Alternatives to candy on Halloween!

If you have children you know how expensive the dental bill can be for your children.  Besides being bad for the teeth, candy is empty calories for their growing bodies.  Cells need nourishment to build tissues to create wellness in the young  organs of our children. Moderation is the key, but when it comes time for Halloween, seems as though many parents forget that word and open up the flood gates to tremendous amounts of sugar to be consumed until the candy is gone.  That could be weeks of ingesting so much more sugar than could ever be considered in moderation.

Some neighborhoods now have collective parties instead of trick and treaters going from house to house. The awful thing is that the children do not get to experience the door to door event. The good idea behind that is now children can celebrate Halloween, get some sweets and be safe too. No longer is the grinch able to spoil the Halloween Party at the school in neighborhoods.  This idea also limits the amounts of sugar laden items a child gets in one day. Still there is more work to do.

May I propose to give other than candy for Halloween? No you don't have to completely omit the sugar, candy and the sweetness of the day, but cut it down to moderation. Yes, there is that word, moderation again for us to think about for our children and others too.

Children are easy to please. They like assortment of goodies and the parents of those children going from door to door would be delighted with something other than the usual  high sugar items, I am sure. Think about:

1.  stickers for notebooks, hands, clothing or to place on their items they admire.

2.  money. It does not have to be much. A quarter or even a dime if you have lots of trick or treaters will make the kids say ,"WOW".

3.  A small book for reading. Comic books are ideal

4.  A new pencil with fantastic colors on it.

5.  A small ball. The dollar store has a bag of 10 for $1, which will be good for 10 children and not break your bank.

6.  Homemade popcorn balls made with low sugar ingredients. Wrap in tin foil to keep them fresh.

7.  Fresh fruit leather made in your kitchen and then put in tin foil for giving on the Halloween day celebration.

8.  Tiny notebooks sold at the dollar store come 5 to a package to give out individually.

I am thinking if we adults put our heads together, we can come up with many things to replace the sugar candy expectations of Halloween forever.