What’s in that Bag of Halloween Candy?

If you have kids, there is a good chance that there is a large bag on Halloween candy coming to your house tonight. And, even if you don’t have kids, you may have leftovers from handing it out. First, let me say that this is not an anti-Halloween or anti-candy post. Steve’s favorite holiday is Halloween and there is a whole bag of each of the candies you see in the photo just waiting to be handed out to those willing to walk by all of his scary decorations. I’m just saying that you should know what you are eating and feeding your kids before you do it, so that you can make your own decision about how much and how often. Right now, I have managed to open all the bags – do you know how that smells? – and take pictures without eating even one. Ok, I might not make it too much longer, and I did hide away one of each of my favorites, but so far, no candy.

I’m not even going to talk about ingredients and their positives and negatives, but I am going to talk about calories and sugar because they are the most likely to cause weight issues and cavities. All of my candies are snack size or fun size, and I am doing this per bar or individual package and using the information on the package. They are not the super tiny bites. Here are the numbers on what I bought. I’m sorry if I didn’t include your favorite. I am using what I purchased, so they are my favorites.

Almond Joy – 80 calories, 8 grams sugar

Plain m&m’s – 73.33 calories, 9.67 grams sugar

Peanut m&m’s – 90 calories, 9 grams sugar

Peanut Butter m&m’s – 95 calories, 8.5 grams sugar

Nerds – 50 calories, 12 grams sugar

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups – 110 calories, 11 grams sugar

Snickers – 80 calories, 8.5 grams sugar

As you can see, there is not a huge amount of difference. The Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups come in highest in calories while the Nerds come in highest for sugar. The lower sugar items get some of their calories from fat and protein. On average, 1 piece of candy (or individual package) is about 83 calories and has about 10 grams of sugar.

What about your teeth? According to Steve’s dentist friend all sugar is bad. Make sure your kids (or you) brush and floss after they eat candy. Sugar is sugar, so there isn’t really a type that is better, but the longer it sits on your teeth, the more time the bacteria has to grow, so anything in the mouth a long time is bad.

Now, what to do with that information. Some people dole it out a little at a time, while others just let them eat it and get it over with. I was more a let them eat it and get it over with mom because you can easily have Halloween candy around until Christmas or even later if you dole it out too slowly. Normally, I have an everything in moderation philosophy, but some how a couple of months of candy everyday doesn’t seem like moderation. I think my view on this is definitely not the most popular, and I don’t think my way is any more correct than anyone else’s, so I am just sharing what worked for us. I would love to know what you do? Anyone have a third option?

Happy Halloween!

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