Halloween is one of the best holidays of the year (alert: blatant author bias), even if it’s a day off for good nutrition and a potential hair-puller for parents concerned about safe costumes and safe trick-or-treating.

Hope for some clear, crisp weather, fun costumes and great candy (no apples, pennies or unwrapped cupcakes!) on Oct. 31. But make sure you’ve consumed this sweet trick-or-treat list of all things Halloween first:

Hottest Costumes

The hottest Halloween costumes, based on Google Trends search data:

  1. Wonder Woman
  2. Harley Quinn
  3. Clown
  4. Unicorn
  5. Rabbit
  6. Witch
  7. Mouse
  8. Pirate
  9. Zombie
  10. Dinosaur

Google

Most Popular Halloween Candy In Connecticut

Shoppers will spend $2.7 billion on Halloween candy this year, according to the National Retail Federation. Here’s what Connecticut residents are ordering:

  1. Almond Joy
  2. Milky Way
  3. M&M’s

CandyStore.com

 Nutritional Values Of Halloween Candy (The All-Worst List)

Eat This, Not That analyzed  52 of the nation’s most popular candies in their Food Lab, emerging with this list.

The Worst (Nutritionally)

  1. Reese’s Miniatures, 3 pieces (108 calories, 6.4 grams fat, 9.9 grams sugar). Also: 2.2 grams saturated fat.
  2. Hershey’s Take 5 snack size, 1 bar (100, 5, 9). Also: 2.5 grams saturated fat.
  3. Butterfinger fun size, 1 bar (100, 4, 10). Also: 2. grams saturated fat.
  4. Milk Chocolate M&M’s fun size, 1 package (95, 3.5, 13). Also: 2.25 grams saturated fat.
  5. Nestle 100 Grand fun size (95, 4, 11). Also: 1 gram saturated fat.

The Best of the Worst (Least Objectionable Nutritionally)

  1. Jelly Belly jelly beans mini-pack, with real fruit puree (35 calories, 0 grams fat, 7 grams sugar).
  2. Pixy Stix, per straw (9, 0, 2.1) Note: this is pure sugar in a straw.
  3. Smarties Candy Rolls, per roll (25, 0, 6).
  4. Dum Dums, 2 pops (50, 0, 10).
  5. Nerds Fun Size (50, 0, 12).

Others from Worst:

19. Brach’s Candy Corn, 9 pieces (70 calories, 0 grams fat, 14 grams sugar).

26.  Almond Joy snack size, per bar (80, 4.5, 8). Also: 3 grams saturated fat.

27. Milky Way Original Minis, two pieces (72, 2.8, 9.6). Also: 1.6 grams saturated fat.

Eat This, Not That

 

Mother and daughter trick-or-treating.
 The 10 Halloween Commandments For Parents
  1. An adult should accompany young children.
  2. If your older children are going alone, plan and review a route.
  3. Agree on a specific time children should return home.
  4. Teach your children to never enter a stranger’s home or car.
  5. Instruct children to travel only in familiar, well-lit areas and stick with their friends.
  6. Tell your children not to eat any treats until they return home.
  7. All costumes, wigs and accessories should be fire-resistant.
  8. Avoid masks, which can obstruct vision.
  9. If children are allowed out after dark, fasten reflective tape to their costumes and bags, or give them glow sticks.
  10. When buying Halloween makeup, make sure it is nontoxic and always test it in a small area first.

National Safety Council

Buying A Costume
  1. Look for costumes made from 100 percent synthetic fibers (nylon or polyester) with a Flame Resistant label.
  2. Avoid glitter, which can be flammable.
  3. Avoid capes, trains and dangling sleeves: They can catch fire and also present a tripping hazard.
  4. Making your own costume? Use polyester, nylon, wool and acrylic. Avoid cotton balls, twine and other highly flammable natural fibers.

Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection

Safe Costumes
  1. Use bright, reflective costumes. Make sure shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.
  2. Add reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.
  3. When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories look for and purchase those with a label clearly indicating they are flame resistant.
  4. If a sword, cane, or stick is a part of your child’s costume, make sure it is not sharp or long. A child may be easily hurt by these accessories if he stumbles or trips.
  5. Do not use decorative contact lenses without an eye examination and a prescription from an eye care professional.

American Academy of Pediatrics

Have a safe Halloween, trick-or-treaters. If you need medical attention for any reason, visit your local Hartford HealthCare/GoHealth Urgent Care Center.