It’s getting to be that wonderful time of year, when leaves take over lawns, pumpkins fill porches and – at least in my house - cotton ball ghosts decorate the refrigerator. Unfortunately, it also means an influx of Halloween candy coming your way soon.
We don’t eat any alot of candy in our house, though I do keep a stash of dark chocolate on-hand in the freezer at all times. And truth be told, I’ve picked up three bags of Halloween candy already. However, I blame that entirely on (1) a great coupon and (2) the need for M&M’s to bribe encourage a certain stubborn red-head to use the potty.
Hey, whatever works, and work it does. Healthy as I am, I’m not above a morsel of chocolate in return for a wee bit of pee. Yes folks, this is a desperate SoulMomma.
But I digress. Ever since said red-head has entered our lives, I find myself more and more against the huge mass of high fructose corn syrup and other junk/chemicals/additives that accumulate on and near October 31. Just looking at it tempts my thighs to expand and my blood sugar to rise. Not to mention what it does to our kids.
When I was growing up, the plastic-wrapped bunches of pennies we got every year from one neighbor were definitely not cool, but those sweet old folks were on to something. In the spirit of encouraging healthier choices, here are some ideas for treats that trump another bar of chocolate (and are way cooler than plastic-wrapped pennies). I promise the parents in your neighborhood will thank you.
- Halloween themed mini-erasers or pencils
- Silly Bandz
- Temporary tattoos
- Glow sticks
- Stickers
- Hair clips or barrettes
- Seed packets
- Mini cookie-cutters
- Bead necklaces, Mardi Gras style
- Mini pumpkins
- Real fruit strips
- Kids energy bars
- Honey sticks (not for children under two)
You can find these treats at almost any discount or dollar store. Considering the cost of candy these days – and the bags that seem to get smaller every year – I don’t think seeking these out will hurt the wallet much. If in doubt and as an alternative, consider traditional candy for the older kids and these special treats for the smaller tykes.
How do you curb the mass of Halloween candy at your house? What ideas do you have for healthier treats?
I shared this on Fresh Bites Friday, Fight Back Friday, Freaky Friday, Foodie Friday, Sunday School, Monday Mania, Must Try Monday, Fat Tuesday, Hearth and Soul, Tasty Tuesdays, The Gathering Spot, Tiny Tip Tuesday, Health 2day, This Chick Cooks, Your Green Resource and Keep it Real .
These are fun ideas. Thanks for sharing.
I bought a bunch of glow sticks to give to the kids along with a small treat. I only wish my kids were still living at home and trick or treating so I could still snag treats from them
Glow sticks are a GREAT idea, Diane! PS – send me your address and I’ll send you some of K-bear’s treats.
I have been struggling with this for the last couple of years. Fortunately we don’t get many trick-or-treaters. Last year I opted for pencils. This year I picked up some erasers. I am not totally satisfied by these options because I feel they most likely end up in the trash can, just adding to the tons of garbage we throw away. I like the fruit strip and honey stick ideas a lot! My daughter went trick-or-treating for the first time last year. We let her eat a bit on Halloween night, after we get home. Then she chose 5 pieces of candy for other days. The rest of it got tossed, minus the few pieces I set aside for myself
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Kudos for your efforts, Jessica. I think you raise a really important point about the trash considerations. K-bear gets a few pieces of candy as well from her loot. Luckily, I find the rest goes quickly after I leave it on the kitchen counter at work!
PS – I do snake all the Almond Joys first.