Healthier Halloween Candies That Are Still A Treat Gallery
Frolicking around the neighborhood while sporting festive costumes is just part of the fun — you can't have Halloween without candy. Everyone who's ever trick-or-treated knows that the best part was always scurrying home at the end of the night to assess your new stash.
You'd peer inside your plastic jack-o'-lantern — or if you were smart, your pillowcase — and rove over the chocolates, gummies, lollipops, and other treats you'd acquired, eyes aglow. Then, you'd eat one too many sugary sweets and wonder why you couldn't fall asleep.
Now that you're an adult, you can understand why you were having such a hard time shaking off those Halloween jitters — candy is loaded with sugar. Some also hide chemicals, artificial colorings, trans-fats, and ingredients that barely pass for food. Seriously, those plastic-like chews and gummies? Not natural.
There are a few candies, though, that you can feel a bit better about. They're less processed, more nutritious, and contain less sugar than some of the other candies. Find out which kinds you'll feel better eating here.
Annie’s Snacks
You might know Annie's for their delicious white cheddar mac and cheese, but the ethically-minded company makes some delicious snacks, too. Crispy Snack Bars (healthier Rice Krispie Treats), fruit snacks, cookies, and Cheddar Bunnies are just a few of their all-natural snack options. Stay on the lookout for their snack-pack pouches on Halloween — they make for a much more satisfying option than an artificial candy.
Brach’s Natural Candy Corn
Some people love it, some people hate it. And because of all the junk ingredients involved in the normal kind, it's probably a good thing people are so divided. But if you are a candy corn lover, you don't have to quit the stuff for good. There are naturally-sweetened kinds that don't include the artificial fluff that makes up your typical bag of candy corn. Even Brach's makes a natural kind — it doesn't use anything fake, and it's still just as sweet.
Dark Chocolate
Rich, indulgent dark chocolate is good for you — and there are actually a ton of reasons that you should be eating it regularly. Instead of milk — or worse, white — chocolate candies this season, stock your pantry with these bittersweet, satisfying options. There's more cocoa in them than in the other chocolate varieties — and the cocoa is the part of chocolate that's really good for you.
Eating Evolved
This company's Coconut Butter Cups are a favorite of health-minded Instagrammers and nutritionists everywhere — and for good reason. Unlike your classic peanut butter cup (we're looking at you, Reese's) these snack bites aren't loaded with added sugars. The snack cups only have six ingredients, only one of which is a sweetener — coconut sugar. The coconut, cacao, and lack of artificial ingredients will leave you satisfied after just one, so you won't instantly crave another.
Justin’s Peanut Butter Cups
This peanut butter company makes mini peanut butter cups that give Reese's Miniatures a run for their money. All the ingredients are organic, and the brand uses a substantial amount of real peanuts in the creamy, nutty center. They come in milk and dark chocolate varieties.
Kathy Kaye Popcorn Balls
When you've been eating tons of sweets, sometimes you need a little something salty to set things straight. These treats are perfect for that. They're exactly what they sound like — balls of popcorn. And not only does everyone love popcorn, but it also makes a delightfully crunchy healthy snack! (Unless you get it from the movies. Unfortunately, that stuff is not as good for you.)
Pay Day
The only thing that's more nuts than these bars is how surprisingly good they are for you. They're high-calorie, but a majority of their calories come from a nutrient-dense ingredient: peanuts. These nuts are nutritious, satisfying, and delicious. These bars are every allergy-prone kid's worst nightmare, though. So if your house is sporting a teal pumpkin, keep these out of the vicinity.
Peanut M&M’s
These rainbow snacks each have a nut, making them a healthier snack than you'd think. Each serving has 5 grams of protein, so after one fun-size pack, you'll feel satisfied. They even have a smidge of fiber in there — 2 grams — to help stave off hunger.
Raisinets
These are likely the only candies that provide antioxidants. These healthful compounds are what make wine and dark chocolate so good for you — Raisinets are another, more kid-friendly way to eat grapes and cocoa.
Surf Sweets
Surf Sweets are the ultimate allergy-friendly gummy candy. They're organic, natural, and even come in vegan varieties. The candy company is selling Spooky Spiders gummies for Halloween, so kids won't be bummed to find a pack of these in their stash.
UnReal Candy
These are the only candies health nut Tom Brady will eat. Why? Because they're non-everything. Non-GMO, nontoxic, and free of gluten, pesticides, and everything artificial. They're colored with beet juice and other natural compounds instead of the mysterious "Red 5" — and a whopping 40 pieces comes out to just 150 calories. Sorry, M&M's: You've got some serious competition.
Wholesome Organic Halloween Lollipops
Lollipops are essentially pure sugar, and this one is no exception. What would a lollipop be without sugar? What sets these apart is their simple, all-natural ingredients. These candies are made with natural colorings from fruit juice and organic sugars. Plus, they're shaped like skulls and ghosts — adorable spooky treats!
York Peppermint Patties
Not only do these refreshing, crisp candies taste great, but they're also way better for you than most chocolate bars. Each full-size (that's right, you don't even have to resort to the miniatures) bar has less than 150 calories, and leaves you with the satisfying taste of rich, dark chocolate instead of milk.
Yum Earth Gummies
This gluten-free, organic candy brand is appropriately named — its candy is as yum as it is good for the Earth. For Halloween, they're distributing naturally-sweetened candy corn, jack-o'-lantern-shaped gummies, and fruit-flavored lollipops. Their products use only natural colorings and keep the ingredients 100 percent vegan and GMO free. Haven't heard of them? We're not surprised — the healthiest candies aren't the most popular. But we bet you can't guess the most popular Halloween candies in America!
More from The Daily Meal:
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The 25 Most Popular Halloween Candies in America
The Most Popular Halloween Costumes of Every Decade
Who Invented M&M's and Other Halloween Candy Origin Stories
The Halloween Attraction Everyone Is Talking About in Your State