We asked a registered dietitian how to avoid a Halloween candy hangover

Laura McCann  is a registered dietitian with Loblaws, part of a network of dietitians who provide free services like one-on-one consultations, assisted shopping and recipe ideas at locations across the country.

Whether you went out trick-or-treating with your kids last night or you handed out candy to little ones, chances are, you have more candy in your house than normal.

Like, bags more.

So we thought we’d reach out to ask a registered dietitian how we can avoid eating it like it’s, well, candy. ‘Cause despite Halloween candy’s miniature claim, it doesn’t take long before the calories in a few bite-size chocolate bars add up.

Here are some tips to consider so you can enjoy your treats while skipping out on the Halloween hangover.

Before reaching for the candy, ask yourself if you’re really hungry

If the answer is yes, put down that mini chocolate bar and instead reach for a balanced snack containing protein and fibre, such as a piece of fruit and a handful of nuts, veggies and hummus or yogurt and fruit.  After your snack, enjoy your tasty treat.

Practice portion control

If you like having treats at work, keep the box at home and set limits on how many treats you’re going to bring for the day. The more you bring, the more you’ll eat. 

Out of sight, out of mind

Storing treats on the counter or at your desk will increase the likelihood of you eating them. Instead, try keeping nutritious items such as fruit in sight so you choose them first.

A comparison of the nutritional content of some of the favourite Halloween treats:

Smarties vs. Twix

A snack sized Smarties actually has 5 less calories than a snack sized Twix (10 gram portion). And while Twix has 1 gram more fat, Smarties have 2 grams more sugar per serving.

Mars vs. Snickers

These two are surprisingly comparable (13 gram portion). A snack sized Snickers comes in with 1 gram less of carbohydrates and sugar, but half a gram more fat. For the 13 gram portion they have the same number of calories (60).

Oh Henry! vs. Reese Peanut Butter Cups

While both deliver on taste, Reese Peanut Butter Cups have 10 more calories per serving and 1 gram more fat (15 gram portion). But it’s not all bad, Reese Peanut Butter Cups actually have 1 gram more fibre and protein than Oh Henry!.