So we were having this conversation yesterday at work about how people bought 6-8 bags of candy and expected to have about 1-2 remaining after Halloween, but wound up with less than one – and they were mildly disappointed. I asked how many kids would they estimate came to their doors and most people said anywhere from 50-100. So I started to do some math: roughly 40 pieces of candy/bag times 8 bags = 320 minus 1 bag leftover (50 pieces) = 270 divided by ~75 kids = 3.6 pieces of candy/kid. THREE pt. SIX pieces of candy PER KID – roughly. Also, the fact that a bag of candy cost around $4, that’s $32 in candy.
I reminded everyone that when I went trick or treating in my youth, I usually only received 1 piece from every house I went to. When I started handing out candy as an adult, I also handed out 1 piece for every halloweenie that came to my door. My esteemed co-workers noted that this was the price of inflation since I was a kid. In addition, as an adult, I usually buy about 3 bags of candy, which save me from having to buy 8 bags and spending $20, which I do not have.
I then questioned that in this day and age of how we’re such proponents for an obese America by advertising McDonald’s on every street corner and that we’re a fast-food nation, why are we handing out so much freakin’ candy on Halloween?! Aren’t these kids sugared up enough? Or after they get home, do the parents prick their fingers to see what their blood sugar is and then determine what they can and cannot eat?
Our society is so screwed up, I swear. One day we’re all up in arms about how kids are overweight and that it contributes to poor self-esteem and oh my god, the health risks as they get older. Then, for one day of the year, we are freely adding to that by pawning off 3.6 pieces of sugar and chocolate into every child that comes knocking on our doors.
I'm pretty sure this is in conjunction with my absolute hatred of Halloween.
Next year, I am going to buy 20 sugar-free gum packs and hand that out – 1 piece for every kid – that should equate to 100 kids. So, if you’re looking for Snickers’ Bites, Tootsie Rolls and M&M’s – all at the same house – don’t come trick or treating near me!
1 comment:
Halloween isn't so big here (although it is gaining fans slowly), what with bonfire night less than a week later, but i find the whole concept of trick n treating baffling in many ways in th modern world.
You are sending children out begging, to strangers houses, late at night, taking sweets from strangers..... Even if parets go with them, there is a major safty issue, as well as a serious morality one, let alone the lifestyle points you have raised.
We don't let our kids go, and we don't participate if anyone comes knocking on our door.
I've nothing against the occasional halloween/beltane party tho - great fun and so terribly anti-christian:-)
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