Chips, chocolate, candy, oh my! Your Halloween favourites dissected by a dietitian

Aside from some spooky decor and some creative costumes, Halloween is pretty synonymous with candy. We all know those tiny Halloween-sized treats are delicious, but some of them are more unhealthy than their full-sized sugary counterparts. That doesn't mean you need to be the house giving out granola bars on Halloween, but there are some treats that are less cavity-inducing than others. To break down what snacks are the most frightful on All Hallow's Eve, registered dietitian Sue Mah stopped by The Goods to talk about what Halloween eats are best to reach for. Here's how she ranks these sugary offenders.

Sour gummies

A single packet of sour gummies contains almost two times more sugar than what you'd find in a regular candy bar. They also contain citric acid, an ingredient that gives the candies that sour bite, but is known to wear down tooth enamel and can cause tooth decay, cavities, and tooth sensitivity. But if you're a fan of these sour sweets, make sure to brush your teeth after you eat them but don't reach for the toothpaste earlier than half an hour after eating, or you'll be brushing that acid around your teeth.

Chewy chocolate candy

These are treats you should beware of. They stick to your teeth, your fillings, your braces, and all that stickiness means that the sugar stays on your teeth for a longer period of time. So if you're a big fan of chewy chocolate candy, make sure that you brush your teeth and floss soon afterwards to help keep your teeth healthy.

Lollipops

While there is defintiely sugar in lollipops, at least it takes a long time to eat them. However, when you're licking lollipops, the sugar stays on your teeth for a long period of time and that can increase your chances of cavities and tooth decay. So if you can't part with lollipops, rinse your mouth out with water and spit after you eat them. This will help to get all that excess sugar out of your mouth and off your teeth.

Wafer chocolate

These do contain sugar, but they don't stick to your teeth as much. The small portion sizes are ideal, and Sue suggests that you pair one with a glass of milk in order to boost your nutrition while snacking.

Potato chips

Potato chips are the best choice you can make as far as Halloween treats go because they don't contain sugar. Yes, chips contain fat and salt, but some healthier alternatives only contain three ingredients: potatoes, vegetable oil and salt. These are all easily pronounceable, which means you know what you're putting in your body, unlike many other treats with complex ingredients.