Halloween candies are pretty much everywhere this time of year. Whether you are a parent or not, it is that season when you find yourself surrounded by a surplus of sweets. From our kids’ massive haul to the never-ending snack bowl at work, it’s safe to say that most of us end up with more candy than we know what to do with.
When it comes to dealing with this candy overload, a common approach is to let the kids indulge for about a week. But once the initial excitement fades, the rest of the loot often finds its way to the trash bin.
I get it—we shouldn’t sacrifice our children’s health in the name of reducing food waste. So, before you send off that sack of sugary delights to the landfill, why not ponder over my bucketful of alternative ideas?
Pop Them in the Freezer
Freezing those unconsumed Sour Patch Kids and Hershey’s Kisses is a smart move for a couple of reasons. First, it gives your candy a longer lease on life, which is great. But there’s another perk. It keeps those tempting treats out of your kids (and your) sight. You won’t have to listen to the sweet temptations of those Reese’s Cups.
Have them on hand when you need snacks for an impromptu road trip, a cozy family movie night, or when putting together delightful goodie bags for your child’s next birthday bash. And, for a wicked twist, you can “recycle” them by stashing them away for Christmas stockings, Easter baskets, or even as surprise goodies for your kids’ birthday piñata.
Share the Love
In recent years, there have been a handful of fantastic opportunities to donate Halloween candy. Now we find local dentists and businesses running “buy-back” programs where they pay you for each pound of candy you bring in, and then they go ahead and hand them out to some pretty deserving folks.
Also, some organizations are always ready to welcome your candy donations, too. So, if you are looking to spread some sweet smiles and share the Halloween spirit, there are plenty of great ways to do it!
Get Creative
When it comes to using up your child’s Halloween stash, there are so many fun, tasty options to add a little extra sweetness to your holiday treats. How about saving those colorful Skittles and Starburst to give your gingerbread houses a vibrant and playful makeover?
You can switch out regular chocolate chips in your cookies for some M&M’s or add them to popcorn, trail mix, or Rice Krispies for that extra burst of flavor. And if you’re a fan of ice cream (who’s not?), you can top your scoops off with some melted caramels or some chopped-up candy for that perfect finish.
Check out some of my personal favorites:
Ask for Some
Parents sneakily diving into their kids’ Halloween candy has become a long-running joke. However, here’s an even better tip: it is a good idea to simply ask before you swoop in.
I remember one Halloween when my then 4-year-old daughter was excitedly inspecting her bountiful candy stash. Finding myself unable to resist the allure of those sugary treasures, I softly asked if she could spare Dad a piece or two. She broke into a warm, generous smile, offering me a handful of her cherished treats. That simple act of kindness made the candy taste even sweeter.
This way, your kids won’t have to worry about feeling extra possessive or overly protective of their candy collection. Plus, it’s a great way for your child to practice sharing, and you also get to enjoy something sweet. Win-win-win!
“Switch” Things Up
As kids, we had the Elf on the Shelf. Now comes a new Halloween tradition: the Switch Witch. Much like the Elf, it adds a bit more to our parenting to-do list, especially when you’re juggling with producing intricate costumes and coordinating trick-or-treating with a host of family and friends.
With this “twisted” ritual, kids trade in their hard-earned candy for some exciting gifts – like a toy. However, some argue that the Switch Witch is taking away a classic childhood rite of passage, indulging in an excessive amount of Halloween treats.
Here’s how it goes down: Basically, your child goes trick-or-treating on Halloween, and when they return home, they get to pick five of their favorite pieces of candy. What about the rest of their stash, you ask? Well, they’re left outside for the mysterious Switch Witch, who performs a candy-toy transformation overnight.
Once the little ones are tucked in and fast asleep on Halloween night, the Switch Witch makes her grand appearance. She works her magic, scouring through some of the candy, and, in return, leaves behind a delightful surprise. This nifty idea is a clever way to keep kids from having too much junk and add a layer of excitement to their Halloween experience.
With all the trick-or-treating, spooky movie nights, and the Halloween spirit kicking in early, it’s pretty easy to find ourselves drowning in a sea of leftover candy by the time Halloween wraps up.
I know that October is all about embracing that sugar rush, but as the weeks post-Halloween roll on, our kids’ enthusiasm for candy surprisingly tends to drop. So, instead of resorting to the usual tactics of offloading them onto friends and colleagues or tossing them into the trash (the horror!), my carefully curated strategies may be a sweeter option.
Over My Dad Body 
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