Halloween Candy Do's & Don'ts

Halloween Candy, A Trick Or A Treat? | Children | Andrew Weil, M.D.

30 seconds

Halloween is traditionally known for its sugary “treats.” With the rising incidence of obesity among children (not to mention adults), now may be the time to rethink what you hand out this holiday. While whole, fresh fruit is my healthy snack choice, skip handing it out on Halloween – chances are some parents will throw it away as a safety precaution. Consider the following do’s and don’ts this Halloween when choosing what to hand out!

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Don't: Give out candy that is a combination of milk or white chocolate with nuts or peanut butter - they rank highest in calories.
Do: Give out small squares of dark chocolate with at least 70 percent cocoa.
Don't: Hand out caramels, licorice, taffy, lollipops or flavored fruit candy - they are cavity-makers and not very nutritious.
Do: Go organic, with small boxes of organic raisins, granola bars or fruit wraps.
Don't: Hand out chocolate with mint or marshmallows - while it does have fewer calories, it is still unhealthy.
Do: Give out snack-size bags of air-popped popcorn.