Experience Tested Alternatives to Candy on Halloween

The moon glowed blue on the silent neighborhood. The wind picked up and rustled and sped around corners. All over town, strange creatures awoke and began to prowl...oh wait, they are just kids on Halloween. Halloween is a favorite holiday at our house. Deliciously spooky and fun, decorations are brought out, pumpkins glow and costumes are discussed weeks ahead. Then, the excitement winds down after trick or treating and parents start the dreaded candy negotiations. How many treats will be left in the custody of the little goblins before the balance is put away? I have had to hide away pillowcases full of sticky, chocolate treats. It is always a pleasant surprise when fun, non candy items are mixed in with the loot. Here are some favorite cavity preventing alternatives.

1) Put single serving containers of pudding or Jello with a Halloween themed plastic spoon in cellophane treat bag. Buy the kind that doesn't need refrigeration.

2) If you are feeling creative you can make ghoulish hands. Buy some clear disposable gloves (the kind without powder) and put trail mix in the fingers and small packages of nuts or raisins in the hand part. Tie with an orange or black twist tie and pop a plastic spider ring on the finger.

3) Go to the dollar store and buy the dollar flashlights along with the inexpensive batteries. They can carry them for safety while trick or treating and kids love to play with them.

4) Pick up some of those inexpensive lightweight balsa planes that come in a flat package. They can be assembled at a later time for healthy outdoor play.

5) Go to the dollar store and purchase an assortment of coloring books, crayons, small cars, jacks, yo-yo's and the like. Put them in paper treat bags and arrange in a basket. Let each child pick a surprise.

6) Give packets of instant hot chocolate in small plastic Halloween themed cups or containers. Include some plastic bugs or bats to spice the cocoa. Include and orange or black disposable spoon.

7) One year we gave out glow sticks and glow necklaces. These are always lots of fun after dark and we knew they were a hit when we looked down the street and saw all the glowing monsters. These can be purchased inexpensively in bulk.

You can try some of these alternatives this year and perhaps start a tradition of handing out healthier non-candy treats.