BY GABI ISENBERG – In spite of the fact that candy is not the best food for anyone to consume, many people still enjoy several different types of the sugary confection. Most of us love candy, but what is the sugary treat, and do others agree with our taste for it?
Candy is believed to have been invented in prehistoric times, not Jolly Ranchers or Fun Dip, but honey. Cavemen collected honey from beehives to eat as a sweet alternative to their normal, fruits, nuts, and meat.
The Egyptians also used honey on their fruits and nuts to make them taste sweetened. Real sugar was first used in England in 1099 AD.
The first ‘hard candy’ was only a delicacy for the wealthy. It was also used by apothecaries as a drug to cure minor illnesses. When sugar became more available to the public, people ate the candies with fruit or nuts.
In the 19th century, sugar flavors were starting to become popular thanks to the discovery of the sugar beet, a plant that allows flavors to be mixed into the candy. All different types of flavors and chocolates became available to the public and made were immediately popular.
Do all junior high students like candy? A recent survey shows that 92.3% of IJHS students that took the survey love candy, but 7.7% only like some of it. In that same survey, 61.5% of students eat their Halloween candy as soon as they get it, and 38.5% save it.
The ultimate question here is what is the best candy? According to the survey, there is a tie between Snickers and Skittles as the favorite candy! Jolly Ranchers came in a close second, and there was a tie for third with Hazelnut M&Ms, Starburst, Whatchamacallit, Fun Dip, and Twix.
With Halloween just days away, many junior high students are looking forward to their annual sugar fest.
