The Spooky Truth About Halloween Candy (and What to Do Instead)

Season #3 October 13, 2025

🎃 Halloween Candy: What Parents Should Know

This week, Christine gets real about the scariest part of Halloween — the candy bag. 🍬

From petroleum-based dyes and preservatives to marketing tactics that trick parents into feeling guilty for saying “no,” this episode dives deep into:
👉 What’s really in popular Halloween candy
👉 Why “junk food” isn’t a dirty word
👉 What actually fuels eating disorders (and what doesn’t)
👉 How Big Food hijacked the “no bad foods” message
👉 Easy ways to make Halloween fun without the sugar overload

You’ll walk away with practical, guilt-free strategies — like the Switch Witch, candy buybacks, and “something better” swaps — to keep your kids healthy and happy.

Because you’re not the fun police. You’re the lighthouse. 🕯️

🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast app or at foodologyfeedingtherapy.com

#pickyEating #halloweenparenttips #mealtimemindset #foodologyfeeding #feedingtherapy #halloweencandy #healthyhalloween #holisticparenting #guthealthforkids

Episode Transcript

🎃 Halloween Candy
Aired: October 13, 2025
Host: Christine Miroddi Yoder
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Christine Miroddi Yoder:
Okay, so let’s be honest. At least in my house, the scariest thing about Halloween isn’t the costumes or the haunted houses—it’s the candy bag. Especially the one your kids bring home at the end of the night.
I’m talking about the neon-colored, preservative-packed, hyperprocessed candy that most parents wouldn’t normally buy for their kids. But suddenly on Halloween, we feel pressured to let them indulge.
And maybe you’ve wondered this yourself: If I take it away, does that make me the bad guy? Will limiting candy cause problems like eating disorders? I’ve heard that question so many times. People will say, “No, don’t take it away—it’ll just make them want it more.”
So today, we’re going to unpack all of this: what’s really in Halloween candy, what the research says about eating disorders (and what doesn’t cause them), and what you can do instead—so your kids can have a great time without you feeling like the “fun police.”
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What’s in the Candy Bag
Christine Miroddi Yoder:
Let’s start with what’s actually in the candy itself.
Most candy is made up of a few main components: artificial food dyes, preservatives, corn syrup, and hydrogenated oils.
You’ve probably heard of the dyes—Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1. If you haven’t, just turn over a package of your kids’ favorite candies—Skittles, Starburst, M&Ms, Sour Patch Kids, Jolly Ranchers. You’ll find them all listed there.
Basically, they’re in all the “cool,” popular candies that we ate growing up. But what most parents don’t realize is that these dyes aren’t just colors. They’re made from the same petroleum that fuels your car.
Here’s the kicker—they’re starting to rename these dyes so you don’t notice. Instead of “Red 40,” you might see something like “Allura Red AC” or “Red 40 Lake.” It’s the same chemical, just a different name.
In Europe, these same candies are required to have warning labels that say: “May cause hyperactivity in children.” But in the U.S.? Not yet. It’s the same candy—just a different label—which is really infuriating to me personally.
With this new administration and Bobby Kennedy as the Health and Human Services Secretary, we’re starting to see more pressure on companies to remove these dyes. Overseas, they already make alternative versions that don’t contain them because certain countries have outright banned these ingredients. That means they can make safer versions—they just choose not to for us.
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00:05:00 – What These Ingredients Do to the Body
Christine Miroddi Yoder:
So what do these dyes actually do to the body—and why don’t we want our kids to have them?
Research shows these dyes can trigger hyperactivity and focus issues in sensitive children. That post-trick-or-treating meltdown might not be all about sugar—the dyes can fire up their nervous systems.
Some studies on animals even show DNA damage and changes in the gut microbiome, which is honestly pretty scary.
Let’s move on to preservatives. You might’ve seen TBHQ or BHT listed on labels—sometimes even in chocolate candies like Reese’s or certain chocolate coatings. On paper, they’re called “antioxidants.” But in the body, they do the opposite: they stress your immune system.
So if your child’s immune system is already working hard during cold and flu season, piling on preservatives just makes it harder. And again, many of these preservatives are banned in other countries because of safety concerns.
The problem? In the U.S., these ingredients are considered “GRAS”—Generally Recognized as Safe. But that label doesn’t come from testing. It’s basically the companies telling the government, “We think it’s safe,” and the government saying, “Okay, if you say so.” There’s no independent testing.
Then we have corn syrup and hydrogenated oils—think Laffy Taffy, Nerds, Airheads. These spike blood sugar quickly, giving kids that burst of wild energy followed by a crash.
Hydrogenated oils, often hidden in chocolate bars like Snickers or Twix, are basically trans fats in disguise. They inflame the body, disrupt energy, and provide zero nourishment.
We know corn syrup is one of the worst things you can feed kids—it floods the body with sugar and inflammation. And those oils? They’re not like olive or avocado oil, which support your brain. They’re just junk that the body has to work to detox.
Together, all of these ingredients form a chemical cocktail.
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00:10:00 – Sugar, Addiction, and Marketing
Christine Miroddi Yoder:
Now, let’s talk sugar for a minute. Sugar deserves its own episode, but here’s the short version: sugar amplifies the effects of these dyes and preservatives.
It tricks the brain into thinking you’re starving—so you eat more and crave more of the same thing.
And remember, these companies engineer their products to be addictive. They use “natural flavors” that aren’t really natural—they’re lab-created to give your brain that little dopamine hit with every bite.
So when people say, “I ate this stuff as a kid and I’m fine,” I always think… Are we, though?
Our generation—millennials—has the highest rates of autoimmune conditions, fertility challenges, and chronic inflammation. Maybe it’s not just genetics. Maybe it’s the cumulative effect of decades of eating this kind of stuff.
When I say candy is junk food, I’m not just talking about sugar. It’s this chemical cocktail your child’s body and brain have to process.
Now, I know there’s debate about the term “junk food.” Some people say, “Don’t use that—it could cause disordered eating.” Personally, I don’t agree.
I grew up hearing “junk food,” and I never once thought I was bad for liking it. I didn’t develop an eating disorder because of it.
Candy is junk food. It’s made of nothing good for you. It’s not fuel. It’s not nourishing. And calling it “food” at all feels misleading to me.
If the word “junk food” makes you uncomfortable, call it “sometimes food” or “fun food.” The point isn’t the label—it’s the message.
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00:15:00 – What Really Causes Eating Disorders
Christine Miroddi Yoder:
What actually leads to eating disorders isn’t the language you use—it’s the emotional environment around food.
Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions: anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder. ARFID overlaps in some ways with picky eating, but the root causes are different.
Saying “no” to unlimited candy doesn’t cause eating disorders. But how we talk about food and frame it over time does.
Here are four things that research shows do increase risk for eating disorders:
1. Repeated comments about weight or body size.
Kids who constantly hear, “Are you sure you want to eat that? That might make you gain weight,” internalize shame.

2. Tying food to worth.
“You’re good if you eat this, bad if you eat that.” That teaches kids their choices define their value.

3. Using food as punishment or reward.
“Finish your broccoli or no dessert.” “You did great—let’s get ice cream.” Food becomes a currency for approval or love.

4. Secrecy and shame around food.
If candy is hidden or kids feel judged for eating it, they learn to sneak food—one of the earliest red flags for binge eating and food anxiety.

So no, calling candy “junk food” isn’t the problem. Shame, secrecy, and emotional manipulation are.
And here’s something most people don’t know: food companies are exploiting this confusion.
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00:20:00 – How Big Food Hijacked “Food Neutrality”
Christine Miroddi Yoder:
The same companies that make soda, candy, and sugary cereals are paying influencers and dietitians to push the message that “there are no bad foods.”
The Washington Post recently investigated this and found dozens of registered dietitians being paid by the Canadian Sugar Institute to post pro-sugar content—telling parents things like, “If your child is obsessed with sweets, give them more access.”
Cereal companies like General Mills even launched a campaign called “Derail the Shame”, paying influencers to tell people not to “food shame” sugary cereals.
Instead of lowering the sugar, they hired professionals to convince us that our mindset was the problem—not their products.
Even the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics—the organization that certifies dietitians—has accepted millions of dollars from Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Nestlé, Hershey, and General Mills. They even hold stock in some of those same companies.
So when someone tells you, “There are no bad foods,” you have to ask—is that science, or sponsorship?
“Food neutrality” may have started with good intentions, but it’s been hijacked into a marketing strategy. If we never call a food what it is, we keep buying it. And that’s exactly what they want.
Shame and body judgment can harm kids—but honest boundaries and education build resilience.
If you’re comfortable calling candy “junk food,” do it. If you prefer “fun food” or “sometimes food,” that’s fine too. The key is your tone and your message. Boundaries with love keep kids safe; shame does the damage.
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What to Do Instead: Healthier Halloween Strategies
Christine Miroddi Yoder:
So let’s talk about what to actually do when your child comes home with that giant candy bag.
They’re going to be exposed to candy—at school, at sports, at parties. Here are some ideas that work:
* The Switch Witch or Candy Fairy:
Your child trades their candy for a toy, book, or experience. It keeps the fun alive but shifts the focus away from eating.

* Candy Buyback Programs:
Some dentists and charities buy candy by the pound. Or you can do a “buyback” at home—trade candy for something they value, like Roblox credits or art supplies.

* Top Five Rule:
Let your child pick their top five favorite pieces, and the rest goes away. It’s not restriction—it’s moderation and choice.

* Keep the Focus on the Magic:
Costumes, community, creativity—make that the memory, not the candy.

* Teach Label Reading:
When looking at candy or snacks, I’ll point to ingredients and say, “This one isn’t good for your body because it affects your focus.” Then I promise: “We can have this—or something better.”

YumEarth is one brand that makes organic versions of classic candies. They’re not perfect, but they’re better.
At my house, if my son wants candy, I’ll often offer an upgrade: “Would you rather have this, or ice cream?” I buy organic ice cream with just a few ingredients, and he’s always happy to choose that.
It’s never about saying “no because I said so.” It’s about saying, “You can have this—or something better.”
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00:25:00 – Final Takeaways
Christine Miroddi Yoder:
So here are your takeaways:
1. It’s not just about sugar—it’s the dyes, preservatives, and fillers that stress the body and brain.

2. Candy is junk food, and it’s okay to call it that. What harms kids is shame and secrecy, not truth.

3. Don’t be fooled by marketing. Big Food profits from confusion.

4. You can set boundaries and still make Halloween magical.

Things like the Switch Witch, candy buybacks, and “something better” swaps empower kids without shaming them. The goal isn’t restriction—it’s education and empowerment.
When candy bags come home, remember: you’re not the fun police—you’re the lighthouse. You shine light on truth, guide your child safely, and help them build healthy habits that last.
If your child’s picky eating didn’t start with Halloween candy, it’s likely been brewing for years. Waiting it out doesn’t work—that’s why I created my Unlocking Mealtimes program.
Start by taking the free quiz at thepickyeaterstest.com. In two minutes, you’ll learn whether your child is in the Fearful, Stuck, or Curious stage and get personalized steps to start making progress.
Because when we use strategies that match a child’s stage, mealtimes finally start to change.

The Spooky Truth About Halloween Candy (and What to Do Instead)

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