Five Better Options for Halloween Treats

When you want to be the house to go to on Halloween night but want to hand out healthy treats there can be some doubt and complications. You do not want to add to the sugar the kids will undoubtedly eating, but apples and freshly baked treats are often thrown out because of safety concerns. So what is a health conscious but cool adult to do? Here are five great trick or treat options that will leave you guilt free and the costumed collectors, as well as their parents, happy.

You could skip the edibles all together and give out a small toy or item. Some suggestions are mini pots of play dough, stickers, bouncy balls, bubbles, coloring books and crayons, or other small toys. Thankfully this is not as expensive as it my sound. A trip to your local dollar store or purchase from a web site such as Oriental Trading make this option affordable. The best bet might be buying some of each and offering a choice. Some parents walking with their children might want to opt out of the sticker choice, and older children will not always be pleased with stickers or coloring books.

Pretzels or Pepperidge Farms Goldfish are a huge favorite at snack time in my house. Every child that I have met, from toddler to college student, loves these snacks. I love them too. Healthier than candy, and still likely to be eaten. While it might not label your house as the coolest on the block, the choice will not lose you points either. The only danger with this option is the rise in children with allergies to gluten and casein.

Fruit, and I do not mean whole apples. One hundred percent fruit snacks, juice boxes, fruit cups or pre packaged sliced fruit are all options. Motts, and possibly other companies, sell apples ad oranges that are pre sliced and packaged in single serving sizes. If you have a lot of trick or treaters then the sliced fruit might get a little expensive, but juice boxes and fruit snack are both inexpensive. This option is not going to go over as well with the older crowd, but the youngest and their parents will be thrilled.

Dark chocolate might not seem like a healthy alternative, but if you really want to give some form of candy then this is a great choice. Dark chocolate is high in antioxidants and some individuals with chocolate allergies can still enjoy dark chocolate without reactions. Several members of my family are allergic to chocolate but find they can still eat moderate amount of dark chocolate without any consequence. The darker the chocolate the higher in antioxidants, and better it tastes as far as I am concerned.

Smarties and other lesser evils. There are candy options that are less bad for you than others. If you fear the toilet paper or other pranks, and do not want not think the four previous options will keep them at bay then simply hand out the lesser of evils. Smarties are only 25 calories per roll, candy corn is 110 calories per one-ounce package, and mini peppermint patties are 50 calories and mini tootsie rolls are about 25 calories each. Therefore, you can have some treats, and the children can to.

I am a fan of handing out a little chocolate and a temporary tattoo or small toy to each child that knocks on my door Halloween night. I do not think a little candy is a bad thing, like all things we need to use moderation and teach our children to do the same. A little splurging for the holidays is fun, but being the house that makes it a little easier to keep the sugar rush under control is not a bad thing.