Marshmallow Peeps - Will they Pack on the Pounds?

Love 'em or hate 'em, for more than a decade, Peeps - those pastel-colored poofs of sugar - have been the best selling non-chocolate Easter candy. There's not a gram of fat in this sweet treat, so is it a healthier alternative to a chocolate bunny?

"Even if a candy is fat-free, you should still watch the sugar," says Janna Hill, a registered dietitian with the LEAN Families program at Children's.

Each marshmallow chick or bunny has 35 calories, so a five-pack of Peeps quickly adds up to 160 calories – unless you’re willing to try the sugar-free marshmallows at 20 calories a pop.

Melissa Dunn, a physical therapist with LEAN Families, says for a 65-pound child to burn 160 calories of marshmallowy goodness, he would have to:

• Inline skate for 45 minutes or
• Shoot hoops for 55 minutes

"It takes a lot longer to burn the calories than it does to eat them!" says Dunn. A 150-pound person would have to:

• Toss a Frisbee for 45 minutes or
• Walk Fido for 30 minutes
  

What do you think? Is that little chick worth breaking a sweat?