Candy preferences are a very personal thing. Sometimes our love of a particular sweet treat is associated with a fond memory. Certain confectionary is connected with commonly celebrated holidays and may only be available for a limited time. Many of us grew up with candy that was new to the market at the time. No matter how you like to enjoy your sweets, trying a novel twist can heighten your appreciation.
Repurposing candy
Have you ever thought of baking with leftover confectionary? If you have excess treats after Halloween or Christmas, you can do a lot with them in the kitchen. Try adding small candy pieces to a cookie or brownie recipe. The unexpected delight when you bite into your baked treat and discover a new flavor or texture might convince you to experiment with other recipes.
Repurposing candy can be an even simpler matter. One easy option is to buy a store-made cake or cupcakes and decorate the icing with some crushed candy pieces. Not only does this look and taste great, but it’s a creative choice when you’re in need of a quick contribution to a neighborhood potluck. Another way to use your remaining confectionary is to incorporate them in a trail mix that typically consist of nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. The sweet surprise of chopped up chocolate or other candy pieces will enliven the salty mix.
Eating mindfully
It’s not uncommon for people to indulge in confectionary when they’re doing something else. Maybe you’re having a late-night treat while watching TV or purchasing a tasty snack at the ballgame concession stand. Desserts are often consumed at the dinner table after a meal with the family. All this to say that aside from a fleeting awareness that we’re loving the experience of eating something sweet, our minds are usually elsewhere.
Mindful eating means really paying attention to what you’re eating. You bring your whole being to the act of tasting and chewing the food and think of nothing more at the time. With candy, this involves really savoring its distinct flavor and noticing how each bite feels in your mouth. You might notice the crunchy texture of a bar made with nuts or the smooth satisfaction of pure melt-in-your-mouth chocolate. Basically, eating mindfully increases your enjoyment of the entire encounter.
Expanding your horizons
As innovative types of confectionaries arrive on store shelves every year, there’s no reason not to sample a different product. To address the growing interest in consuming less sugar and fewer artificial sweeteners, candy producers are developing treats with natural flavors and healthier ingredients.
Americans love their chocolate, and dark chocolate is a notable favorite. Chocolate is evolving with unique textures and flavors being produced. Some chocolate has savory or spicy notes. Other bars have a novel take on crunchy nuts, while one has crushed fortune cookies and contains a fortune.
If you’re a little more adventurous, you might be drawn to some of the newest confectionaries that brand themselves as multi-sensory. You can buy a chewy gummy that includes a popping candy or a sour gummy in a range of creative and fruity flavors. Colorful gummy worms are often featured on ice cream cakes, and alcohol is served in edible gummy shot glasses. Fruit candy flavors are showing up in beverages like soda pop and a host of health supplements where vitamins, pre- and pro-biotics are sold in gummy form.
Have you heard of the term “swicy”? It means sweet and spicy and is influencing a variety of recently made confectionary. Think of the heat of chili combined with almost any fruit taste you can imagine. Finally, dessert flavor profiles are being introduced to traditional chocolate bars with options such as salted caramel and cookie dough.
Maintaining a balance
Fully enjoying confectionary includes keeping your consumption in balance. At all times, you should listen to your body and what it craves. For instance, are you reaching for that candy bar because you’re hungry and it’s an easy item to grab? Once you’ve satisfied your nutritional requirements with whole foods, indulging in a sweet treat can really round things out.
Notice whether restrictions you place on eating candy may be reducing your satisfaction. Certainly, you want to strive for a good balance in your diet. However, if you’re restricting the number of sweets you’re allowed, it could backfire and rob you of the enjoyment entirely.
Remember that foods are not necessarily good or bad. Your body needs a certain number of calories and a variety of nourishing foods for optimal health. Having said that, people eat for pleasure as well as nutrition. Sweet treats, consumed in moderation, can be part of a well-balanced diet.
In closing
Repurposing confectionary, eating mindfully, expanding your candy repertoire, and keeping things in balance can make eating sweets more enjoyable.