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by Carol M. Bareuther, R.D.
Candy cravers, take your mark! Halloween is right around the corner. But is indulgence a trick or treat when it comes to good health? Neither! It all boils down to moderation. Here’s my scoop on some top-selling Halloween candies.
Candy
|
Serving
|
Calories |
Sat. Fat
|
Sugar
|
Dietitian's Tips
|
Tootsie Rolls
|
six pieces (40 g) |
140 |
0.5 g
|
20 g
|
With less fat and fewer calories than most candies on this list, a Tootsie Roll's downside is its sticky factor. The longer sugars stay in contact with the teeth, the higher the risk for tooth decay, according to the American Dental Association. |
| Brach's Candy Corn |
22 pieces (40 g)
|
140 |
0 g
|
28 g
|
Fat-free is the plus here. But the stickiness and sugar means munch, then brush.
|
| Kit Kat |
one package (43 g) |
210 |
7 g |
22 g |
The light wafer makes this bar less dense and therefore lower in sugar per serving than many of its counterparts. |
Hershey's Milk Chocolate Kisses
|
nine pieces (41 g)
|
230 |
8 g
|
21 g
|
Choose Special Dark to
cut calories by 20 per
serving and add
flavonoids (antioxidants
linked to heart health and
cancer prevention).
|
| Candy |
Serving |
Calories |
Sat. Fat |
Sugar |
Dietitian's Tips |
M&M's Milk Chocolate Candies
|
small bag (47.9 g)
|
240 |
6 g
|
31 g
|
Sort into single colors and
store in portions. Small
studies have found that
people eat more candy if
you offer them different
colors.
|
Milky Way
|
one bar (58.12 g)
|
260 |
7 g
|
35 g
|
Eat one, then freeze the
rest (a good idea for just about any candy bar).
|
Butterfinger
|
one bar (60 g)
|
270 |
6 g
|
29 g
|
Beware the King Size. On the nutrition label, one serving is only a third of the bar.
|
| Snickers |
one bar (58.7 g) |
280 |
5 g |
30 g |
Opt for the Fun Size, and sugar, calories and saturated fat drop by two-thirds. |
| Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
one package (51 g)
|
280 |
6 g
|
26 g
|
Like other bars with nuts, these aren't a total zero for nutrition. They contain a little protein and iron. However, I sure wouldn't recommend eating candy to get your nutrients! |
CAROL M. BAREUTHER, R.D., is a registered dietitian with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
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Last updated and/or approved: October 2010. Original article appeared in September/October 2007 former print magazine. Bio current as of that issue. This general health-care information is not meant as individual advice. Please see our disclaimer.
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