Healthier Halloween Candy: Better Treats, No Tricks

Need some healthier Halloween candy options? Of course you want your kids to have a fun holiday. Of course you don’t want them to feel like weirdos. But, you don’t want them eating a bunch of crap either. You also don’t want to be that parent who gives out raisins.

Holidays are so tough when you are on a special diet. But even if you aren’t, why does every holiday have to revolve around eating crap? Since the candy isn’t being removed from Halloween anytime soon, we have to deal with it. If you just google “healthier candy” or “healthy Halloween” there is nothing healthy about the results. They seem to focus on calories, fat, and sugar content only. But these so-called healthy choices are loaded with corn syrup, GMOs, preservatives, and artificial colors and flavors.

So, I’ve done the hard work for you. Eating all the candy so you don’t have to (ha!) The list below contains some healthiER Halloween candy options. Please note: It’s still candy. Most will probably still be a bit of a cheat for a special diet. But, these are better options for handing out to trick-or-treaters (if you care what the neighbors eat), bringing to that school party, or swapping out your kids’ Halloween candy. They don’t have GMOs, corn syrup, gluten, or artificial stuff.

If you are truly dedicated to health and don’t believe in little cheats for holidays, I recommend handing out glow sticks or stickers. Or, you can make your own Halloween treats. For the rest us without that kind of time on your hands, here you go:

HealthiER Halloween Candy and Treats

Wholesome Organic Ghost Skull Lollipops

How cute are these for Halloween? In addition to being corn, gluten, and dairy-free, they are also vegan, nut-free and organic. They only have 5 ingredients: Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Tapioca Syrup, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Color Added (Organic Fruit Juice). Wholesome has lots of other candy too (but these ghost skull pops are my favorite). And the best part – these organic good-for-you treats aren’t just at the health-food store. They are available at local big chain retailers as well (though I’m a a firm believer in supporting your local health-food store if you have oneat).

YumEarth Organic Gummy Bats and Jack-o’-lanterns

YumEarth makes candy that is free from the eight most common food allergens (egg, fish, milk, peanuts, shellfish, soy, tree-nuts, and wheat). Almost all of their candy is organic and non-GMO and there are lots of vegan options. They have a whole bunch of candy especially for Halloween that is available at Target -including organic candy corn!. {Possible allergen/special diet info: these bats and jack-o’-lanterns contain organic rice syrup, organic sunflower oil, organic carnuba wax, citric acid, and pectin. Other products contain dextrose.}

Nutryvitta Banana Bars

This fudgy little treat looks like a candy bar and is made only out of bananas and lime juice. There is also a Plum flavor (made only with bananas, plum, and lime juice) that is a little sweeter. What could be simpler? They are really yummy too, as are all the 100% natural products from Nutryvitta, a Brazilian family business focusing primarily on dried banana.

Nutiva O’Coconut Coconut Treat

If you love Nutiva and you love coconut, this is the treat for you. Simple, rich, and coconutty, O’Coconut treats are organic, Fair Trade, and non-GMO. There is no corn, soy, sugar, wheat, or dairy. Basically like eating little coconuts. {There is also a Coconut/Chia flavor, but my kids did NOT like it!}

Heavenly Organics Chocolate Honey Patties

These little patties don’t just taste great, they offer immune-boosting antioxidants and minerals. That is because they are made with 100% cocoa and 100% raw organic honey. They come in six flavors: Ginger, Almond, Peanut, Pomegranate, Mint, and Double Dark Chocolate – and I’ve basically just listed all of the ingredients in each (also sea salt). They are organic, fair trade, non-GMO, kosher, sustainably produced, Paleo and free of added sugar, gluten, dairy, corn, and soy. When you buy them, you are helping save bees and support farmers. They are basically the perfect treat.

EatingEvolved Coconut Butter Cups

Replacing the nut butter in a chocolate cup with rich, creamy coconut butter. Healthy, yummy, and genius. These treats are organic, made with simple ingredients, and are completely free of gluten, dairy, soy, and nuts. They are Vegan and Paleo too! They are available in Classic Coconut, Mint Cream, Banana Cream (which we are loving right now!), Caramel & Sea Salt, and for the fall season Pumpkin Spice! Yum!

Ocho Candy

Yay – an organic, healthy candy bar that looks and tastes like a read candy bar. These are the best – as in, my kids eat them on the car ride home from the market. There are seven flavors: Caramel, Caramel & Peanut, Coconut (Vegan), Dark Caramel, Dark Peanut Butter (Vegan), Peanut Butter, and Peppermint. But you can also buy a Halloween Variety pouch. All products are organic, gluten-free, and non-GMO. {Possible allergen/special diet info: The peanut butter and dark peanut butter bars contain peanuts (obvs). Caramel, caramel & peanut, and coconut contain soy. Caramel, caramel & peanut, dark caramel, peanut butter, and peppermint contain milk. Peppermint contains eggs.}

Test these delicous treats out yourself (you know, for safety purposes), but be careful! Between these and my favorite grain-free snacks, I’m going to look like Santa for the holidays. But, it’s worth it to make sure that our little angels are happy and healthy!