The BEST and WORST Halloween Candy

Want to know what Halloween candy to buy?  BOY … have things changed … so I TOTALLY had to revamp my list of the top 3 best and worst Halloween candy this year …

thanks to Eat This, Not That! They used to be books (I still have mine) but now they’re online … a great way to search out healthier options for your fave foods.

I publish this every year … but the list is sooo extensive that I can only deal with the bottom 3 worst and the top 3 best. Click here to read the whole list.

Me … I’d do caramel apples (look for a Paleo version of caramel apple crisp next week). Or really healthy cookies or cupcakes. When I was trick-or-treating my fave treat was pennies. Of course, today you’d probably have to throw dollars.

Anyway, according to Eat This, Not That!, here are the criteria for rating these …

When ranking the Worst Halloween Candies in America, we took a few factors into consideration: calorie count (anything with 70 calories or above scored low); fat count (some of these chocolates have more fat than a burger!); and ingredients (candies got points off for containing more artificial colors than others). Spooky!

And here are the TOP THREE in each category along with the blurbs for each straight from the article published this year. I have to say I am always surprised by these … you may be too.

TOP THREE WORST HALLOWEEN CANDY

#1 … Airheads Minibars

Per 1 bar: 47 calories, <0.5 g fat, 7.6 g sugar

Here’s the basic formula for an Airhead: Sugar and filler carbohydrates, artificial colors and flavors, and partially hydrogenated oils—the source of trans fats. Just two AirHead mini-bars have more sugar and calories than half a cup of Edy’s slow-churned mint chocolate chip ice cream!

#2 … Hot Tamales Snack Size

Per Snack Size bag, 7 pieces: 50 calories, 0 g fat, 9 g sugar

We’re pleased to report Hot Tamales are sweetened with all-natural pear juice from concentrate…but sad to say there’s less than 0.5% of it. The two main ingredients here are sugar and corn syrup, with modified food starch forming the hard shell. Meanwhile, the red color comes from Red 40, which the Center for Science in the Public Interest  (CSPI) warns has been found to be contaminated with known carcinogens. And don’t be seduced by its “fat-free” claim—nearly every candy is! By the way, sometimes, fat isn’t bad: click here to discover the essential list of the best full-fat foods for weight loss!

#3 … Now and Later Fun Size

Per 4 piece Fun Size serving: 53 calories, 0.5 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 10 g sugar

Made with the same ingredients as most U.S. fruity candies—sugar, vegetable oil, and artificial colors—these childhood favorites should be saved for way, way later despite their low-calorie count. Why? Because it’s taffy, one of the worst foods for your teeth.

AND THE BEST TOP THREE

It’s kind of ironic the that best top three are still the same ones that Eat This, Not That! cited way back in 2018 when I started this yearly best-and-worst quest. They are …

#3 … Smarties Candy Rolls

One roll: 25 calories, 0 g fat, 6 g sugar

Use Smarties to quell a sweet tooth and you’ll likely be satisfied by the time you finish one roll. That’s not too bad considering that each one has only 25 calories.

#2 … Pixy Sticks

Per straw: 9 calories, 0 g fat, 2.1 g sugar

This is pure sugar in a straw—but hey, at least the straws are thin.

AND … the #1 BEST IS … STILL … Jelly Belly Jelly Beans Mini Pack

35 calories, 0 g fat, 7 g sugar

Ironically, the candy brand that sounds the fattest may actually flatten your belly: At 4 calories each bean, they’re the slimmest way to enjoy cotton candy, toasted marshmallows, and strawberry shortcake. Jelly Belly uses real fruit purees to flavor these beans. It’s still candy in every sense, but it’s certainly the lesser of many sugar-loaded evils.

I knew there was a reason why Jelly Bellies are one of my favorite candies. But sad to know that my all-time fave … Twizzlers … was the tenth worst. The article called Twizzlers claim as a low-fat food …. “twisted”.

Also noted … the worst all used to be CHOCOLATE! Now they’ve been knocked off their fatty perches by tons of sugar and hydrogenated fat.

The good news … most of these are Gluten-Free. There’s no room for gluten with all that sugar and fat.

But have a Happy Halloween! And know it’s just one day. With some residual treating afterward. My advice … take most of it to work. If they’re like the crew at my consulting job, it’ll be gone before you know it!

What’s YOUR favorite Halloween candy? Check out the whole article. Where does your fave rank?