It's that spooky time of year again! Head to the supermarket, and you'll see pumpkins, spider webs, scary decorations, and of course, all the sugary treats.

If we're being honest, when you're following a meal plan and trying to be healthy, Halloween can be a scary time! Have you ever checked the ingredient list of your favorite candy? Scary stuff, right? 🫣

While we support the occasional splurge, maintaining balance is key. We want you to feel like you've still got options to get into the Halloween spirit and enjoy the holiday without getting rid of all the treats. 

Although—we hate to break it to you—no real candy is healthy. But that’s why we’ve rounded up some healthier alternatives for you that we are sure everyone in your home will love too.

The alternatives in this guide are much better options than conventional candy, but they should still be eaten within reason.

Now, let's get into the treats!

Healthy Halloween treats 🎃🍬

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

Let's start with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Reese's are basically synonymous with trick-or-treating, so, of course, we had to include this popular treat in this list of candy swaps!

Healthier alternative:

Get crafty in the kitchen, and swap out store-bought peanut butter cups with homemade ones (yes, it's easier than it sounds!). Making the cups at home gives you complete control over the ingredients. Remember, always opt for dark chocolate!

Homemade peanut butter cups

Servings: 36 butter cups

Ingredients:

• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 4 1/2 teaspoons butter, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups dark chocolate chips
• 4 milk chocolate candy bars (1.55 ounces each), coarsely chopped
• Colored sprinkles, optional

Instructions:

1. Combine 1/2 cup peanut butter, confectioners' sugar, butter, and salt; mix until smooth.
2. In a microwave, melt chocolate chips, candy bars, and remaining peanut butter; stir until smooth.
3. Drop teaspoon of chocolate mixture into paper-lined mini muffin cups. Add teaspoon of peanut butter mixture into each cup; top with another teaspoon of chocolate mixture. 
4. Refrigerate until mixture sets. Store in an airtight container.

Milky Way or Hershey's milk chocolate bar

Perhaps, unsurprisingly, these chocolate bars are consistently ranked the top, best-selling Halloween treats in the United States. 

Healthier alternative:

Always choose dark chocolate treats instead of milk chocolate when satisfying your sweet tooth. Dark chocolate has been shown to have health benefits, including lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and it may even help improve cognitive function!

So this Halloween, when you're looking for a healthy way to satisfy your sweet tooth, remember that dark chocolate is a perfect choice. Not only is it good for you, but it's also delicious, so there's no reason not to indulge! 

Toffee apples

Talk about mouthwatering! Toffee apples are a classic Halloween treat, but sadly, they also contain lots of sugar.

Healthier alternative:

Instead of using toffee or caramel this year, add peanut or almond butter to your apples. Topping with desiccated coconut gives the apple an extra flavor that's quite hard to resist! 

If you want to get a little more creative in the kitchen, you can whip up "Little Apple Monsters."

‍Instructions:

Place one apple slice flat on a plate, and spread the back edge with nut butter. Stick another apple slice into the nut butter, so the two apple slices look like an open mouth. Stick some slivered almonds vertically into the nut butter to add teeth, and then stick two chocolate chips into the upper apple slice to add eyes! And voila, you've got some little monsters that will be just as tasty as they are cute.

Candy Corn

Even though they are delicious, candy corn is one of the worst candies out there. Unfortunately, they contain primarily high-fructose corn syrup and have more sugar per serving than almost any other candy!

Healthier alternative:

Although there isn't an exact substitute for candy corn, we've got a fun and colorful dessert for you that's easy to throw together (and looks like candy corn, too!). 

Add mandarins, tangerines, oranges, or clementines to the bottom of a glass. Layer on fresh pineapple, and top with homemade whipped cream or coconut cream. Do you see the resemblance?

Even though these options won't replicate the popular candy bars you grew up with, they're still great alternatives if you want something sweet. Making healthy candy bars using ingredients like dates, nuts, and seeds is a great way to enjoy Halloween without all of the sugar. Also, don't forget to add dark chocolate and fruits!

By now, you might have picked up on the running theme: avoid the sugar. Swapping out sugary treats for healthier alternatives will keep you feeling good and on track to reaching your goals!

‍