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November 02, 2007
What to do with all that Halloween candy?
Dr. Terry Preece in Utah has figured out what to do about all his patients and the Halloween candy they pick up. He buys it from them at a dollar a pound!
Davis County dentist holds 'candy-for-cash' Halloween buyback: http://www.abc4.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=ba15b913-1eb9-4015-9f1a-ea2f858e8460
He isn't the only dentist doing this. Across the country, countless dentists are engaging in similar programs to encourage children to reduce the consumption of Halloween candies. Closer to home, Dr. Paul W. Allen from Saginaw and Dr. Kevin Flood from Grand Rapids are doing the same thing.
Dentist's sweet deal tops half-ton of candy: http://www.mlive.com/news/saginawnews/index.ssf?/base/news-24/1194020567306600.xml&coll=9
He gives $1 a pound for Halloween candy: http://www.mlive.com/grandrapids/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1193770655172490.xml&coll=6
Dentists collect candy to ship overseas to the troups in Iraq in Chico, California; Bristol, Tennessee; and Harrison, Pensylvania.
Bristol dentist pays kids for Halloween candy to send along to soldiers in Iraq: http://www.tricities.com/tristate/tri/news.apx.-content-articles-TRI-2007-11-02-0011.html
Treats for the troops: Children turn in Halloween candy: http://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_7348501
Dentists pay children for their Halloween candy, send it to Iraq: http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071102/NEWS02/711020348/1018/NEWS02
Other folks are also coming up with ideas for how to use up all the worrisome bounty. The ideas include:
- buy it from the kids,
- hide it,
- throw it out,
- share it with neighbors,
- take it to work,
- cook with it,
- use it in art projects,
- save it for goody bags at a party,
- stuff a pinata for your child's next party,
- use it to barter for good behavior, or
- as a homework reward.
Five ways to use all that candy: http://specialchildren.about.com/b/2007/10/31/five-ways-to-use-all-that-halloween-candy.htm
Manage a candy stash for kids: http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071031/LIFE/710310340/1005
A rather creative approach is sharing candy with the Pumpkin Fairy (mysterious donations outside your door) or the Haggle Fairy (parents bartering change for candy) as mentioned in this article from San Francisco.
Halloween Candy Meltdown Time: How do parents deal with all the kids' toxic treats? Bribes, theft, fairies and total apathy: http://www.sfgate.com/flat/archive/2007/10/30/g/a/2007/10/30/candy.html
One idea that has really gotten attention this year is building a gingerbread house from Halloween candy. The famous FLYLady recommended gluing candy to a cardboard box framework with an eggwhite-based frosting, "the kind that dries into something resembling sheetrock". She included pictures of the gingerbread house made by her grandchildren, but you can find other patterns or ideas with an Internet search engine.
HouseFairy: Best Rooms: Bright Ideas: Building a Gingerbread House: http://www.housefairy.org/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=5
For my child, a big point is how to not get the candy in the first place, since he has special health requirements that mean he cannot have artificial food additives (especially dyes) or chocolate, poor thing. Some years we've gotten lucky with people giving treats that were things he could have, but this was not one of those years. He received two treats he could keep -- a container of applesauce, and a marshmallow. Rarely, we find white chocolate or organic candies, but don't really expect that. We are thrilled when people consider offering non-candy treats. Here are some ideas from good things he received in other years, and other non-candy ideas for treats. Remember to get things that are safe for children, and have a mix of items appropriate for a range of ages and genders.
- Balloons filled with helium
- Beads (as in small jewelry making kits and supplies for girls)
- Bubble stuff (small bottles)
- "Bugeye" viewing lenses
- Bugs or dinosaurs (plastic toys)
- Cars or trains (plastic toys)
- Cereal bars / snacks
- Chips or crackers (snack bags)
- Cinnamon sticks (with a packet of instant cider?)
- Coloring books
- Coupons for fastfood restaurants
- Decks of cards
- Fake blood (small tubes)
- Fake tattoos
- Fruit bars
- Fruit leather
- Glow in the dark (glow stick) necklaces or wristbands
- Glow sticks - chemical "flares"
- Granola bars
- Halloween theme toys (small ones)
- Keychains
- Keychains with lights!
- Laser pet toys
- Magic tricks
- Magnifying glasses
- Marbles
- Mardi gras beads
- Mini-books (scary stories or monsters)
- Mini-flashlights
- Money (real or play)
- Monster toys / decorations
- Noisemakers
- Notepads (seasonal themed)
- Nut bars or peanuts (remember, some kids are allergic to these, too!)
- Origami paper and patterns
- Party favors & dollar store items
- Playdough minis
- Ramen
- Rubber stamps (seasonal)
- Safety lights
- Skeletons or skulls (plastic)
- "Slime"
- Snakes (rubber or plastic)
- Spider rings
- Straws (as in fancy, plastic ones, especially Halloween themed)
- Superballs
- Tops
- Tracing paper (small pads)
- Vampire teeth (plastic)
- Whistles
MORE RECIPES
Leftover Halloween candy recipes: http://www.squidoo.com/leftovercandy/
Halloween candy is a magical recipe ingredient: http://www.mlive.com/food/grpress/index.ssf?/base/features-2/119383891019280.xml&coll=6
Left-over candy - a few ideas for you: http://www.wtopnews.com/index.php?nid=456&sid=1285065
Got extra Halloween candy? Make candybar cookies: http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/3443
How to ... use up Halloween candy: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/lifestyle/337293_stayhowto30.html
Posted by pfa at November 2, 2007 11:56 PM