ADVERTISEMENT
A pile of halloween candy

A Guide to Halloween Candy

It’s that sugary, chocolatey (hopefully not cavity) filled time of year once again!  This Halloween, we’ll help you decide which candies to buy that will make you the most popular house in the neighborhood. 

Everyone Loves Chocolate

The most popular category of Halloween candy is, unsurprisingly, chocolate.  Last year, 72% of all Halloween candy spending was on chocolate. There are endless varieties, from Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups to Almond Joys.  Every year, candy companies are coming out with more new and inventive flavors, so it can be hard to keep up.  Still, the number one spot for Halloween candy, in terms of popularity, is the Snickers bar.  This satisfying treat is a delectable blend of nougat, caramel, and peanuts, coated in a layer of creamy chocolate.  There is no doubt that your Trick-or-Treaters will be begging you for more.

Please Skip These

On the other hand, there are several candies that kids throw away or give to their parents, such as Whoppers and Smarties, but there is one candy that tops the list: Good & Plenty.  These pink and white capsules may look sweet and inviting, but the inside is filled with strong, black licorice.  There are few people who enjoy this taste, so this candy is probably not a good choice this Halloween.

You Could Try to Be Healthy

If you are wanting to promote more health-conscious candy choices, there are still quite a few delicious options out there that trump handing out fruit.  Believe it or not, several of them contain chocolate!  3 Musketeers Minis are both kid-friendly and more healthy than other chocolate bars out there.  One Fun Size bar only has 63 calories and 2 grams of fat, compared to a Baby Ruth Fun Size bar, which has 83 calories and 4 grams of fat.  Other sweet treats that are more healthful include: York Peppermint Patties, Peanut M&M’s, and Jolly Ranchers.

It's Always the Cute Ones

There are a number of candies out there that are favored by kids during Halloween, yet not favored by parents because of health reasons.  A few years ago, Reese’s began releasing holiday-themed peanut butter cups for Easter, Christmas, and Halloween.  Their Halloween Pumpkin is one of the most calorie-rich candies you can buy.  A single Pumpkin contains 180 calories and a whopping 11 grams of fat.  If you still want to hand out this crowd pleaser, it is probably a better idea to stick to the original cups, which have 88 calories and 5 grams of fat per cup.

Last Updated: September 28, 2018