by Cheryl Gregory

Created on: October 05, 2009

Instead of passing out sweet candy that is laden with sugar this Halloween, try giving the little ghouls something that will be healthy for them. Give them toys or healthy treats that will not cost you a frightful amount of cash. Ideas for healthy and non-candy treats for the little witches and goblins are listed below.

School Supplies

Children always need pencils, and you can pick them up at a very reasonable price. You may even have a bundle of them in one of your drawers that have been sitting there for eons. Erasers are another item that your trick-or-treaters can use.

Toys

What little goblin would refuse a spider ring or a small booklet of stickers? These items are also reasonably priced at most of your dollar chain stores. Those little temporary tattoo packages are very popular with the young crowd, so stock up on them, too. The list of toys you can give the little trick-or-treaters is endless. There are the funny-looking false teeth that will make them chuckle, tiny deck of cards, plastic jewelry for the princesses, fake money, or even bubbles. Kids on a sugar high can play with these toys, and get rid of some of that energy before mom ushers them to bed.

Healthy Snacks

Animal crackers, granola snacks, individual packages of goldfish snacks, and little boxes of raisins can be dispensed to the witches and Power Rangers that ring your doorbell this year. Consider passing out sugar-free candy to them. These are fantastic replacements for candy bars and sweet candy corn.

Money - Real or Fake

Pass out pennies, nickels, dimes, or even quarters to the children. Put them in separate little baggies so they are easily separated from the rest of the stuff in the bag. You can also give them fake money. You can purchase this very inexpensive toy at almost any retail store.

Obesity and diabetes is becoming such a problem among our children, today. We can do our part by offering something healthy to the neighborhood children when they shout out "trick or treat" at our front doors. We can give them a cute little toy to play with, or a snack that will not rot their teeth out. We can offer them something that is useful, like the pencils and erasers mentioned above. A pencil and eraser is not something that will be gone the next day. Have a safe and healthy Halloween.

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