follow up question to the trick or treat/candy threads

[mtemm]

I've been reading some of the posts about what we do with kids halloween candy and it seems like the majority throw out a good portion of it at some point or another.

so now I am thinking, in light of that fact, have you ever considered handing out something other than candy?

 

[bfeller]

We started 5 years ago giving out small bags of microwave popcorn, small bags of pretzels, small bags of animal crackers, drink boxes and one type of chocolate candy bar (usually for the older kids).

We found that if we had all the candy at our house before hand we would sneak and eat it and if any was left over we ate it.......

We always get some very nice comments about what we give out.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

I try to give out the good candy bars so they will be the first thing eaten and not thrown out

I never throw out candy. I just feel it is a waste. If my kids are at the limit where I think wow we have to much why not stop then keep going then waste money of people

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Oh yea. I am handing out Cheez-Its and Doritos.

 

[design_mom]

We started 5 years ago giving out small bags of microwave popcorn, small bags of pretzels, small bags of animal crackers, drink boxes and one type of chocolate candy bar (usually for the older kids).

Oh yea. I am handing out Cheez-Its and Doritos.

My kids love houses like yours because they get to take that stuff to school in their lunches! (We still give away candy though -- usually DH's favorites: Kit-Kat and/or 100 Grand bars -- because he likes to eat the leftovers!)

 

[kimblebee]

I never let my daughter eat anything that doesn't come in an original package like popcorn or baking. It is a sad thing to say but you just can't take any chances.

 

[smb6]

When reading through the what kind of candy do you give out thread; I noticed one poster mentioned giving out drinks. I thought that was a great idea that I've never thought of or seen done. So I decided were going to give out candy and juice boxes this year! You know the kids start eating the candy before they make it home and then they are thirsty. My kids agree- it's a great idea!

 

[Tinkermommy]

We get way to much candy than we will eat.

My daughter's school collects it and ships it over to the troops in the Middle East.

I can't just throw away candy. There are all kinds of organizations that will accept donations.

We just bought the full size candy bars. Those are usually eaten.

I like the idea of alternatives as well though.

 

[Sorsha]

Nope we don't give out things like that, because, sadly, when my kids are sorting through their bags of loot, all of the boxes of crackers/raisins/popcorn etc get put in the "what the heck???" pile along with toothbrushes and gift certificates. Just not something they appreciate - its all about the candy. The "what the heck" pile gets tossed in the pantry... it usually makes an appearance in their school lunches later in the year. If my kids don't enjoy it, I won't give it out to other kids.

That said, there's also another pile when sorting - the NASTY candy pile. Those little fruit-flavored tootsie-roll thingies, any taffy-like candy you have to chew on for 2 days in order to get it down, those little pink balls of gum in the yellow wrapper, etc. I won't give that stuff out either, because I wish other people wouldn't give it to my kids.

In our house, any stuff in the treat bag I know my kids won't eat - the "nasty candy" pile, candy bars with peanuts in them (they just don't like them), licorice, etc, doesn't get thrown away. DH and I divide it up and take it to work. We put it in bowls on the table in the break room and our co-workers get to enjoy the bounty. No one has ever complained, and that way it isn't sitting in the pantry waiting for ME to eat it.

 

[bookgirl]

Ok first of all, those fruit flavored Tootsie Rolls are total gold around here. LOL


But our policy at work is that anything left out on the lounge tables is up for grabs so I always bring any rejects up here, they never last more than a day. We have two guys, if it's free they'll take it.

Heck, people bring up food, household items, canned goods and it always disapears. So candy is like non existant an hour after you put it out.

 

[okeydokey]

No, we always give candy, but of course we always give the good stuff (twix, kit kats etc). I have been known to throw out O Henry's from my kids bags. Nobody likes it.

 

[mjkacmom]

I often do bags of chips. This way, I don't eat it, and if we have leftovers, the kids can pack them in their lunchboxes.

 

[NotUrsula]

As long as it is edible and commercially-packaged that isn't an issue. I think that if you give out non-edible things you'll find that after the first year that you do it, your number of Trick or Treater's will drop drastically. Pencils and stickers are fine for school parties; but going door to door is all about EATS.

We had one family on our street give out mini-boxes of dental floss. You guessed it; the next day every tree and bush in their yard was not only TP'd, but tangled up in yards and yards of dental floss. The kids were NOT amused.

 

[jen0610]

For the longest time my mom only gave out those peanut butter kiss candies - those one that come in the orange and black wrappers. Growing up, us 3 kids hated the candy, our friends hated the candy and she always wondered why she had so much candy left. Kids only took 1 piece instead of a handfull, because NO one likes the stuff.

It took her years to stop giving them out. Now she gives the good stuff. We have one family in their addition that gives out pixie sticks. By the fist full, he drops them in the bag. The tweens around here must really like the things, because they will hit his house a couple of time a night.

 

[ChristaDeVil]

I never throw out candy. I pick out the good stuff to keep, and then I take the rest to work and put it in a big bowl for my volunteers to share.

 

[ameraumi]

Since it tends to be cold on Halloween, I have given out hot chocolate packets in the past. I normally hit Sam's Club and buy the big boxes but I did not make it this year. The kids really seemed to like it and it gave them something to warm up with when they got home.

 

[ksjayhawks]

I think what is "good" is determined by each kid and family. My kids liked the popcorn packets and pencils. Some of the candy others mention as being good, my kids don't like and vice versa.

I always used the hard candy and gum they didn't like in our shoesboxes that we made for samaritan's purse. Other candy that they (or dh) didn't like went into work and was gone within the day.

One year I gave out cool bouncy balls--I got a great deal on them. I also have fruit snacks for little ones and occasionally have given out granola bars if I run out of candy.

 

[Deb Quen of Colorado]

We do candy plus a few extras. For kids we know I toss in those plastic rats or snakes with their candy. I have cleaned out the pantry in the past and given out micowave popcorn, indiv bags of cheetos or teddy grahams that we aren't eating.

 

[mousebymarriage]

We give out candy (kit kats, m&m's, hershey bars etc.) to the kids, babies get packages of teddy grahams or animal crackers. We also give out small bottle of water and the kids love getting the water most of all because all that trick or treating makes them thirsty.

After halloween, we seperate the candy and then anything my kids don't like goes to DH's job (they love free candy).

 

[Cinderella94]

Since it tends to be cold on Halloween, I have given out hot chocolate packets in the past. I normally hit Sam's Club and buy the big boxes but I did not make it this year. The kids really seemed to like it and it gave them something to warm up with when they got home.

I always loved that!