After all the Halloween parties, school celebrations and trick or treating are over, and your kids have been over-indulging for days, chances are, you’re ready to put an end to the sugar madness.
In my house, we let our kids enjoy their treats and the candy, but the slightest bit of sugar makes them hyper so we don’t keep it in the house after Halloween.
Halloween candy is a treat, not something they should eat everyday until Thanksgiving.
What’s more, when you’re an emotional eater like I am and you have no willpower for sweets, you can’t have candy lying around.
So how can you get rid of leftover Halloween candy? Here are some ideas.
1. Donate it
Last year, I packed up my kids’ leftover Halloween candy and shipped it to Operation Gratitude, a non-profit organization that includes candy in care packages they send to the troops.
There are other places that may accept Halloween candy donations too, such as:
- Local churches
- Ronald McDonald House Charities
- Police and fire stations
- Community organizations
- Non-profit organizations
- Senior citizen centers
- Nursing homes and retirement homes
- Homeless shelters
- Soup kitchens
- Food banks
- Military organizations like Soldiers’ Angels and Operation Shoebox
2. Trade it for cash
Through the Halloween Candy Buy Back Program, you can trade leftover Halloween candy for cash, coupons, products or services. Through local dentist offices and other local businesses that serve as drop-off locations, the program will ship candy to Operation Gratitude for you.
3. Send it to school for the teachers
Teachers are some of the hardest working, devoted and caring people in our kids’ lives and they love to feel appreciated for a job that’s often underappreciated.
Ask a few friends to combine your kids’ leftover Halloween candy into a pretty gift basket for the teachers and school staff.
Your school’s parent-teach organization may also welcome a donation of Halloween candy for teacher appreciation week or special events and fundraisers throughout the year.
4. Bring it into the office
You or your spouse can bring your kids’ leftover Halloween candy into your offices for the candy jar in the reception area, the conference room or the break room.
Your co-workers may not be thrilled, but at least it’s out of your house.
5. Trade it in
When her daughter was diagnosed with type-1 diabetes and she realized she wouldn’t be able to enjoy candy-filled holidays like other kids, Lara Riley came up with the idea of Switch Witch.
With a book, doll and kit, kids get to trade in their Halloween candy for a toy, a book, or whatever you choose.
6. Trash it
I would never advocate throwing away food, but sometimes throwing out leftover Halloween candy is your only option. So take it out with the trash and don’t give it a second thought.
