31 Days of {Green!} Giveaways: Day 5
by Corey
Welcome to Day #5 of our
“31 days of {Green!} Giveaways“
Today’s question: What are the best ways to make Halloween healthier for kids?
Today is day #5 of our month-long, trick-or-treating party for parents!
Just knock on our door (AKA blog) each day, answer the daily question (in lieu of shouting, “Trick or treat!” – although you are totally welcome to write that as well) and you’ll be entered to win some absolutely fabulous, ever-so-eco-friendly prizes.
Today’s prize package is worth $100!
Specialty Gift Basket includes healthy-for-family goodies and other gifts from Nature’s Path.
Ships to continental US and Canada only
Here’s how to enter:
1. Add your e-mail address to the comment login, below. (We cannot notify you if we don’t have your e-mail address!)
2. Add a comment (one per e-mail address) with your answer to the question above.
3. Comment must post before 11:59pm PST – TONIGHT
Be sure to review our giveaway rules here. Please note shipping limitations.
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Good luck & have FUN!
(see you tomorrow 
)
October 5th, 2011 at 5:03 am
I try to make it healthier for my little one, by having her donate her candy after trick or treating to the troops overseas.
October 5th, 2011 at 8:42 am
Im not sure if you’re looking for a specific answer but how we make halloween healthier is better candy (vegan, allergen free, ect), choose healthy snacks for a movie night (apple slices, veggies carved into spooky shapes, a pudding made with avacado). Little changes make a big difference.
October 5th, 2011 at 9:36 am
You can hand out things other than candy such as halloween themed pencils, bottles of bubbles, pack of crayons, note pads, erasers… the list is endless! Buy them cheap after halloween this year and store them for next year.
October 5th, 2011 at 10:22 am
Hand out non-food items (which is safer any way considering the rise in food allergies) like pencils, erasers, markers, etc that will actually be used vs just plasticy junk that will be thrown away. We don’t use face paint (though I know there are some safer ones available they aren’t easily accessable). And we walk around neighborhoods vs drive our car.
October 5th, 2011 at 12:12 pm
Avoid candy– and especially candy with artificial food coloring! Many kids are adversely affected by it and their parents have no idea… my daughter has meltdowns and tries to hurt herself. I’m not very excited about having to take candy away from her, so I might stop by a couple neighbors ahead of time and give them something else for her.
October 5th, 2011 at 12:27 pm
We give the majority of it to the dentist office who collects it to send overseas. Passing out candy – you can give trick or treaters – coins, stickers, pencils, pretzels or other non-candy alternatives. =)
aleashinn(at)gmail(dot)com
October 5th, 2011 at 1:09 pm
We like to give out stickers, tatoos, pencils, balls, and games!
October 5th, 2011 at 1:14 pm
To make Halloween healthier, I give out non-food items such as Halloween themed pencils, erasers, bookmarks etc. I know I hated to get those things instead of candy, but it was nice to have new pencils for school and some cool erasers!
October 5th, 2011 at 1:27 pm
We pass out Apples, and granola bars to help make Halloween more healthy!
October 5th, 2011 at 1:32 pm
I like to pass out (dark chocolate) Bug Bites! If I’m going to hand-out chocolate, I’d rather hand-out an organic, fair trade chocolate as opposed snickers bars and the like. Some kids don’t like the dark chocolate, but I’ve never met a parent who turned one down!
October 5th, 2011 at 2:11 pm
For our Halloween we go to fall festivals, and apple picking/ pumpkin picking at local farms. This gives an air of nature rather than candy candy candy. We don’t do conventional trick or treating.
October 5th, 2011 at 2:13 pm
I don’t hand out candy, but every year my brother and I turn his house into a haunted house! It’s a lot of fun, and all the kids in the neighborhood have a great time. We thought it was better than handing out candy or items that may end up in a landfill, and it gives the kids a fun experience and something to look forward to each year.
October 5th, 2011 at 2:55 pm
I love making caramel apples rolled in nuts for Halloween, because it’s fruit, AND a bit of protein!
voiceofanangel725@yahoo.com
October 5th, 2011 at 3:13 pm
Make them run from house to house while trick or treating.
October 5th, 2011 at 3:28 pm
Make the kiddos give most of the candy they receive to their parents, that way mom and dad get a treat and save them for special occasion treats. You can encourage them by buying a few cool gifts or offering a trip someplace fun in return for their treats.
October 5th, 2011 at 4:21 pm
Offer healthy snacks/treats instead of candy.
October 5th, 2011 at 4:37 pm
We realize that candy is going to be a part of her Halloween. So we try to make everything else healthier..we go to local farms and buy produce and participate in the farm activities…
October 5th, 2011 at 4:42 pm
It’s a good idea to substitute organic granola bars and fruit snacks for super-sugary candy, so kids don’t overload on too much of the sweet stuff on Halloween.
October 5th, 2011 at 4:49 pm
I limit the number of pieces my son is allowed to have each day–It stretches the candy out (we’re usually still eating it at Thanksgiving!) and allows him a treat without us having to worry about sugar overload!
October 5th, 2011 at 5:00 pm
Buy candy that doesn’t have high fructose corn syrup!
October 5th, 2011 at 7:37 pm
Just don’t let them eat a bunch of candy. That’s the simplest way.
October 5th, 2011 at 7:55 pm
We only wear perviously worn costumes. This helps my budget + reduces waste = a happy planet. What could be healthier?
October 5th, 2011 at 8:00 pm
We try to focus on FUN activities and keep the actual trick-or-treating to a minimum. We make stops just to our favorite neighbors…this reduces the amount candy significantly.
October 5th, 2011 at 8:48 pm
My favorite thing to do with my children is take them to a Fall Festival where they can play fun games and win prizes. Some of the prizes are less than healthy: candy, but I have them trade in their unhealthy “winnings” to me (to donate) for healthy treats and/or small non edible items that I know they’ll love.
October 5th, 2011 at 11:41 pm
Simply, give them fruit
October 5th, 2011 at 11:43 pm
the key word is ‘treat’ whatever is collected is put up and out-of-sight and reach and given once and awhile as a treat. It is one night that they get to go a little wonky ~ the other 364 days of the year (give or take) is filled with healthy yummy food.
October 5th, 2011 at 11:47 pm
We trade their collected candy for a non-food gift & a few allergen-free/organic candies so they don’t feel left out of the sugary traditions they are already aware of. We also pass out non-food treats to those who knock on our door.
October 5th, 2011 at 11:59 pm
My daughter trades all her candy in for an activity: zoo, park day, etc.
Ljorr@msn.com
October 6th, 2011 at 12:13 am
oh …here it is…
healthy snacks…including apples from the garden and honey or nut butter or sunflower butter…yummy… making crafts and putting on the windows…
Eating ORGANIC…of course..
October 6th, 2011 at 10:23 am
Sure, healthy snacks are great to promote healthy living choices to kids, but let’s be serious, what kid wants to get a protein bar or veggies from you on the night of Halloween? Part of being healthy is exercising. Instead of driving your kids to the next neighborhood over to stock up on all the goods on October 31st this year, walk with them over there, or better yet, bike! We could all use an extra little bit of cardio in our daily routines, and its never too early for our kids to start!
October 6th, 2011 at 10:30 am
Here’s one outside of the box: Give each one of your little trick or treaters a recipe for a Homemade pumpkin pie, using a real pumpkin. Not only do pumpkins have a nutritious benefit, but this idea will encourage kids to make more meals and treats from home, which tend to have less fat and less sugar in them.
October 6th, 2011 at 3:32 pm
Buy Annie’s Homegrown Bunny Fruit Snacks instead of mini candy bars.
@bctripletmom
bctripletmom at gmail dot com
October 6th, 2011 at 3:43 pm
Treat and Trick…I would use re-use Halloween bag. Also, walking with no battery flash light. Use shaking flash light at evening to walk. I would advertise to everyone what’s Path Natures. Its healthy to use instead of giving candies. I would put all candies into recycle. LOL smile Give all of people Path Natures. I believe in the natures. Save our globe. If I live in a house would giving kids nature path bars for trick and treat. Or donate to food bank, red cross, troops and more.
October 6th, 2011 at 5:25 pm
Oh, wow!! What a wonderful, thoughtful, creative list of ways your families make Halloween healthier for kids & planet!! (It’s truly amazing how many options there are). From choosing healthier goodies, to walking (instead of driving)as you go door-to-door, to carrying a human-powered flashlight, and focusing on the FUN instead of the stuff – there’s something for everyone.
Great to see what ideas resonate with you.
Congratulations to today’s winner (as chosen by Random.org) – Diane Y!!!
Thank you for playing and sharing with us, everyone! We hope you’ll join the conversation daily through Halloween…
XO, Corey
October 7th, 2011 at 11:38 am
trick or Treat!! give me something Good to eat!! lolololol
October 9th, 2011 at 5:55 pm
I get to go through their candy (and keep the good stuff!) and then we put it up so they only get a few pieces a day. After a while they kinda forget about it!