Healthy Halloween Non Food Treats for Children
Healthier Non Candy Options for Kids and Halloween School Parties
Oct 24, 2008
Many health conscious parents find the old Halloween tradition of Trick or Treating for candy to be a nutritional nightmare.
Finding a way to reconcile the differences between making sure that children eat healthy food and have a chance to participate in the long standing Halloween traditions can be quite a challenge.
One way to handle this challenge is to decide to pass out non food treasures or non candy treats for Halloween. Parents can also make sure that most of the items for Halloween parties to be non food and non candy treats. These guidelines go along with many school wellness committees policies to encourage healthier school parties.
Here is a list of suggestions of healthy Halloween non food treats that are great alternatives to the traditional Halloween candy. These Halloween treats can be passed out to Trick or Treaters or used as healthy Halloween treats for school parties. These alternative treats are great ways to let children have a healthier Halloween.
13 Healthy Non Food Halloween Treats or Treasures
- Plastic Insects, Ghosts, Animals or Skeletons - There are many different options from the creepy crawly insects and spiders to ghosts or skeletons.
- Stickers - Pick from Halloween or other themes.
- Plastic Teeth/Fangs - These fake vampire teeth are usually good for several hours of spooky fun.
- Pens or Pencils - Pick from Halloween or other themes.
- Hair barrettes, ribbons or hair rubber bands for girls, Hot Wheels or Matchbox cars for boys
- Halloween Jewelry, Bracelet or Rings - There are many glow in the dark bracelets available.
- Temporary Tattoos - Pick from Halloween or other themes.
- Plastic Halloween Cups - Cups are particularly good for school parties. Once the party is over the children can take home their cup as a souvenir from the party. Be sure to put names on the bottom of the cups.
- Coloring book and crayons- Pick from Halloween or other themes.
- Shoe laces - Pick from Halloween or other themes.
- Non-profit bracelet e.g. Livestrong, One Campaign - Pick a favorite non-profit to support and pass out their bracelets.
- Sugar-free chewing gum - A good option especially if the gum brand has been approved by the American Dental Association.
- Toothbrushes, disposable or single use toothbrush and colored or decorated disposable dental flossers - Parents will especially appreciate having toothbrushes handy to help get rid of all the sticky candy.
Downside to Healthy Halloween Non Candy Treats or Treasures - The Expense
The greatest downside to choosing healthy non food Halloween treats is often the expense. One way to help save money and benefit children at Halloween is to decide to hand out one treat or treasure from a selection of several. Let the children choose their treat. The children will have fun picking out their treasure and enjoy it even more.
Coping with Halloween Treats - Everything in Moderation
At Halloween it is most important to remember that it is everything in moderation. A large body of research is showing that if a parent restricts a food, children just want it more. Dana Wu Wassmer, a nutritionist from Cosumnes River College. has two ways of helping parents cope with Halloween Candy. The first is the "Switch Witch," a tradition developed by her sister. The second is to have a "Candy Basket" in the home. Both of these methods are additional ways for health conscious parents to resolve the Halloween Candy issue.
The "Switch Witch" visits on Halloween to check out the bag of sweets. After the child has had a chance to go through the candy bag and save a few favorite treats, the switch witch switches the remaining bag of sweets for a gift, usually a toy. This tradition allows younger children to participate in trick or treating tradition while not ending up with all of the candy treats.
The "Candy Basket" is a tradition at Dana Wu Wassmer's house. After all of the candy has been inspected, it gets dumped into a candy basket. She also includes candy from other sources. The candy basket is out in the open and her children can select a few treats in place of their dessert. This helps children get over the fear that the candy will be removed. It also helps to teach them moderation.
It may take a bit of time for new traditions to be established, but in the long run, passing out the majority of treats as healthy Halloween treats will work to ensure the health of children.
More Resources
Dyer KA. Healthy Halloween Food Treats for Children. Suite 101.
Dyer KA. Surviving the Candy Season. Suite 101.
Dyer KA. Healthy Halloween Treats. Squidoo.
Wassmer DW. Trick or Treat: Nutrition versus Tradition. California Community Colleges, Family and Consumer Sciences.
