I’m not giving up, y’all. I’ve been on a bit of a crusade for the past decade or so to normalize the concept of ‘non-candy’ treats at Halloween.
The response has been, let’s just say… less than robust. Maybe one or two people here and there embraced the idea, but otherwise, it’s been pretty much crickets for any type of feedback.
Last year, though, brought a glimmer of hope. A handful of people – we can safely say more than 10 – shared that not only did they go the non-candy route for Halloween, it was also surprisingly successful.
I’m hopeful that more will join in this year, handing out fun toys and other novelties that encourage kids’ creativity and imagination, essentially, Halloween treats that support a strong mind as well as a healthy body.
Embracing a Healthier Halloween
It’s not about being a Halloween scrooge, by any means. Trust me, even if you and I choose not to hand out sugary treats, kids are still going to get candy everywhere they go for Halloween.
So, they’re excited to get something new, something different than they’ve already received up and down the street.
And it’s not like we’re giving away dental floss and nickels. It’s fun stuff, like Halloween-themed tattoos, stickers, bubbles and glow-in-the-dark vampire teeth and bracelets. We’ve also handed out themed Play-Doh, slime, bouncy balls and more.
Each year we have at least a few kids who ask their parents to come back to our house a second time, occasionally even a third round, collecting a different Halloween-themed treat every time.
We were recently at a restaurant in our neighborhood and a family stopped by our table. The parents said that the two little girls wanted to say hello because we’re “the ones that give out the fun toys at Halloween.” It was such a gratifying, validating interaction.
Balancing Act: Teaching Healthy Attitudes Towards Food
Brittany Craft, registered dietitian who leads strategic growth for our Ochsner Eat Fit team, beautifully balances the mom perspective with a dietitian’s philosophy.
With a three-year-old daughter, Nora, and a husband who each have had their share of food allergies, Brittany has become incredibly skilled at navigating challenging conversations around food, approaching it with balance and neutrality – in everyday life, as well as special occasions like Halloween.
“Halloween can be a stressful time for parents to try to figure out how they want to approach candy in their homes, but I like to see it as an opportunity of how we can model our attitudes toward different foods, making space for balance in our lives and teaching our children how to listen to their bodies and experience some independence with the foods they eat,” said Brittany.
“I’ve wanted to go the non-candy route for the past few years, but it seemed like just one more thing to do, one more stop to make in an already busy schedule,” she said. “Last year, though, Nora’s school asked parents to buy little Halloween themed toys instead of candy – and they actually ended up being cheaper than the bags of candy we typically get. I stocked up for our house as well and was really pleasantly surprised to see how well-received it was by kids of all ages.”
“Speaking from the perspective of a toddler, whenever we do get non-candy treats, those are the ones that we treasure the most. One year, Nora got a rubber duck from one of the houses at Halloween, and that was the one treat that she carried all through the rest of the evening.”
Something for Everyone/The Teal Pumpkin Project
An added bonus is that virtually all festive toys and non-food treats are also automatically allergen friendly.
Events like Halloween can be particularly challenging for those with food allergies; kids can have a tough time enjoying all that trick-or-treating has to offer because of certain food limitations and concerns about cross-contamination.
The Teal Pumpkin Project is specially created for kids with food allergies, encouraging people to provide options that are free of common allergens like peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, wheat and gluten. To participate, simply paint a pumpkin teal (or opt for a reusable, teal-colored metal or plastic pumpkin, available in some retailers) so that trick-or-treaters know you have allergen-free treats.
The Switch Witch
Even if you’re opting to hand out non-candy, it’s almost inevitable that kids will still end up with an entire pumpkin full of candy.
One approach to offset potential candy overload is the concept of the Switch Witch – think of her as something of a Halloween-themed Tooth Fairy.
After trick-or-treating, kids get to pick out a few pieces of their favorite candy, then they leave out the rest for the Switch Witch. In the middle of the night, the Switch Witch takes the candy and leaves a toy in its place. It can be whatever is age-appropriate – a small trinket-y toy, or something more significant – that’s up to the Switch Witch (and parents).
Similarly, what the Switch Witch does with the candy is up to him or her. They might donate it to organizations such as pediatric hospitals, churches and youth groups, or may choose to discard it another way. Regardless, the candy is gone, replaced with a little gift.
Dishing Out Healthful Halloween Handouts
Consider joining me this Halloween in offering creative trick-or-treat alternatives that support our children’s whole-body wellbeing. Whether it’s through providing allergy-friendly options marked by a teal pumpkin or swapping candy for fun toys and creative activities, every small step gets us closer to a healthier Halloween celebration.
