Tricks and Tips to a Safe Halloween Without the Treats!

Gremlins, ghosts, and ghouls should be the scariest part of Halloween but when your child has food allergies its usually the treats that tend to give us nightmares. All those improperly labeled bite sized candies full of nuts, peanuts, dairy etc can be overwhelming for parents and tempting for little ones.

Here's a few tricks for a fun filled Halloween without the treats!

• Host your own Halloween party! Get the neighborhood kids, friends, and family together for a costume party. Play a game of Mummy Wrap. Using toilet paper or white crepe paper see who can wrap their mummy the fastest from head to toe. (I would skip on bobbing for apples which poses a risk of cross contamination from those who may have had a pre party treat.) Visit Kids with Food Allergies for some Allergy-free Halloween recipe ideas to serve at your party.

• Swap out your little ones treat bag with your own bag of "safe treats" such as pencils, erasers, bracelets, bubbles and such from the party or dollar store (The Oriental Trading Company has a large selection of inexpensive ideas.) A fun way to swap out treat bags is to have your child leave their candy outside their bedroom door so that the "good witch" can come while they are sleeping and replace them with her special bag of goodies.

• Check with your child's dentist to see if they offer a "candy for cash" event. Simply bring in your child's Halloween candy and the dentist will offer a set amount of cash usually per pound of candy. You can do this yourself at home as well by either offering a set amount, say 5 cents per candy, or by offering other rewards such as 30 extra minutes of TV time for 15 pieces of candy. Be creative.

• Have your kids help create and run a haunted house for other trick-or-treaters. Again, be creative. Chances are your kids will have so much fun creating a haunting experience and scaring their unsuspecting visitors (especially neighborhood friends) that they wont even miss the candy.

• Make it a family night in. Rent scary movies, play games, and enjoy each others company. Have the kids participate in making their favorite dinner and an extra special dessert. 

Have a Safe and Happy Halloween!

Visit the Natural Candy Store for all-natural allergy-friendly candy options.