Large Calories Come In Small Packages

Here's a warning as you prepare to shop for Halloween candy. Those bite sized candies that you put in your mouth instead of handing out to trick or treaters can really pack on the pounds.

Marketing researcher Jennifer Argo of the University of Alberta says our consumption behavior changes when high-calorie treats are placed in individually wrapped packages, and we tend to eat more of them than we might do ordinarily.

Easier to eat smaller portions

For example, if you were consciously trying to maintain a healthy weight, it's unlikely you would eat a giant-sized candy bar. But as you pass the bowl of Halloween candy, you could easily find yourself eating more than the equivalent to the giant candy bar.

On the other hand, if you have long ago given up the battle of the bulge, you are likely to consume large portions of either the giant candy bar or the small, bite-sized portions.

"The low-appearance self-esteem people ate the most when they were told that the caloric information was favorable, when the caloric information was on the front of the package and when the product was visible," said Argo. "People in the high-appearance self-esteem category -- those who did not indicate concerns about weight or physical appearance -- still ate more, but there was a big jump in the consumption quantity for those with low self-esteem."

Information can work against you

Even small, individually wrapped candies have calorie information, or come in a bag with that information, but Argo says that fact can actually work against you if you are trying to control calories.

"These consumers are basically saying, 'this package is going to protect me; it's going to help me achieve my goal,' and so they relinquish control to the package," she said. "They throw up their hands and say, 'I don't have to worry because the package is taking care of everything for me.' As soon as they've given up initial control, they have no control to deal with that next package that's presented to them."

Protecting yourself

So, how do you protect yourself from the scary effects of these treats? For starters, wait until the last minute to buy your Halloween candy. Stores start displaying it by mid September, but ask yourself, what household can hold onto three bags of miniature Snickers bars for six weeks without breaking into them?

Second, don't go overboard when buying candy. Try to realistically gauge how much you will need to satisfy the neighborhood kids. Remember, what you don't give away will be sitting around the house temping you.

And third, know how many calories are in each piece of candy and mentally add that to your caloric total with each bite.

"Relinquishing control to small packages is "a very cognitive process; people are purposefully doing this," Argo said. "We found that if we interrupt the participants, if we distracted them with a task, they don't fall prey to overeating. "When it's a small package, distractions are actually beneficial in some respects."