We’re not really the spooky, scary Halloween type, but we love the day for what it is — a chance to be outside with friends and neighbors (and if we’re lucky, enjoy a little fall weather). We’ll see this year… are you taking the over or under on a fall-like Halloween?
As we’ve adjusted our lifestyle—especially around food—it can feel overwhelming to manage the chaos of Halloween week and the mountain of sugar-laced treats that come with it. And I get it—it’s a big day for the kids. So, here’s how we’re prepping and finding a little balance this year (especially with one little one who’s super sensitive to sugar and red dye).
Awareness Training for Older Kids
For our older two, we focus on awareness. They’re getting old enough to notice how certain foods make them feel, and we talk through those differences together. My hope is that they learn to listen to their bodies because, honestly, the body is a master communicator—and they won’t always have us right beside them making those choices. We also toss all candy in the trash as soon as they head to bed, which cuts down on all of the post-Halloween drama!Decision-Making for Toddlers (or extra sensitive kids)
For our youngest, who’s more sensitive, we help her steer toward the fun non-food goodies—something I’m so grateful more families are embracing.The Non-Candy Club House
We’ve also joined the non-candy club ourselves and love handing out little toys or creative treats. It’s amazing what fun things people come up with in our neighborhood! We’ve put together a list of ideas below.An Intentional Pre-Trick or Treating Dinner
And finally—before we head out, I always try to make a big pot of soup or something hearty and nutrient-rich to fill everyone’s bellies. It might be a bit of a brawl getting everyone fed and dressed, but at least they’ll start the night feeling full and balanced before the sugar storm hits.
Halloween doesn’t have to be all or nothing - and it definitely doesn’t need to be an opportunity for shame if things don’t go as planned. However, I find making a plan and preparing my mind to be flexible allows us to focus on creating memories, enjoying the people we’re with, and leads to less micromanaging of the candy stash.
Below, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite clean candy swaps and fun non-candy goodies to hand out this Halloween! What are your favorite healthy Halloween hacks? Send us an email!
Clean Candy Swaps
Skip the artificial dyes, corn syrup, and mystery ingredients — these brands make treats that taste great and use better ingredients.
Unreal – Peanut butter cups, dark chocolate almond butter cups, or chocolate coconut bars made with real ingredients and less sugar.
SmartSweets – Sweet chews, SourMelon bites, and Swedish-style fish sweetened with allulose and monk fruit.
Hu Kitchen – Paleo-friendly chocolate bars made with simple ingredients.
YumEarth – Lollipops, gummies, and sour beans made with fruit juice
Non-Candy Club
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