A Healthy Halloween Is a Responsible Halloween

Halloween is a time for all kinds of spooky fun—parties and spook alleys with creative costumes, scary movies, and, of course, trick-or-treating. Perhaps more than any other holiday, Halloween is when nutrition really takes a back seat.

We all know candy is just about the worse thing anyone can possibly eat, and yet we fill buckets, bags, and pillowcases with it for children to take home and gorge on. For parents who are concerned about their children’s health but who don’t want to be party poopers, the mountains of sweets can be overwhelming, not to mention concerns about food allergies, artificial dyes, and the impact that sugar has on teeth.

But Halloween doesn’t have to be that way! It might make you unpopular, but there are healthier ways to celebrate. We encourage parents, party hosts, and all concerned adults to buck the trend of sugar overloads and consider something different.

Why Make Halloween Healthier?

Before we start talking about alternative ways to make Halloween spooktacular, let’s go over again why choosing healthier options matter:

Food Allergies: As part of FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education), the Teal Pumpkin Project is raising awareness about the importance of inclusive treats for children with food allergies. According to FARE, 1 in 13 children has a food allergy. For these children, Halloween and other holidays can be a truly scary time. Let’s do our part to help children with food allergies have fun without having to worry about what the adults around them are giving them.

Dye Sensitivities: Many candies contain artificial dyes. We all know that. But what some people may not realize is that these dyes can affect children’s behavior and health. For example, red dye 40 has been potentially linked to ADHD, depression, irritability, allergies, and migraines.

Dental Health: Sticky candies, and sugar in general, can wreak havoc on teeth, leading to cavities and other dental issues.

Non-Food Trick-or-Treat Ideas

Last time we checked, there isn’t a Halloween rulebook that says you have to give out eatables to trick-or-treaters. If trying to figure out a healthy treat sounds too stressful, or if you don’t want to be that house, then just skip the treats and give the kids something fun! Then you will be that house, but in a good way!

Wikki Stix

If you Google non-food items for trick-or-treaters, you’re bound to happen upon Wikki Stix as a suggestion. If you’re thinking, “What in the world is that?”, rest assured that we thought the same thing. Wikki Stix are small colorful bendable sticks made of food-grade wax and yarn. They can be used to make all sorts of shapes and pictures. They stick to almost any surface, including each other, and they can be cut with scissors. And best of all, they contain no traces of dairy, gluten, or nuts, so they’re safe for children with these allergies.

Glow Sticks

Bendable Character Toys

Silicone Finger Puppets

Bendable Spiders

Mini Squishy Toys

Sticky Frogs

Temporary Tattoos

Mini Stamps

Punch Balloons

Mini Slinky

Slap Bracelets

Novelty Erasers

Bouncy Balls

Mini Flashlights

Character Toothbrushes

Fake Mustaches

Of course, you don’t need to have a bowl or bucket full of just one kind of item. Go out and buy an assortment of these nifty playthings and let the kids choose from a grab-bag!

Healthy Trick-or-Treat Food Options

Perhaps you’re a traditionalist and don’t want to think about buying different toys. You just want to hand out a simple treat to each child and be done with it. Here are some great alternatives to candies.

Fruit Leather

Applesauce Pouches

Cuties (you can draw on them to make them look like pumpkins!)

Honey Sticks

Mini Raisin Boxes

Mini Popcorn Packs

Mini Granola Bars

Freeze-Dried Apple Packs

Trail Mix Individual Packs

Banana Chips

Annie’s Whole Wheat Bunnies

Mini LaraBars

String Cheese (you can draw ghost faces on them!)

Clif Kid Z Bars

Sugar-free gum (with xylitol)

Mini fruit cups in natural juices

Other Ways to Improve the Trick-or-Treating Experience

Fill up first: Have a healthy and filling meal before heading out to trick-or-treat to reduce the temptation (for your children and you) to snack during the experience.

Take small candy containers: If your kids head out with big containers, expect them to get filled. Let them take smaller containers and encourage moderation when collecting treats. If they get disappointed, encourage them to appreciate trick-or-treating as a fun experience, not simply as means to amass sweets.

Ditch the car: Make trick-or-treating an active family activity by walking instead of driving from house to house. Make it an adventure!

Don’t get tricked: Check all your treats for expiration dates and inspect them for any allergens or questionable ingredients.

Make a plan: Before you even head out and get collecting with your kids, set limits on candy consumption and involve your kids in deciding what to do with excess candy. Also keep in mind that you and your kids don’t have to eat the candy! Some parents just get rid of the candy and don’t let themselves or their children eat any of it. While this may sound unbearably cruel to some parents, it tends to work well when family lifestyle choices are established early on and positively reinforced, and when children are given opportunities to identify with those choices and form a positive identity around them.

Tips for the Party Host

Give your guests the biggest scare of their lives and serve healthy snacks at your party! For the sanity of your guests, be sure to keep them Halloween-themed. There are lots of ideas out there online. Peel oranges and stick chives, cucumber, or anything else green on top to make them look like pumpkins. Arrange the contents of a vegetable tray into a skeleton or a monster.

Instead of soda, offer flavored sparkling water, or tea, or even glasses of milk with ghost faces! Halloween is a time for surprises, after all, so surprise your guests!

Tips for the Stay-at-Home Crew

Let’s be honest. How many kids actually “take one”? If you’re able to be home, hand out the treats yourself, and do so in moderation.

If you just want to forget the whole thing, put on a movie, and turn the porch light off, we understand. But if there’s a party you could go to, don’t forget that it could be a great opportunity to showcase some of your healthy treat ideas!

Be a Trendsetter

This Halloween, embrace a spirit that will truly frighten everyone around you—healthier alternatives! It’s easy to get caught up in the candy craze. Maybe you’re nervous about doing something different. Maybe you don’t want to be labeled as a health nut. But it’s important to remember that Halloween doesn’t have to be about sugar and chocolate. It should be about getting together with those you care about and having fun! With a little planning, you can make Halloween healthier and maybe even spookier for everyone!