Chocolate, caramel and artificial flavors—oh my! Traditional Halloween candy is packed with sugar and other additives that don't make a great source of nutrition for growing bodies. Instead of handing out the typical treats to the ghosts and goblins that knock on your door this Halloween, try one of these fun alternatives. The other parents in your neighborhood (and the local dentists!) will thank you.
Wax Lips
A popular novelty item in the days of yore, wax lips are a fun and funny Halloween treat that kids will enjoy, especially because many youngsters will have never seen such a thing. Hand out the traditional red lips or give it a Halloween twist by distributing wax vampire teeth instead.
Bouncy Balls
No matter how old a child grows, there's something about bouncy balls that can keep them giggling and playing for hours. The fact that they're inexpensive and come in a variety of themes and colors means they make the perfect non-candy Halloween treat.
Craft Bags
Encourage creativity by handing out craft supplies like pencils, pencil sharpeners and pumpkin-shaped erasers, or take it up a notch and assemble craft bags with fun and crafty surprises like cotton balls, popsicle sticks, googlie eyes and feathers, allowing kids to dream up and construct their own Halloween monsters.
Notepads
Fun and functional, toddlers enjoy notepads for scribbling while older kids can use them at school. Halloween-themed notepads are easy to come by, but even the pocket-sized pads in primary colors make great alternatives to Halloween candy.
Sugar-Free Suckers
If you still want to hand out edible treats but don't want to contribute to the holiday chocolate rush, sugar-free suckers are a great option. Make sure they're labeled as sugar-free so kids with special dietary restrictions know whether or not the treats will work for them.
Apple Cider or Hot Cocoa Packets
A perfect fall beverage the whole family can enjoy, apple cider or hot cocoa packets make a fun surprise that kids and parents can stash away for later use or warm up over the stove as soon as the kids come in from trick or treating.
Bubbles
It's hard to find a kid that doesn't enjoy playing with bubbles, which is why they make the perfect Halloween goodie. For an extra bit of fun (and to give the kids a hint about the kind of treats available at your house), turn on a couple of bubble machines that will pump out the floating fun and get kids extra excited as they make their way up to your front door.
Stickers
Nearly every kid loves stickers, and with the variety available today it's easy to find rolls of spooky ghosts, spiders, monsters and ghouls to pass out to the kids in your neighborhood. For an added dose of sticker fun, small and inexpensive Halloween sticker books also make great Halloween treats.
Temporary Tattoos
Help kids wear their love of Halloween on their sleeves (literally!) by handing out Halloween-themed temporary tattoos. These cheap and easy Halloween treats will entice everyone from the tiniest goblins to the older ghosts that arrive at your doorstep seeking their Halloween bounty.
Spider Rings
Halloween fashion never goes out of style (at least during the month of October), so show off your status as trendiest house in the neighborhood by distributing spider rings and other Halloween-themed costume jewelry to the trick-or-treaters.
Cookie Cutters
Give the neighborhood kids a good reason to try their hand in the kitchen with Halloween-themed cookie cutters. They come in the shape of jack-o-lanterns, vampires, skulls and spider webs, just to name a few, and can also be used to make fun shapes out of play dough.
Granola Bars
Another healthier alternative to sugar-heavy candy, granola bars make a great sweet treat to hand out on Halloween. There are tons of options available on the shelves of your local grocery store, just be mindful of kids navigating trick-or-treat with nut allergies by selecting a nut-free alternative.
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