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by ACAC Fitness and Wellness Center Dietetic Intern Amy Rhodes.
Halloween is coming, which means you are probably stocking up on candy for trick-or-treaters, including one or two of your personal sugary favorites. This presents the very problem that we all (or most of us who are honest) are guilty of: dipping into the candy we buy, especially any leftovers.
Check out the following tips for a healthier, but still enjoyable, Halloween:
- For parties, create homemade Halloween snacks (orange-colored popcorn balls or Sugar-Free Jello® Jigglers)
- Don’t stock up until Halloween arrives, so you won’t be tempted to open the bag sooner
- Only buy a reasonable amount of candy to hand out for the trick-or-treaters (think of how many came the previous year)
- Bring candy leftovers to work or to a social group
Candy can be calorie dense, and the calories add up fast. All candy is not equal in calories and fat and chocolate in particular is higher in fat, which increases the calories. The following list provides calorie and fat content of popular candies, listed in order of healthiness.
| Candy | Calories | Total Fat (g) | Sugar (g) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Candy Corn (19 pieces) | 90 | 0 | 13 |
| Skittles® (1 Snack Size) | 80 | 0.75 | 15 |
| Starburst® (4 Chews) | 80 | 1.75 | 11.5 |
| Milky Way® (1 Snack Size) | 75 | 3 | 10 |
| Twix® (1 Snack Size) | 80 | 4 | 8 |
| Almond Joy® (1 Snack Size) | 80 | 4.5 | 8 |
| Reeses® (1 Snack Size) | 110 | 6 | 10 |
If you are intent on snacking on candy this season, here are some tips to cut down the calories and fat.
- Candies like candy corn and Skittles® are best options because they are lower in calories and fat. You can also have more pieces compared to a chocolate candy. For 80 calories and 4 g fat, you can have 1 snack-size Twix® OR for 90 calories and 0 g fat, you can have 19 pieces of candy corn. You save 4 g fat by eating the candy corn! Even though these candies are low in fat, they are still high in sugar… and satisfaction!
- Choose fun size/snack-size packages. They are a good option if you are craving candy because they are portion controlled