Halloween doesn't scare dentists or nutritionists. After all, they aren't monsters, which means they won't be jealous of the kids for catching the candy.
But they use a few tricks to make trick-or-treating less of a hassle, starting with limiting the celebration to one night. “The kids will get candy,” says Liel Greenbaum, a pediatric dentist at Smiles+Grins in New York City. “The biggest problem is when the deadline is extended to the next day, the next week, the next month.” He suggests choosing a few delicious treats, enjoying them in the evening, and giving away the rest.
It is also recommended that you prioritize brushing your teeth as soon as possible after eating the candy. If your kids chew while walking around town, offer them a water bottle periodically and teach them to rinse and spit, Greenbaum says. This will prevent the sugar from sticking to your teeth.
Plus, of course, some options are healthier than others. We asked seven nutritionists and dentists what they give away on Halloween night and why.
Chewing gum
Greenbaum's main Halloween gift is sugar-free chewing gum. “Kids will look at you like, 'What the hell?' – he says. While it's not a traditional choice, there are reasons to add it to your rotation. “The benefit of chewing gum is that every time you chew, your jaw activates salivation, and then your saliva contains the most powerful antibacterial enzymes,” he says. “You are completely protecting your mouth while you chew.”
Dark chocolate
When in doubt, choose dark chocolate instead of milk or white chocolate. “It's a really good alternative,” Greenbaum says. It's made with a higher cocoa content, meaning the chocolate has “significantly less sugar and is also anti-inflammatory. The polyphenols and flavonoids in cocoa physically reduce the bacteria that cause tooth decay.”
Sweet Potato Chips
Ideally, whatever you give out for Halloween should not contain highly acidic ingredients that are harmful to your mouth's pH levels. “When the pH of your saliva drops, the enamel begins to erode,” says Lilia Horowitz, founder of Domino Dental in Brooklyn. That's why she favors snacks like single-serve sweet potato chips, which are typically made with less acidic oils than other options.
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“Avocado oil, coconut oil and olive oil are considered more alkaline or neutral than seed oils for example, canola oil or soybean oil, which are more refined and tend to produce more acid,” says Horowitz.
Clementines
“One of the funniest things about clementines is that they look like tiny pumpkins,” says Abir Bader, lead clinical nutritionist at the Mass Total Weight Center. Clementines can be decorated with stickers to create a creepy face. Besides the cute factor, “You get some nutrients like vitamin C and fiber,” she adds, making the clementine pumpkin costume the perfect addition to all that candy.
Gummy bears
Gummy bears contain easily digestible sugar that will help fuel kids as they march around the neighborhood. “Gummy bears are a good, quick source of fuel for your body,” says Diane Johnson, registered dietitian for the University of Tulsa Dining Services, “they're fun and something different.”
Payday bars
During a recent round of golf, Johnson's friend wanted a bite to eat and ended up choosing Payday Bar. The salty-sweet mixture of peanuts and caramel makes it both delicious and filling, and the smallest size is six grams of protein.
In her opinion, these nutritional characteristics outweigh the disadvantages of the stickiness of the candy bar. “It's kind of a byproduct of the protein bar,” Johnson says. “Obviously it's not that healthy, but if you're going to eat any candy bar,” this one isn't going to haunt the nutritionist.
Fruit jerky
Fruit jerky is a convenient, portable snack that's “moist and tender,” says Nadine Hassan, an adjunct faculty member at Purdue Global's School of Health Sciences, where she teaches nutrition courses. Choose one that has “nothing else added to it” except fruit. Additionally, the high fiber content of dried fruit supports digestive health, and its natural sugars are healthier than the artificial ones added to many other treats. Choose from a variety of flavors including mango, pineapple, banana, strawberry and apple.
Popcorn
Popcorn is ideal for salty snack lovers. “It's definitely a good fiber-filled snack,” Hasan says. “In a Halloween treat bag, you'll probably get mostly all the sweet stuff, so it's a good balance.” Plus, popcorn is full of B vitamins, potassium and manganese, and many brands offer single-serve bags that are low in calories and fat (and high in crunch).
Freeze-dried fruits
Freeze-dried fruit, which comes in individual servings, is “a healthy version of chips for your kids,” says Hassan. She adds that freeze-drying preserves the vitamins and minerals, meaning you'll pass on a good dose of antioxidants and fiber to the trick-or-treaters.
Snickers and the Milky Way
Jay Maillet and his wife are both dentists, but if you see them handing out candy bars on Halloween, it's not a ghost. “We eat candy, of course, and our oral hygiene is fantastic,” says Mayeux, director of dentistry for DentaQuest's Northeast region.
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Their favorites are Snickers and Milky Ways. Besides the taste, Maillet appreciates that the chocolate bars are quick and easy to eat. On the other hand, gummy candies like Twizzlers and Starbursts stay on your teeth longer, increasing your risk of tooth decay. “Try to minimize snacking, which increases tooth contact time,” he says. The faster the treat melts in your mouth, the better.
Caramel apple sauces
Apples are a premium fall fruit that is healthy and healthy. Thematic choice for lovers of sweets. Opt for single-serve containers of apple slices and caramel sauce, suggests Lindsey Malone, a nutrition instructor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Besides the obvious health benefits You can buy apples in bulk. Plus, “they're packaged and sealed, so parents don't have to wonder if they're safe to eat,” she says.
sugar-free lollipops
You can't go wrong handing out sugar-free lollipops, one of Greenbaum's favorite office tricks and Halloween treats. Xylitol, a sweetener often used as a sugar substitute in these drinks, reduces the growth of bacteria that cause tooth decay. Besides, he says, they taste as good as any other sweet treat; he loves to put them in his mouth himself during Halloween celebrations (and the rest of the year too).
Ice cream cups
Depending on the weather you live in, it may not make sense to give a cool treat like ice cream. But if you know how to swing it, many children enjoy the sweet treat as they continue to stroll around the neighborhood.
“Ice cream is significantly better for dental health than most candies,” says Greenbaum. “It melts into your saliva, so you avoid any stickiness that gets into the grooves of your teeth and just sits there.” A truly frightening image, making Halloween the perfect time to scream about ice cream.
