Halloween is a great time to talk to your kids about how to enjoy candy as part of a healthy and active lifestyle.
For more information on staying healthy after the candy binge, read our guide: 5 Ways to Help Your Child Be Healthy and Fit.
The NCA offers the following tips for parents to enjoy a happy, healthy Halloween:
• Eat before you trick-or-treat. Serve a nutritious dinner before your children set out for a night of candy-collecting. Your kids will be happier and more full, which will help reduce the temptation to eat candy at each trick-or-treat stop. During the meal, take the opportunity to discuss Halloween safety, as well as the importance of healthy eating and lifestyle choices.
• Sort and save. Allow your kids to enjoy some of their Halloween bounty. Then work with them to portion out two or three treats in small bags. Create a weeks-worth of bags to accompany nutritious school lunches or to serve as after-school snacks.
• Mix things up. To give candy a healthy punch, consider making your own trail mix. Combine raisins, peanuts and even cereal with your child’s favorite candy or chocolate treat.
• Practical pairings and portion control. Try pairing caramels with an apple or a snack-sized candy bar with a banana.
• Make it or break it. Most candies now come in snack-size. For the ones that don’t, break them into sections and store them separately to make your own miniature sizes!
Healthy Alternatives to Halloween Candy
Granola bars, pretzels, cheese and cracker packs, fruit, apple sauce cups, sugar free gum, packets of instant hot chocolate, raisins, and nuts are some healthy alternatives. (Note that raisins and nuts are choking hazard for young children).
Candy is listed by Category Best to Worst calorie wise.
Chocolate
1 Tootsie Roll 1 piece (roll); Calories: 25, Total Fat: 0g, Carbs: 6g, Protein: 0g
2 Kisses 3 piece; Calories: 75, Total Fat: 1.5g, Carbs: 3g, Protein: .3g
3 Peanut Butter Cup 1 piece (15g); Calories: 80, Total Fat: 4.5g, Carbs: 8g, Protein: 1g
4 3 Musketeers 100 Calorie Bars 1 bar; Calories: 100, Total Fat: 3g, Carbs: 17g, Protein: 1g
5 Twix 1 bar; Calories: 120, Total Fat: 6g, Carbs: 16g, Protein: 1g
6 Kit Kat 3 two piece bars; Calories: 210, Total Fat: 11g, Carbs: 28g, Protein: 3g
7 Caramel 4 pieces; Calories: 160, Total Fat: 2g, Carbs: 32g, Protein: 0g
8 Reese's Pieces 1 package; Calories: 210, Total Fat: 10g, Carbs: 26g, Protein: 5g
9 Butterfinger 1 bar; Calories: 270, Total Fat: 11g, Carbs: 44g, Protein: 3g
10 Snickers 1 bar; Calories: 280, Total Fat: 14g, Carbs: 35g, Protein: 4g
Non-Chocolate
1 Lifesaver 1 candy; Calories: 10, Total Fat: 0g, Carbs: 2g, Protein:
2 Bubble Gum 1 piece; Calories: 13, Total Fat: 0g, Carbs: 3g, Protein: 0g
3 Nerds 1 tbsp; Calories: 60, Total Fat: 0g, Carbs: 14g, Protein: 0g
4 Gummy Bears 17 Bears; Calories: 120, Total Fat: 0g, Carbs: 27g, Protein: 2g
5 Sour Patch Fruits 16 pieces; Calories: 150, Total Fat: 0g, Carbs: 37g, Protein: 0g
6 Candy Corn 21 pieces; Calories: 150, Total Fat: 0, Carbs: 37g, Protein:
7 Junior Mints 16 pieces; Calories: 170, Total Fat: 3g, Carbs: 35g, Protein: 1g
8 Hot Tamales 1 Bag; Calories: 220, Total Fat: 0g, Carbs: 54g, Protein: 0g
9 Skittles 1 bag; Calories: 250, Total Fat: 2.5g, Carbs: 56g, Protein: 0
Click here to read more from the National Confectioners Association.
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