Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, April 12, 1993 TAG: 9304130060
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: NF-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: WENDI GIBSON RICHERT NEWSFUN WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
CANDY: HOW SWEET IT IS
Candy. It should be a staple in everyone's diet.At least, that's what most kids think.
It may not offer the health benefits of an apple, but there's something about a piece of candy - or better yet, three pieces - that makes eating it seem worth the risks.
Risks like these you hear every day: "Candy causes cavities," "Candy makes you fat," "Candy will spoil your appetite. . . ."
And you know it's all true. You may even have a cavity or two to show for it.
But that's never stopped you from liking it, and indulging in a little candy munching on the side. (Just brush your teeth when you're through!)
Truth is, some form of candy has been around since the ancient Egyptians walked the Earth, says Rita Williams, owner of Good Things on the Market candy store in downtown Roanoke.
Actual candy making started in the 14th century, and the first candy-making machine was introduced in the 18th century.
With a history that old, you can bet candy's here to stay.
In "In an Average Lifetime" (Fawcett Books), author Tom Heymann gathered these bits of data: In a lifetime, the average American will eat 1,483 pounds of candy, including 801 pounds of chocolate, 240 Hershey's Kisses, 1,889 Tootsie Rolls, 11,113 M&M's and 4,659 pounds of sugar. He also figures the average American spends 911 hours brushing his or her teeth.
Williams of Good Things on the Market knows candy plays a role in the average American's life. She's sold it for eight years. And she's noticed that kids migrate to the same kinds of candy year after year - not the gourmet chocolates behind the glass cases, but the gums, lollipops and hard candies lining the store's shelves.
Her best-selling candy is the all-time favorite lollipop - either the Unicorn Pop that changes flavors and is shaped like a horn, or the traditionally round ones, only bigger. But the lollipops aren't necessarily the best-tasting candy in the store, Williams says. "It doesn't have to be the best, it's what lasts longer. . . . It has to be the biggest."
While today you can stop in any convenience store on the way home from school and buy a 50-cent candy bar, your parents most likely bought their their candy at candy shops and old-time pharmacies complete with soda fountains. And they probably spent about a dime for their candy bars, and a penny for many candies.
According to the MiniForum letters answering the candy question, there was no specific amount of money kids spent on candy per week. A few didn't eat candy at all because it was bad for them or they liked fruit better. On the other hand, one writer said she spent about $19 a week on candy - that's a lot of candy. Most other responses fell somewhere in between.
Likewise, there was no clear winner in the favorite candy category. In fact, so many candies were mentioned, it's no wonder a clear favorite was hard to find.
Among the most oft-mentioned were candy bars (especially Snickers), Nerds, bubble and chewing gum, Cry Babies, Sweet Tarts, Jaw Breakers, mint-flavored candy, Fire Balls, taffy, Jolly Ranchers, chocolate, Gummy Bears (and gummy anything-else), Eye Poppers, lollipops, jelly beans, licorice, and fruit-flavored candies (such as sour apple and strawberry).
There was one mention of a candy we hadn't heard of before - the potato candy. So we asked Williams what it is. "It's like a peanut butter roll." Its ingredients include confectionary sugar, mashed potatoes, vanilla flavoring and milk. When all that's mixed together, it's rolled flat and smeared with a layer of peanut butter. Then the whole thing is rolled up and sliced.
Still not as healthy as a plain potato, but it is yummier. (You still ought to brush your teeth after you've eaten it!)