Alternatives to Halloween Candy
- Rating:
5 after 4 votes
candy your child will be bringing home this Halloween. Candy not only has very little nutritional value, it is bad for your teeth band can cause nasty tummy aches when eaten in excess. If you’re looking for something different to hand out to trick-or-treaters this year, here are some alternative ideas.
Nabisco has 100 calorie pack individual packages that trick-or-treaters will find enjoyable to their palates. Teddy Grahams and chocolate covered pretzels are my two favorites, but they have a whole line to choose from.
Individual packages of nuts or trail mixes are nutritionally beneficial to your ghosts and goblins. They not only taste good are good for you.
Microwave popcorn packages are a great option. You can buy them in many different flavors, but if you’re looking for healthier alternatives skip the extra or movie butter kind.
Nabisco Handi-Snack offers a variety of healthy choices. A few examples that I particularly like are:
Breadsticks and cheese
Cheese dunk ‘ems
Ritz cheese and crackers
These individual packages are a tasty choice. Fairly inexpensive, they are a great fit for children.
While not quite as healthy as some of the other options above, many restaurants, such as McDonald’s & Wendy’s, sell coupon certificates or books you can substitute with. You can purchase gift certificates for your trick-or-treaters and by using your Arch card and following some simple guidelines at the McDonald’s website you can not only give a non candy gift, you can also earn college rewards.
Non-Edible Gifts
If you visit a dollar store or a store that sells children’s books inexpensively, you can find non-edible gifts too. Items such as coloring books, crayons or audio books and more are great alternatives to sugar laden candy. Not only is this a healthier choice, it is educational as well. Some people even shop throughout the year to help spread the cost out.
A visit to your local dentist may be just what the doctor orders this Halloween. He may be able and willing to give you toothbrushes and toothpaste samples at a reduced rate to hand out to children. If you wanted you could even hand out sugarless gum.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Wendi Barker on -
For two years now, we have had some candy, and some non-food items like the mini-play-doh we picked up at Costco (50ish containers for $10 I think) - We had some left, and they are still good, so will re-use them again this year as some of the kids LOVED them! :)
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Permalink Reply by Lesley P on -
Ok -- I don't think too many people will agree - but to me, Halloween trick or treating is about candy.
Halloween parties are all about costumes and games, but the trick or treating is candy.
We can't send candy to school, so let these kids get candy when they are out on Oct.31.
I love the little "play dough" cans - but they are expensive, & if too many people give these out, the kids won't be woopin' it up when they dump out the candy stash.
I try to have a choice of candy & let the kids pick what they prefer, and I NEVER give out peanut snacks.
We "re-gift" the candy that our family doesn't eat -- gum, weird chip flavours, and anything no-name or unwrapped is tossed immediately.
Happy Halloween !
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Permalink Reply by Laura Rucker on -
I say let the kids trick-or-treat and collect all they can. Then when they aren't looking, rummage through the bowl and throw out one or two pieces a day. They won't know! Or eat it yourself! HAHAHAHAHA!!! Better yet, give it away in small amounts or take some to work.
Seriously, a little candy won't hurt them and it'll ruin their holiday if it's all healthy stuff. It's not like they trick-or-treat the rest of their lives anyway.
Just my two cents. :)
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Permalink Reply by Tee Crawford on -
I say let em have the candy. It's only one day a year. When my kids were younger I never let em eat
it all in one sitting. I'd tell em save some for the next day and for a treat for their class mates. Maybe
someone didn't go Trick'O'Treating this year and they won't miss out on the fun.
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Permalink Reply by Fantasy Sports Widow on -
Every Halloween we are visited by "The Halloween Fairy". My girls hang their candy bags on their doorknobs and in the morning it is replaced with a small gift. Nothing major - under $5. They look forward to it every year.
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Permalink Reply by Laura K on -
I agree with you Lesley! It is one day of candy and it's a really fun day at that! After reading everyones responses I will now offer trick or treaters more choices. Thank you everyone for the suggestions for healthier "treats" and non candy items too. Good information! I also never offer anything with nuts. Why take the chance? We donate our extra candy but I will organize that right after the 31st this year because I'm the one who ends up dipping into the kids bags. No will power. lol Happy Halloween!
Lesley P said:Ok -- I don't think too many people will agree - but to me, Halloween trick or treating is about candy.
Halloween parties are all about costumes and games, but the trick or treating is candy.
We can't send candy to school, so let these kids get candy when they are out on Oct.31.
I love the little "play dough" cans - but they are expensive, & if too many people give these out, the kids won't be woopin' it up when they dump out the candy stash.
I try to have a choice of candy & let the kids pick what they prefer, and I NEVER give out peanut snacks.
We "re-gift" the candy that our family doesn't eat -- gum, weird chip flavours, and anything no-name or unwrapped is tossed immediately.
Happy Halloween !
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Permalink Reply by Midwest Mom on -
We always put a mixture of candy and -- believe it or not -- school supplies in our halloween bowl. I am always amazed that kids will come to the door and say, "Cool! Halloween pencils!" The non-candy items make our house unique. We also offer glow sticks, purchased earlier in the year in large packs. The kids break and light them before they even leave the front porch.
Of course, there are those kids who are in it for the candy. But for me, the key is offering a choice. It may surprise you how often a child will choose the healthier option.
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Permalink Reply by Kathleen Hogg on -
Being a kid is supposed to be FUN!!! It is Halloween, for the love of Pete. The kids don't care about eating the candy, they care about collecting it. My kids have a very good diet. They are not allowed KD, they never even tasted white bread in our home. They know: they eat what we eat, have thier fruit and then if they finish all of that they get dessert, every night. The alternative foods you mentioned are filled with additives, dye and chemicals.
When it comes to sweets there are some holidays that are to be candy rich. Halloween, Christmas, Easter & Valentines Day.
Because my kids know how to eat healthy, they do not gorge themselves when they get treats. Many times, my kids will not finish dessert because they are full and they know how to control themselves. Usually when asked what they want for snack, it is an apple, pear, whole grain pretzels etc.
For Halloween, they are allowed a piece after dinner and after a week or two they forget about it.
All the stuff from the Dollar Store is fun, but I am always clearing that stuff out b/c they never use it and it takes up space and quite frankly land fill.
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Permalink Reply by Beth Ann Bentley on -
Craisins are now being offered in 100 calorie sealed packs and are available at Costco. They are a pretty good deal. Pencils bought in bulk from Oriental Trading are good too. And they are sugar free. If you can get the glow sticks cheaply they are a fun give away as well.
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Permalink Reply by Jill on -
No CammyJo, you're not! My kids know those mini Mounds belong to me-me-me! I think Halloween is for the kids so they can bring a little chocolate into their parents' lives.
CammyJo said:I feel like a really bad mama with all your healthy suggestions. Am I the only one who digs through the bags to find the chocolate for herself? I thought Halloween was for the parents...you know, the one night the kids go foraging for food at the neighbors houses and bring it home for the family. ie - Mama. LOL
Seriously though, I must say my children are a bit older than some of yours. I've found it funny that they seem to always have candy left in their bags months after the big feast. We have always had the rule they had to ask before they ate. If they didn't, it all got trashed ('cept the good stuff. That went in mama's bag) :-)
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Permalink Reply by Rachele on -
This is totally me. I tell the kids every year that it's their time to give back and go collect candy for Daddy and I, lol.
Seriously though, I don't prohibit my kids from having candy (they're 6 and 3). I think everything in moderation is fine. We are always getting rid of Halloween candy just as Easter rolls around and then the "drawer" gets filled back up.
I enjoy chocolate and do not want to deny my children this fun time of year by making restrictions. I do like the idea of having a party for them and friends when they get a little older. We also like to hand out snacks that are a little healthier, but would not expect (or want) everyone else to do the same.
CammyJo said:I feel like a really bad mama with all your healthy suggestions. Am I the only one who digs through the bags to find the chocolate for herself? I thought Halloween was for the parents...you know, the one night the kids go foraging for food at the neighbors houses and bring it home for the family. ie - Mama. LOL
Seriously though, I must say my children are a bit older than some of yours. I've found it funny that they seem to always have candy left in their bags months after the big feast. We have always had the rule they had to ask before they ate. If they didn't, it all got trashed ('cept the good stuff. That went in mama's bag) :-)
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Permalink Reply by Christena Holden on -
Man, some really good ideas here. My biggest problem is not spending too much money on candy, as we get a ton of kids on our street (people from out of town, come to our street, because it's mostly townhouses). Last year there had to be around 300 or more kids on our street. I like the idea of getting stuff from the dollar store, and it turns out they have candy there now too (for $2, for 150+candies).
Thanks for the ideas, keep them coming!
Christena
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