Halloween is one of the most candy-laden holidays of the year. This can be a problem for parents who want to keep their children healthy but don’t want to deprive them of a fun-filled night. Fortunately, there are plenty of candy alternatives for Halloween that kids will love just as much as store bought sweets.
I’ve pulled together over 50 food free fun ideas that you can easily buy in bulk. Some of these are also great for Halloween party pinatas or as classroom party gift bag fillers. Let’s get ready to celebrate Halloween without any of the sugar overload.
You know I love to create fun sweet treats and desserts, but it’s important to keep it all in moderation. And let’s face it, there’s no moderation when it comes to trick-or-treating.
Help Kids Make Healthier Choices
While some candy options do exist that are slightly better than others, they still have high levels of sugar and artificial ingredients. In fact, eating just one small candy bar could add up to nearly half your daily recommended allowance of added sugars!
Offering non-food and non-candy alternatives is just one small way to show kids that Halloween can be fun even without the sweets.
Some kids can’t eat what’s passed out.
Have you heard of the Teal Pumpkin Project? Started by a mom in Tennessee, the idea is simple: paint your pumpkin teal (the color of allergy awareness) to show that you have treats that are safe for kids with food allergies.
This candy-free alternative allows kids with dietary restrictions or food allergies to join in the Halloween fun. It helps them feel included and reduces risk of exposure for those who have life threatening allergies.
Healthy Snack Options:
If you feel like you must hand out food for Halloween, make sure that you stick to individually wrapped, prepackaged, or Whole Foods. Here are a few ideas to consider:
- Bags of microwave popcorn tagged with a fun message
- Goldfish crackers
- Veggie straws (little kids love to play around with these!)
- Reduced sugar granola bars
- Clementines with Jack-o-lantern faces drawn on
But, I have to admit, my kids favorite candy alternatives to get are toys. And they don’t have to be anything big, either.
Which is why I’ve listed below more than 50 non-food, non-candy alternatives for Halloween that the kids will love.
50+ Frightfully Fun Alternatives to Halloween Candy
Mini Halloween Bath Bombs
All my kids, from the 6-year-old to the 12-year-old love bath bombs. And these mini bath bombs are just too cute to be scary!
Mini Skull Soaps
I love that these mini skull soaps are so fun to look at, but they're also useful and won't end up in a landfill.
Halloween Lip Balms
With two tween girls....there's never enough lip balm in this house. Which means that a treat like this is much appreciated.
Wax Craft Sticks/Wiki Sticks
Kids love to play with wax craft sticks (also known as wiki stix), because they can be bent, shaped and molded into all sorts of fun shapes. Parents love them because they don't make as much mess as some other toys.
Halloween Mini Notepads
Just like lip balm, there are never enough notepads for our kids. They use them to play pretend, to draw, or to make lists.
Colorful Silly Straws
With their bright colors, and crazy shapes, silly straws have been a hit with kids for decades.
Fake Mustaches
Just look at all those mustache shapes! And I love that they come with some colorful options too.
Halloween Pencils
When you have school aged kids, you can never have enough pencils in the house!
Bolley Joss Pack of 24 Pumpkin Keychains Charms Kids Halloween Key Chains Party Favor Supplies
My kids love to add keychains to their backpacks and pencil pouches as zipper pulls, and these look like just the right size.
Mini Halloween Bubbles
Older kids may scoff at the idea of bubbles, but the under 4 crowd will burst with excitement.
Halloween temporary tattoos
Temporary tattoos are pretty well received around here. But these take it an extra step - they glow in the dark!
Chattering Teeth
How can anyone avoid giggling when they see these silly guys running around?
Silicone Halloween Wristbands
Personally, I don't get the appeal, but I know that the wristbands with words have become practically a collector's item.
Harry Potter Wizard Glasses
Potterheads in your neighborhood will love you when you pass out these fun glasses. Plus, they come with a lighting bolt temporary tattoo. So fun!
Halloween Glasses
These glasses are the less expensive bulk option, but there are so many other choices to pick from. How about glasses with the eyes popping out on springs?
Halloween Light Up Rings
They're not just Halloween rings, they light up to show off their spooky colors and faces.
Pop it Fidget Fidget Bracelet
You can't walk down the mall without seeing hundreds of puppets on display, and most kids I know are obsessed with them.
Jumping Popper Halloween Toys
The class clowns will love these. (I know my little class clown will.)
Wind Up Halloween Toys
These are like the chattering teeth, but they come in all sorts of shapes. So cute!
Glow in The Dark Bug Toys
These fun toys use light up sticks (like the ones you use for bracelets) to create creepy glowing bugs. What kids wouldn't like that?
Halloween Slap Bracelets
Talk about a blast from the past....though I hear that slap bracelets these days don't hurt the way they did when you and I were kids.
Stretchy Skeleton Toys
My son especially loves these kinds of toys.
Sensory Fidget Toys
Fidget toys of all kinds are hugely popular right now...so why not hand out creepy centipede style toys like these?
Halloween Punch Balloons
You're remembering the sound of punch balloons right now aren't you? (Yep, me too)
Halloween Stickers
Whether it's a toddler decorating a sheet of paper, or a tween decorating their laptop, stickers are for everyone.
Halloween Stampers
These are perfect if you have a lot of little kids and toddlers in your neighborhood.
Glow Sticks
Whether you get traditional glow sticks, bracelets, or necklaces, kids love to pile on the glow sticks for Halloween.
Halloween Bookmarks
You can never encourage enough reading.
Glow-in-the-Dark Mini Sticky Tumbling Skeletons
These little guys are fun in the day or in the dark.
Mini Witch’s Potion Tubs of Slime
It's just a teeny tiny bit of slime...
Sports Novelty Assortment
Score points with all the kids in the neighborhood with this assortment of Sports themed toys.
Superhero Novelty Assortment
Whether you love DC Comics or Marvel, this toy assortment is super fun.
Ghoul Gang Sticky Sand
Have you ever played with Kinetic sand? It's a lot more fun than it sounds.
Halloween Treasure Chest Toy Assortment
Your Halloween bucket is ready to go with this option!
Halloween Knockers Noisemakers
How cute are these little guys?
Halloween Clicker Toys
My 12-year-old would probably click this toy constantly.
Mini Halloween Hand Clappers
I remember loving these so much as a kid!
Marbleized Glow-in-the-Dark Green Bouncy Balls
At least the kids will be able to see them no matter what time of day it is!
Fortune Teller Games
Older kids and tweens love these little games.
Glow-in-the-Dark Halloween Skeleton Rubber Duckies
Add some spooky fun to bathtime.
Pirate Coins
Little kids especially love getting coins of any kind.
Bulk Mini Jack-O’-Lantern Slinky Toys
Every single one of my kids loves Slinkies...so much so that it's surprising!
Mini Halloween Character Paratroopers
Kids will love flying these little paratroopers from the top of their deck or stairs.
Halloween Character Finger Puppets
Kids can act out their favorite Halloween characters with these cute finger puppets.
Wiggle Snakes
The perfect creepy crawly to pass out for Halloween.
Watch it Grow Witches
Little kids love all kinds of growing sponges, and this little witch is just too cute to pass up.
Mermaid Skeleton Bendables
These aren't just any old skeletons...they're mermaids!
Mini Pumpkin Stress Toys
These are the perfect size for kids to take with them to dinner as a quiet little fidget.
Bulk Halloween Mini Eraser Assortment
Some kids collect mini erasers because they're so cute! But pretty much every school aged kid needs extra erasers.
Mini Stuffed Animals
Kids love stuffed animals. And I've never met a kid who believed they couldn't do with just one more.
Vampire Fangs
I bet you had a set of these at some point as a kid...and you probably thought they were a blast. These toys are classic for a reason...they let kids imaginations go wild with fun.
So, what are you going to do this Halloween? Will you stick with the classic bags of Halloween candy (no judgement here, truly), or will you take charge of your kids consumption and teach them healthy choices for a night they’ll love with some of these candy alternatives?
If you’re ready to help make healthier decisions, I’d love it if you would share this post with your friends on Facebook or Twitter. Let’s get ready!
Leave a Reply