These 4 Halloween Candies Are the Worst—But These 15 Are Healthier for You

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Okay, so you might be too old to go trick-or-treating now, but Halloween season does mean Halloween candy time. Bonus points if you have a kid or know a kid you can "borrow" some Snickers or Kit Kats from. Candy can be found everywhere this time of year—if you go over to a friend's house, they might have a bowl of fun-sized candy bars, or you might find some in your office (thanks, HR). And if you're really smart about buying candy, you'll be at your local drugstore for discounted candies on November 1 (I know I will be!). Bottom line, you're probably going to be tempted with a lot of sweet treats, so how can you indulge while making sure you're not screwing with your healthy eating plan?

The answer: Let yourself live a little. According to integrative dietitian nutritionist Robin Foroutan, MD, RDN, HHC, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, "The best Halloween candy to eat is the one that you love the most!" She continues, "Eat it slowly—enjoy the smell, the flavor, and texture—really savor it so that you get maximum enjoyment. "However, she does caution all you candy lovers to eat a healthy snack before heading to a party so you make better choices once you get there. And if there's one special treat you can't wait to eat every year on Halloween, go for it and move on. "Remember," she says, "one meal at a party or one day of eating a bit of candy is not going to ruin your health. Do your best, get the healthy foods and exercise in, and enjoy."

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That's the best answer we've ever heard. But before you start going to town on a whole bag of fun-size Twix, we asked nutritionists whether there were candies out there that were better for you and which ones weren't so good. Spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Nancy Farrell Allen, MS, RDN, had this to say: "Some choices might be better than others. For example, candies with dark chocolate, dried fruit and/or nuts provide certain health benefits." 

While all candies aren't exactly the best for your healthy diet, there are some that are a little bit worse. Foroutan and Allen pointed to four:

Candies to Avoid

Candy Corn

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This polarizing candy makes Foroutan's list. "As far as which kinds of candy are better than others, that's tricky. Things like candy corn are kind of the worst since it's just sugar (more likely high fructose corn syrup), waxes, artificial food colors, and flavors. There's nothing there to satisfy—I say this as someone who doesn't like candy corn at all, so I have no problem calling it out," she says.

Gummies and Jelly Beans

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A lot of these have the same unhealthy ingredients as candy corn, Foroutan says, but they're a personal favorite for her.

Hard Candies and Powders

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"Hard candies, fruit-flavored candy chews, or powders provide a source of added sugar," Allen says. They probably have a lot of artificial colors and flavorings, too.

White Chocolate

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When it comes to chocolate, white is the worst, and dark is the best. "Dark chocolate is healthier than milk chocolate and at least has some antioxidants. White chocolate is just sugar and fat, so that's not the best," Foroutan says. "But a combo of chocolate with nuts is slightly better because it won't crash your blood sugar as much as some other kinds of candy."

Healthy Candies

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As for the "healthy" options, they might not be good for you in the same way that a plate of veggies or a bowl of fruit will be, but they may be better choices than other candies out there. Per Foroutan, "There are a lot of brands that have really upped the candy game by removing artificial colors, artificial sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup, and sugar alcohols."

And when it comes to choosing something to eat, Allen recommends checking the nutritional label for serving size, servings per container, and sugar and fat content.

But again, don't beat yourself up if you went for a handful of candy corn or gummy worms. "Let's face it, says Foroutan. "It's the big-brand candies that are getting passed around on Halloween, so it goes back to choosing to thoroughly enjoy the kind you like the most and then moving on!" Keep your meals healthy and allow yourself to indulge in a small treat without the guilt.

Take a look at some of our favorite healthier-for-you options below:

Unreal Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

Little Secrets Sea Salted Peanut in Dark Chocolate

Free2b Dark Chocolate Sun Cups

SmartSweets Sweetfish

SkinnyDipped Dark Chocolate Cocoa Covered Almonds

Dr. John's Healthy Sweets Ultimate Hard Candy Collection

YumEarth Organic Pops

Cocomels Coconut Milk Caramels

Sugarfina x Pressed Juicery 7-Day Gummy Bear "Cleanse"

SmartSweets Sour Blast Buddies

BarkThins Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Seed

Justin's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

Little Secrets Spiced Pumpkin Pie Dark Chocolate Pieces

SmartSweets Peach Rings

Unreal Dark Chocolate Coconut Bars

Disclaimer

This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used in the place of advice of your physician or other medical professionals. You should always consult with your doctor or healthcare provider first with any health-related questions.

Managing Editor

Sarah is lifestyle writer and editor with over 10 years of experience covering health and wellness, interior design, food, beauty, and tech. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she attended New York University and lived in New York for 12 years before returning to L.A. in 2019. In addition to her work on THE/THIRTY and Who What Wear, she held editor roles at Apartment Therapy, Real Simple, House Beautiful, Elle Decor, and The Bump (sister site of The Knot). She has a passion for health and wellness, but she especially loves writing about mental health. Her self-care routine consists of five things: a good workout, “me” time on the regular, an intriguing book/podcast/playlist to unwind after a long day, naps, and decorating her home.