Raw Halloween?

[Autumn]

Anyone giving out raw treats for Halloween? I thought about giving out boxes of raisins, but I'm afraid the brats around here would egg my house. Of course we can't give out whole fruit because of the sickos. Lara Bars are too expensive to give out. Any suggestions?

[twinyoga]

I caved in and bought candy bars...afterall, I'm not eating them (nor are my kids). I told my husband I wanted to give out raisins and he said "NO"! We don't want our house egged, either.

I would love to hear what other people are doing.

[MoniDew]

oh, I have tried this in years past, boxes of raisins, fresh apples, small packages of almonds, etc. But it wasn't the neighborhood kids who terrorized me. No, they just turned their noses up at my offerings and walked away, assured I was insane.

IT WAS MY OWN KIDS. They were so ashamed and embarrased about it that they have told me every year since not to do that again. WE JUST HAD THAT CONVERSATION TODAY!!!!

Even the all natural candy from the healthfood store is a no-go around here. They want their poison straight up, preferrably injectable.

[VFayeS]

Every year, we give out little goodie bags filled with vegan candy, and one "be kind to animals" message product. For example, we'll include one Goldenberg's chew, one "Bug Bite" (dark chocolate candy with an informational card about an insect inside), one organic fruit leather, and a pin, sticker, magnet, or temporary tattto that reads, "Be Kind to Animals," or "Offer Kindness" or something like that.

No, the goodies aren't raw--that just doesn't go over well at Halloween. But, they are cruelty-free, and the message product is a good one.

[auntbilliegail]

Stickers, pencils, toy snakes, spiders, etc... are great alternatives to candy. Kids love to get stuff like that. You can get bags full of tiny toys at just about any $1 store or supermarket.

[Autumn]

Jeez!!! Why didn't I think of that? I used to order Halloween pencils and erasers and pens to give out to my clients. I never thought to buy them or other trinkets for the kids in lieu of candy. DUH!! :o

<<No, they just turned their noses up at my offerings and walked away, assured I was insane.>>

Moni, WOW. :eek: If I ever turned up anything offered to me, my parents would have warmed my butt, but good! It also would have ended my trick or treating for that year!


VFayeS- what a kind message you are sending to the children in your neighborhood! :)

[VFayeS]

I just printed out the bat crossword, connect-the-dot, and cut-out to distribute tonight: http://www.batworld.org/kids_page/kids_page.html

I'm going to roll the three together and tie with black and orange ribbon.

[VFayeS]

Autumn--this year, I'm passing out the bat pages referenced above. In past years, I've distributed buttons that read, "Offer Kindness" and "Encourage Kindess, Not Cruelty" from Wild Wear: http://home.earthlink.net/~wildwear/ww_pins.html (I attached them to heavy cardboard with a WARNING that adult supervision was necessary--didn't want any kids to accidentally stick themselves), and magnets that read, "Be Kind to Animals--Especially the small ones. They're very delicate." from Animal Rights Stuff: http://animalrightstuff.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=A&Category_Code=MP

No overt animal rights messages that might offend, just very soft messages about being kind to animals. We've been doing this for 9 years now, and have never had a complaint.

[emmaann]

Thanks for all the great ideas for trick or treaters. For the first time I am going to let my kids "get sick" on there candy!! Its going to KILL me!!! But think its better than trying to control them, there lessons are learned better this way!!
I sneak the kids candy and "throw it away"......... ;)

ac

[jennplas]

we just moved in this city a few weeks ago from another province. At first i thought we would just go see friends and avoid the trick or treating... but then i figured, that is not a good way to make friends in the area the first year we are here! hehe. so i did get candy for the trick or treaters.my daughters enjoys giving out the treats. she is 3 and a half. Last year, she trick or treated for 2 houses and then had enough and wanted to go home. we did a few extra houses because the people we were with wanted to do more, they kept on going even after we left. i told my daughter that she could choose 2 candies. then once she chose her 2 candies, the rest were recycled to the kids who trick or treated at our house (topped off what we had bought!) . i just wanted to get rid of it all. so by the next day, we had absolutely no candy in the house and my daughter never even mentioned it. i am truly blessed that she isnt addicted to candy!!

happy halloween!
jennP

[truthseeker]

emmaann you are right a lesson learned stays with you the longest. Good luck tonight with all the aching bellies you will have ;)

I too bought BAGS of candy to hand out for 1 or 2 hours (we get TONS of kids) then we will hit the street , we go down our street and the next one over then go to my mom's house ( usally decorated like a haunted house )

Then we go home and empty out our bags, sort through them, they eat 2 or 3 pieces of candy and the rest we donate to the local soup kitchen. Last year we sent our candy to the soldiers overseas.

If nothing else they learn the lesson of giving.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO YOU ALL !!!!

[MoniDew]

*your children are darling, seeker*

[swiddweas]

Once, on our block, this crabby ole man gave out ONE yes, ONE raisin to each child. He just plunked one into each bag......


Pattye

[Autumn]

Truth,
Your children are adorable. :D


Pattye,
Holy Moly. LMAO! That's awful!

[eachpeachpearplum]

Well it's the day after candy fest 2005 and it went surprisingly well! This was my 5 yr olds second Halloween (as she was totally unfazed when younger). We always go the commercial candy route as for us it's too time consuming and can be too $$ to do true raw trick or treats, and just plain uncool!

As far as my daughter I we decided early on that she gets to stay home and hand out the candy to others. This works well for several reasons. 1) She is a control freak and loves the power of doleing out the treats to others and 2) She figures she has a captive audience of kids to talk at about her costumes her pumkins etc.

I also allow her to have a choice of two pieces of candy. She was pleased with this but not the excitement I expected. She ate ONE and gave the other to her father and said "you have it daddy, I dont want to get a tummy ache"! Now let me say I did a secret "mummy success dance"!!

Also there was a big party at her Kindergarten with LOTS of candy and cookie decorating. So I explained what was going to happen at school and that she could choose any five of her favorite snacks and I would get or make them to take with her. She chose raisins, pumpkin seeds, grapes & a travel cup of lemonade. She came home very happy saying she helped decorate her teachers cookie.

My daughter has been on a restricted diet since she was 2 due to intestinal issues so she has not had to go through issue of "coming off" SAD but still to give back a candybar because she doesnt want a tummy ache, shucks just makes me all warm & fuzzy! :p

Cheers