Halloween is one of the best holidays of the year, 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.

The weather is not expected to be good this All Hallows’ Eve, but it’s not too late to come up with a creative costume that looks, and acts, like an umbrella. Whatever you do, don’t let Oct. 31 pass without consuming this sweet trick-or-treat list of all things Halloween:

Hottest Costumes

The hottest Halloween costumes for 2019, based on a National Retail Federation survey:

  1. Princess.
  2. Superhero
  3. Spider-Man
  4. Avengers character (excluding Spider-Man)
  5. Batman
  6. Witch
  7.  Ghost
  8. Vampire
  9. Frozen (Elsa, Anna)
  10. Pirate
 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 for a previous Halloween, 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.

 The 10 Halloween Commandments For Parents

From the National Safety Council:

  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.
Buying A Costume

From the state Department of Consumer Protection:

  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.
Safe Costumes

From the American Academy of Pediatrics:

  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.

For Halloween safety tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, click here.

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