05 Oct Healthy Halloween Candy {What To Look Out For}
If you know me in real life, you know that I’m not a complete health stickler around the holidays and/or special events. Halloween being one of them. BUT, I personally can’t bring myself to buy junkie Halloween candy to pass out to other kids. I look for healthy halloween candy options!
I can’t control what my kids get, but I can control what I give out AND I’m hoping as families gain more knowledge about what’s good + what’s not good….there will be a natural shift for wanting to give out healthier options.
And the options that are now available to us in stores is awesome! You can even think outside of the box and give a food item that isn’t candy, like popcorn, or even something that isn’t food at all! I’ve seen parents create fun items to pass out! Pinterest will be your best friend.
We have rebranded to Nuvitru Wellness!
Healthy Halloween Candy + Food Options
- Justin’s Peanut Butter Cups
- Annie’s Gummy Bunnies
- YumEarth Organic Gummy Bears
- YumEarth Organic Lollipops (or Black Forest Organic Pops)
- Fresh Fruit – I know, I know you most likely don’t want to be THAT house ?
- Pirate Booty
- Endangered Species Chocolate Bug Bites
- Organic Clif Z Bars
- YumEarth Organic Candy Corn
- Equal Exchange Mini Dark Chocolate Bars
Where Can You Get These?
Target has been carrying a lot of these options lately (yay! Go Target!). You can also go to your local Whole Foods and check them out. And of course….always check Amazon. When in doubt, check Amazon.
Ingredients In Popular Kid’s Candy
- Artificial Colors – These colors are linked to behavioral issues, increasing risk of cancers, allergies, and more.
- Artificial Sweeteners – Almost any candy that states “sugar free” will have some type of artificial sweetener. (If they have sugar alcohols, this is more preferable versus artificial sweeteners.) Read this past blog I’ve written explaining the dangers of artificial sweeteners. Hint: Your gut bacteria doesn’t like it.
- Sugar – This one is really obvious. And honestly…..REALLY hard to avoid during Halloween because even with organic/healthier candy options, it STILL has sugar. You can’t win in this area during Halloween.
- Corn Syrup – This is to sweeten the candy, but with the amount of corn syrup + high fructose corn syrup in processed foods, this is drastically increasing amounts of children’s and adult’s diabetes diagnosis. Not only does it increase your risk of insulin resistance, but weight gain, heart disease, damaged gut health, AND corn syrups are made from genetically modified corn.
- Preservatives – Also increase risks of chronic disease, cancer, etc.
- Trans-Fats – Any ingredient that says “partially hydrogenated oil” is a trans-fat. Trans-fats drastically increase our risk for heart disease.
Let’s Be Real – Healthy Halloween Candy
You’re probably wondering what I do after the kid’s go around the neighborhood for Halloween. Let’s be totally honest. I throw out about 1/2 of their load. I sift through all the candy and really go through the checklist in my head of what I don’t mind and what I really want to avoid.
I always try to buy extra of the good candy too, so I can exchange the ones I throw out. Because Halloween candy seems to last into the next year, since I do limit the amount they can have.
I want them to have fun during Halloween + I don’t want to tell them they can’t keep ANYTHING. But, I do give their Halloween baskets a makeover. 😉 My kid’s health is way more important than candy. I do what I gotta do!
What do you do to limit those treats?
