We Ranked 25 Halloween Candies by Nutritional Value

Healthy Halloween candy: an oxymoron or a legitimate possibility? Even though most us of can't get away with trick-or-treating anymore (curse that middle school growth spurt!), we never really get too old to resist the bowlfuls of Halloween candy that materialize in every office kitchen and grocery aisle come October. (My weakness is sour lollipops… I can't put them down!)

Now, we wouldn’t wish a candy-free October on anyone, but there are certain sweet treats that have scarier nutrition facts than others. We carefully studied the ingredient lists, calories, fat, and sugar content of 25 popular Halloween candies and ranked them in order of frightfulness. (We also threw in how long the average person would have to trick-or-treat—at a brisk pace, may we add—in order to burn them off.)

So when raiding your little cousin's Halloween loot this year, now you'll know which treats are better for you. Before you unwrap a single piece, read this!

Serving size: 2 pieces

Calories: 160

Fat: 9 grams

Sugar: 16 grams

Minutes of trick-or-treating needed to burn off: 40

Snack sized Almond Joy's have been a favorite for trick-or-treater's for decades, and seeing as they come with two pieces in a pack, they are a high calorie choice when eaten at once. Savor one piece and leave the second for a rainy day.

Serving size: 3 pieces

Calories: 108

Fat: 6.4 grams

Sugar: 9.9 grams

Minutes of trick-or-treating needed to burn off: 30

Say it ain't so! These depressingly delicious peanut butter cups contain enough sugar and fat to send your diet goals into early hibernation. And that's just for three pieces. Think about how many you actually eat on Halloween. Spooky!

Serving size: 4 pieces

Calories: 80 

Fat: 1.25 grams

Sugar: 11.5 grams

Minutes of trick-or-treating needed: 20

The highest sugar content on our entire list belongs to these brightly colored chews. A frightful recipe of corn syrup, sugar, and (greasy-as-heck) hydrogenated palm kernel oil are responsible for the cartoonish fruit flavor and gummy texture.

Serving size: 2 pieces

Calories: 80

Fat: 0.2 grams

Sugar: 9.5 grams

Minutes of trick-or-treating needed: 20

These licorice-like twists are marketed as a "low-fat" food, which is true. But don't be fooled into thinking they're healthy. A formula of white flour, sugar, and cornstarch makes these a nutritional nightmare. There are almost 10 grams of sugar in just two straws, and really, who only eats two Twizzlers?

Serving size: 1 bar

Calories: 80

Fat: 4 grams

Sugar: 8.5 grams

Minutes of trick-or-treating needed: 20

If you think Snickers aren't that bad because they're made with peanuts and "real" chocolate, think again. This cheap, artificially flavored chocolate product barely counts as food, and it's only made worse by the corn syrup, sugar, and fatty processed oils.

Serving size: 9 pieces

Calories: 85

Fat: 0.9 grams

Sugar: 16 grams

Minutes of trick-or-treating needed: 22

Remember: The serving size here is only nine measly skittles. You're more likely to consume the whole pack, which contains about as much sugar as a scoop of Ben & Jerry's ice cream. Corn syrup and food dyes round out the startling ingredient list.

Serving size: 9 pieces

Calories: 70

Fat: 0 grams

Sugar: 14 grams

Minutes of trick-or-treating needed: 18

This packaging boasts "made with real honey," but the bag fails to advertise its ickier types of sugar (white sugar, corn syrup, confectioner's glaze, and dextrose). Not to mention the artificial flavors, dyes, and gelatin (which, in case you need a reminder, is made from horse hooves).

Serving size: 2 pieces

Calories: 72

Fat: 2.8 grams

Sugar: 9.6 grams

Minutes of trick-or-treating needed: 19

Seriously, who eats just two mini Milky Ways and calls it a night?! We shudder to think of the amounts of sugar, corn syrup, milk fat, hydrogenated palm kernel oil, and artificial flavors we actually consume on our Halloween Milky Way binges.

Serving size: 1 bar

Calories: 46

Fat: 0.5 grams

Sugar: 6.3 grams

Minutes of trick-or-treating needed: 12

An ingredient list of various sugars, partially hydrogenated oils, artificial colors, and artificial flavors renders these stretchy-sweet bars a total nutrition fail.

Serving size: 3 pieces

Calories: 70

Fat: 1.5 grams

Sugar: 9.5 grams

Minutes of trick-or-treating needed: 18

Does anyone even really like Tootsie Rolls? They're a sorry excuse for chocolate. But they somehow contain just as much sugar? Not worth it.

Serving size: 3 pieces

Calories: 70

Fat: 0 grams

Sugar: 11 grams

Minutes of trick-or-treating needed: 18

Savor these hard candies with classic flavors such as grape, watermelon, and green apple. Seeing as they can be tough to bite into, the best way to protect your teeth is to suck on them until your tongue turns a rainbow of colors.

Serving size: 3 pieces

Calories: 67

Fat: 4 grams

Sugar: 7.7 grams

Minutes of trick-or-treating needed: 16

The fat content of these American treasures is pretty high, but if you stick to the serving size, they won't do you in. And stopping at three Hershey's Kisses actually isn't that hard since they're rich and chocolaty and take a bit more effort to unwrap. 

Serving size: 1/4 cup

Calories: 190

Fat: 8 grams

Sugar: 28 grams

Minutes of trick-or-treating needed: 50

Chocolate covered raisins can be a delicious treat, but aren't as healthy as they might sound. With a higher sugar content than other candy, the best way to eat these yummy (and addicting we might add) raisins are a few at a time.

Serving size: 1 pouch

Calories: 70

Fat: 3 grams

Sugar: 7 grams

Minutes of trick-or-treating needed: 18

Reese's Cups might be your doom, but in Pieces form, they're not that scary. You can eat an entire snack-size bag and only ingest seven grams of sugar. 

Serving size: One two-piece bar

Calories: 70

Fat: 3.6 grams

Sugar: 7 grams

Minutes of trick-or-treating needed: 18

Unlike heavier candy bars, the super-light wafer in this chocolaty treat saves you some calories. Plus, the fat and sugar contents aren't quite as high as the Hershey's Kisses. So if you like chocolate, go ahead; break yourself a piece.

Serving size: One bag

Calories: 60

Fat: 2 grams

Sugar: 7 grams

Minutes of trick-or-treating needed: 15

If you're going the M&M's route, opt for the pretzel variation. They don't offer much in the way of vitamins and minerals, but less chocolate and more pretzel mean lower levels of sugar and fat.

Serving size: One packet

Calories: 45

Fat: 0 grams

Sugar: 6 grams

Minutes of trick-or-treating needed: 12

A fun-size bag of these chewy goodies contains no fat and comparatively little sugar. Better yet, you get 15% of your daily vitamin A quota and 50% of your vitamin C! 

Serving size: One lollipop

Calories: 70

Fat: 0 grams

Sugar: 13 grams

Minutes of trick-or-treating needed: 25

These lollipops will definitely bring back all the nostalgia. The sweet, crunchy candy shell with the bubblegum center, have been a staple in trick-or-treat bags for decades.

Serving size: 13 pieces

Calories: 60

Fat: 0 grams

Sugar: 13 grams

Minutes of trick-or-treating needed: 20

Just enough sweet and sour, these tart candies are a more moderate choice when counting calories as you can have at least 13 pieces without worrying too much about calorie consumption.

Serving size: 1/4 cup

Calories: 180

Fat: 14 grams

Sugar: 1 gram

Minutes of trick-or-treating needed: 50

Okay, okay, we know—this isn't really a Halloween candy. But if you actually want to stay healthy this Halloween, stick to these (surprisingly addictive) salted pumpkin seeds. One serving contains healthy fats and nine grams of protein, plus healthy doses of iron, vitamin E, manganese, and zinc.

Serving Size: 12 pieces

Calories: 130

Fat: 6 grams

Sugar: 17 grams

Minutes of trick-or-treating needed: 25

Most people love the sweetness of fruit, but add dark chocolate and you've got yourself a killer combo. Made with a blend of açai-berry, blueberry, and smooth dark chocolate, this is a more healthy snack you can eat alone, or add to a homemade trail mix.

Serving Size: 1 snack pack

Calories: 70

Fat: 0 grams

Sugar: 9 grams

Minutes of trick-or-treating needed: 15

It's pretty hard to say no to gummy bears, yet these particular ones have more health benefits than the kind you find while perusing the grocery store candy aisle. With natural sugars and no artificial coloring, these bite-sized bears are a healthier alternative for Halloween.

Serving Size: 1 bar

Calories: 100

Fat: 3.5 grams

Sugar: 6 grams

Minutes of trick-or-treating needed: 25

Think of this granola bar as the ying and yang of Halloween snacks. The salty and sweet components mimic a tasty candy treat, but this choice is a much healthier option than something high in sugar.

Serving Size: 6 pieces

Calories: 120

Fat: 3.5 grams

Sugar: 16 grams

Minutes of trick-or-treating needed: 30

These caramels will melt in your mouth, and the good news? You can have at least 6 pieces and not even hit 150 calories. With a coconut milk base, it's perfect if you want a dairy-free caramel option.

Serving Size: 1.6 oz bag

Calories: 250

Fat: 16 grams

Sugar: 19 grams

Minutes of trick-or-treating needed: 50

While you might think the calorie count is higher than other candy, the best way to indulge in this treat is to eat a half serving each time. The entire bag contains 250 calories, but broken down into two servings, it's only 125 calories. Nutrient-packed cashews are healthier than a processed filling, making these a great option.

Get your mind off calories by checking out nine different ways to be a cat this Halloween.