You buy a package of candy under the guise of handing the sweets out to trick-or-treaters, yet somehow you find yourself throwing back handfuls of the stuff when you’re watching TV, decorating the house, or prepping your own Halloween costume. Not exactly ideal. But you can indulge your sweet tooth without blowing your diet, we promise. Here are a few lower-cal candies if you need a treat without the diet trick this Halloween:
York Peppermint Patties
Get your chocolate fix without going overboard when you reach for this lighter option. A mini York Peppermint Pattie only has 50 calories and one gram of fat.
Snickers
If you’re going back and forth between Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Snickers, surprisingly the Snickers bar is your best bet. They’re lower in fat and have fewer calories.
Peeps Pumpkins
When you need something sweet, a Peeps Pumpkin or two should do the trick. They have zero grams of fat, 3.5 grams of sugar, and are 16 calories are each, so they won’t throw you off if you’re counting calories.
Tootsie Rolls
This tasty little treat only contains 70 calories and 1.5 grams of fat.
Jolly Ranchers
This candy is satisfying because you can enjoy it for longer, plus it’s only 70 calories, with zero grams of fat.
Air Head
A mini Air Head is less than 50 calories, and only contains 7 grams of sugar.
Starburst
Each Starburst only clocks in at 20 calories, so you can have a few without feeling guilty. Just make sure you snag the red or pink ones.
Hershey Kisses
When you need something chocolate-y in your life, Hershey Kisses will do the trick. A single Kiss is only 22 calories, with just 2.5 grams of sugar.
Your diet shouldn’t be part of the scariness surrounding Halloween. When you pick these healthier candies, you can enjoy the festivities without feeling guilty.
Lauren Levine is a freelance writer who has contributed to publications and websites including The Charlotte Observer, U.S. News & World Report, American Way magazine, The Huffington Post, Hello Giggles, Bustle, Thrillist, Thought Catalog, and others.