Happy & Healthy

SO MANY CALORIES ARE IN YOUR CANDY

It's no coincidence that I sit next to Elke in the editorial office, because where I used to always politely say ‘no’ when something tasty came by, I now just accept it and sneakily push it to the left. Double the portion for her. And so the bags of chocolate-covered gingerbread and pieces of filled speculaas are routinely placed in front of me because at least it won't be empty or gone in no time.

Now that the lovely evening is approaching, we are once again stocking up on chocolate letters and bags of meringues in large quantities. But do we actually know how many calories all that deliciousness contains? Did you know, for example, that you better grab a taaitaai or meringue because they are half air (ha, what a lovely excuse) and contain relatively few calories and no saturated fats? And that banketstaaf? Just leave that on the plate from now on.

“Carefully, I slide the wrapped box to the left.”

– Milk chocolate letter: 584 calories

– White chocolate letter: 573 calories

– Dark chocolate letter: 565 calories

– Banketstaaf: 519 calories

– Chocolate-covered gingerbread: 480 calories

– Speculaas: 480 calories

- Filled speculaas: 470 calories

– Gingerbread: 430 calories

– Marzipan: 400 calories

– Meringues: 330 calories

– Taaitaai: 320 calories

Of course, you won't be nibbling on a carrot at our dear Saint's birthday. Snacking can simply be done with one of my healthy Sinterklaas recipes. Almost just as tasty, but significantly lower in calories.

And as we speak, two chocolate letters are being placed on my desk; a Sinterklaas gift from our dear neighbors. Carefully, I slide the wrapped box to the left. No one saw it.