The scariest part of Halloween for some parents? An avalanche of candy. You can probably relax a bit, say experts in pediatric nutrition and dentistry.
The scariness of Halloween is supposed to come from ghosts and goblins, but some parents are more alarmed by what's left over: An avalanche of candy.Yes, sugar can contribute to a variety of health consequences, from tooth decay to diabetes. But for most children, a short-term surge in candy consumption is no reason to worry, says Sarah Barnes, a pediatric dietitian at La Salle University's School of Nursing and Health Sciences.
And dark chocolate is less harmful to the teeth than milk chocolate, as it generally contains less sugar, according to the American Dental Association. That's because these starchy snacks contain complex carbohydrates, which are broken down inside the mouth into simple carbohydrates: sugars. By that logic, it would make sense to spread out a bagful of candy over several weeks. But on Halloween, it's OK for older children to eat a lot all at once — if they want, said Barnes, an assistant professor of nutrition at La Salle.
10 allergy-friendly Halloween candies 1. Dots Dots, the chewy classic gum drop candy, are a sweet allergy-friendly treat for Halloween that come in convenient mini-boxes. Dots are free from the top eight food allergens: eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, milk, wheat and soybeans. 5. No Whey Chocolate Candies No Whey produces delicious knock-offs of your favorite chocolate candies without nine common allergens: dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, egg, sesame, gluten and artificial colors or flavors. They’re also suitable for vegans. The Halloween variety pack contains Milkless Minis , PeaNot Cups , Choco No No’s , and chocolate covered pretzels.
9. Enjoy Life Mini Ricemilk Crunch Candy Bars Enjoy Life is committed to making sure everyone can enjoy tasty treats. This allergy-friendly brand skips wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, casein, soy, egg, sesame, sulfites, lupin, mustard, fish, shellfish and crustaceans. The Ricemilk Crunch mini candy bars also are suitable for vegans.