Cutting Down Halloween-Candy Intake: Healthy Trick-or-Treat Alternatives

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Halloween is one of the big-three candy holidays. Only Christmas and Easter come close to the amount of candy given to and consumed by children on Halloween. For children with food allergies, food sensitivities or families that don't like to eat a lot of unhealthy food, this can be an especially trying holiday. Learn how to cut out or at least decrease the amount of candy in your household this Halloween.

Trade Halloween Candy

Most people would not want to forbid their children from celebrating Halloween. School parties and trick or treating are part of the fun and excitement. Often, Halloween candy starts rolling into homes days, or even weeks, before the actual day of Halloween. By the end of trick or treating, many children have mounds of high sugar, additive packed candy.

Consider trading all or most of the candy for a coveted toy or game. If your child doesn't have any food allergies or food sensitivities, you can let him keep a certain amount of his favorite candies. But, trade the majority for a toy. A child with food allergies or sensitivities may have to trade all the candy he received. Talk to your child ahead of time if you are planning to make a trade. You can pick the toy out together before and hold it until after trick-or-treating is completed.

Host a Halloween Party

Instead of trick-or-treating, consider hosting a candy-free Halloween party. Focus on fun and spooky games. Have a costume contest and a haunted house. Give prizes and favors other than candy, such as Halloween themed books and toys.

Give Treats other than Candy

It would be unfair to hand out candy to trick or treating children while denying your own children their candy. Instead of handing out candy, opt for small, inexpensive toys. The Oriental Trading Company carries many toys at reasonable prices. You may even end up spending less than you would on bags of candy. Order early for the best selection and to be sure you get your goodies in the mail on time.

Dealing with School Parties

 
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what a good idea . my daughter was so happy to hear that she is going to get some candy because she loves it. It makes me happy to that emma enjoying her life. Children have to have some treets and everyone noes that
great thing to do 1! :) ;) Lovely
Great ideas!
Carol, while I admire your desire to reduce children's excess consumption of sugar, denying them candy is the surefire way to make them want it.
Great ideas!
Great article!
I like your idea of a candy-free party.
Great article.
Feel free to send me your kid's candy. I'm here to help.
Very good ideas. Our son is still young enough that we don't give him any candy, but as he gets older we plan to have a system for allowing him to pick out one piece a day from his trick or treat booty for a few weeks then we'll pitch or donate the rest!
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