Trick or treat, smell my feet…define something “good” to eat?
I’m not so sure 2lbs of Halloween candy is “good” for anyone to eat – and let’s be honest – we all know our kids probably collect MORE than 2lbs. of candy trick-or-treating each year.
So why not do everyone (and their teeth) a favor and hand out some non-candy treats this year? With the excess of candy at every house, kids will usually jump at a chance to grab a non-candy item for a change.
Here are 6 kinds of non-candy treats you can hand out this Halloween:
Dress-up Accessories – We’re talking eye patches, mustaches, funny glasses, plastic jewelry, masks, etc. Kids love to play dress-up and act silly. They will have a blast with any sort of accessory that gives them a chance to turn on the cheese. Trust us.
School Supplies – Think holiday (or some other fun theme) pencils, notepads, erasers, etc. Kids always love having these things on hand for some quick entertainment, or perhaps to keep track of how much Halloween loot they accumulate.
Small Toys – Stickers, temporary tattoos, party favor sized bubbles, playdoh, bouncy balls, spinning tops, wind-up toys, glow sticks, silly putty, kazoos, etc. Toys are just as good as candy. Maybe better, because they definitely last longer than a candy bar does.
Healthy Snacks – With all the hard work that goes into trick-or-treating, kids work up an appetite and eventually candy just doesn’t cut it anymore. Try handing out some individually packaged snacks for them to fuel up with. Some good options are boxes of raisins, string cheese, bags of pretzels, apple slice bags, mini bags of popcorn and more. Just remember to get pre-packaged snacks from the store – many parents are leery about their kids eating homemade snacks from strangers.
Drinks – Trick-or-treating is hard work! Miniature bottles of water or juice boxes are always welcomed by the kids to quench their thirst while going door-to-door.
Sugarless Chewing Gum – Chewing sugarless gum increases saliva production which helps to neutralize acid produced by bacteria in our mouths, so it can actually help prevent tooth decay. Obviously that makes it a GREAT treat to pass out to the kids.
There are so many excellent alternatives to candy that kids will genuinely be excited about. If you choose to give out a non-food item, make sure to put a teal colored pumpkin on your front porch to show your support of the Teal Pumpkin Project, a worldwide movement created as a way for kids with food allergies to experience a safer, happier Halloween.
No matter what you give out this Halloween, make sure your kids keep up a steady oral hygiene routine year–round and visit their dentist every 6 months. If you would like more information visit our website or contact us at 281.292.4242 to schedule an appointment.
