So what goodies will you be handing out to trick-or-treaters this Halloween? Are you buying big bags of candy from the store? Or are you making multiple batches of homemade treats? How do you maintain your weight-loss plan when there's tasty delectables around? Do you have a "trick" up your sleeve that helps keep you on track during these Holiday seasons?
Hubby and I don't have kids but we still enjoy doing the pumpkin carving and handing out goodies to trick-or-treaters. It would be hard not to participate in such a fun event, especially living in a neighbourhood with young families and lots of kids! Last year I did a lot of baking of cookies and brownies but this year I just want to keep things simple. So we bought a few bags of candy from the store and that's what we'll be handing out to trick-or-treaters. Luckily, I'm not driven to eat sweets. I'd much rather eat a loaf of bread. So I've never had to be on high alert with candy bowls around etc etc. But if they were bowls filled of pretzels, I might be tempted..
We don't get very many trick-or-treaters, so last year I made small treat-bags that included crocheted little "monster balls." I made little stuffed balls about 3" in diameter and adding facial features and ears in embroidery, crochet and safety eyes/noses. We also divided a small bag of mixed candy between the treat bags. We only got one trick-or-treater, and the rest of the bags we delivered the next day to the children of our friends (we called it reverse trick-or-treating because we went to each house and left the treats).
I gave the smaller kids the ones with embroidered features and the older children the ones with the safety eyes/noses (because it would be possible for a toddler to chew or pull the safety eyes/noses through the crochet fabric. It wouldn't be easy, but I didn't want to take the chance).
We'll probably do something similar this year, but without the handmade toys(I have plenty of scrap yarn, but I procrastinated too long this year).
We've given quarters in the past.
When my brother and I were little, my aunt used to save nickles and pennies all year and would put them in a huge bowl and let the kids grab as many as they could in one handful.
Even though I have no desire to have kids of my own, I love Halloween and seeing all the kids in their costumes. It is a lot of fun and I chat with the neighbors, most of which don't have kids either but like handing out candy.
Chocolate is my big thing and I'm vegan but most of the chocolate store candy isn't vegan. So I bought a bunch of vegan candy (basically the stuff filled with sugar, sugar and more sugar) and one bag of chocolate vegan candy for my husband. Of course I was laughing at myself yesterday because I was probably the only person in the halloween candy aisle reading the ingredients. The ingredients are pretty horrendous. I somewhat feel bad handing crap out to kids but if their parents let them eat it then that is up to them.
My worry isn't so much the handing out of candy. It's the bringing IN of candy. I have 4 children, and couldn't imagine taking H-ween away from them. Especially since it's also my youngest (and only girl's) birthday, also. She'll be 6, and for years she believed everyone got to go ToT'ing BECAUSE it was her birthday. She's just that special, see.
Anyway, what we've planned with the kids is that they can eat what they want the night of Hween. (They never really go overboard, anyway so this doesn't worry me). Then the next day we'll go through it all, take out the stuff they really don't care for and get rid of it. The stuff they really like we will put in the freezer. They will be able to go and get a couple pieces a day. This way it lasts them longer, and they aren't overdoing. They are all happy with the idea.
I'm getting rid of all the nasty (not old nasty lol) fruit snacks!!! My 16 mo old has developed an obsession with them, so out they go. I have boxes and boxes (couponing) that I dumped into a grocery sack and filled. DH won't eat them, YDD doesn't like them, ODD can't have them because of her appliance, I don't like DS to have them, and I shouldn't have them (I do stay away from them). I will binge on fruit roll ups if I eat one. Nasty trigger. Can't wait till they're gone!
I love Halloween but am not planning on having candy around. See, if I have candy here to give out, I won't get to take my daughter trick-or-treating. Can't take her out and give out candy at the same time. So I am opting to take her out rather than stay home with a giant bowlful of candy. I don't know how many trick-or-treaters we get at this neighborhood either. It's my first year living here.
in the past I always gave out Kit Kats and Reese cups. I always swore I'd never be the house that kids don't want to go to because they gave out sucky candy. I used to hate going places and getting those God-awful Mary Janes. YUCK!!!!! Those things make me want to gag. But this year I am not giving out any candy. It's better for me not to have it around anyway.
I love Halloween but am not planning on having candy around. See, if I have candy here to give out, I won't get to take my daughter trick-or-treating. Can't take her out and give out candy at the same time. So I am opting to take her out rather than stay home with a giant bowlful of candy. I don't know how many trick-or-treaters we get at this neighborhood either. It's my first year living here.
in the past I always gave out Kit Kats and Reese cups. I always swore I'd never be the house that kids don't want to go to because they gave out sucky candy. I used to hate going places and getting those God-awful Mary Janes. YUCK!!!!! Those things make me want to gag. But this year I am not giving out any candy. It's better for me not to have it around anyway.
This is a great alternative if you'd rather not hand out candy and then have leftovers sitting around the house! I think taking your daughter out trick-or-treating will be a lot more memorable and a whole lot more fun for her! Plus, it's a great opportunity to get a nice walk in, if you tend to stay within your community and not venture to the other side of town. I know when I was growing up, we'd do a bit of walking around our neighbourhood but then we'd hop into the car and head to the houses that gave out the good stuff.
No trick or treating ere this year as I am going to a concert ! No trick or treating means no extra goodies ( actually NONE ! ) in the house this year !
Last year, we bought 2 giant bags of mixed candy. We didn't get any trick or treaters. We didn't see any anywhere!! So this year, we're not buying any candy. We're going to carve pumpkins for ourselves, LOL!! On Halloween, we're going to dress up and watch scary movies at home.
We've lived here for 3 years now and hardly ever get trick-or-treaters. The first year it was just the kid that lives right across from us, but I think he's too old now. The last year or two we didn't get any. I have Hershey nuggets just in case though. The good thing is I've never been a big plain chocolate person so I can easily pass on them or have just one (they're only 50 cals). Reese's cups... that would be a whole different story. The one year we did buy those I think I ended up eating the whole bag in 2 days. Never again.
BoOo! What Are You Trick-Or-Treatin'?
