Traditional Halloween candy is expensive; other more nutritional and cheaper alternatives to give kids who knock on your door.
Video games and a sedentary lifestyle may be to blame for the epidemic of overweight kids in this country. But they sure get moving fast when it comes to walking door to door on Halloween. But is candy the most nutritional choice for these kids, especially when sweets and food prices in general are soaring?
Alternatives to Giving out Candy on Halloween
Fruit snacks are all the rage in pre-schools, so why not make them a part of your trick-or-treat basket this year? They come in bright, fun colors, and kids genuinely like them. Warehouse clubs sell them in bulk and they store easily, so you can give them out during the holidays as well.
Office supplies may meet with a groan when you present little ghosts and goblins with paper clips and erasers. But not when the erasers are shaped like a favorite cartoon character and paper clips come in every color of the rainbow. Add in a couple number two pencils and parents will thank you as well.
Plain microwave popcorn wrapped in colorful packaging is a popular Halloween treat. Just make sure the kernels come without butter. Look for sales at your local supermarket closer to Halloween. If you can’t find popcorn decorated with a holiday motif, you can create your own by wrapping the snacks in red or black colored sandwich bags.
Juice boxes are a welcome refreshment for trick-or-treaters who are tired of trekking through neighborhoods and need a thirst quencher. Combine that with a coloring book you can find at most dollar stores and younger kids will want to come back to your house year after year.
Start clipping coupons for places kids like to go, including sporting events, smoothie stores, and kid-friendly restaurants. Children will be excited to learn how coupons work and moms and dads will appreciate your efforts.
Stickers are always a hit with little kids, especially if you can find a variety of cartoon characters that they recognize.
Dried fruit, especially boxes of raisins make the perfect addition to any trick-or-treater’s loot bag. Feeling adventurous? Try chocolate covered raisins (like the kind you get at the movies.) They add calories, but not as many as traditional chocolate bars.
Give to charity. UNICEF provides boxes for kids to collect spare change every year. The organization will also put children on a mailing list so they can see how this charity spends its money all year long. You’ll also teach kids early about the importance of giving back.
The copyright of the article Alternatives to Buying Halloween Candy in Consumer Education is owned by L. Marie Dubuque. Permission to republish Alternatives to Buying Halloween Candy in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
