Halloween is just around the corner and what does that mean…lots and lots of treats. Although Halloween is the time for candy corn and other Halloween goodies. Halloween treats don’t always have to be candy. In fact, there are loads of non candy treats for Halloween if you don’t fancy them as much this year.
Lots of parents don’t like the idea of their kids having a sugar rush and are also concerned about the effects that added sugar intake can have on their kids. These concerns are things like higher blood pressure, diabetes, and weight gain. Allergies are something that also worries many parents as their kid could get sick if they eat the wrong thing and they could even feel left out when all the other kids are eating whatever they want. So, if you don’t want to hand out sweets, there are plenty of other fun non candy halloween treats such as fruit based treats, Halloween themed treats that are not candy based and you could even go as far as to not give out food at all and opt for something else like activity packs.
Healthy and DIY Alternatives to Halloween Candy
Now we know that when you think of Halloween you probably think of all the snacks and candy that go with it but there are so many other things you can do as well. Not everyone wants their kids hyped up on sugar but this doesn’t mean they can’t take part with everyone else. Now whether this is alternative snacks for trick or treating or just snacks for your own family, then we’ve got you covered.
Fruit-based Treats
There are a few different fruit based alternatives that you can try on this holiday that can be super fun to get the kids involved with making.
Candy Apples
The first thing you can try is candy apples because you can make them completely your own. All you need to do is grab some apples and all the toppings you want and then head to the kitchen. Now the first thing you need to decide is whether you want to use whole apples or apple slices but this depends on the age of your kids.
If you’re using whole apples then you can dip them in caramel or chocolate and add some extra snacks on top if you want. If you’re using apple slices then cut up your apples and lay them on a tray, drizzle chocolate or caramel on top, and then add your extra toppings.
This is great because it gives you a healthier option for Halloween candies whilst still keeping the holiday magic. This is also a great alternative for kids with allergies because you can use free from chocolate or toppings so that everyone can enjoy it.
Banana Ghosts
Banana ghosts are another super cute idea that we’re sure the kids will love. Grab yourself some bananas, white chocolate, and brown chocolate chips along with some lollipop sticks.
All you need to do is cut your bananas in half and melt the white chocolate. Then you’re going to put a lollipop stick in the bottom of the banana where there isn’t a point. Once your banana is on the stick, you want to dip it in the white chocolate until it’s completely covered and add some brown chocolate chips as eyes. And then you’re all done, isn’t it super easy?
This is a great alternative because white chocolate tends to have less sugar compared to other options but it’s also great for babies or younger kids because the bananas are easy to eat.
Nut and seed options
If you’re looking for a sweet alternative that’s easy and cheap then trail mix is always a great option. This is something that you can pick up from the store on your way home from work and works great if you don’t have the time to make the fruit options we said above.
Nut Butter Bites
If you have a little more time on your hands then you might want to make something like a nut butter bite. These are, again, super easy and cheap to make and you can get the kids involved in rolling the bites into shape.
All you need for this is rolled oats, honey, and nut butter of your choice. This is really good again because if kids have allergies then you can use a nut butter that’s suitable for them.
All you have to do is mix up all the ingredients and roll them into a ball and then you’re done. Most nut butter bites don’t involve any cooking which is brilliant if you’re on a time crunch but there are so many different recipes out there. If you want to add something more to them then you can always cover them in chocolate or drizzle some chocolate over the top.
Creative Non-Candy Options
If you’re looking for some fun and creative non candy Halloween ideas then we have you covered so don’t worry because there are some really cool options to explore.
Halloween Themed Snacks
Snacks don’t always have to be candy and the non candy options can actually be some pretty fun snacks – especially if they’re Halloween inspired.
Cheese Slices
Pumpkin shaped cheese slices are actually a really cute idea and they’re nice and savory to get a good break from all the sweets that the kids will consume on Halloween night.
You can either cut a slice of cheese out with a pumpkin cookie cutter or you could even place a cracker on the bottom with the cheese on top to make it even more fun.
They also don’t have to be pumpkin shaped, you could easily make ghosts, bats, and witches and the kids could choose their own personal favorite. You can use proper cheese or more of an American style cheese that you would find in a burger – it’s completely your choice.
Pretzel Broomsticks
Pretzel broomsticks are a really good idea too if you’re after some non candy treats.
All you need to do is place some cheese at the bottom of your pretzel stick to make a nifty little broomstick. These are also easy enough to make in bulk so you can make lots in a short period of time which is perfect for Halloween.
If you fancy something more useful, you could use a Halloween pencil as the broomstick itself and then the brushes on the bottom could be pretzel sticks. This is a great idea if you’re after something super creative that’ll make a lot of kids smile.
Non Food Treats For Halloween
If you’re after some non edible Halloween treats then we’ve also got some great creative non candy options. Toys and trinkets are always a great shout if you’re after something fun and quite useful rather than something that’s just going to get eaten by the end of the night.
Halloween Stickers
Everyone loves a sticker and even as an adult, you’ve got to admit that they’re brilliant. If they’re Halloween themed then that’s even better because kids love a sticker.
They can put them on their little Halloween buckets, on the fridge, or in a little notebook that they may keep to themselves. It’s also a great memory piece so they remember their Halloween nights.
You can also bulk buy them meaning that they won’t be as expensive and there are some super cute ones available which is great for anyone.
Little Games
Miniature games are also a great shout if you’re after something that’ll provide a whole deal of entertainment.
These miniature games could be anything like a pocket sized version of uno or a pack of cards. But it doesn’t stop there, there are loads of different mini word games that would be great to test the kids’ minds and expand their minds all the more.
You could even get miniature fidgets like fidget spinners, and popits the possibility is endless. Kids will surely love these alternatives to food on Halloween as too much candy can lead to sickness which is never good for anyone.
Allergen Friendly Options
If you’re worried about allergies then we’ve got you covered on gluten free and dairy free treats. It’s not fair for people with allergies to miss out on this fun night so what can you do to cater for them?
Gluten Free Treats
Gluten free Rice crispy treats are a good shout and you can easily get hold of some gluten free Rice Krispies to make these delicious treats for any kid. It also works really well with the Teal Pumpkin Project which we’ll get too now. These treats are also fairly straightforward to do and don’t require too much effort. They’re also really easy to make a lot of them and you can make them as small or as big as you want.
Popcorn Balls
Popcorn balls are also a great idea for people who are gluten free because corn is a gluten free grain. One batch also goes a really long way and you can get around twenty servings just from one batch which is great for Halloween. You could even give them eyes or dye them different colors to get the Halloween theme in that much more. Doesn’t a little popcorn monster sound adorable?
Dairy Free Alternatives
If you’re allergic to dairy or you have kids allergic to dairy then we have you covered too so don’t worry.
Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate is a classic dairy free alternative and a lot of kids actually like it. It’ll help you make your Halloween home a lot more inclusive for the kids in your neighborhood and they’ll surely love it.
There’s lots of dark chocolate to choose from out there but it can be quite expensive so try and choose the most cost effective option out there for you. It may be an option to make other things as well as having dark chocolate to hand to make it easier on yourself.
Coconut Based Treats
There are also lots of coconut based goodies out there that you can choose from if you’re after some dairy free treats to suit the kids who may come to your house.
Coconut cupcakes are a great shout and you can make them look like ghosts with white icing or fondant as well as little eyes. You could also dye the fondant orange and give it a little green stem to make it look like a pumpkin or Jack o Lantern.
Teal Pumpkin Project
The Teal Pumpkin Project has become super popular over the past couple of years to try and make Halloween and trick or treating as magical as possible for everyone.
1 in every 13 kids has a food allergy so this either means they miss out on trick or treating or they have to be really careful. But why shouldn’t they be able to enjoy just as much as everyone else? Well, this is where the Teal Pumpkin Project comes into play.
All you have to do is find some alternative trick or treating treats like small toys or trinkets, like we touched on before, as an option for kids with food allergies. Then you need to pop a Teal Pumpkin on your doorstep so that people know you have non-food goodies for trick or treaters.
Also if you head over to their website then you’ll see a map of all the houses in your area with teal pumpkin alternatives. Add your own house to the map so that people in your local area know that they can come to you if they have any kids with allergies. You can find the map and add your own home here.
It’s a great idea for inclusivity and will make sure that every kid feels welcome and has fun this holiday. You can also get loads of freebies on their website to help you spread the magic of the teal pumpkin project including posters that you can put up around your area and coloring sheets for kids to enjoy.