Top 5 Healthy Halloween Candy Alternatives

1. Fruit
Now don't go and cut up some carrots and start chunking carrot sticks into kid's Halloween pails. There are lots of healthy and safe ways to hand out fruit. Fruit roll ups can be a healthier alternative to sweet candies. Some brands are chalk full of sugars and additives, so be sure to check the nutritional value of these snacks before you buy them. Find brands with high natural fruit contents and no artificial flavors/colors. Stretch Island (www.stretchislandfruit.com) offers healthy fruit snacks in a variety of flavors with no added preservatives. You can also hand out sealed fruit cups or all natural fruit gummy snacks. Mini packs of dried fruit is also a great healthy alternative.

2. Granola Bars
Granola bars are a healthy alternative to candy and they taste great, too. Be sure to find granola bars with whole grains and all natural ingredients. Many granola brands have just as much sugar as other snacks, so check the nutritional panel carefully. Kashi (www.kashi.com)offers a wide variety of all natural, whole grain granola bars in different flavors.

3. Juice Boxes
What kids don't love drinking juice? You can buy bulk mini juice boxes to pass out to your eager trick-or-treaters this year and save them from cavities. Adam & Eve Frutables (www.adamandeve.com) juices have no added sugars and are a great combination of both fruit and veggies so kids can get their daily servings of both. This is definitely a better alternative from Kool-Aid or Capri-Sun.

4. Low-Fat Pudding Cups
Low fat pudding cups are a great way for kids to stay healthier and get their calcium. Many kids don't get enough dairy products in their diet and this is a great way for them to get those essential vitamins. Swiss Miss Low Fat Chocolate Pudding cups are a great choice (www.conagrafoods.com). You can also get flavors in vanilla or butterscotch.

5. Pretzels
You can purchase bulk mini bags of pretzels at your local Sam's Club or Costco to pass out as healthy alternative Halloween snacks. Pretzels are crunchy and tasty and will be a welcome change from the kid's sugar rush. Rold Gold (www.taquitos.com) offers a wide variety of shapes and flavors.

Hopefully this list will give a good idea of the different alternatives out there. You can also pass out fun toys and games that kids will enjoy like mini play-doh, bubble bottles, and stickers. Also, you can also pass out toothbrushes to teach kids about good hygiene! The possibilities are endless, but be sure to be 100% positive that the items you pass out are child safe and not dangerous.