28 Non-Candy Halloween Treats Kids Will Love

Halloween and I have a complicated relationship, at least since I became a mom. Trick-or-treating is a fun tradition, but there aren’t many healthy Halloween treats (or even close to it). Other holidays, like Easter, share the same problem.

So what’s a health-conscious mom to do? As I see it, I have a few options:

Option #1: Ignore Halloween Completely

Yep … I did this!

I’ll admit it: when my kids were all really young, I just pretended Halloween didn’t exist. We didn’t do the trick-or-treating thing or the Halloween costume thing. Instead of a Halloween party we usually just turned out the lights and went to bed early before the trick-or-treaters would come around.

I just didn’t like the idea of already grumpy toddlers staying up late to go to strangers’ houses and ask for candy packed with food dyes. They didn’t need all the candy bars, candy corn, or other Halloween night junk food. Now, with more places doing trunk or treat, kids can fill up on candy without even having the benefit of walking around the neighborhood.

As my kids got older and wanted to dress up, trick-or-treating was harder to avoid. On the one hand, I completely understand the fun tradition of wearing a costume and spending time with friends. On the other, I don’t love the idea of them getting bags upon bags of candy (that will make them crazy and rot their teeth out).

Since I’ve learned a thing or two about balance and moderation over the years, we’ve moved on (a little reluctantly) from this option. I’ve found my kids (and the neighborhood) can still get Halloween goodies with these non-food treat ideas.

Option #2: The Candy Fairy

Opinions differ on whether or not receiving a mountain of candy in one night provides a natural opportunity to learn self-control. I’m all for kids having these life lessons. However, I’m also a big believer in giving kids choices within certain boundaries set by the parent. (Hence my love for Montessori.)

The Candy Fairy (or Switch Witch, take your choice) visits our house after trick-or-treating. The kids don’t seem to mind a bit. We switch out most of the candy for a fun goodie bag of treats. Since the treat bags come from our home, this also gives me the chance to throw in some tasty goodies from better sources.

Option #3: Offer Healthy Non-Candy Halloween Treats

I know, I know … handing out a treat other than name-brand candy is a surefire way to get your house rolled. I promise I’m not suggesting handing the kids an apple or a carton of bone broth.

According to the CDC, childhood obesity rates have gone up significantly in the last few decades. They’ve continued to creep up even since last year and now hover around 20 percent (higher for certain ethnicities). Wouldn’t less candy given to kiddos be a positive change?

In fact, there are plenty of reasons to consider giving out non-candy Halloween treats:

Food Allergies – Food allergies are on the rise and many popular types of candy contain peanuts and other allergens. I know quite a few moms who can’t let their kids trick or treat because of potential peanut exposure. (Proof this is a real trend: The Teal Pumpkin Project.)
Too Much Sugar – With record obesity rates and other health problems, especially among youth, I can’t in good conscience hand out tons of sugary candy. The 80/20 rule is great and there may be a time and a place for treats. The problem is that time seems to be all the time. And the place seems to be everywhere. Kids get candy at the bank, the doctor, their school, and almost everywhere they go. Do they really need bags of it?!
Dye Sensitivities – Many kids are sensitive to food dyes and it’s tough to avoid them in most types of candy.
Orthodontics – Candy and sugary snacks aren’t good for teeth and can stick to braces and other mouthpieces.
Easier on Parents – When you give out non-candy Halloween treats, you save parents the trouble of checking for anything harmful in the candy.

True, non-candy treats may not make your house the most popular stop in the neighborhood, but there are some really fun alternatives to candy that are definitely kid-approved. And all the other families who are trying to limit sugar or who are sensitive to food dyes will thank you!

Ideas for Non-Candy Halloween Treats (Kids Actually Like)

These are the top healthy Halloween treats I keep in my stash. Bonus: If you have some leftover, most of these will keep until next year! Walmart and your local dollar store can be some good places to find inexpensive Halloween toys. The quality can be hit or miss though, so I have details below on where to find our non-candy Halloween treat favorites.

1. Glider Airplanes

Surprisingly, mini airplanes are inexpensive and a great candy alternative. My brother loved these when we were little and would have taken one of these over candy any day!

2. Organic Juice Boxes

A consumable Halloween treat that’s practical. After walking around the neighborhood, kids may be thirsty. It still has sugar and isn’t an everyday thing for us, but it makes a great treat.

3. Natural Fruit Leather

In my opinion these taste way better than artificially flavored fruit candies! Buy them in bulk for the best price. I’ve seen them at Costco for a good price, or they’re available from Amazon for a good price.

4. Bouncy Balls

My kids love bouncy balls and we don’t usually have them around the house because of all. the. bouncing. Grab a pack of 100 for cheaper than a big bag of candy and call it a day! They even make creepy eyeball bouncy balls!

5. Local Honey Sticks

My oldest son brought home a bunch of these from a beekeepers’ meeting one time and they were an instant hit with his siblings. Ideally, find some from a local beekeeper, or order online. These are still a sweet treat, but honey’s beneficial properties make them a healthier alternative to candy.

6. Stamps

My littles spend hours stamping pictures on paper and they gave me the idea for this candy alternative. Stamps are also cheaper than candy when you get them in bulk.

7. Themed Bookmarks

These fall-themed bookmarks not only encourage reading, but kids can color them in. You can even hand out small packs of crayons to go with them.

8. Carabiners

A novel and practical kid favorite! Carabiners top the list of practical gifts that can be reused, and as a bonus… they’re plastic-free!

9. Mini-Flashlights

A practical idea for kids walking around after dark! Keychain flashlights are fun for kids and a good candy alternative if you don’t live in a busy neighborhood. Order them in bulk for a good price.

10. Pumpkin Oranges

Feeling crafty? Get some organic oranges and use a natural marker to draw some pumpkin faces on the peel. This DIY jack-o-lantern is probably best for a group of friends or a close-knit neighborhood where people trust an unwrapped offering.

11. Organic Candy

If you just can’t fathom the idea of giving out something besides candy, opt for a better kind of candy. This brand of organic lollipops is dye-free and contains vitamin C.

12. Fake Mustaches

Kids love these hilarious fake mustaches. I brought a few packs of fake mustaches to a costume party for adults once and the next morning we woke up and found all of the kids in mustaches too! For a holiday that requires a costume, these are fun to give out!

13. Stickers

I have to say, kids have ruined stickers for me. They seem to think it’s a great idea to plaster stickers on any surface to make it more festive. There’s still sticker residue on their bunk beds to prove it. Since Halloween is about fun for the kids though, I’ll be a sucker and order 500 stickers to give out.

14. Bubbles

Bubbles are a fun activity that every kid loves. My children will play with these for hours at a time!

15. Mini Notebooks

My daughters keep these mini notebooks in their mini purses so they can draw and take notes. Add a Halloween-themed pencil and eraser for an extra treat to go with their notebooks.

16. LED Light Up Rings

Forget Ring Pops! These rings light up in crazy colors and are a fun way to keep kids safe in the dark.

17. Skeleton Bone Pens

Possibly the coolest item on this list! These bone-shaped pens are really cool and practical too!

18. Wikki Sticks

A great inexpensive Halloween treat to give out that stimulates creativity. Wikki Sticks are made from yarn and natural wax and are a mess-free creative way for kids to draw and build pictures.

19. Lego People

Want to be the coolest house on the block? Give out little Lego compatible figures!

20. Glow Bracelets

I don’t usually get glow sticks because of the plastic, but I’ll pull them out as a special treat or candy alternative. Glow in the dark bracelets are the most practical option because they also make kids easier to see in the dark while out trick or treating! I’ve never seen a kid leave disappointed when receiving a glow bracelet instead of candy.

21. Puzzle Balls

The downside? They are plastic. The upside? Puzzle balls are a reusable treat that encourages critical thinking.

22. Fancy Crayon Pens

Practical but still cool. These crayon pens have multiple tips and encourage creativity. Pair them with small autumn-themed coloring books.

23. Slap Bracelets

Slap bracelets were all the rage when I was a kid. Maybe they’re outdated, or maybe, like many poor fashion trends of decades past, it’s time for them to come back!

24. Mini Play-Doh

We usually make our own play dough, but pre-made mini Play-Doh containers are a good alternative to candy! It’s stretchy, squishy, and can provide hours of fun. Play-Doh does have gluten, so be mindful of those with celiac disease or gluten allergies. This brand offers a gluten-free alternative.

25. Spooky Spider Rings

Another plastic toy, but when store-bought candy is at stake I’ll compromise. This kid pleaser adds to the spooky fun. Warning: they’re as bad as Legos … inevitably I end up stepping on them in bare feet around the house for months after.

26. Punch Balloons

I remember punching these with great glee as a kid (probably in the direction of my brother’s face). This perennial party favor comes in Halloween-themed colors and encourages kids to be active and have fun!

27. Finger Puppets

These are popular with younger kids as a silly way to add to the dress-up fun of the night. They’re stretchy and fun and help encourage creative play. Try these monster-themed finger puppets that come in bulk.

28. Slinkies

Who doesn’t remember the classic metal slinky? While you can find small metal slinkies, the plastic ones are much more affordable for handing out in bulk. Get a pack of 50 rainbow-colored ones here.

If You’re Going to Hand Out Candy…

Opt for pre-packaged treats from reputable companies that use organic or natural ingredients with few to no additives. These are my favorite healthier candy “compromises” since their ingredients are a lot less… scary!

What’s your policy on candy on Halloween? Which healthy Halloween treats would you like to see your kids bring home?

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About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

86 responses to “28 Non-Candy Halloween Treats Kids Will Love”

Savannah

October 16, 2016

An idea that we got from a friend that I think is great is to cut up all the chocolate candy the kids get, and use it to make a big batch of cookies to share with family and friends, or at the church potluck.We do this with all the candy the kids recieve from their great grandparents throughout the year too. They know sugar tastes good, but makes you sick and makes holes in your teeth. We do allow them to enjoy treats, but keep them in their place as occasional treats, and not something to eat every day.

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Celeste Magers

October 16, 2016

On Halloween I give out money – quarters to be exact – one to little kids and a couple to bigger kids. And most of the kids love it! They run to their parents saying, “I got money!” This seems really safe to me. No need for the parents to worry over whether the treat is safe or healthy or not!

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1. kreichert
  
  October 17, 2016
  
  My grandma always gave out pennies! Kids love it.
  
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2. Jennifer
  
  October 18, 2016
  
  I always trick or treated at my grandparents’ house (2 hour drive after school and then a 2 hour drive home that same night). It was the BEST part of Halloween. One of their neighbors always gave out change and it was the BEST house. The older gentleman always said to take a handful and if you didn’t take enough (to his standards) he would tell you to take more. Haha. It was mostly pennies with the silvers mixed in, but we felt rich as 7 and 8 year olds.
  
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Megan

October 16, 2016

An additional idea, and one that has been fairly warmly received in our neighborhood is handing out little boxes of raisins.

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Nicol

October 16, 2016

Last year we gave out mini bananas and mandarin oranges we also had honey patties covered in dark chocolate( no sugar added)
Please remember small chirldren can Not have honey. Also a ton of people are allergic to honey so let kids know it’s a honey pattie in case they reach in there bag at night to sneak a pice.
All of this was a hit!

When trick or treating we just go to all our friends houses first that know and eat like we do.The kids get a ton of homemade treats this way that we can trust or special things from them and my friends love having trick or treaters before they go out to party and they can see my dressed up kids!

We do normal trick or treating however my kids know candy is poison and don’t want it so we donate it to the homeless shelter. They are more into the experience than eating bad food and are happy to give.
They also have there treats from my community of friends so it’s a win win

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1. Michelle
  
  October 16, 2016
  
  Wow, so you think candy is poison, but think it’s kind to give it homeless people? Not sure I understand the logic there, but at lease you’re giving them the healthy stuff, too.
  
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Kim

October 16, 2016

I am giving candy, but I do like your sweet alternatives for it. (Though expensive for the amount of kids that comes to our neighborhood….Would be fine for a party but being as I’ve never seen a halloween package of fruit leathers not happening.Plus we usually buy what we will eat if we get stuck with it… )

THough this year I am giving one to 2 pieces of candy (yeah let’s see how well that works) and a non-candy item like a toy, or mini coloring pad.

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Debra

October 16, 2016

Sometimes for Halloween we book a local hotel with water slides , bring our own food and call it a day. The kids are so excited every year they don’t care what others are doing!
This year an overnight event didn’t work so we’re going to ‘movie night’ at the grandparents who don’t live in the city like we do. The kids are still super excited!
Parents need to lead the way. You explain to your kids from when they are 1 and you see an item you don’t want them to have, ” let’s choose something else, I don’t want this to make you sick’. Then they get older and ask you WHY it could make them sick. And you tell them. If it’s normal for you and they see you living a healthy lifestyle, they should learn quick.

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Renea

October 16, 2016

You can remove the sticky residue off the bunk beds with a q-tip and regular lighter fluid, like Zippo, not charcoal lighter fluid. I know it’s a chemical, but it works and doesn’t harm most surfaces. I use it in my scrapbook projects when something super sticky gets put in the wrong place or is placed wonky. It deactivated the adhesive long enough to rub it away. Or you can allow it to evaporate and the sticky returns. It will even remove duck tape residue if it hasn’t etched into the surface!

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Cherie

October 16, 2016

I gave out decorated pencils last year and they were a BIG hit for all ages. I was pleasantly surprized?

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Carisa

October 16, 2016

When my kids turned 10 and 12, we moved out of state. Having no idea what the local Halloween scene looked like and being a protective parent anyway, we decided to offer the kids a Halloween alternative idea. We let them invite friends over and staged what was a lot like a huge easter egg hunt, but with halloween candy (you could use the options from Katie’s article) and after dark. We used sandwich bags and glow bracelets to mark each spot where something was hidden. Even hung them from the trees by punching the bracelet through the bag and closing it around a limb. After they do the hunt, they play outside with the nighttime toys that they’ve accumulated as the grand prizes over the years. The kids LOVED it and I got to control what they received. Now, it’s a Halloween tradition that they ask for every year.

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Michelle

October 16, 2016

Wow, I’m going to buck the trend here. While I normally agree with feeding your family with healthy, home-prepared whole foods over processed stuff, kids should be allowed to be kids and participate in traditions. And some candy every now and again is not going to kill them or rot their teeth if they’ve been taught good dental hygiene, which I’m sure is the case in your family. I also know from my own childhood that kids whose parents were overly strict (no soda, no junk food etc.), really went crazy with all that stuff whenever their parents weren’t around – i.e. they’d be a friend’s house with less strict parents and (nearly single-handedly) devour a 2 liter bottle of soda and a giant bag of Doritos within the space of an hour or two. So personally, I think moderation and common sense is the key. Make most of your meals/treats etc. healthy and non-processed, but don’t be that mom at Halloween that passes out some homemade goody that isn’t really what the kids want. And if they get way too much, let them pick a reasonable amount of their favorite treats to keep (somewhere between 5 and 10) and portion the rest so they don’t gorge on it all at once. Or toss it, if you prefer.

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1. Wellness Mama
  
  October 16, 2016
  
  Michelle, I understand where you’re coming from, but by that logic, if you don’t allow your kids to experiment with drugs in high school then they will go crazy and abuse all the drugs in college. Just because something is a tradition doesn’t mean it’s a good one. My job as a parent is to teach my children how to make good decisions based on logic and not simply the emotion of what everyone else around them is doing. Definitely not easy, but well worth the effort. Thanks for reading!
  
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  1. Michelle
    
    October 16, 2016
    
    Seriously, you’re comparing allowing a bit of candy on special occasions to drug use? I suppose you could argue that sugar is addictive if people can consume it in unlimited amounts, but the honest truth is, during the 70s when I was a kid, we were allowed to eat candy and drink soda, and there were virtually no food allergies and almost no overweight kids, probably because we were outside for most of the day, rain or shine. Most moms stayed at home and cooked for their families, so most of us got one half.way healthy meal a day, but breakfast was usually some sort of sugary cereal, and the school lunches weren’t that great, although the portions were the right size for kids that age. Like I said, while I agree it’s important to teach your children healthy habits early on. but allowing a little rule-bending every now and again (barring serious food allergies) isn’t going to ruin all your good work.
    
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    1. Tracy
      
      October 27, 2016
      
      Sugar companies want you to believe that sugar is not addictive, but science shows it is more addictive than cocaine. High fructose corn syrup was not in the candy of the past, and it stresses the whole metabolic system and the liver. Good ideas were given to help kids have some better options, not to necessarily take away all choice or fun. Consider that we can help create fun traditions without making the kids want to rebel from excessive strictness.
      
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    2. Laura
      
      October 25, 2017
      
      Michelle, I’m with you 100%. I’m reading this article and thinking how much money I’d make if I put a lump of coal up each of these women’s butts. Think of all the diamonds! You guys need to loosen up. Good lord. It’s one day.
      
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      1. Katie – Wellness Mama
        
        October 25, 2017
        
        In this podcast episode I interviewed Susan Peirce Thompson who is a neuroscientist with a PhD in Brain and Cognitive Sciences. She was also personally addicted at one time to drugs, alcohol, and sugar, and she said that by far, sugar was the most addicting substance of any of those, both to herself, and to the many patients she has worked with over the years… so no, in my opinion one day out of the year isn’t an excuse to go crazy with heroin or sugar.
2. Jennifer
  
  October 18, 2016
  
  Michelle, I have to agree with you on this one. We rarely had sweets in the house growing up, so Halloween was that one time of year that we were able to indulge. Our parents didn’t put limits on our candy as long as we ate all of our meals each day. If we wanted to eat it all at once, we quickly learned that we would then suffer a stomach ache, but our parents no longer had to worry about the candy spoiling our meals. Once it was gone, it was gone. We became experts on making our candy last, which meant we only ate one or two pieces a day until it was gone. I usually agree with a lot of things on this blog, but I don’t think that drug comparison correlates. (but that’s just me.) Kids need the opportunity to learn to self discipline when mom and dad are not around. I think I will stick with traditional Halloween once a year and allow kids to experience the fun traditions I enjoyed as a kid. I love this blog and will continue reading it. We can’t all agree on everything….can we?
  
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  1. Michelle
    
    October 18, 2016
    
    Exactly, although I do think a lot the suggestions posted above would be well-received by most kids, too. On the point of letting the kids learn self-control, i agree there, too. I made my Halloween candy last for months when I was a kid because we didn’t have non-stop sweets at our house, either. Although my sister always ate hers a lot more quickly and then raided my stash – another type of life lesson! And to some of the comments below, I get that Halloween, like many other holidays, has drifted far from its original meaning and become overly commercial, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make the holidays fun for your family. Kids love dressing up and running around in groups to collect treats, so why stop them? At the same time, that doesn’t mean you need to spend megabucks on a costume from Etsy, put something fun together for the little ones, and help the older ones be creative and make costumes out of things they find around the house. And with the candy, a lot of people offered good suggestions if the kids bring home more than you’re comfortable letting them keep. As my sister-in-law routinely ignores our requests not to overdue the amount of candy they give our kids around the holidays, (she literally gives them bags with at least 5 pounds of candy), my kids voluntarily give me all but 2-3 favorites, and we donate the rest, along with hygiene articles and warm clothing, to organizations that put together packages for kids that almost never get treats,.
    
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3. Nicola
  
  October 19, 2016
  
  I agree with you Michelle. All of the people I have known as well that experienced strict deprivation of sugar and other foods went crazy with them as well. They would consume them in quantity at friends’ houses, buy them behind their parents’ backs, eat a ton upon becoming adults, and so on. They never really learned self-control or moderation and the temptations were so great. They always wanted them even when they weren’t allowed to have them. In some cases I have seen it cause some degree of social isolation as well. The children aren’t allowed to partake in certain social events and it leaves them out. I consider social isolation to also be unhealthy. I know I struggle as a parent to make the right choices. I try to look at different sides and get different perspectives. Talking to friends about their childhoods of deprivation and witnessing it myself has helped to shift my perspective. Halloween is one of my best memories from childhood. It wasn’t even about the candy, it was the dressing up and trick or treating that was so much fun for me. Being with my parents and siblings as we went from house to house, seeing all the decorations and different people. I want the same for my child. I don’t know what I will do about the candy things just yet. My child is too young for it to be an issue at this point.
  
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  1. Isabella
    
    October 29, 2018
    
    I was one of those “deprived kids” whose mother didn’t allow us to eat Halloween candy, and I couldn’t be more grateful! We still went trick-or-treating and collected mountains of candy, and the rule was – we had three days to play with our candy (I loved counting it and making towers and big piles), we could choose two pieces to taste, and the rest would be traded in for “healthy candy,” such as sesame honey bars, dried fruit and organic chocolate/carob bars. Easter was the same way. My brother and I got all the fun of participating in celebrations, and none of the sugar crashes and allergic reactions from eating junk candy. I definitely got to experience candy at friends’ houses and school trips, but while I found it to be interesting it never appealed to me because it made me feel awful! I’m incredibly grateful that my mother provided an environment In which I could discern what felt good for my body and not. She also provided a solid model that I can emulate with my own children. And believe me – if you start the habits young, most children don’t mind the difference at all! I was the kid going to the birthday party with an avocado sandwich packed to eat instead of pizza, and homemade blueberry bread to eat instead of cake – One of my most vivid memories, and I think it’s just as funny now as I did then! Different food choices don’t have to be traumatic. It’s “we do different things but we have just as much fun.”
    
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Fran

October 16, 2016

Skeleton pen not a good idea a child can fall on it and impale themselves
Kids run around a lot and can fall and jab themselves

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Shawna

October 15, 2016

I love the environmentally friendly, low sugar choices! Last year I gave out little bags of non-gmo popcorn with a little Himalayan salt and dill. The kids loved it! I also had some Halloween pencils and erasers.

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1. Patrick
  
  October 29, 2019
  
  Why cant we just let kids have fun. Why are you trying to ruin Halloween. Yse common sense out there but dont go overboard and ruin Halloween.
  
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  1. Katie Wells
    
    October 29, 2019
    
    Why is big industry trying to ruin our health by telling us we need to consume insane amounts of sugar on halloween, valentines day, birthdays, the weekend, and every other day that is “tradition”?
    
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Sophie

October 15, 2016

Love this! I’m posting a blog on allergy friendly Halloween treats and will be sure to link to this!

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Sarah

October 15, 2016

A word of warning on the glow sticks. ..someone in our neighborhood gave those out last year, and it easily came open and the (highly toxic) stuff inside squirted into my daughter’s eye. We had a pretty traumatic 20 minutes afterwards, but after 2 of us holding a screaming child under the faucet and a call to the pediatrician we were lucky she was okay.

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Jenne

October 15, 2016

A few years ago, I decided because of the name brand chocolate companies and child slave labor, that I was not going to be a part of it. Of course, there is also the issue of health. So, I started to give out organic fruit strips and Annie’s Organic cheddar bunnies. Yes, there is wheat in the bunnies but I figured it was still a step forward. I think I might stick with just the fruit strips from now on, though and use some of your ideas also, Katie, so thank you for the list! I know most of the kids don’t care or know better anyhow, but I do, so I try to be a leader, rather than a follower. Plus, the kids seemed to like what I was giving out, something different. 🙂

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Johnna

October 15, 2016

How would you package these individually for handing out at Halloween?

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Carolina

October 15, 2016

This is great but what do you do with the candy they cone home with?

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1. Alexandria
  
  October 16, 2016
  
  We do a trade. They know we are doing this before we ever go to anything where they may be receiving a lot of candy. They’re told that they will get to choose x amount of pieces to keep for themselves, but for every other piece, they get money in return (maybe a dime for each piece of candy) that they can use to buy a parent approved item with. Another idea instead of a trade. . . I also saw a dentist office once that collected candy from kids on Halloween to be shipped off to American soldiers overseas. I know it’s not healthy for them either, but I’m sure a welcome treat given the conditions they are in.
  
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  1. Colleen
    
    October 25, 2017
    
    This is exactly what we do! And in cities there are usually places collecting candy for the soldiers. One idea that my dentist does (which I love) is to hand out kids toothbrushes. It works a lot b/c she is a dentist, but if your neighborhood isn’t too big you could do it too!
    
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2. Boyd
  
  October 16, 2016
  
  When we buy our kids candy, my husband takes it to work and leaves it in the kitchen for the staff to eat.
  
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  1. Sandra
    
    October 6, 2019
    
    I used to trade the kids their candy for a basket contains granola bars, gum, a movie, books, etc. They loved it. When they got older, we traded a dime for each piece of candy. They would have trick or treating with cousin and the next used their money towards something they actually wanted..and Their father would take it to work for coworkers.
    
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3. Kolleen
  
  October 16, 2016
  
  Donate it. I gave mine to operation gratitude which ships goodies to soldiers. I also give them the tooth brushes and mini toothpastes the dentists gives me.
  
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4. moj
  
  October 26, 2016
  
  This might be a little cruel, but I am going to ask my daughter to donate her candies to the homeless who is always sitting at an intersection near my office. He is a sweet guy (Edward) and ALWAYS hungry. Once I got him a protein bar and he was really happy about it. SO, This year, I’ll ask my daughter to give him as much candy as she can part with! And maybe perhaps a chewing gum and mouthwash for Edward? What do you think?
  
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  1. Rachel
    
    October 30, 2017
    
    I never comment but this is just self absorbed and offensive. The cruel part isn’t that you aren’t letting your kid eat candy once a year, but that you’d consider it good enough to serve as actual sustenance for someone else. If you don’t feel good giving it to your child, why do you consider it kind to give it to Edward?
    
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    1. Gabriela
      
      March 23, 2023
      
      I absolutely agree with this. I don’t feel good about giving this trash to ANYONE, not just my kids. How awful to unload this onto someone of lower means.
      
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5. Andi K
  
  September 27, 2019
  
  I love your non-candy suggestions because we have a peanut allergy in our house. However if you’re gonna hand out candy, just buy whatever works. Ultimately you don’t need to spend a bunch of money to be a single organic treat in their giant bag of crap. I dislike the sugar overload and the fake crud but it is one day a year.
  
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Alechia Hoeltke

October 15, 2016

Great ideas! We’ve done the all natural candy before, but pricey as we give out close to 100 pieces a yr. As for my own children, we choose not to celebrate Halloween for religious reasons, but we aquire an enormous amount of candy from other holidays and parades and festivals. I do not let my children eat it, but we make large gingerbread houses the week before Christmas, grandparents come for the event, and each child uses their candy collection from the year to make their house. They have favorite types they like to use, trade each other and target getting those at events. It makes candy fun again, and not toxic.

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Cas

October 15, 2016

Those honey sticks have artificial colour in them? I thought that was one thing to avoid?

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Boyd

October 14, 2016

Thank you for saying something about the junky Halloween candy!! Not only do I struggle with what we give out, but how to deal with letting my kids tricker treat and getting all that candy! My kids are still young enough where going to ten houses is totally fine with them (But I think our time is numbered with that) and last year we bought the candy from them and they then went to the local toy store and bought a toy. I am starting to wonder how long this trade will last. Do you let your kids tricker treat? Does anyone have other ideas for how to handle all that junk they get? I don’t want to be the mom who does not let her kids tricker treat, but I don’t want them eating all that garbage either.

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1. ConnieSue
  
  October 16, 2016
  
  Do the Switch Witch. Leave the candy for the switch witch- she looooves candy and she’ll leave you a toy if you leave your candy for her! Last year the Switch Witch left a bubble machine for my son. I also buy some better quality candy (Unreal, Justin’s, YummiEarh oragnics, maple candy) to have on hand if my kids did ask for candy. Luckily they are too young to really get it. But if your kids do want candy, maybe they could trade a few pieces in for better quality candy with you. And either leave the rest for the switch witch, or let them donate it. Some dentist offices will pay you for your candy,
  
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  1. Joni
    
    October 24, 2016
    
    There is a page on Facebook called Soldiers Angels. You can donate your candy to the troops. This can be a way for your children to thank the soldiers and feel good about giving.
    
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