Candy Adds Fun and Flavor to Holiday Celebrations

(Vienna, VA) – When it comes to holiday food gifts, hold the fruit cake! Americans chose chocolate as their favorite food gift to receive for the holiday season while the lowly fruit cake came in last on their culinary wish list in a poll sponsored by the National Confectioners Association. Consumers’ second favorite food gift was a fruit basket, while a plate of cookies came in third.

In the same poll, Americans overwhelmingly said they believe sharing traditions such as those surrounding the winter holidays with their families is very important. The survey of 1,000 adults found that 90 percent ranked sharing family traditions as an important part of their lives – and they noted that traditions involving candy create warm childhood memories.

“Candy and chocolate have been welcome foods of celebration for hundreds, even thousands of years,” explains Larry Graham, president of the National Confectioners Association. “From traditional favorites like candy canes to an elegant box of chocolates and everything in between, candy adds a touch of pleasure to all of our celebrations.”

Consumers agree that candy is a welcome part of our holiday traditions.

Polled specifically about their winter holiday traditions, 89 percent of 1,000 adults surveyed said candy is included in the festivities. The top three ways they enjoy candy for the winter holidays are:

• Placing candy in a candy dish
• Giving or receiving a box of chocolates
• Creating or receiving a stocking filled with goodies

Best of all, candy fits any healthy and active lifestyle, according to Graham. He points out that these treats add less than two percent of calories to the average American diet according to data compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.