‘Tis the season of Halloween candy! Which also means ’tis possibly the season of toothaches and stomach pain. While you’re probably willing to risk a little discomfort in the name of preserving the holiday spirit (at least that’s the line we feed ourselves), there are healthier candy alternatives to classic Halloween treats. And no, this is not a trick.
Healthy candy may sound like an oxymoron and, let’s be real, it sort of is. However, the truth is there are brands out there creating sweets that aren’t quite so full of sugar, corn syrup, and other not-so-good-for-you ingredients we all choose to ignore as we shove the fifth mini-Snickers into our mouths.
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No judgment if you fully intend on hitting the bagged candy aisle hard this year. If you’re thinking about making the switch to something a little lighter, though, it might be time for a taste test.
For this taste test, you’ll need to stock up on classic versions of beloved Halloween candy as well as their healthier equivalents. We used:
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
- Lily’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
- UnReal Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
- Swedish Fish
- Smart Sweets Sweet Fish
- Lindt Classic Recipe Milk Chocolate Bar
- Lily’s Milk Chocolate Bar
- Red Vines
- Red Vines Made Simple
- Fanta Grape Soda
- Zevia Zero Calorie Grape Soda
- Chocolate Dipped Almonds
- Skinny Dipped Almonds
- M&Ms
- UnReal Chocolate Snacks
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Granted, you’re probably still going to love the taste of your favorite, old-school Halloween candies (really, who can pass up a Reese’s?). But you might just be surprised to find a few new, healthier favorites in the process, too.
No spoilers, but one of the better-for-you treats tastes like Gushers, has only 3 grams of sugar per serving, and packs in a whopping 28 grams of fiber. A guilt-free Halloween? Best holiday yet.