A bin filled with Laffy Taffy candies.
When it comes to Halloween candy, even if it's costumed as a healthier choice (think chocolate-covered granola bars), nutrition experts say: Boooooo.
"The bottom line is that no candy is good for you," says registered dietitian Dawn Jackson Blatner, author of The Flexitarian Diet. "I don't care if it has one extra gram of fiber or protein. What we're talking about is indulgence, enjoyment, and empty calories. Enjoy the gluttony of the season, but maybe not for too long—just for a couple days or a week."
Still, not all candies are equally bad. A snack-size Reese's Caramel Cup will cost you 100 calories, compared to 25 for a pack of Smarties. Sugar-free gum (no, it won't make you popular) protects against tooth decay, while hard and sticky candies increase that risk. And Skittles and Caramel Twix have more sugar than Milky Way and Baby Ruth bars.
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So consider these bite-size options when you're shopping for this year's trick-or-treaters—or sifting through your child's loot:
Pixy Stix, Sweet Tarts. Both dissolve quickly, protecting against cavity-causing bacteria. Candy that melts and disappears quickly is best for your teeth—avoid hard treats that linger in your mouth, according to American Dental Association guidelines. The longer you spend chewing or sucking on candy, the greater the likelihood of tooth decay. Avoid sticky candies like gummy bears, which cling to your teeth and take longer to be washed away by saliva.
Chocolate. And dark is best, says registered dietitian Karen Ansel, an American Dietetic Association spokeswoman. Cocoa contains flavanols, antioxidants that may improve heart health and blood flow, and lower blood pressure and cholesterol. The benefits of dark chocolate depend largely on how it was processed, but it's still a better bet than milk chocolate. But if you prefer the latter, try trick-or-treat size Milk Duds (53 calories per serving)—yes, the caramel may stick to your teeth, but calorie-wise it's a reasonable option, dietitians say. So, too, are mini 3 Musketeers (63 calories), which are more filling than their size may suggest, says Jackson Blatner. On the flip side, watch out for Whoppers—the snack-size boxes of chocolate-coated malted milk balls contain a whopping 100 calories per package. And one trick-or-treat size .75-ounce Reese's Peanut Butter Cup checks in at 110 calories.
Hershey's 100-calorie treats. Options include York Peppermint Wafer Bars, Pretzel Bars, and Whipped Vanilla Bars. Compare that to regular-size Hershey bars, which run about 210 calories each.
Nestle's Wonka Laffy Taffy, Starburst. In the non-chocolate world, these are among the best bets, calorically speaking—both contain between 30 and 40 calories. Other options include Twizzlers, Nerds, and Mike and Ike jelly beans. All have 50 calories or fewer per serving.
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General Mills Betty Crocker Fruit Gushers. Flavors include strawberry, fruit punch, and triple berry, and each low-fat, gluten-free pouch contains 90 calories. The tiny amount of fat is unsaturated, not saturated or trans. And the first ingredient listed for all the flavors is pears, meaning there's a decent amount of the fruit inside (packaged food ingredients are required to be listed in descending order of predominance and weight). One serving of Gushers offers 10 percent of the daily recommended vitamin C—something many kids get too little of, says Ansel.
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