50+ Candy Alternatives for Halloween

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

Photo Credit: www.etsy.com

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

Photo Credit: www.etsy.com

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

Photo Credit: www.etsy.com

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.