Skip to Search Skip to Live Player Skip to Content Skip to Footer

Orlando & The Freakshow

The Healthiest Candy Options For You This Halloween

Author Richie Ortiz

It’s finally Spooky Season! Though Halloween is seen by many as their favorite holiday, the reason people look forward to it differ. Some enjoy it for the dressing up, some look forward to all the parties, but let’s be real. The real reason most people love Halloween is for all the candy.

According to data from Reader’s Digest, consumers spend $4.6 billion dollars leading up to Halloween. It doesn’t seem like that high of a number, but what if I told you only 47 percent of the entire U.S. population are the ones buying the candy? I’m sure that changes your perspective a bit. Of all that candy, an average of 3.3 million pounds of chewy rainbow candy is bought by Americans every year. Reese’s peanut butter cups come in 2nd with 3 millions lbs, but that number seems a bit low to me. I feel as if I eat at least 1 million pounds of Reese’s on my own, but who’s counting?

The average American kid eats anywhere between 3,500 and 7,000 calories from just candy. According to a registered dietitian with Top Nutrition Coaching, Rose Britt, candy gives hardly any nutritional value so it is easy to pick out the healthiest options. Your favorite candy may not be on this list, but the “Healthiest” one may shock you.

Healthiest Candy

When is comes down to sugary sweets, Smarties is the healthiest option. With just 25 calories and 6 grams of sugar in each serving, it is obvious Smarties is the “smarter” choice compared to other candies such as Sour Patch Kids that have 110 calories and 24 grams of sugar. Smarties has actually been one the healthiest candy options for more than 70 years, but when it comes to the healthiest there is one that reigns supreme over all.

Peanut M&M’s is the “Healthiest” option when it comes to popular Halloween candy. Due to the fact it is made up of 85% peanut, these versions of M&M’s serve you more substance than the average candy that just gives you corn syrup. For example, the same serving of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups has around the same nutritional value, but a more added sugar. Which is good news for me, because Peanut M&M’s happen to be my favorite!

Source: USA Today

What is your Favorite Halloween Candy?

9 Worst Trick or Treat Handouts for Halloween

Halloween is the time of year when spookiness takes center stage, and creative costumes rule the streets. It’s also the day of the beloved tradition, trick-or-treating. Whether you’re a kid dreaming of a candy jackpot or an adult admiring the neighborhood’s costume creativity while handing out treats, it’s a highlight of the year.

However, you’ll always find that one neighbor who likes to shake things up by handing out something other than candy. It’s not always a bad thing, though. Some people do it for a good reason, like considering kids with dietary restrictions. But if you’re considering going outside the box, you should avoid certain trick-or-treat handouts.

Let’s talk about the Halloween horrors, the stuff no one wants in their trick-or-treat bag. First on the list are those infamous toothbrushes or dental floss packs. Halloween is the one night a year when kids can indulge in a sugar frenzy, and suddenly, you’re handed a dental hygiene product. It’s like being told to eat your veggies at a birthday party. Then there are the homemade treats. While some homemade goodies can be delicious, receiving unlabeled, homemade treats can make even the bravest trick-or-treater think twice; also, most parent’s won’t feel comfortable with that and may dispose of them. All of your hard work will go to waste! Safety is paramount on Halloween, and unwrapped or unlabeled edibles can raise concerns.

Another item to avoid is pennies. They’re not even worth the trip to the store, and they make you question if you’ve accidentally stumbled into a time machine back to the 1950s. If you’re going to give out money on Halloween, make it worthwhile if you can swing it. While Halloween is all about surprises, pennies are definitely not the kind of surprises anyone hopes for.

Take a look at some of the worst trick-or-treat handouts for Halloween.

  • Key Chains

    Keychains are handy, but they’re not exactly the kind of treasure kids hope to find in their candy haul. They want stuff that’s sweet, not stuff for keys they don’t have. Save yourself some money and pass on key chains.

    Leather keychain, holder trinket for key with metal ring. Vector realistic template of black fob for home, car or office isolated on white background. Blank accessory for corporate identity

    klyaksun/ Getty Images

  • Hygiene Products

    We all know cleanliness is important, but getting soap, shampoo, or hand sanitizer in your treat bag on Halloween is not what kids look forward to. It’s a treat, not a trip to the pharmacy. It’s like getting socks for Christmas. While practical, it’s not exactly exciting.

    bottles of amenity set besides bathtub in bathroom

    onsuda/ Getty Images

  • Loose Change

    Coins may have been an acceptable treat decades ago, but nowadays, they’re seen as disappointing. Kids prefer candy. Or maybe small toys (if they’re exciting/cool enough). Unless, you’re giving away the big bucks, steer clear of this one.

    Coins in denominations of 1 American cent with a portrait of Lincoin on a gray background

    Max Zolotukhin/ Getty Images

  • Trail Mix

    Healthy snacks are great, but Halloween is all about the sugar rush. Kids aren’t exactly thrilled to find a mix of fruit and nuts in their bag. They’re hoping for chocolates and gummies, not something they associate with after-school snacks.

    Colorful trail mix in a white bowl with spoon

    dbvirago/ Getty Images

  • Coupons

    Adults may appreciate coupons for discounts at local businesses, but they don’t make for a fun Halloween treat for kids. Saving money is cool, but Halloween is all about instant gratification. And coupons for discounts don’t really make the cut.

    10% OFF coupon illustration set

    ichico/ Getty Images

  • Brochures or Pamphlets

    Halloween is not the time to distribute religious or informational materials. Kids are looking for fun and treats, not pamphlets. Consider giving those away another day that’s not Halloween.

    A shallow focus shot of a male standing near a door and giving out pamphlets while smiling

    Wirestock/ Getty Images

  • Toothbrushes and Dental Floss

    Halloween is all about the candy, right? So, if you toss a toothbrush or dental floss into a kid’s stash of treats, you’re basically inviting disappointment. Plus, it’s safe to assume that the trick-or-treater already has a toothbrush. Do they truly need another one?

    Dental floss and toothbrush on white background

    egal/ Getty Images

  • Unwrapped Candy

    Throwing unwrapped candy into a plastic pumpkin? That’s just asking for a sticky mess. Plus, it’s not the cleanest option. And given the concerns these days, it’s just another worry for parents who fear someone might mess with their child’s candy.

    Close-up of hard candies isolated on white background.

    LeventKonuk/ Getty Images

  • Homemade Treats

    Those fancy homemade snacks that look like they came straight from Pinterest can be cute, but if you don’t really know the kids or their parents, they might wonder about your intentions. Sticking to pre-packaged treats is your best bet on Halloween, especially if you’re trying to keep trick-or-treating simple and sanitary.

    Decorating Halloween gingerbreads of pumpkin lantern and skeletons with frosting. Girl holds pastry bag with black icing and decorates gingerbread pumpkin lantern

    13-Smile/ Getty Images

 

Rich grew up in the Bronx, NY but moved to Tampa in 2006 to attend the University of Tampa. Even though he completed 4 years at the University for Sports Management, Ortiz realized his true passion for radio after taking a couple of classes to fulfill his communications minor and volunteering at UT's WUTT radio station as a sports director. Rich also worked at several clubs in Tampa as a host/promoter where he would meet and work alongside Davy Rolando, who would be the one who would help him get a job at WiLD 94.1. From there, Rich worked his way up from Promotions assistant to promotions coordinator, to eventually full-time on-air. Rich loves to write about his favorite Tampa food spots, concert reviews, and the WiLDest Florida man/woman stories.

Get The WiLD Flex Newsletter Delivered To Your Inbox

Stay connected with the hottest celebrity, music and Tampa/St. Pete stories, exclusive contests, games, and more.

*
By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.
Author Richie Ortiz
Category:
Tags:
,,,

More Orlando & The Freakshow

Load More