The Lesser of Two Evils: Which Treats Are Better for Trick-or-Treaters?

It’s a proven fact that not all things in life are created equally. According to dietitian Gloria Tsang, when it comes to Halloween candy, this could be a good thing.

 “None of them are exactly good for you,” Tsang said, “But we’ve done some close analysis of common competitors to see which options are best from a nutrition perspective."

Tsang compared some of the most-wanted Halloween candies and this is what she found.

• PayDay vs. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups: PayDay wins. Tsang said that Reese’s contain polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR), a commercial emulsifier used to reduce cocoa butter. She added that Payday is the only candy to list peanuts as the first ingredient and not sugar.
• Kit Kat vs. Twix: Even though they have similar amounts of calories and sugar, Twix has many more ingredients. The study found that even though Twix is marketed as containing caramel, none is listed in the ingredients. Kit Kat wins.
• M&Ms vs. Skittles: Both contain artificial colorings and wax, however M&Ms offer small amounts of calcium and protein and have less sugar. M&Ms wins.
• Baby Ruth vs. Snickers: Draw. The study found that Snickers contains partially hydrogenated oil and Baby Ruth high-fructose corn syrup and TBHQ. Equally unhealthy, Snickers lost simply because the serving was larger, which, explained Tsang, leaves room for more calories.
• Mounds vs. Almond Joy: Mounds wins. Tsang explained that Mounds has a shorter ingredient list and doesn’t contain hydrogenated oil, unlike Almond Joy.
• 3 Musketeers vs. Hershey’s Milk Chocolate: 3 Musketeers wins. Hershey’s contains PGPR. Unlike other candies in the study, Tsang said 3 Musketeers contained real cocoa powder.
• Whoppers v. Milk Duds: Whoppers win. Tsang said that Milk Duds stick to the teeth, which is “a no-no” for anyone with dental issues. She added that Whoppers have smaller serving sizes which, “saves some calories.”

 Tsang added that no matter what candies come into your home this Halloween; parents should limit their kids to eating only two or three treats at a time “So they can enjoy their haul without gorging themselves," she said.

Tsang is the author of UnDiet: 50 Small Actions for Lasting Weight Loss.

For more information about Halloween candies and Tsang, visit HealthCastle.com