The Scoop on Peeps: Easter treats are getting a bad rap, UD expert argues
Peep Info and Art - http://www.marshmallowPeeps.com/start.html
Contact: Ginger Pinholster, (302) 831-6408, [email protected]
Shaped like baby chicks in shades of yellow, pink, purple, white and even blue, Marshmallow Peeps are getting a bad rap, says registered dietitian Marianne Carter, assistant director of the University of Delaware Wellness Center.
"I love Peeps, primarily because they evoke childhood memories," Carter says. "Peeps were always a mainstay in my Easter basket, when I was a kid. Many people have similar taste preferences based on food memories."
Such memories are a healthy part of life, according to Carter. "To categorize Peeps as `bad food' is nonproductive," she says. "When people eat so-called bad foods, a black cloud descends over them, and they feel guilty. All foods can fit. While Peeps don't contribute much nutritional value, they can certainly fit into a healthy diet, as a treat."
On the other hand, Carter cautions, "If you overconsume them and eat, say, four boxes before dinner, then Peeps could end up displacing the foods that do provide needed nutrients. Everything in moderation!"
Since Peeps are widely sold only around Easter, Carter suggests: "Give yourself permission to enjoy them in moderation as a special-occasion treat." After all, she says, "Avoiding Peeps at Easter because they're `bad' is like passing up your aunt's homemade cinnamon buns that she makes only at Christmastime."
So, if you crave something sweet, pop a Peep. At 35 calories and 0 grams of fat, Carter says, a single Peep "is certainly a better choice than a pint of ice cream."
But beware: If you're hankering for chocolate, no amount of Peeps will cut it. "You could eat a whole box of Peeps, and you would still crave chocolate," she says. "You would be better off having a small amount of chocolate. Bite the ear off that chocolate bunny, or have one chocolate egg."
As any veteran Peep-eater knows, leaving the marshmallow treats unwrapped and exposed to air makes them crunchy on the outside. Carter says she likes them that way. "Then, you have several new characteristics to savor: gooeyness, sweetness and crunch!"
When you're contemplating all those goodies in your Easter basket, consider these nutritional facts from the UD Wellness Center:
3-ounce box of Peeps (10) = 320 calories, 0 grams of fat 3-ounce chocolate bunny = 440 calories, 28 grams of fat 3-ounce Russell Stover vanilla cream chocolate egg = 389 calories, 12 grams of fat
March 24, 1999
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