Green Treats for Halloween Trick-or-Treaters

Handing out candy to the neighborhood trick-or-treaters is one of the highlights of Halloween. However, if you and your family are trying to live a more organic and environmentally sound lifestyle, finding all-natural treats to use as Halloween hand outs can be somewhat of a challenge. It's not impossible though; with a little creativity and research, you can find the perfect eco-friendly treats for all the little ghosts and goblins that knock on your door. Here are five suggestions:

1. Halloween Candy from Natural Candy Store: Natural Candy Store.com offers a wide variety of Halloween candy choices without the preservatives; artificial flavorings, sweeteners and dyes; or hydrogenated oils. All the holiday candy comes individually wrapped, and most pieces feature popular Halloween themes like Jack-o-Lanterns, ghosts, and bats. This store even offers organic versions of classic Halloween treats such as popcorn balls and licorice.

2. Trick-or-Treat Chocolates from Sweet Earth Chocolates: Sweet Earth Chocolates offers guaranteed fair-trade organic Halloween chocolate options that are produced in a manner that does no social harm. Their products support small growers instead of the typical large plantations. Additionally, no petroleum-based agricultural chemicals are used for their cocoa beans, so the chocolate they sell is good for both the environment and the people.

3. Fair Trade Trick-or-Treat Action Kit by the Global Exchange Store: If you'd like to use this Halloween to not only share joy in candy form, but to also spread education about buying fair-trade, this is an excellent option. The kit allows you to make small trick-or-treat favors featuring a piece of organic dark chocolate and tiny informative post cards. You'll also receive traditional papel picado Mexican party streamers, a Thai eco-friendly mulberry treat bag, and a "Fair Trade is BOO-tiful" poster so you can decorate organically as well.

4. Chocolaty Cherry Granola Bars from Bear Naked: Depending on the brand, granola bars can make organic and healthy Halloween treats, but they are often forgotten in the rush to get candy. Children do enjoy granola bars, especially if they feature fruity and chocolaty flavors, and these bars by Bear Naked offer a great blend. A peep at the nutritional information on the Bear Naked website reveals all-natural ingredients, and since they're individually wrapped, these granola bars make an excellent trick-or-treat option.

5. Wildlife Pencils from O'Bon: Not all treats are edible. O'Bon's beautiful Wildlife Pencils feature 10 animal-based designs per box that spread the message "protect wildlife." As important as that sentiment is, however, it's not the coolest thing about these pencils. These pencils do more than just tell people to protect wildlife; since their barrels are made from 100% recycled newspaper, they're actually helping to preserve forests. They write beautifully, look wild and kids will love them.

You don't have to be wasteful to have fun on Halloween. You can easily enjoy the holiday with these yummy, unique and environmentally friendly treats.