the ones that aren't, break them into sections and store those separately to make your own fun sizes!

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and it's so important to get involved in any way you can. There are pink products all over the stores right now, and buying something as simple as lip gloss can make a difference. We had a fantastic organization on our show this week that is trying to expand an extremely important service to San Antonio. It's called Yoga Bear.

Yoga Bear is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to providing cancer survivors with more opportunities for wellness and healing through the practice of yoga. One of the most unique aspects of Yoga Bear is its focus on survivorship. Their goal is to help survivors heal physically and emotionally after treatment. The power of yoga is so strong in the healing process!!

This is how it works...

Yoga Bear matches survivors with local yoga classes free of charge and is currently partnered with more than 180 yoga studios and four hospitals in 25 states. The problem is..none of those yoga studios are in San Antonio.

They are looking for yoga instructors and studios that are willing to donate their time and space so they can serve cancer survivors living in our area.

If you are interested in this organization you can find more information at: www.yogabear.org

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With the heavy rainfall this morning I found it appropriate to pass along a friendly reminder from the city when it comes to low water crossings. It can be extremely dangerous when we receive this amount of rainfall!

Motorists are cautioned against traveling on roadways having low water crossings. It is recommended that motorists wait out storms producing heavy rainfall or choose alternate routes. A high water rescue can be very dangerous, not only putting the stranded motorists in danger, but the rescuers as well. Always remember when traveling during or after heavy rainfall to "Turn Around, Don't Drown".

Keep in mind a few simple tips:
- NEVER drive through floodwaters or on flooded roads.
- If your vehicle stalls, leave it immediately and seek higher ground.
- Water only two feet deep can float away most automobiles.
- Do not attempt to cross a flowing stream.
- It takes only six inches of fast moving water to sweep you off your feet.
- Don't allow children to play near high water, storm drains or ditches.
- Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers.

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How old do you feel?

In the words of pharmacist and author Sherry Torkos, "If you feel your age or older...you need to take action."

She was on our show today with some great advice on eating to look younger and live longer. I greatly appreciate her advice because it is an all natural way to improve your quality of life.

She shared with me her "Keys to Longevity" which I will now share with you.

1. Eat lots of fruits and veggies
2. Get adequate sleep
3. Reduce stress
4. Exercise every day
5. Choose smart supplements
-Multi-vitamin
-Omega-3 Fats
-Garlic
-Green Tea

In my next blog I will be detailing the types of foods to make you live longer and the drinks that will make you distress!

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When I am shopping at the grocery store (one of my favorite things to do, by the way) I am always looking for new healthy products that TASTE GOOD. I have tried many DELICIOUS things, and many not-so-delicious things. It's always hit and miss. I recently picked up a product that I wanted to share because it's just that good.

You see, I love burgers--especially turkey burgers, but I hate the HUGE buns. Normally I will just eat half of the bun to save calories, carbs, and a huge mess. Not to mention, the enormous buns make eating a burger impossible sometimes!

Until now....

I ran across these Arnold Sandwich Thins and decided to give them a whirl. This was an extremely successful purchase. These little 100 calorie pieces of yum were just what I have been looking for. It's literally a half of a half of a bun. The damage...100 calories, 5 grams of fiber, and only 1 gram of fat. You can use them for sandwiches, burgers, even mini pizzas. Next time you are in the store look for them and let me know what you think!

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Surprisingly, what you eat before and after your work out can have a major impact on the results you will see from pumping all that iron. Today's information comes from one of my favorite guide books to health. The Eat This Not That series is full of jaw dropping tips when it comes to your meal time decision making.

Here are their picks for the 8 Perfect Fitness Foods. (Some may surprise you!!)

1. Pineapple and Papaya - Both of these tropical fruits are loaded with bromelain and papain, enzymes that not only help break down proteins for digestion but also have anti-inflammatory properties to speed up your post-workout recovery.

2. Salmon - The fatty acids in fish oil need to become incorporated into muscle and heart cells to have an effect, and that takes weeks of consumption-so either take fish oil pills each day, or try to eat fish rich in fatty acids multiple times a week to see similar results.

3. PB&J or Pasta With Meat Sauce - The perfect post-weight training repast has about 400 calories, with 20 to 30 grams of protein (to build new muscle) and 50 to 65 grams of carbohydrates (to repair old muscle). Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or a small bowl of pasta with meat sauce fits that formula.

4. Pork Tenderloin - Lean meats are a great low-calorie source of protein, and scientists at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, found that eating more protein may reduce the fat around your midsection. People who ate 20 more grams of protein every day than the group average had 6 percent lower waist-to-hip ratios.

5. 8 ounces of chocolate milk - The best sports drink may come from a cow. British researchers found that milk does a better job than water or sports drinks at rehydrating the body after exercise. Why? To begin with, milk has more electrolytes and potassium. The addition of chocolate gives milk the perfect balance of carbs, protein, and fat for speedy muscle recovery.

6. Coffee - University of Georgia scientists revealed that taking a caffeine supplement (equal to two cups of coffee) after exercise reduces muscle soreness more than pain relievers can. Caffeine blocks a chemical that activates pain receptors

7. Green Tea - Brazilian scientists found that participants who consumed three cups of green tea every day for a week had fewer markers of the cell damage caused by resistance to exercise. So drinking a few cups every day may help your muscles recover faster after an intense workout.

8. Cold Water - Drinking cold water before and during exercise can help improve your endurance. In a British study, cyclists who drank about 30 ounces of a chilled drink in the half hour before riding in a hot, humid environment-and smaller amounts as they rode-were able to bike 23 percent longer than riders who downed lukewarm liquids. Drinking cold water may be the most direct way to reduce core body temperature, so it takes you longer to heat up and slow down.

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So you went out the other night and had a bit too much to drink. The next day you're not feeling too great and all you need is a little "hair of the dog." When it comes to hangover relief, extra fluids and some aspirin are usually in order. Now, you may want to add asparagus to your list of remedies.

In an article on realage.com : "A new study shows that the amino acids and minerals in asparagus extract may ease hangovers and protect liver cells against the toxins in alcohol."

The stalky green veggie is eaten in many countries around the world and has "long been used for its anti-cancer, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and diuretic effects," according to researchers.

Apparently the leaves contain higher concentrations of the beneficial amino acids and minerals than the shoots.

Instead of feeling a little "green" try eating a little!

This study can be found in the current issue of the Journal of Food Science.

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It's week 2 of school, and I hope you are finally getting into the swing of things. In past blogs I have discussed the importance of a healthy breakfast and lunch for your little students, but make sure snacking is healthy and fun too. When school lets out at the end of the day, don't let your little ones run home to dive in a bag of potato chips or fruit snacks.

The American Dietetic Association has a FUN, CREATIVE, and HEALTHY list of 25 snacks perfect for your kiddos on the go.

1. Peel a banana and dip it in yogurt. Roll in crushed cereal & freeze.
2. Spread celery sticks with peanut butter or low-fat cream cheese. Top with raisins.
3. Stuff a whole-grain pita pocket with ricotta cheese & Granny Smith apple slices. Add a dash of cinnamon.
4. Mix together ready to eat cereal, dried fruit & nuts in a sandwich bag or an on-the- go snack.
5. Smear a scoop of frozen yogurt on two graham crackers and add sliced banana to make a yummy sandwich.
6. Top low-fat vanilla yogurt with crunchy granola and sprinkle with blueberries.
7. Microwave a small baked potato. Top with reduced-fat cheddar cheese and salsa.
8. Make snack kabobs. Put cubes of low-fat cheese and grapes on pretzel sticks.
9. Toast a whole grain waffle and top with low-fat yogurt and sliced peaches.
10. Spread peanut butter on apple slices.

11. Blend low-fat milk, frozen strawberries and a banana for thirty seconds for a delicious smoothie.
12. Make a mini-sandwich with tuna or egg salad on a dinner roll.
13. Sprinkle Monterey Jack cheese over a corn tortilla: fold in half and microwave for 20 sec. Top with salsa.
14. Toss dried cranberries and chopped walnuts in instant oatmeal.
15. Mix together peanut butter and cornflakes in a bowl. Shape into balls and roll in crushed graham crackers.
16. Microwave a cup of tomato or vegetable soup and enjoy with whole grain crackers.
17. Fill a waffle cone with cut-up fruit and top with low-fat vanilla yogurt.
18. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on hot popcorn.
19. Banana Split: Top a banana with low-fat vanilla and strawberry frozen yogurt. Sprinkle with favorite whole grain cereal.
20. Sandwich Cut-Outs: Make sandwich on whole grain bread, cut with favorite shape cookie cutter. Eat the shape and edges too!
21. Spread mustard on a flour tortilla. Top with slice of turkey or ham, low-fat cheese and lettuce. Roll it up.
22. Mini Pizza: Toast an English Muffin, drizzle with pizza sauce and sprinkle with low-fat mozzarella cheese.

23. Rocky Road: Break graham cracker into bite-size pieces. Add to low-fat chocolate pudding with a few mini marshmallows.
24. Inside-Out Sandwich: Spread mustard on a slice of deli turkey. Wrap around a sesame breadstick.
25. Parfait: Layer vanilla yogurt and mandarin oranges or blueberries in a tall glass. Top with sprinkle of granola.

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I commend local restaurants that take the steps to provide a healthier menu option for its customers. With entrees growing bigger than our heads, and calories in one meal equaling your daily total, it's time to scale back. It seems to be happening more and more these days. Trans-fat is being eliminated, more salads and fruits are being added to entrees, and leaner meats and fish seem to be more available.

A big change is coming to the children's menu at the local restaurant Pico de Gallo. They are part of a pilot program that is trying to reduce local obesity and diabetes rates. Elected officials from the City, County, and State are joining Metro Health, the owner of Pico de Gallo, and the San Antonio Restaurant Association-- to detail the first initiative from the Healthy Restaurants Coalition - a new healthier kids menu.

After 6 months of proper planning, Pico de Gallo will now feature more lean and healthy options for the kiddos. The long term goal of course, is to expand the voluntary trend to other restaurants.

Now the big challenge is CHOOSING the right option. Make sure to take time and educate your kids on making the right choice when it comes to the food they put in their body. Let them know why they need fruits and veggies, how much they need, and the importance of portion control. If proper nutrition is taught at an early age--they will be more likely to live a healthy lifestyle in the long run.

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