The candy is everywhere. It has been creeping into the grocery stores since Labour day and the boxes seem to be multiplying as the end of October nears. Walls of bite sized chocolate bars are piled so high in some locations it feels like you are navigating through a maze. Do we really need this much candy? It can certainly be fun to dress up, visit with neighbors and collect goodies on Halloween. However some parents find it challenging to decide what to do with the candy once the children bring it home. Some will ration the candy, others will let them “eat at will” for a few days and take what’s left over and some do not intervene at all. Regardless of what route you choose there is one strategy that will be effective for every family… go for quality rather than quantity. Encourage your kids to choose what they really want (or what you really want!) rather than taking one of everything. You may be surprised that if they are asked to make a choice they may not choose candy at all. With childhood obesity on the rise, many households are opting for non-candy treats as Halloween handouts. A study conducted in Connecticut offered two bowls of treats to children on Halloween. One bowl contained lollipops and fruit candy and the other bowl contained inexpensive Halloween themed trinkets. About 50% of the kids chose the toys over the candy. Perhaps you want to try a little experiment for yourself. In one bowl you can offer cool treats such as: ghoulish pencils, pens that light up, vampire teeth, key chains, glow in the dark stickers and temporary tattoos. Use your imagination and come up with your own distinctive treats. Many options will cost less than 25 cents each when you buy in bulk from party supply stores. In another bowl you can offer an array of candy and even some healthier treats such as boxed raisins, trail mix, granola bars, fruit leathers and sugar free gum. You’ll probably find anything with chocolate will disappear quickly but soon after, the toys might keep pace with the sweet treats. The other advantage to offering non-candy treats is the lack of tempting post-Halloween leftovers. There’s no sense testing your late night willpower. No matter how far back in the cupboard you hide the candy it will be found and eaten. Some people cleverly buy candy they do not like to overcome this temptation. Even though the toys might sound a bit more expensive, you may actually save money in the long run because leftover toys can be packed away until next year whereas candy must be eaten or thrown away. If you have already purchased candy for Halloween, consider augmenting your selections with some non-candy treats. Both kids and adults may be pleasantly surprised how much fun Halloween can be with a little less sugar and a little more imagination.