7gen Bloc

On the tips, I'm totally with you except for the candy. Are there any fair trade chocolates in snack sizes? Is there a large variety to choose from? Do they have varieties with stuff in them? Will kids like them? The organic chocolate bars I eat are decidedly not the sort chocolate a kid would choose. They don't want bittersweet, hazelnut filling, coffee flavoring, cranberry bits or anything like that.

As to the alternative idea of giving out school supplies, I remember quite clearly being a very disappointed kid whenever I got anything like that. I wouldn't want to be "that woman with the stupid erasers" on my block.

It's a shame that homemade treats can't be given to children anymore, because that would solve the problem. But since the whole point of trick or treating is to give away treats kids will enjoy (otherwise, why bother?), I think it's going a bit overboard to try to curtail it.

LUVBUG
KIDS LOVE TO GET FUNKY LITTLE TOYS ETC... IN MY DAUGHTERS CLASS, FOR INSTANCE, THE BIG THING IS ERASERS SHAPED LIKE FOOD. DON'T ASK ME WHY, BUT THE KIDS ARE LOVING THOSE. I BELIEVE TARGET SUPPLIES THEM. AS FAR AS CHOCOLATE. I DO KNOW THAT YOU CAN GET MILK CHOCOLATE IN BULK WRAPED IN EARTH PRINT FOIL. THEY ARE PRICEY, THOUGH. THAT IS A GLITCH. I SAY, DO WHAT YOU CAN, WHERE YOU CAN. IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD THE ORGANIC, FREE TRADE CHOCOLATE, THEN GO GREEN IN ANOTHER AREA WHERE YOU CAN MANAGE IT. HAPPY SAMHAIN!!!!

Great article!
Mistymar, yes, you can get snack size organic chocolate that kids will like. Check out: www.chocolatebar.com/shop/c-38-halloween.aspx

Organic milk or dark chocolate, snack size, from Endangered Species. 10% of net profits are donated to help support species, habitat, and humanity. Also, the chocolate is DELICIOUS! They also have cute tote bags if anyone is interested in forking over $20-30 for a reusable candy bag. :)
As for giving the kids what they like, what they like can be dangerous. In my experience, kids like ANYTHING with a little bit of sugar, but preferably, they'll go for the one with a LOT of sugar. Refined sugar is not a necessary nutrient, which means a person's daily value of it is ZERO grams. Yet we Americans get on average 25 grams of it a day, which has led to a huge rise in diabetes and obesity -- sadly, even in children. So going for the healthier candy options (small, plain chocolate over giant Butterfingers and hand-sized lollipops) is important. Kids will still get more excited for the Butterfingers, but at least you're doing your part not to contribute to bad health, and hopefully others will follow suit when they see the cute little animal-themed Endangered Species wrappers. That's my thinking. :)

I understand the importance of making holidays fun and special, I love them. But once I realized how corn syrup is destroying our food systems, health is quickly declining, and farmers are being sued by large corporations, I had to stop. I reduce my negative habits as much as possible. The simple changes start with what you do in the home as a mom. My daughter is only 4, and when she asks why we do things a certain way, I give her a summary in a "four year old" way. She really gets it and it is rarely an issue. Do I allow certain things in extreme moderation? Of coarse! The problem is that unhealthy and unjust things are so ingrained in our lifestyle that nothing is in moderation now.

So take a stand and be the uncool mom. The other moms may follow suit, and then the neighborhood will be healthier and happier. It will only be a matter of time before this is the "coolest" thing around and part of the norm.

I've always had a problem with all the pumpkins that are wasted when it's such good food. I use a marker on mine. After Halloween, I clean mine out, roast the seeds, bake the pumpkin and make pumpkin soup and custard. If you slice the pumpkin into quarters or eighths and bake, you can scoop out the pumpkin pretty easily after baking. Just a thought when so many are going hungry.

I really dislike reading comments about how nasty corn is. All of the regular crops that are grown are genetically modified and generously sprayed with pesticides. Corn and corn syrup are just two more products that we need to buy organic fair trade. The food of my ancestors (and of this land I might add) is good enough for me. Stop insulting Native Food.
I also have to agree with mistymar, It is far better to give children something that they will like, rather than wasting. All of those cheap little toys will end up in a landfill in a couple of weeks.

I ran across this website a couple days ago and thought it was a really cool idea... Children want to take part in the Halloween festivities and by doing reverse trick-or-treating they can share the message of fair trade with others. While the program is closed for this year, I encourage you to take part next year!