One Last Treat

This is not exactly a recipe in this post, however, I did want to point out that it is possible to have some wrapped up treats to give to the kiddies (or swap out of your own kiddies' bags when they are asleep) that are REAL food treats.  The total number of ingredients in all of these treats combined will not add up to the number of ingredients in one piece of most Halloween candy.

• The honey sticks are a fun way for kids to try something new, if they are not accustomed to the taste of honey.  Ingredients:  100% natural pure clover honey.
  
• The cleverly packaged and individually wrapped prunes (or, as some more fashion-forward diners call them, "dried plums") are packaged just like candy.  Ingredients:  pitted California dried plums, potassium sorbate as a preservative.
• The Stretch Island Fruit Co. all natural fruit strips contain 4 and 5 ingredients, respectively - various fruit purees and lemon juice.
• The LARABAR, while a pricer treat, is a great substitute for the "jackpot" full-sized candy bar that the most popular neighbors in the neighborhood give out.  Most LARABARs only have 3 ingredients total.  In the case of the Peanut Butter Cookie bar shown, the ingredients are: dates, peanuts, salt.  That's it.  No added sugar, gluten-free, dairy free, soy free, vegan, AND kosher!
• And the little boxes of raisins?  What little kid does not like those?  The "mini" size is enough to endear them to most kids.

While giving out these treats at your front door may not make you a hit among the older kids in your neighborhood, the younger kids will like them (they haven't been conditioned not to).  Consider trying these treats at any time of the year, rather than the old standards of high-sugar, hydrogenated, chemicalized treats we normally associate with being celebratory.  Your kids' bodies will thank you for it one day.

Also, take a look at www.candyexperiments.com for ideas on how to conduct science experiments with traditional Halloween treats (sure beats eating them!).