“Healthy” and “Halloween treat” don’t usually go together.

The avalanche of sugar that leaves kids tired, immune systems weakened, hormone levels distorted, behavior issues ramped up, brain function altered, allergy symptoms worse, minds less able to focus, muscles get weaker, and damage to teeth.

Let’s do it better. Here are a few healthy Halloween tips to help make it a fun, festive holiday without the drawbacks.

When kids ring the doorbell

Instead of giving away candy, consider giving a different kind of treat, such as:

• Halloween or otherwise “cool” pencils
• Wax vampire teeth
• Crazy eyeballs and monocles that sit over kid’s eyes (funny, kooky and cheap)
• Plastic soldiers with plastic parachutes that kids can throw in the air
• Fake mustaches
• Pennies and nickels for little kids
• Play-Doh (comes in small containers)

Focus on the fun

Make Halloween more about the fun, friends and family rather than the candy.  Have some friends over to play games instead of spending hours trick or treating–although it is nice to be outside walking around. Maybe only trick or treat a short time, followed by a party with healthier treats.

Homemade treats

Make your own healthy Halloween treat, such as small bags of homemade trail mix (cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, shredded coconut, raisins).

Avoid the worst candy brands

If you are going to get candy, stick with the more natural brands such as Yummy Earth, Surf Sweets or get some organic dark chocolate. You can usually find them at your local health food store or order them online.

Remember, the makers of conventional candy include preservatives and other risky chemicals. In addition, most candy has additives (such as artificial coloring) that can increase the body’s toxicity burden, cause cancer, and cause behavioral problems such as hyperactivity, tantrums, difficulty focusing, and other ADHD symptoms.

What to do with all that candy?

After Halloween, instead of letting the candy sit around where you and your children will be tempted to eat it, consider selling your candy back.

Operation Gratitude has a great program that enlists dentists to buy back kids’ candy. Then the candy is sent overseas for the troops. You can find out more at Operation Gratitude.