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Trick or Treat? Don’t be Fooled by your Favorite Halloween Candy

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Maine chapter.

 
Halloween season is one of the most popular holidays on nearly all college campuses. According to the infamous Mean Girls quote, “In girl world, Halloween is the one night a year when a girl can dress up like a total sl*t and no other girls can say anything about it.” If your idea of Halloween is similar to the mean girls philosophy you’re going to want to fit into those revealing costumes. Here’s what you need to know about the daunting candy that seems to be lurking around every corner this week.


1.)Are you afraid of the dark?

You shouldn’t be! Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants, has less sugar then milk chocolate, and is dairy free. Try this swap, when you can’t fight your chocolate craving.
 
Eat this:
Hershey’s Miniature’s Special Dark:
Serving Size: 5 pieces?200 calories; 13g fat; 7g saturated fat; 25mg sodium; 24g carbs; 18g sugar; 3g protein.
 
Instead of:
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Miniature’s:
Serving Size: 5 pieces?220 calories; 13g fat; 5g saturated fat; 130mg sodium; 26g carbs; 23g sugar; 4g protein.
 
 
2.) Love Your Nuts?
Candy bar’s containing nuts can sometimes be you’re better option. This is because the peanuts off set the amount of chocolate and sugar. Additionally, the nuts provide you with a small dose of healthy fats.
 


Eat this:
Dove Silky Smooth Almond Milk Chocolate Bar:
Serving Size: 1 bar?190 calories; 12g fat; 6g saturated fat; 20mg sodium; 18g carbs; 16g sugar; 3g protein.
 
Instead of:
Twix Caramel Cookie Bars:
Serving Size: 2 cookies (1 pack)?250 calories; 12g fat; 9g saturated fat; 100mg sodium; 33g carbs; 24g sugar; 2g protein.
 
3.) Chocolate Covered Bliss.
Let’s face it, anything covered in chocolate is difficult to resist. If you’re going to indulge try opting for raisin’s over pretzels or marshmallows. Raisins are packed with fiber and antioxidants.
 
Eat This:
Raisinets, Snack Pack?:
Serving Size: 1 box?150 calories; 6g fat; 3.5g saturated fat; 10mg sodium; 25g carbs; 22g sugar; 1g protein
 
Instead of:
Milk Duds?:
Serving Size: 1 regular-sized box?230 calories; 8g fat; 5g saturated fat; 135mg sodium; 38g carbs; 27g sugar; 2g protein

4.) A Chewy Fix
Who doesn’t love chewy fruity candy?  It’s true that most fruity candies contain fewer calories then chocolate, they are still pure sugar.
 



Eat this:
Now and Laters:
Serving Size: 9 pieces?120 calories; 1g fat; 0g saturated fat; 40mg sodium; 28g carbs; 22g sugar; 0g protein
 
Instead of:
Starburst Fruit Chews Originals:
Serving Size: 8 pieces?160 calories; 3.5g fat; 3g saturated fat; 0mg sodium; 33g carbs; 23g sugar

5.) Sugar Rush
Around this time of year candy seems to be everywhere you go, dishes of candy haunt you at home and in the office. It’s easy to grab a handful or two when you’re on the run. When you’re faced with the choice between candy corn and skittles to fill your dish, opt for fun sized bags of skittles. Not only are they a controlled portion, skittles are lower in calories and sugar.
 


Eat this:
Skittles Original Fun Size Mini:
Serving Size: 1 pack?60 calories; 0.5g fat; 0.5g saturated fat; 14g carbs; 11g sugar; 0g protein
 
Instead of:
Brach’s Candy Corn:
Serving Size: 19 pieces?140 calories; 0g fat; 70mg sodium; 36g carbs; 32g sugar; 0g protein
 
6.) Kiss This.
All kisses are not made equal. With 7 different types of Hershey’s Kisses how do you know which is best? Caramel kisses cash in with lower calories per serving this season.
 
Eat this:
Milk Chocolate Kisses filled with Caramel:
Serving Size: 9 pieces?190 calories; 9g fat; 6g saturated fat; 75mg sodium; 27g carbs; 23g sugar; 3g protein
 
Instead of:
Meltaway Milk Chocolate Kisses:
Serving Size: 9 pieces?210 calories; 13g fat; 8g saturated fat; 50mg sodium; 24g carbs; 22g sugar; 3g protein

7.) Don’t be a sucker.
Lollipops are among the most popular types of candy this season. They can get you through a boring lecture or even go with your costume Halloween weekend. With so many different brands and flavors, you may be caught in a sticky situation.
 


Eat this:

Spangler’s Dum-Dums:
Serving Size: 3 Pops 75 calories; 0g fat; 0g saturated fat; 0mg sodium; 19g carbs; 15g sugar; 0g protein
 
Instead of:
Charms Blow Pops:
Serving Size: 1 Pop 60 calories; 0g fat; 0g saturated fat; 0mg; sodium; 17g carbs; 12g sugar; 0g protein
Remember to stay away from king size variations, and portion control is key. Just about everything is okay in moderation, so go ahead indulge a little bit.

Credits: http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/recipes/healthy-eating/
photo credits: google images