3Halloween night ushers in a plethora of chocolaty, gooey, sticky and calorie-laden sweets. You'll find candy wrappers under beds for weeks. And then there are the abandoned sucker sticks, clinging to carpet fibers until you have to cut them out. Don't forget the nights of bellyaches from a child who ate a few too many lollipops, followed by a trip to the dentist because of new toothaches. Is there such a thing as a candy-free Halloween? With a little brainstorming and creativity, your family can have a fun and healthy Halloween--without the sugary side effects.Healthy treats
Special toysJeffrey Collingwood
- Offer to have a costume party for your children and their friends, instead of the traditional trick-or-treating. Children can play Halloween games, such as bobbing for apples or musical chairs to spooky music. Healthy refreshments might include air-popped popcorn, raw nuts, dried fruits, a fruit and vegetable tray, and healthy crackers.Turn in candy for dollars. Many dentists and businesses offer money to kids who turn in their candy after Halloween. Usually, businesses will offer a dollar amount per pound of candy. So, if your children still really want the trick-or-treating experience, let them trade their stash for cash.Organize specialized trick-or-treating. Buy special toys or healthy treats for your children and give them out to a few of your nearby friends and family members. As you take your kids trick-or-treating, they can receive the special toys and treats. You can get creative here. Maybe you can go to homes where you have planted "clues" leading up to a big surprise at the last house.Let your children run a Halloween spook alley. Help your children set up a spook alley in your yard. When children come trick-or-treating to your house, let your children take them through your homemade spook alley.Have a family night in. Pick out a bunch of scary and not-so-scary movies, get healthy treats, play games and enjoy some family bonding time.
