(NC)-In an age where many parents are intent on teaching healthy eating habits in the home, have you ever considered all the alternatives to sticky, gooey candy?

This Halloween may be the year to be more creative at your own door by giving out non-sweet and non-edible treats to the many ghosts and goblins that make the trek through your neighbourhood.

Thanks to the abundance of dollar stores, all sorts of miniature toy items are now available at reasonable prices. Stock up on crayons, pencils, stickers, coloured chalk, erasers, friendship bracelets, whistles, hair clips, baseball cards, mini vehicles, plastic animals, or even rubber worms and spiders. The trick-or-treater benefits, and so does the household handing out these treats. Instead of the temptation to munch away on leftover candy, non-edible treats can be boxed up and stored for next Halloween.

If, however, you still prefer to hand out something tasty, there are plenty of items that are healthier than traditional potato chips and chocolate bars like, sugar-free gum, cheese straws, and small packages of nuts, raisins and seeds. More information on this and other related topics is available online at HealthyOntario.com.

Here are a few more healthy Halloween tips:

. Eating a good meal before trick-or-treating will discourage youngsters from filling up on the candy collected as they make their rounds.

. Check your kids’ treats before they sample them.

. Divide the loot into portions to be consumed over many days.

. Check for age-appropriate treats. Small hard candies for example may choke young children.

Credit: www.newscanada.com

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