Every year I receive countless emails requesting ideas for healthier Halloween candy. Now there’s an oxymoron if I’ve ever heard one –“healthy candy.” Does such a thing exist? Well, probably not.
Now, with suggestions from many readers, I’ve gone ahead and compiled a list that is full of what I refer to as the “lesser of all evils” when it comes to candy. Trust me, I will not be eating any of the items below. That kind of sugary stuff –organic or not, doesn’t sit well in my body.
My children, on the other hand, are getting older (we’re pushing into the pre-teen years around here) and in an attempt not to be a total grinch I have compromised and chosen to give out decent (well, decent to them) treats that they themselves would actually want to consume. When they were little (that would be the year before last) I gave out organic fruit leathers
–back then they thought this was the greatest thing! However, the times are a changin’ as the boys mature.
Thanks to your suggestions, this list is longer than I had anticipated and full of fun ideas for Halloween treats.
- Organic Milk Chocolate is what I will be handing out to my trick or treaters this year
- Yummy Earth Organic Lollipops were suggested by Elana, my doppelganger on the East Coast
- College Farm Organic Naturepops are a favorite of Jen’s
- Kind Bars
are a delicious fruit and nut bar that Sandra likes - Organic Gummi Bears -this idea was contributed by Kelly
- Organic Berry Patch Bunny Fruit Snacks -another gummy treat option
are a delicious fruit and nut bar that We’re all different, so see if anything on the list above meets your criteria. If you have other ideas go ahead and leave a comment so others can hop on your Halloween bandwagon!
Christine B. says
This year we were going to give out non-food toy items like temporary tattoos, stampers, glow bracelets, etc. Kids still enjoy them while not having to worry about unnecessary sugar. Oriental Trading Company and the Dollar Store are good sources of these items.
Rici Preuit says
http://www.naturalcandystore.com is also a great option for healthier treats…especially for those with food allergies.
Aura says
I just stumbled across your wonderful website while searching for gluten free Hamantaschen to bake with the kids tomorrow. I was not even hoping that I would find one that I could also eat because it is grain free and so low sugar! Yay, thanks so much Elana! I also had a few suggestions for Halloween candy, even though it is Feb…good ideas for pinatas, and party favors as well, right? I love to get honey sticks from our local beekeeper, and our co-op also sells agave sticks. We have to be careful with chocolates, because sometimes they are sweetened with a gluten malt syrup…always check ingredients…definitely earth balls are not gluten free.
elana says
~M,
Those Trader Joe all-fruit bars sound delicious. Thanks for the suggestion and thanks as always for your comment!
xo Elana
~M says
The all-fruit bars from Trader Joes are decently healthy (just the fruit, nothing more or less), prepackaged, and not too costly. I’d imagine that they would make good treats. I particularly like the pineapple – it’s sweet and slightly tangy, just like fresh pineapple!
elana says
Emily -Thanks for sharing your great ideas. I used to barter my children for candy when they were too young to know the difference –that was up until last year.
Tracie -This would be a great question for the forums, you might want to post it there.
Tracie Peschke says
I am struggling to get the proportions right to make a gluten-free flour mix. I was wondering if anyone has one that works well. Thanks.
Emily says
What about organic sesame snaps? The coffee shop near my house sells them, and I for one am addicted!
For people with younger kids: My neighbour “trades” her little ones’ for their treats. She pre buys stuff that is suitable, and when they get home they barter and trade in the more offensive candy for things she’s bought. They love it!! She also reads the labels with them so they know what is good and bad (who wants to let a 5 year old eat shellac??)
elana says
Thanks for your comment Rachel :-)
Rachel says
Thanks for the great recipe ideas! I haven’t tried any yet, but keep printing them out and adding them to my cookbook.