Fun Alternatives To Halloween Candy and What To Do With Leftover Halloween Candy

Sometimes even the most fun-loving parent can't help but cringe when the kids dump all of their collected Halloween candy on the living room floor. Unfortunately, candy is no longer limited to evening trick or treating. Well meaning teachers, bus drivers, cashiers, and even coaches sometimes give out candy. Although some experts claim that children's behavior is not affected by excess sugar, any parent or teacher who has witnessed a roomful of kids jazzed up on sweets would certainly disagree.

No one can argue that candy is nutritionally void and full of sugar that can contribute to obesity and tooth decay.

According to the U.S.D.A. Agricultural Research Service, some kids already consume an average of 21 to 23 teaspoons of sugar a day. And the U.S. Centers for Disease Control say that at least 15% of children today are overweight.

Luckily, there are fun alternatives you can give out in lieu of candy that will be loved just as much by kids and loathed much less by parents. There are also safe, politically correct ways to purge your kids' excess candy, put it to better use, and safe your kids' teeth and waste line:

Alternatives To Candy:

1. Tiny bottles of bubbles that come in a case at the dollar store.

2. Kid-sized water bottles -- trick or treaters get thirsty and the water will help keep the sugar from sticking to their teeth.

3. Tailgating-type treats. Buy bulk hot dogs and grill them in the front yard. All of your neighbors can stop by to grab a snack and visit with one another while the children play. Everyone can socialize and take a break from trick or treating for candy.

4. Pennies. Many kids will chose money (even pennies wrapped in orange cellophane) over yet another piece of candy. (Not an option for small children who could choke on small objects).

5. Glow in the dark bracelets. These are popular with kids and make them more easily seen.

How To Rid Your Home Of Excess Candy:

6. Immediately recycle it. Have your kids quickly pick out their favorite few handfuls of candy. Send items still tightly packaged and sealed right back out the door to the next batch of trick or treaters.

7. Package up candy along with other packaged food items and create a care package for soldiers oversees that weren't able to celebrate a traditional Halloween this year.

8. Save many varieties of candy for a Thanksgiving day piñata or save hard candy for Christmas gingerbread houses, wreaths and ornaments.

9. Save a few handfuls of candy for a rain or snow day scavenger hunt.

10. Offer to buy it ($5 for the whole bag) or trade it for a small toy your child wants.

5 Tips For Staying Safe While Trick Or Treating This Halloween

Halloween is fast becoming one of the most popular holidays of the year. Trick or treating is the icing on the Halloween cake. What’s not to love - free candy, fun costumes and being with family and friends? But, it’s important not to let the excitement of the holiday overshadow the need for being diligent to keep kids safe while trick or treating. Here are tips to stay safe while trick or treating this Halloween:

1. Make Sure Your Child Can See And Be Seen Clearly: Masks, hats and wigs can sometimes obscure your child’s vision, making him vulnerable to tripping over things on a dark Halloween night or worse being unable to judge distance of oncoming cars as he tries to cross the street. Take a look at your child’s costume to evaluate how well he can see. If need be, enlarge mask eye holes with scissors or tighten hats or wigs that are falling into your child’s face. Stick bright reflective tape on your child’s trick or treat bag or have your child wear a neon necklace so your child can be easily seen in the dark.

2. Make Sure Your Child’s Costume Is Flame Resistant: If you are making the costume yourself, use flame resistant materials. If you are buying your child’s costume, make sure the label specifically says “made with flame resistant materials.” This is because candles and jack lanterns bearing candles are rampant on Halloween. Many child’s costumes are long and flowing both at arm and foot level. It’s very easy for even a careful child to come in contact with a candle’s flame.

3. Accompany Your Child At All Times: It is very common for rushed children to run ahead of parents in the excitement of trick or treating. Children have a hard enough time safely crossing the street on a bright sunny day because of their size, their inability to accurately judge distance and speed, and their age or developmental level, but this process is much harder in the dark of Halloween night, when kids are running between parked cards and trying to quickly get from one home to another. Make sure your child understands running ahead of you is dangerous and unacceptable.

4. Make Sure Children Understand Not To Consume Anything Until You Inspect It: Although tampered-with candy is rare, make sure your child understands that he can not put anything in his mouth until you check it at home. You need to be able to inspect items in a well-lit area to make sure the items are wrapped, sealed and fresh. Also, some homes give out specialty items like stickers, erasers, and coins, so it’s important that small children do not mistake these items for candy and pop them into their mouths.

5. Never Approach A Home That Is Not Fully Lit Or Enter A Stranger’s Home: Not everyone welcomes trick or treaters. The universal signal of a trick or treating participant is turning on a porch light or standing outside to distribute candy. Never allow your child to approach a home that doesn’t meet this criteria. Make sure children understand they should NEVER enter the home of a stranger - no matter how good the candy or how enticing the promise.

Trick or Treating is one of the most anticipated activities of the year. Make sure your child has the good time he has anticipated by keeping him safe so you will both have fun memories to savor.

How To Limit The Onslaught Of Halloween Sugar And Candy

FOCUS ON ATTRACTIVE, HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES: Parents can make a conscious and yearly effort to create alternative Halloween traditions that place the focus on activity, not on treats - i.e hosting your own Halloween costume or craft party, coordinating a scavenger hunt (with toys, not candy, for prizes), participating in many of the candy-free harvest carnivals offered by churches and community centers, or spinning spooky tunes in the front yard to entertain passing neighbors.

A recent Halloween study found that children between three and fourteen were just as likely to chose toys as candy when offered both. So don’t sweat offering alternatives to gooey goodies. Non-food Halloween items like pencils, stickers, and temporary tattoos are great alternatives. You can also chose healthier foods for trick or treaters like individual packages of graham crackers, mini boxes of raisins, or sugar free gum.

LIMIT THE DAMAGE: No matter how conscious you are about how you spend Halloween, it’s inevitable that your child will probably be exposed to candy. You’ll just need a plan to dispose of any excess. Some parents have success with allowing a few small pieces a day until most of the candy is gone or the kids lose interest. You can also offer to trade most of the candy for a bigger, more desirable prize, like a coveted Barbie doll or action figure. Even offering $5 for all but a few handfuls of candy is cheaper than a filling and less painful than a toothache. Dentists suggests letting children eat candy after a meal because the body will produce more saliva to help neutralize acids that can attach to tiny teeth. The worst time to eat candy is right before bed. Have kids rinse out their mouths and brush thoroughly after a candy feast, no matter what time of the day. What do dentists consider the worst candies for teeth? Anything that sticks to the teeth and stays there -- things like dots, gummy bears, suckers and hard candies. The best choices for “oral clearance” (spends the less time clinging to teeth) is chocolate because it melts quickly.

PURGE THE EXCESS: Once you’ve convinced your child to give up the extra candy, get it out reach so it’s not longer a lingering temptation. Freeze some chocolate bars to melt for s’mores, brownies, or fondue on future winter days. Consider cutting up the rest to use as chocolate chips for baked goods you can make with your kids to give to senior citizen centers, military personnel, or any one special to your heart. Packaging up homemade cookies for the school crossing guard can make your child feel good about giving to others and take the focus off the candy.

USE HALLOWEEN TO TEACH SMART CHOICES, BUT DON’T DWELL: Halloween is a great time to talk to your children about the importance of making good nutritional choices, but you may not want to portray that message as one of overwhelming sacrifice. Once you’ve come up with a workable game plan that allows every one a little indulgence, explain the limits, but don’t dwell on them. You can’t raise a child and take away everything that is fun. The key is moderation and parental involvement. So offer your little spider-man or princess a slew of fun alternatives not focused solely on candy, but when they savor their hauls, know that treats in moderation are part of the thrill. Then help them learn to make good choices and figure out a useful way to share the extras.