We Asked 11 Dietitians What They Hand Out on Halloween — Here’s What They Said

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If you’re a health-conscious parent, this time of year always comes with a major question: what kind of Halloween candy should you give out? There are plenty of relatively nutritious options out there, but there’s something so deliciously nostalgic about stocking up on those classic mini candy bars you loved as a kid. So what’s the best option?

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We asked 11 dietitians the same questions, and they said it’s all about finding a balance. “I do believe in the importance of balance and moderation, especially when it comes to treats,” says dietitian Amber Dixon of Elderly Guides. “Halloween is a special occasion, and it’s okay to indulge a bit.” That said, it’s also an opportunity to introduce slightly healthier alternatives and show kids that fruit snacks and pretzels can taste delicious too, even if they don’t come with the same sugar rush.

Still looking for suggestions? We asked those same dietitians what they’re giving out for Halloween — and yes, you’re totally allowed to steal their suggestions, tips, and general mindset for Halloween. Which can best be summed up as: give out what you want (within reason), and know that if that means loading up your bowl Snickers, Reese’s, and KitKats, that’s OK. Halloween only comes once a year, and we’re not here to demonize candy or deny kids a little bit of sugar-induced joy.

Classic candy and chocolate

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“I don’t think parents should feel they need to be restricted with their children on Halloween, as it is a special occasion,” says dietitian Amanda Laezza, who’s handing out “the classics,” like Twix, M&Ms, and Skittles. “Throughout the year, I like to emphasize to parents that balance is best — meaning an ‘all or nothing’ mentality really does more harm than good!” she went on. “A few pieces of candy around the holidays is not going to [be a] detriment [to] a child’s health.”

Dietitian Chrissy Arsenault of Trainer Academy agrees. “Halloween presents an opportunity to teach children about the importance of a balanced diet,” she tells SheKnows. Use it as a time to talk about the concept of “sometimes foods” (like candy) versus “everyday foods” (nutrient-rich foods), and to “emphasize the importance of enjoying treats in moderation,” Arsenault explains. No foods are inherently “good” or bad,” and Arsenault says she’s giving out a wide variety of treats this Halloween. In addition to Snickers, Twix, M&Ms, KitKat, and Reese’s, she provides allergen-friendly treats, like nut- or gluten-free candies or non-food items like stickers or toys.

Treats without allergens were a popular choice across the board with the RDs we talked to. Alyssa Pacheco, a dietitian with PCOS Nutritionist, tells SheKnows that she keeps options like Skittles, DumDums, and Swedish Fish on hand for kids with allergies, plus some applesauce pouches. Her view on Halloween candy: “it’s not my place to force healthier options onto children, especially children that I don’t know. A child’s parent or guardian can decide how they wish to allow their child to consume candy or how they want to educate their children on candy and food choices.”

Dietitian Jaime Bachtell-Shelbert of Wholly Nourished plans to offer Reese’s cups, Snickers, and Yum Earth candies, which provide the sweetness of traditional gummies and lollipops “without the dye that we need to recognize is an important option for sensitive kids,” she tells SheKnows. “Yum Earth makes a candy called Giggles that is similar to Skittles that you don’t want to miss.” The Reese’s and Snickers “Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Snickers bars top my list for nostalgic favorites and because they “pack a hunger-satisfying, protein punch thanks to the peanuts.”

“I like to model what a healthy relationship with food looks like,” says dietitian Taylor Sutton of Taylor Your Table. “This means not demonizing sugar, or any other food.” She also advocates for a balance between nutrition and “fun foods,” and says she’s handing out “good-old-fashion mini assorted candies because it’s a fun holiday and candy is nostalgic for me.” She opts for chocolate options, as they dissolve faster from kids’ teeth, and “the higher fat content can help stabilize blood sugar.” She’s also offering a separate bowl “filled with allergy friendly candy brands, partake cookies, apple sauce pouches, raisins, tattoos and other fun trinkets.”

Dark chocolate

Some RDs prefer to hand out dark chocolate options as a way to balance out sweet taste and slightly higher nutritional content. “This Halloween, I am planning to hand out dark chocolate treats,” says Dixon, who notes that dark chocolate is a healthier choice than milk chocolate because it contains antioxidants and less sugar. “I do believe in the importance of balance and moderation, especially when it comes to treats,” she says. “Halloween is a special occasion, and it’s okay to indulge a bit. However, it’s also a great opportunity to subtly introduce healthier alternatives.”

Dietitian Grace Becker of All Things Gardener takes a similar approach. “For this Halloween, I recommend providing a mix of miniature dark chocolate bars, which offer antioxidants and lower sugar content compared to milk chocolate varieties,” she tells SheKnows. “Additionally, individually packaged fruit snacks or small portions of dried fruits can be a great alternative, providing a touch of sweetness along with essential vitamins and dietary fiber.” Speaking of…

Fruity treats

Dietitian Trista Best of Balance One Supplements opts to give out fruit snacks on Halloween, a choice she says “is rooted in promoting healthier choices and overall well-being.” They’re “a tasty alternative that aligns with a balanced diet,” she explains, and offering fruit snacks that are made from real fruits provides “vitamins, minerals, and fiber, offering a healthier option compared to conventional candies.”

Granola, trail mix, and savory bites

There are plenty of other options for Halloween treats if you want to try something on the more nutritious side — maybe with some Snickers on the side. “I will be handing out a mix of more wholesome treats likes granola bites and trail mix, as well as mini candy bars,” says Jesse Feder, a registered dietitian at My Crohns and Colitis Team. While Feder doesn’t want to demonize sweets and candy, “I do like to add in some wholesome treats to also show that there are more nutritious treats that are still tasty… I recommend doing this because it can make a healthy impact on the children by showing them there are some nutritious treats that are really tasty.”

Krutika Nanavati, a registered dietitian with ClinicSpots, says healthier snacks “can be a gateway for children to explore a wide range of flavors beyond just sugar.” She suggests alternatives like “mini pretzel bags, trail mix packets, or small boxes of raisins” as a way to introduce kids to “savory and naturally sweet tastes,” while offering snacks that contain “beneficial nutrients and… a reduced amount of artificial ingredients.”

Dietitian Alyssa Davis with FRESH Communications has a few unique, non-candy options she’s offering, starting with mandarin oranges. “These small and sweet citrus fruits are the perfect portable fruit snack to hand out on Halloween,” she explains — plus, the color is right on theme. She also recommends Patience Fruit Co. Sour Cran Dried Cranberries, which she says “taste exactly like the sweet and sour candy straws we grew up enjoying, but have only 2g of sugar and 7g fiber per serving.” For a savory option, she likes Chomplings, mini meat sticks that “provide a rare source of protein and no sugar on Halloween.” Popcorn is “a great way to satisfy that salty snack craving with a boost of fiber,” while Skinny Dipped Almonds “have only 2g sugar per serving and no artificial ingredients.”

“I believe that all foods can fit into a healthy lifestyle, and I also believe that we should be doing our best to eat nutritious foods low in added sugar most of the time,” Davis says. Keeping that in mind, and knowing that most people will be handing out candy, she says she opts to give “healthier and allergen-friendly alternatives that are still delicious options for trick-or-treaters.”

Bottom line: It’s totally OK for your kids to eat some candy on Halloween, and labeling it as a “bad” food can do more harm than good when it comes to your kids’ attitude toward food. If you feel compelled to offer some more nutritious or less sugary treats on the side, go for it, especially if they’re allergen-friendly. What it comes down to, our experts agreed, is a sense of balance — however you choose to define it.

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