As a health enthusiast, I often get asked what the best and worst candies are for your health. With Halloween approaching, this seems like the perfect time to tackle this sweet topic!
After consulting with dieticians and researching the ingredients of popular candies, I have compiled a list of the six best low-sugar candies as well as four unhealthy worst candies for your health.
6 Best Halloween Candy Options for Your Health
1. Dark Chocolate (One of the Healthy candy options)
No candy roundup would be complete without one of the classics; dark chocolate. While chocolate has gotten a bad rap in the past for causing breakouts, the right kind of chocolate boasts some impressive skin benefits.
The cacao plant is overflowing with antioxidants and essential minerals like magnesium, zinc, and iron. When made available they can nourish the skin and protect it against inflammation and premature aging.
Just be mindful of the cacao percentage, ingredients, and added sugars. Aim for at least 70% cacao dark chocolate content. Ensure that it only has a short and clean ingredient list with little added sugar for maximum benefits.
2. Fruit-flavored gummies (best low-sugar candy)
Who says gummy bears and fruit snacks are just for kids? These chewy candies can be an excellent sweet treat when chosen mindfully. For starters ensure that your fruit-flavored gummies are made without artificial colors, flavors, or corn syrup.
Instead, choose a healthy candy option of fruit-flavored gummies that are naturally sweetened with fruit purees and juices. This allows you to get a serving of antioxidants from berries and citrus fruits conveniently in candy form.
So, just by double-checking the ingredient label you will be able to enjoy these candies without feeling guilty. Further ensure to aim for short, recognizable ingredients like real fruit juices and vegetable concentrates. If it fits into all of the above-mentioned criteria, fruit-flavored gummies too can be the best candy to eat on a diet.
3. High-quality chocolate with Nuts or Fruit (Healthy candy options)
Chocolate can easily top the list of both the best and worst candies of all time. As all forms of chocolate aren’t made in the same way some chocolates can be beneficial and others harmful to one’s wellbeing.
So steer clear of candies like milk chocolate and instead, opt for a high percentage of dark chocolate blended with nuts or tart berries. These healthy candy options can provide essential fatty acids and protective plant compounds to combat inflammation and sensitivity.
4. Snack Bars (best candy to eat on a diet)
Granola bars or snack bars have recently become massively popular as a form of convenient fuel. However, not all of them can be considered as best candy to eat on a diet.
While some of them are loaded with added sugars, preservatives, artificial colors, and overly processed ingredients others are made with whole food ingredients. They can act as the best low-sugar candy option.
5. Candied Nuts (Healthy candy options)
Candied nuts are often overlooked when it comes to sweet yet nourishing treats. But they are some of the ultimate guilt-free candy alternatives.
As a rich supply of essential fatty acids from the nuts is coupled with a touch of natural sweetness these healthy candy options are healthy. Plus, you get a hefty dose of vitamins E, B, and zinc for collagen production, metabolism, and cell renewal.
6. Mini/Fun Size Dark Chocolate Treats (best Halloween candy)
When retail shelves get taken over by Halloween candy, it is easy to go overboard piling your cart high with king-size sugary candy. This allows you to enjoy the Halloween spirit without tanking your health goals.
Further, each of them features a short, recognizable list of ingredients boosted with antioxidants, minerals, and healthy fats compared to their full-size, mainstream counterparts. So, these mindfully portioned-out bite-size candies will be one of the best ways to indulge your sweet tooth without regret this Halloween!
4 Worst Candies for Your Health
1. Candy Corn (the worst candy)
Candy corn may be a quintessential Halloween treat with its festive color scheme. But, this tri-colored candy is one you are better off avoiding. The sticky-sweet confection is made mostly from sugar mixed with additives like artificial colors and flavors.
This combination can not only lead to inflammation and breakouts but also spikes and drops in blood sugar that leave you fatigued.
2. Full-Size Candy Bars (one of the worst candy)
While fun-sized candy bars portioned out sensibly can be okay, their full-size counterparts spell trouble for your health and skin. King-size and jumbo candy bars often clock in around 250+ calories.
It also crams in more than half your daily added sugar into one “serving”. Not to mention, most mainstream big-brand bars contain artificial flavors, corn syrup, and hydrogenated oils which cause inflammation.
3. Mainstream M&Ms and Skittles
When it comes to popular bite-size candies, most conventional options like M&Ms or Skittles make the “worst” list. Both candies along with their full-size counterparts contain a laundry list of inflammatory ingredients. Some of them are GMO sugar, corn syrup, artificial flavors, and colors. They even come with hydrogenated palm kernel oil.
4. Sugar-Free Candy (the worst candy and scam)
You may think diet, sugar-free, or artificially sweetened candy options sound healthier. But, most sugar-free candies contain gut irritants and chemical sweeteners like maltitol, sucralose, and acesulfame potassium which negatively impact blood sugar and gut health. They also cause gas, bloating, and other unwanted digestive side effects.
Conclusion
I hope this guide on the best and worst candies of all time for your health gave you some “food for thought” on this sugar-filled season. While candy certainly shouldn’t make up a majority of anyone’s diet, there are better and worse choices when looking to indulge that sweet tooth.
Dark chocolate, fruit-flavored gummies, high-fiber bars, and bite-size portioned fun-size candies happen to be some of the best options thanks to their antioxidants, fiber, and more wholesome ingredients. Meanwhile, candy corn, full-size bars, mainstream gummies, and sugar-free treats tend to contain health-harming additives.
No matter which candies you decide to enjoy in moderation, be sure to check the ingredient label rather than the claims on the front of the packaging. And complement treats made from refined sugar or with additives with plenty of fresh, fiber, and nutrient-rich whole foods like leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and antioxidant-packed fruits and veggies. This well-rounded approach is key for balanced blood sugar, digestive health, and immunity.
So, what is your favorite candy to snack on healthfully? I would love to hear your thoughts and recommendations too when it comes to enjoying sweets in a more holistic, balanced way. Sweet wishes!
Reference
- Murphy MM, Barraj LM, Bi X, Stettler N. Body weight status and cardiovascular risk factors in adults by frequency of candy consumption. Nutr J 2013;12:53.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23631725/
