Anything but Candy! 25 Candy-Free Alternatives for Halloween Trick or Treating

According to the USDA Economic Research Service, the average child in America consumes 49 pounds of sugar every year. Add the dramatic increase in children’s food allergies over the past few decades to the mix, and it’s no surprise that Halloween candy isn’t quite as popular among parents as it used to be

Of course, kids still love getting candy, and you don’t want to be “that” house (you know, the one that hands out boxes of raisins). But kids who trick-or-treat on Halloween night are going to collect LOTS of sweet treats, so don’t feel guilty if you’re among the growing number of parents who want to offer Halloween handouts that are both safer for children with food allergies and a little less likely to lead to sugar shock. 

Whether you are planning to hand out only candy-free treats or you just want to offer trick-or-treaters both candy and non-candy options, here are 25 alternatives you can consider.  

1. Glow Sticks. Since most kids trick-or-treat after dark, glow sticks are both fun and practical. Plus, they come in a wide variety of shapes and colors and you can even turn them into Glow Stick Brooms if you’re feeling crafty.

2. Spider Rings. These creepy, crawly spider rings are available in bulk (in both black and orange) from Party City.

3. Bubbles. Party stores sell miniature versions that are perfect for Halloween.

4. Stickers. Be sure to choose themes both boys and girls will appreciate. For a gender-neutral option, buy rolls of Halloween stickers in bulk.

5. Temporary Tattoos. Buy several sheets (which feature multiple tattoos) and then cut them up in advance so you can hand out individual tattoos on Halloween night.

6. Small Containers of Slime. Whether you call it gak, flubber or plain old slime, it’s a gooey mess that kids just love. You can even find glow-in-the dark varieties if you’re willing to spend a little bit more.

7. Halloween-themed Pencils and Erasers. There never seem to be enough pencils in the house when homework time rolls around, so help parents stock those study stations with some fun, Halloween-themed school supplies.

8. Toothbrushes. Of course, you could leave this one to the neighborhood dentist (and neighborhood kids may think it’s even worse than apples or raisins), but it’s another option that parents are likely to applaud.   

9. Bouncy Balls. A kid can never have too many bouncy balls. Look for balls that resemble pumpkins or eyeballs (yes, they’re out there!) if you want to keep with the Halloween theme.

10. Craft Kits. There’s no shame in buying inexpensive craft kits at your local craft store, but if you have the time and the budget, this Beads and String idea is fun, festive and definitely unique.

11. Halloween Activity Pads. These are available in bulk at surprisingly reasonable prices.

12. Mini Playdough Containers. Get fancy and dress them up with these printable Halloween playdough wrappers (FYI, you’ll have to purchase them before you download and print them), or given the time of year, you can probably find mini containers in orange, black and white.

13. Fake Vampire Fangs. Remember trying to stuff those vampire fangs into your mouth as a child? They’re fun and just a little creepy, and definitely perfect to hand out on Halloween night.

14. Water Bottles. Trick-or-treating makes you thirsty! Dress these up to look like Jack-O’-Lanterns and attach a packet of powdered drink mix to each one to make them more festive.

15. Sidewalk Chalk. Small packages of chalk will encourage kids to get outside and get artistic.

16. Crayons. These may not excite older children, but younger trick-or-treaters will love them.

17. String Cheese. If you still want to hand out food items, consider a healthy, high-protein snack like string cheese.

18. Individually Packaged Snacks. They may not be the healthiest option, but individually packaged snacks – think pretzels, goldfish and granola bars – can be a welcome alternative to yet another tootsie roll. Many are also available in special Halloween packaging, which makes them seem like more of a treat to kids.

19. Individual Packets of Hot Chocolate. Buy several boxes and hand out the individual packets inside. It’s often cold on Halloween night, so after trick-or-treating, kids can take these home, add hot water or milk and warm up with a mug of steaming cocoa.

20. Individual Bags of Microwavable Popcorn. Same premise as the hot chocolate: buy several boxes and hand out the individual packets inside. Kids are likely to appreciate this salty alternative to all of their other sweet treats.

21. Halloween Whistles. Encourage kids to make some noise while they’re out trick-or-treating.

21. Punching Balloons. Get orange and black for Halloween if you can find them.

22. Bookmarks. Bonus points if they have a Halloween theme like pumpkin, ghosts or monsters.

23. Flavored Lip Balm. Choose from kid-friendly flavors like Strawberry, Root Beer Float or Hot Fudge Sundae.

24. Keychain Flashlights. Promote trick-or-treating safety by handing out mini keychains that double as small flashlights.  

25. Mini Jack-O’-Lantern Magic Springs. Part slinky part, part jolly pumpkin head, these Mini Magic Jack-O’-Lantern Springs from Oriental Trading are another cute alternative to candy.