Halloween doesn't have to mean candy

Ok, I am known as one the "cool" moms on the block, the "cute" mom, "hip" mom, and I am also known as the "generous chick" (I was a "chick" before I was a mom lol) with the good candy! I am not about to give up that title, and I do watch my own health, and my daughter's; she is allowed to have a few things on Halloween, and then she is allowed to pick two candies every night after (half the time she doesn't remember!) until it's gone, which is usually Christmas or later, because we only go down two blocks for trick or treating!

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We are handing out individual servings of microwave popcorn. I know it can be salty, but it's healthier than pure sugar!

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Ha! I have a huge witch cauldron that I give my treats out of every year. I'm also well known for cool decorations and treats on Halloween. One year I gave out small bags of goldfish crackers, miniature soda pop cans (I figured the crackers and soda were junk food, but just a bit less sugary than so much candy) and little boxes of raisins. Kids were clearly not thrilled. One little Stormtrooper even looked into the cauldron and said, "No thank you, ma'am." Wasn't he cute and polite even as he ditched my treats? :) We've been back on candy at my house ever since.

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I give candy and a small toy. I love Halloween and I want to keep the kids flooding through our streets. So far my reputation for handing out fun and not healthy treats are in tact. I have found the kids that come by my house like Nerd Ropes. For the babies I have single serving sized bags of fruit puffs.

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I used to be the cool mom, and maybe I will be again if/when my kids outgrow their food allergies. It's too dangerous to keep most of the best candies in our house, so I've been known to give out sorta cruddy treats, this year I'm giving out non-food treats. I guess one disappointing house won't be so bad considering all the places that give out more than one piece of the really good stuff.

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I read an article of older people's Halloween memories of the past last night and they said they were allowed to Trick or Treat the stores downtown. They said that the drug store would give out great candy treats, but required each child to take a spoonful of medicine before they got their treat. The person telling the story said they figured the medicine was laxative! I wonder if the dentis passed out dental floss?

As for me, I'm the boring neighbor lady that's giving out cute pens, pencils and temporary tattoos. Nothing sweet will be passed out at my house.

Jan from http://www.unique-baby-gear-ideas.com/

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I read an article of older people's Halloween memories of the past last night and they said they were allowed to Trick or Treat the stores downtown. They said that the drug store would give out great candy treats, but required each child to take a spoonful of medicine before they got their treat. The person telling the story said they figured the medicine was laxative! I wonder if the dentis passed out dental floss?

As for me, I'm the boring neighbor lady that's giving out cute pens, pencils and temporary tattoos. Nothing sweet will be passed out at my house.

Jan from http://www.unique-baby-gear-ideas.com/

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Last year, I went trick or treating with four kids - aged 2, 3, 4, and 6.

At one house, the woman opened the door, gave candy to the three oldest, and then offered to give a juice box with halloween pictures on it to "the baby" (she'd just turned two the week before).

Oh. My. God.

The other three children clamored over that juice box so much that the woman offered to the rest of them as well. It was *the* hit treat of the evening. Other children passing by asked where they got it!

A friggin' *juice box*. I could NOT believe it.

If they weren't only half a block away from me, that's totally what I'd be giving out this year...!

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How about this? Let the kids have candy one day a year...sheesh.

Why eliminate candy altogether? Or eliminate moments of fun, or even excess (doesn't excess have some celebratory place in our lives)?

I understand where everyone is coming from, but I am ok with candy on that night. You could argue that handing out non-candy items can encourage materialism....everything can be spun a certain way.

The alternative which I like is unicef......at least put that door to door fun to some helpful use.

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Roger we have done play-doh the last two years and it's a huge hit. Even with the teens who turned down candy and asked for the 'doh!

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