You don't have to give up desert to stay trim.

Sugar candy (hard candy to many) is a favorite world wide with people of all ages. I call this world group of candy fanatics the "Mob". Each individual "Mob" member has their favorite flavor or type and rarely will you find any one who doesn't like at least multiple flavors or types.

The famous sugar candy aka "hard candy" in all its thousands and thousands of glorious forms, is made from thick solution of sugar water which is then made tasty and attractive by adding various flavors and colors. In many countries, these candies are sometimes made into ice pop candies by freezing them. (That is not as common in the US but it sure needs to be!!)

The term candy is covers a wide term which includes chocolates, liquorice, toffees, candy bars, chewing gums and many more. Traditionally, candy is also known as confectionery or sweets.

I doubt we in the mob care so much about what you call it. The mobsters love the way it tastes, we have our absolute favorites, and we try to avoid the guilt of that love.

Here's a way to have your sweets and not have the guilt. It may be hard to believe, but not all sweets are actually the same if you are looking to diet. Many of the mob members are also health and weight conscious.

A lollipop is referred to as a sugar candy with a stick. As compared to a rich milk chocolate candy bar, a sugar free or low-sugar lollipop or hard candy is much sounder choice if you are trying to maintain a certain weight.

One big reason for this is that you eat overall less food with a little hard candy, but your sweet tooth is more than satisfied. The old stand by Dum Dum little lollipop has experienced steady sales for decades. Products like the Dum Dum or any of it's thousands of cousins can be altered during the creation process to diminish sugar while still maintaining similar taste. Standing alone a lollipop may have a lot of sugar, but it's overall calorie load is limited to it's size. You heard it here: hard candy is a diet tool. Try using it for desert in place of doughy cakes, cookies or pie and fattening ice cream. You will get results that will shock you. As always, let me know what happens!