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HALLOWEEN CANDY FOR THE TROOPS: EARN YOUR CANDY RUNNING/WALKING; GIVE LEFTOVERS TO SOLDIERS We usually overbuy candy for giving to Trick-or-Treaters on Halloween night. I am the one who selects and purchases the brands and sizes that we will have ready in a large bowl near the door.
Every year we really, really, hope that there are lots of little ones that come by, with parents standing off a bit, holding flashlights. And we enjoy the older kids who don’t need the company of moms or dads. They are more mercenary about the holiday and go to neighborhoods that will give up a large haul of candy. Each year a few teenagers will show up on the doorstep, without costumes, somewhat shy but also a little defiant. As if ready to proclaim they are not too old, but at the same eager to see what loot is being given out. That is why I buy the full or king-size candy. Snickers, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, KitKat Bars, Sweet-Tarts. I want us to get the reputation of being a top house for Trick-or-Treating. But the weather sometimes changes the habits of the parents and children. If rainy and cold everyone seems to pack into vans and head for high-density subdivisions. I just learned that now there are official ‘safe” trick or treat nights organized by the township. Parents pull into a parking lot, open the hatch or trunk, and the kids go from car to car, collecting candy from people they know. Or the fire stations host a night for providing games and treats. Which means there are fewer and fewer ghosts, witches, pirates, and princesses ringing our doorbell and going away with candy. Which means it stays in our house. I’ll keep eating it unless it’s given away. We’ll take some to work, but everyone has their own leftovers to unload somewhere. Cindy Ma, the nutritionist who calculated how much walking or running would be needed to burn off fun and snack-size Halloween candy (see previous BLOG post October 21, 2107), suggested another more generous way to make our home a candy-free zone. DONATE IT TO THE TROOPS! Upon reading her piece, I recalled a Christmas season years ago that we “adopted” a soldier as a chartable activity. I contacted him and asked what our family could send to make his tour overseas in the Middle East a bit easier. He wanted snacks and candy. After the night’s duty watch there was nothing to eat; the canteen was closed. Being a mom, I sent candy but included granola bars, peanut butter and cracker snacks, and other items I thought were more nutritious too. The Ma article provides a link to “Operation Gratitude Blog”, which has a link to a page that maps the nearest drop-off location for the sweet stuff. If this seems to be an ideal way to avoid having Halloween candy in close reach for days and weeks after the big night plus do good, think ahead. Buy items a soldier might like. I’m sticking with my old pattern. Full size bars and snacks. RUN HAPPY! https://opgrat.wordpress.com/2013/07/18/halloween-candy-for-the-troops/ http://signup.operationgratitude.com/halloween-candy-give-back-map
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BRIDGE TO PHYSICAL SELF
Running, walking, and fitness activities enable us to experience our physical selves in a world mostly accessed through use of fingers on a mobile device. AuthorEARNED RUNS is edited and authored by me, runner and founder. In 1978 I began participating in 10K road races before 5Ks were common. I've been a dietitian, practiced and taught clinical pathology, and been involved with research that utilized pathology. I am fascinated with understanding the origins of disease as well as health and longevity. Archives
November 2023
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