Halloween Candy Review: What To Eat When You Just Can’t Say No

It’s the season for sweets, treats, and big family meals. Which starts the cascade of Christmas festivities, but our childhood favourite… Halloween! Halloween is one of those holidays that regardless of age, I have to admit I look forward to. Really, what’s cooler than free candy?

So let’s be honest here. I’ve often seen the sanest of people take a mini snickers from the office Halloween candy bowl. Chances are, we all have. I admit it, I am a wellness professional and I do eat sweets. However, my definition of sweet may differ a bit from the norm. When I eat a sweet, I strive to eat those that somehow have some positive health benefits. However, the office candy bowl may not offer 70% dark chocolate squares. So if you know you’ll be tempted, what are the “best” options to choose? Here are some of my favorite tips as I work my way through the candy bowl:

• Size doesn’t always mean fewer calories. Take a Butterfinger for example. A “fun size” Butterfinger has 100 calories! Compare that to a “fun size” 3 Musketeers that only packs 63 calories.
• Fruity sweets can be tricky. While it may be “fat free,” it is often filled with lots of artificial colors and flavors. For the most part, there is no way around this unless you can get your hands on some of the more natural or organic candy brands like YummyEarth. In fact, you’d be better off with a “fun size” candy bar instead of a candy bar. 5 handfuls of sugared candies. Consider this: Starburst has 204 calories and 4 grams of fat for 10 pieces! And Starbursts are one of the only fruit candies that actually contain fat!
• Simple is often a good sign. Take a York Peppermint Pattie for example. One COMPLETE, LARGE Pattie has only 140 calories and 2 grams of fat. Compare that to any FULL size candy bar and you usually have Pattie as your winner! When you look at the ingredients in a York, the list is short. Just like we’ve heard with any food, the fewer ingredients you see (and hopefully words you understand) many times the better!
• Specialized versions are usually larger, beefier versions of the original. Take the pumpkin from Reese vs. Reese’s regular peanut butter cup. Pumpkin Peanut Butter has a whopping 170 calories compared to the normal 105 calories for your standard cup. Does it really need to look like a pumpkin to taste good?
• Try sweets that last. A lollipop is always a good option. Typically low in calories, you can keep the flavor and enjoyment going for minutes!

I know how much fun Halloween can be for young and old alike, this year try to have fun and eat your “good” candy too!