Halloween treats seem to have become a political issue.  I guess that's not really a surprise given the rates of child obesity in the United States. Personally, I don't see Halloween treats as a huge problem.  The real problem to me is that they aren't treats.  Candy is not a special treat kids get occasion but a staple part of a diet already filled with other unhealthy things.

Let's face it.  If people ate healthily most of the time, the indulgences of Halloween candy, Christmas cookies, Easter baskets, and summer ice cream runs wouldn't be a big deal. But when we eat too much and too many processed foods on a daily basis, Halloween candy is just piling on.  Top that off with kids who spend most of their days indoors and in front of screens and you have a health crisis waiting to happen.

I do plan to hand out candy on Halloween.  It's one of the very few times a year (with Valentine's Day and Easter) that I actually buy candy at the store. Plus, I know that most kids in my neighborhood get a lot of exercise running around outside.  (I see them every day when I walk my dog — she is quite popular with the younger set!) I guess my decision goes back to my theory that treating the symptoms isn't terribly useful if no one cares about the underlying cause. 

But many people will make a different decision and I totally respect that.  If you want to participate in trick or treating but you don't want to give out candy, you can do the pretzel or individual trail mix packets.  Of course, those are high in calories too — just less fat and more nutritional content, respectively. You can also go a completely non-food route: fun stickers, Halloween pencils, press-on tattoos.  For affordable things to give out, check your local dollar store in the party favor section.  You may find some good choices there.