Alternative Halloween Hand-Outs for Trick-or-Treaters
Here are some great alternative treats to hand out during Halloween this year other than candies loaded with sugar. The kids will still like your treats without thinking they were tricked… and the parents will love not having wired kids all night!
Consider these hand-out ideas instead of sugary candy:
· small bags of nuts or raisins
· small toys or bouncy balls
· miniature children’s books
· temporary tattoos or funny stickers
· Halloween-themed Crossword Puzzle or Word Find sheets
· fun jewelry
· small school supplies
· colorful or wacky masks
· glow-in-the-dark sticks or necklaces
· rubber wristbands or bracelets
Reach out to your neighbors before Halloween night.
Start a discussion with other families about initiating a candy-free street featuring only healthy snacks or alternative treats.
You may suggest the adults pitch in and purchase a wide assortment of small toys and fun gadgets for the kids at a bulk rate to save on expenses. Then split the items up between households to hand out.
You may want to get together for an “Adult Night” with a few neighbors to fill small bags with assorted nuts and raisins. Someone else could watch the kids that evening, and the adult host could serve some appetizers for the “baggers”.
It would be a great opportunity to get together with neighbors and have a little healthy fun before the hustle and bustle of the holidays!
Will your kids come back home with a bag full of candy on Halloween night?
This is a great time to show them the importance of limiting their sugar intake by de-normalizing candy. Here are some ways to present this to them:
· Let them choose a few select “favorite” treats and throw the rest away.
· Let them choose two treats and donate the rest to your local church so other disadvantaged kids will get something as well. Let them know they are sharing with other less fortunate kids.
· Have a few items of interest already on hand to present to them in exchange for the candy. It could be a book or toy they have been wanting and willing to trade their candy for.
We must all do our part to teach our children the dangers of excessive sugar in our diets. If they learn at a young age when they are most impressionable, they are much more likely to develop healthy eating habits.
I hope these tips and ideas may be useful for you in creating a healthier Halloween in your neighborhood as well as your household!