kids in costume for halloween
 Thinking outside the candy dish
(not as scary as you've been led to believe!)

by Cheryl Harris, MPH, RD
QUICK LINKS 

Candy Alternatives at Oriental Trading Co. 


Resources for Finding
 Safe Sweet Treats:


ROCK
(Raising Our Celiac Kids)

Allergy Moms

Celiac Family

Enjoy Life Foods

Sure Foods Living

Greetings! 
 

Think outside the candy dish . . .  

cheryl harris photo
Cheryl Harris, MPH, RD


When I first told my husband we weren't giving out candy for Halloween, he looked at me like I had lost my mind. I certainly didn't want our house to be one of those places that kids complain about, but I figured a few yo-yos or rubber duckies  might be a nice change from 101 Tootsie rolls. I was a little nervous about my decision, until my first trick-or-treater ran back to his dad and said, "Cool! A slinky!"  

 

Last year, a group of girls even told my husband that she looked forward to the "rubber duckie house" every year. (And somehow I resisted the opportunity to say, "I told you so!") 

 

So, where can you find candy-alternatives? Oriental Trading Company sells inexpensive toys, stickers, and even temporary tattoos (for children you know well). Another option is mini cans of Play-Doh (though remember, Play-Doh contains gluten, so if you play with it, wash your hands thoroughly!)  

 

Some toys are more expensive than candy, but it depends on how you look at it. When you average in the cost of the bag of candy you bought on sale in September (and ate), the cost of the one in mid-October (which vanished as well), and what you paid for the one you had to run out at the last minute and buy, you'll find that you pretty much come out even.

trick or treat bucket

Of course, I have great memories eating excessive quantities of candy on Halloween, but today there are healthy and delicious treats available that you can offer to children.These include gluten-free options, such as mini-Larabars and fruit leathers, and allergen-friendly treats, like Yummy Earth Gummy Bears and Envirokidz mini-bars.   

 

Tips for Enjoying Halloween with Food Restrictions 

 

1)   Talk to teachers and friends about focusing parties around activities like pumpkin carving, apple bobbing, costume contests, rather than just trick or treating.  Kids with Food Allergies offers a free guide filled with activities to replace trick-or-treating, including Halloween crafts, games, and school-party ideas.

 

2)   Plan ahead and always check food labels!  Some treats that are normally gluten-free or allergen-free contain different ingredients in their special, holiday versions, so always double check!  Also be aware that some mini-size wrappers do not include nutritional information, but you can look online for favorite candies and snacks to see if they are gluten-free.  

 

Great online resources to help you figure out what candies are safe for your child include: ROCK (Raising Our Celiac Kids), Celiac Family, Allergy Moms, and SureFoodsLiving.com. There are also many products available through Enjoy Life Foods that cater to people with food allergies and intolerances.  

 

3)   Pre-stock your child's Halloween bag with foods that are "legal" for him or her so that you can safely snack along the way. Stash bags of candy at friends' houses that you know are safe for your child to consume. 

 

4)   Have a post-Trick or Treat trade in. Your child can trade the "problem" candies and treats for "safe" treats, games, prizes, special outings, etc. You can either stash the "problem" candy somewhere out of reach or donate it to the foodbank.

 

As always, you have our best wishes for your optimal health,

 

Cheryl Harris, MPH, RD