Beyond Candy: Alternative Halloween Treats and Favors

As much as my kids love it, leftover candy is something I dread. Candy loads children up with processed sugar, which suppresses their immune systems and promotes cavities in their teeth. It is also a temptation for me to eat. So as a parent, grandparent, aunts, uncle, or friendly neighbor down the street, people might want to consider healthier alternatives to candy this season. In our case, no matter how many (or few) revelers come to our door, we will be well-supplied with wholesome treats as opposed to sugary Halloween candy.

I have double the opportunity to ponder healthier options to hand out to kids since I have a daughter whose birthday falls close to Halloween. For her birthday party, we made a pinata and then had to decide what to put inside. The remainders we can use for Halloween treats. Here's what we put into the mix:

1. bouncy balls (for either gender)
2. stretchy frogs (for either gender, but my daughter loved these)
3. lip gloss rings (for girls)
4. fruit snacks (which at least have some fruit juice and vitamin C)
5. hair clips (for girls)
6. party blowouts (which were very popular)
7. Crayola markers (another top pick)
8. fruity Toostie rolls (I caved and bought one bag, reserving some for the next holiday)

Doing some thrifty shopping, favors for 12 children only cost about $12. Miniature bottles of bubbles would make nice additions to the halloween mix. Noise-makers, bracelets, or other small trinkets from a party supply store or the local Wal-mart are good choices as well.

Besides recycling party favors for treats and stocking stuffers, we like to buy dual-purpose snacks that can be eaten for lunch later. Veering away from the candy aisle, I checked out individually packaged treats that could go in a child's lunch box-chips, cookies, fish crackers-to give. The advantage to lunch snacks is that I can stock up and not worry if we have some leftovers. Remainders can go into the lunch box in the following weeks. Or we can give them to a food pantry that would benefit from some generosity. Even if we do buy some candy, the lunch snacks are a nice backup supply to have just in case an unexpected throng of visitors appears at our door.

Art supplies are another creative option for giving. At my daughter's birthday, markers for coloring were one of the most sought-after favors. Other ideas are ink stamps, glitter glue, or whatever other fun packets available in the stationery aisle.

Thinking outside the sugar and corn syrup box, having plenty of alternatives to Halloween candy means we don't have to risk running out of treats. When we set out to spread cheer to little ones this Halloween, we can feel even better about giving creative non-candy treats that everyone will appreciate.