When I was growing up, the main thing we worried about at Halloween was a non-packaged item that might be given to us by “freaks.”I do find it somewhat ironic that, of all things, we were warned about apples.Back then we weren’t concerned about genetically modified or organic varieties of apples.

No, then we were worried that the apple might have had a razor blade slipped inside.But these days, I do worry at Halloween.I worry about what’s beneath the wrappers of these so-called candy treats.They’re not quite as sweet as they might seem.

For many kids Halloween is a night of binge eating on candies loaded with sugar, high fructose corn syrup and artificial dyes and preservatives. For most parents I know, Halloween is a nightmare… binge eating, gluttony, poor behavior, upset stomachs and more resulting from too much junk.

So many parents don’t want to be perceived as a “Debbie Downer” so they go along – telling themselves that it’s just one night,  when in fact, the candy haul from Halloween can last well into the New Year.

I’m here to report that you don’t have to settle for candy packed with ingredients that are known to cause issues for kids. Say no to increased sugar cravings and behavioral troubles.

Did you know that regular candy is loaded with ingredients that can compromise your child’s immune system, destroy her concentration, cause hyperactivity and ADHD-like symptoms? Many other ingredients can cause gastro-intestinal issues and inflammation.

For example, artificial dyes are used in this country (while illegal elsewhere in the world) and have been linked to allergies, hyperactivity and more, according to a study published in Lancet.

It doesn’t have to be this way.Parents, take heed.This year your candy cheat sheet is here.  It’s your survival guide for this Halloween.

If you’re new to the revolution to “green” Halloween then you may want to start by simply buying a different candy or treat alternative.Start with something that’s free of artificial dyes and preservatives,  go non-GMO, or select an organic item.  Maybe discard the candy altogether and look for a treat alternative – something that isn’t technically a candy and has more nutrients than most candy.

Consider hosting a Green Halloween party to keep the kids in.Don’t sacrifice any of the fun but control the treats and give them better alternatives!

If your kids don’t want to give up trick-or-treating altogether, then do a ‘Switch Witch’ or ‘Candy Buy Back’ where you trade them their regular treats for candy that you buy that’s a healthier choice.

Be sure to provide a storage jar or box where they can see their candy and select an item a day, to be eaten after they’ve eaten a well-balanced meal.  Use this to teach portion control and responsible eating habits as well as to monitor the amount of candy consumed. This helps you deal with excessive tendencies before they turn problematic.

From here on, the fun is all yours!  Enjoy Halloween, without any unnecessary frights!

By Amy Ziff

This post previously appeared on Mommybites.com

Amy Ziff is the Founder & Chief Capidealist at Veritey. When she’s not vetting products she’s usually found playing with her 3 kids, jumping on their favorite trampoline from Trampolinea, or finding ways to get fruit stains out of clothes naturally!

For more Hallowen thoughts  follow us on Facebook facebook.com/greenhalloween or Twitter @greenhalloween

This week was supposed to be yellow snacks but certain members of my family ate all my props So I will switch things up and do GREEN snacks this week and YELLOW next week!

Getting our kids to eat green fruits and veggies is so important for their optimum health as they are loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber and phytonutrients!  If that isn’t an easy task at your house I would highly suggest making green smoothies!  It’s an easy way to get those greens into your kids!  We usually put in a few cups of whatever fruit we have on hand, a cup of baby spinach and a cup of either coconut water or apple juice.  If you aren’t using any frozen fruit it’s a good idea to add some ice cubes to make the smoothie nice and cold!  If you think your kids won’t been keen on the green color of the smoothie just add blueberries to cover up that green! You can also start off with 1/2 cup of spinach or kale rather than the full cup! Patriot Power Greens supplements are a go to if, you don’t have fresh greens on hand. The have all the nutrition needed for healthy development.

This week’s Hannah had sugar snap peas, cucumber slices and a tropical green smoothie!  She ate the parsley garnish too

Here are some other ideas for healthy GREEN day snacks:

Broccoli
Celery
Grapes
Green Pepper slices
Honeydew Melon
Kiwi

Next week will be YELLOW snacks!

Happy Healthy Eating,
Kia

Kia Robertson is a mom and the creator of the Today I Ate A Rainbow kit; a tool that helps parents establish healthy habits by setting the goal of eating a rainbow of fruits and vegetables every day. Kia is passionate about creating tools that help parents raise healthy kids!

There are many sites out there that have crafts and DIY projects for halloween decorations. In anticipation (we know we know Halloween is still a few good months away, but we’re starting to rev up our engines in preparation!) of Halloween, every week here at GH will have a roundup post of crafts to share with our viewers! Below is the first batch that caught our eye thanks to their creativity and promotion of more family time with your kids!

If you have an idea to submit, feel free to email so we can include it in the upcoming roundup posts! We look forward in hearing from you!

Spooky Thumbprints

Create Halloween art with your thumbprints! It’s simple and fun. Your kids will sure to be pleased by their artworks! Click here for step-by-step directions.

Tootsie-Pop Spider

A decoration that has a treat inside it! How sweet is that? This Spider’s body is made out of a Tootsie-roll lollipop. Head on over to FabulousLiving.com for directions on how to make your very own candy spider!

Hanger turned Pumpkin

Next up, we have a pumpkin made out of old wire hangers courtesy of the San Diego Zoo. Instead of tossing them out, turn them into a creative Halloween decoration! Not only is the pumpkin super eye-catching, it’s simple to make and it’s eco-friendly to reuse materials.  All you need are old hangers and Halloween colored pipe cleaners!

Glue Ghost Necklace

From MarthaStewart.com comes a spooky and delicate necklace that your kids will scream for! This is the perfect accessory to make to go along with their costumes this year. Who wouldn’t want a string of cure transparent ghosts following them around while they treat-or-treat around the neighborhood?

What child doesn’t love a simple yet fun game of marbles? I certainly remember playing with them myself when I was a wee tyke. So this marble run made 100% from an old cereal box from Made by Joel is a great way to provide your little ones with hours of entertainment. This a fun way to spend time with your kids as you make the toy together as a family activity, not to mention it’s environmental friendly since you’re recycling a used cereal box and creating a toy out of it! For directions on how to make one for yourself, click here.

Planet Green has a quiz up on their website asking readers exactly how green their Halloween is. We took the test and boy were we surprised! Even though we thought we’d ace this quiz with flying colors, we still learned a thing or two.

The best part is, unlike a quiz from grade school, this quiz corrects your answers as you take the test. It also provides a detailed and thorough explanation of the correct answer if you get a question wrong.

So head on over to Planet Green, take this test for yourself and learn something new on how to create a greener and healthier Halloween for your loved ones!

How Green’s Your Halloween? : Planet Green – Games & Quizzes : Planet Green.