Handing out the sweet stuff this Halloween?

xxloveiswarr

I'm not sure if there's a post on this already, so forgive me if there isn't. I've been debating on whether or not to embrace the 'Halloween Spirit' (for me it's always been to watch scary movies in the dark and freak out as many people as possible, but for society its answering non-stop doorbells and filling kids buckets with a trip to the dentist). Last year I lived in an apartment complex so I really didn't have to worry about handing out candy. Now, I live in a townhouse on a little culdesac with a large military population (my husbands currently deployed so its just me here for now) and I don't want to be rude, but at the same time I don't know if I feel comfortable having a giant bowl of candy and passing it out to children. I'm trying to think of alternatives that I could pass out, like crappy candy I never liked so I could avoid the temptation, although this doesn't help the kids, or something non-food related, but I'm not crafty at all so I don't know how this would work, OR just not answering the door at all. Pretty sure I'm over thinking this. Oh well! What do you think?

corn63

So basically what you're asking is...

"Do I want the kids that are going to TP my house to use Charmin or some other off brand? And how do I remove eggs from my car?"

Kids want candy. Period. You'll be forever known as that house with the lady that gave out apples. It's one holiday. It's up to their parents to police their candy consumption, not you. And if it's really that big of a deal to you, don't give out candy. Fun sized candy calories though are not that bad. And they fit conveniently in your purse.

SVCat

So disappointed in this thread....by sweet stuff I was hoping you were meaning other than candy.

lisaanne1369

Orental trader has nice Halloween stuff for the rotten kids.

fishgutzy

We'll have a bucket of the good stuck. Chocolate. Snicker, Hershey, Reese's ....
And if Paranorman is on Blue ray by the 31st we'll be showing that in our driveway while the kids are trick or treating.

Captain_Tightpants

If you put razor blades in the candy the kids will be dead long before the sugar does them any harm. Problem solved.

avir8

Nope, handing out protein bars and water bottles, keeping all the candy to myself

randomtai

So basically what you're asking is...

"Do I want the kids that are going to TP my house to use Charmin or some other off brand? And how do I remove eggs from my car?"

Kids want candy. Period. You'll be forever known as that house with the lady that gave out apples. It's one holiday. It's up to their parents to police their candy consumption, not you. And if it's really that big of a deal to you, don't give out candy. Fun sized candy calories though are not that bad. And they fit conveniently in your purse.

I you... for real. lol

lukeevans85

Don't be that person. Don't be the *kitten* who hands out carrot sticks and string cheese. Hand out candy. It's for kids. It's the one day a year they get to do it.

Heck if you really wanna make a good impression buy a ton of full size candy bars and hand those out.

Coolhand1969

Will have lots of candy available to give out... give the people what they want..

Kamikazeflutterby

Pick a candy you hate that others like. Almond joy and milky way bars would be mine. If you hand out peppermints, gum, and pretzels you will just enrage them. You won't like them when they're angry.

corn63

Don't be that person. Don't be the *kitten* who hands out carrot sticks and string cheese. Hand out candy. It's for kids. It's the one day a year they get to do it.

Heck if you really wanna make a good impression buy a ton of full size candy bars and hand those out.

I would totally shovel the sidewalk (once, let's not go crazy) for the person that gave out full sized candy.

randomtai

Hand out money... I used to LOVE getting quarters and dollars in my bag :P

sarah44254

I never understood how candy at halloween = trip to dentist.

Kids brush their teeth. It happens. Candy isn't any more/less difficult to brush off than milk and cereal or granola bars or anything else they eat.

At any rate, I'm going to give out some candy, and eat some candy myself, with spooky decorations outside and creepy music playing inside.

GuybrushThreepw00d

Money's a winner too. I used to love getting money from the folks who didn't buy in sweets. However, word will spread fast

super_monty

The kids are in for a treat when they knock on my door they are all getting one grape each.

Jkmumma

amuse yourself with this: If their parents let them eat all their candy unsupervised, their parents have to live with the sugar high, the crash, and the upset tummies, and it is only once a year: One big long stretch from Halloween to Easter...

Julettashane

HAND OUT CANDY!! i had a lady one year when i was little give me a freakin apple and a penny...yes 1 penny....really!? just let the kids go nuts

kelseyhere

yeah i think change is a great idea! $2 bills are always fun- you can get those at the bank, but could get expensive quick if you're expecting a lot of kids. or what about small bags of kettle corn? it's still fun and kids like it, but not as bad as candy.

or stickers, kids love stickers.

TheirEllie82

A few years ago I had little tubs of Play Doh to hand out to kids that had allergies and what not but I was surprised by how many kids who preferred the Play Doh to the candy. There are definitely alternatives to passing out candy that don't involve ignoring the doorbell.

ggcat

Candy or money! Licorice is a good one to hand out! M&Ms with pretzels are not too bad either.

I agree with everyone else- don't be the one that hands out "boring" stuff! Let the parents exercise the duties of eating candy!

Quarters are always fun- or go to the bank and get some fifty cent pieces (do they still make those?) :happy:

cmwhited6204

I think you misunderstand the true meaning of Halloween. It is not about the candy. Yes, they enjoy the candy but in 10 years they remember the fun of dressing up and running around with their friends. But believe me if you choose to be the house that gives out something that you deem to be a better choice: they will remember you and not in a good way.

My kids are 13 and it is the funniest thing to watch on Halloween night as their friends trade candy between themselves. Most of it gets thrown out or we take it to the dentist who pays kids to turn it in and they send it to the troops. Personally I do not take the money but kids remember the thought and fun.

Now it you lived on our cul-de-sac, we also have adult beverage for the adults who walk around and that is what we remeber each year. There is nothing like getting shots of stuff as you walk the neighborhood. So sad I do not have to walk our kids anymore for that reason.

skinnylion

Set out a bucket of cheap Halloween toys on your doorstep, like plastic spider rings and vampire teeth, that kind of thing. That might make you feel better about not giving kids unhealthy stuff? But they would still feel like they got a "treat".

mrswarrick

CANDY!!!!! If you are wanting to not have temptation in your house buy a 'good' candy that you don't like. One of my neighbors gives out full size candy bars!!!!! She is the best house to go to on Halloween b/c you know you aren't getting Mary Janes- yuck!

I enjoy seeing all the costumes and giving out the candy. I hate it when they don't speak- kids better open your mouths before you open your bags at my house. I make them say trick or treat. Good kids get 2 pieces. I don't let them reach in my bucket and pick- I pick. But it's fun.

If you have a party to go to and you're not home....I don't see why your house would get egged.

rockerbabyy

we buy the good stuff (chocolate, none of that crappy peanut taffy lol) and hand it all out before and after we take our kids trick or treating. theyre still young (5&6) and love seeing just how much candy they can get each year. they get one day to eat candy, then if theres any left (and there always is) i pick through and keep what i want, hubby takes the rest to work to share with the work buddies.
halloween is once a year, and like another poster said - its up to the kids parents to control their kids candy consumption, not yours. we've been doing trick or treating since my kids could walk, and theres never been a need for extra trips to the dentist, just their 6 month cleanings and everything is perfect

xxloveiswarr

The kids are in for a treat when they knock on my door they are all getting one grape each.

Haha! Love it!

DoingitWell

The kids are in for a treat when they knock on my door they are all getting one grape each.

Too Funny!

randomtai

Now it you lived on our cul-de-sac, we also have adult beverage for the adults who walk around and that is what we remeber each year. There is nothing like getting shots of stuff as you walk the neighborhood. So sad I do not have to walk our kids anymore for that reason.

laserturkey

One year my mother-in-law gave out Beanie Babies. O.o She has been VERY popular ever since.

Little fun-sized packets of pretzels are not quite as awesome as candy, but generally pretty well received. (Plus the leftover packets will be portion-controlled and easier for you to regulate your own consumption.

Linbo93

I think another question the OP had that has yet to be addressed is how to avoid temptation if she does hand out candy. I'd agree with the above posters...let the parents do the policing. But if you're going to give out candy and you can't pick something you won't snack on, then I'd suggest getting a treat for yourself for the evening that you have in lieu of the halloween candy.

For me, whenever I see the fun size bags of candy, i instantly want them in my belly. But I can't control myself with a bag of fun size candy bars. So, I'll buy myself an actual candy bar. Its still 200+ calories, but there is a guarenteed end to that candy, where as with a fun size bag I'd be doomed!! I can plan around the bar and know it wont spiral out of control.

Perhaps you buy candy for the kiddo's and a candy bar of your favorite for yourself? You still get candy, they still get candy....win win! Just make sure that every last one gets handed out!!

Good luck!

Hearts_2015

or simply turn off your porch light and problem solved.. least that worked for us when we were young.

It's not just candy kids like, they like cool stuff too, someone suggested Oriental Trading, now that is some fun stuff to pick from! They'll already be getting tons of candy, so passing out something that will last and be unique is another option.

But if you're not into the door bell ringing while movie watching, just don't turn the porch light on. That should do that trick.