How to Have a Healthier Halloween, Part One

In my pre-mom/pre-vegetarian life, I never gave a thought to the candy I handed out to the eager children who rang my doorbell unless it was which candy to buy so that my husband would not eat it all before Halloween was here. After all, trick-or-treating what I did when I was little and what everyone I know did. It was tradition.

Now that I am the mother of a daughter with a milk allergy, I am looking for fun and healthy alternatives to traditional Halloween foods. This year, she will be almost 2. Old enough to understand that she is supposed to ring the doorbell or knock, say "trick or treat", and someone will put something in her bag. She will not be old enough to realize that mom will have some trickery up her sleeve to ensure only vegan snacks are available to her. However, I began to wonder about next year or when she's 4. Even if she does outgrow her allergy, I want to infuse some health consciousness into the traditionally unhealthy holiday.

Here are some ideas if you are looking to make your Halloween more healthy this year.

1. If you leave your light on for trick-or-treaters, buy inedible treats. This year, I bought a 100 pack of bat rings for the same price I would've paid for a bag of individually wrapped candies. Other ideas are holiday-themed pencils, erasers, notepads, rubber balls, stickers and even eye-ball shaped bubble containers.

2. Buy healthier treats. Boxes of raisins or bags of nuts are great alternatives to traditional candy.

3. If possible, forgo trick-or-treating for a festive alternative - your own Halloween party. Here is where the fun really starts.

Kid's Party Ideas:

• Games like "Pin The Hat on the Witch" or "Pin The Nose on the Pumpkin" or "Pin The Tooth on the Vampire"
  
• Tell age-appropriate scary stories.
  
• Include a Halloween costume parade where children get to show off their costume.
• Put together a Halloween themed scavenger hunt. Place paper bats (or pumpkins, ghosts, cats, etc) all around the house where children can collect them. The child who collects the most bats wins.
  
• Organize a Halloween themed craft making party. Kids can decorate their own pumpkins, design their own hats, draw Halloween characters, color in coloring books. Older kids, with an adult to help, could design their own shirts using iron-on crayons or concoct a special Halloween drink.
  
• Have a lot of yummy treats for kids to snack on throughout the party.

Adult Party Ideas:

• Play a spooky board or card game. Check this post for my recommendations.
  
• Throw a dinner party where everyone must wear black. If a potluck is more your style, ask everyone to bring healthy foods that are black, orange, green or purple.

4. Have a scary movie night. Pick a few favorite classics. Your guests can dress up as their favorite character from their favorite movie.

5. Start a new tradition. Invite a few friends or family over to make and decorate Halloween treats.