Halloween may be mostly for kids, but the calorie count of the candy-centric holiday affects everyone. The American Heart Association says that an adult woman shouldn’t have more than 25 grams of sugar per day; for men, it’s 37.5 grams. Many of the most popular candies of the season pack a huge amount of this sugar in just one or two fun-sized servings. The worst part is that sometimes we snack on these small sizes without much thought. Here are a few of the worst offenders:
Reese’s Minis
Per 3 pieces: 108 calories, 6.4 grams fat (2.2 grams saturated), 9.9 grams sugar
One serving, or 9 Reese’s minis, packs half of your maximum daily about of sugar and tons of fat into just a few small bites.
Hershey’s Take 5
Per snack-sized candy bar: 100 calories, 5 grams fat (2.5 grams saturated), 9 grams sugar
The ingredients sound simple enough — chocolate, pretzels, peanut butter, caramel and peanuts — but unfortunately this candy abomination is loaded with other ingredients like high fructose corn syrup, vegetable oils and artificial flavors.
Butterfinger
Per snack-sized candy bar: 100 calories, 4 grams fat (2 grams saturated), 10 grams sugar
It’s best if you don’t lay a finger on any Butterfingers — not even fun-sized bars. Most candy bars are high in sugar or fat but Butterfingers are high in both categories.
M&M’s (Plain)
Per snack-sized serving: 95 calories, 3.5 grams fat (2.25 grams saturated), 13 grams sugar
Even by candy-bar standards, M&M’s pack a pretty high percentage of your daily sugar allowance.
M&M’s Peanut
Per snack-sized serving: 90 calories, 5 grams fat (1.5 grams saturated), 9 grams sugar
Peanuts by themselves might be a healthy snack, but not when they’re coated in sugar and fat.
Starburst
Per snack-sized serving (4 pieces): 80 calories, 1.25 grams fat (1.15 grams saturated), 11.5 grams sugar
Starbursts have more sugar than nearly any other candy on this list — and that’s just when you eat four. Four!
Twizzlers
Per snack-sized serving: 80 calories, 0.2 grams fat, 9.5 grams sugar
Twizzlers are loaded with white flour, sugar and cornstarch, but they are still allowed to be sold as “low-fat.” That’s twisted.
Junior Mints
Per snack-sized serving: 76.5 calories, 1.35 grams fat (1.13 grams saturated), 9 grams sugar
They’re small and delicious, so easy to pop just one more. But that tiny treat box is loaded with as much sugar as you would find in three Chips Ahoy! Chewy Chocolate Cookies. Reach for a Peppermint Patty instead and save yourself half the calories.
Baby Ruth
Per snack-sized candy bar: 83 calories, 4 grams fat (2 saturated), 10 grams sugar
It’s no baby when it comes to calories from fat and sugar.
Snickers
Per snack-sized candy bar: 80 calories, 4 grams fat (1.5 saturated), 8.5 grams sugar
Corn syrup, sugar and fatty oils smothered in cheap chocolate. That’s what’s hiding behind this Halloween favorite. Peanuts give it the reputation of being a bit better than your average candy bar, but that would all be thanks to the hilarious, memorable marketing campaign.
Twix
Per snack-sized candy bar: 80 calories, 4 grams fat (2 saturated), 8 grams sugar
Just slightly less sugar than Snickers and no heart-healthy peanuts make this a toss-up as to which one you should reach for. Better yet, leave both behind and reach for some quality dark chocolate if you need a cocoa fix.
Heath Toffee Bar
Per snack-sized candy bar: 77 calories, 4.6 grams fat (2.3 grams saturated), 8.7 grams sugar
Heath is one of the fattiest Halloween candies on the market.
Sour Patch Kids
Per snack-sized pack: 75 calories, 0 grams fat, 13 grams sugar
More sugar than a Krispy Kreme Glazed Doughnut.
Skittles
Per snack-sized pack: 85 calories, 0.9 grams fat (0.9 grams saturated), 16 grams sugar
Sugar, food coloring and corn syrup. That’s unfortunately all there is to see here.
So, what should you snack on?
Dark chocolate is your best for indulging even on a diet. But keep it small. Other healthier options include jelly beans that come in dozens of flavors for only 4 calories a piece. And Smarties will only cost you 25 calories for the roll. In the cheaper chocolate category, go for the Pretzel M&Ms or Peppermint Patty for 60 calories per fun-sized portion.
