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A Healthier Halloween

Looking for alternatives to traditional Halloween fare? Would you like to give trick-or-treaters something other than conventional candy, without spending a fortune? Consider these readily available options! (Costs may vary between regions and stores.)

Halloween Basket

  1. Temporary Tattoos

    While the ingredient list is not ideal, it's not a sugary treat, and kids enjoy them.

    Cost for box of 4 tattoos: $.25
    Notebook with 20 tattoos: $.50

  2. Stickers

    Kids love to decorate notebooks and other supplies with stickers.

    Cost: $.25 per sheet of 8

  3. Eye Mask

    Masks can be fun all year round!

    Cost: $.50

  4. Pencil/Pen Set

    Kids can take these to school the next day or use them at home.

    Cost: $.89

  5. Action Figures

    Great for boys!

    Cost for 5 figures: $.40

  6. Paint/Paintbrush Set

    What child doesn't love to paint?

    Cost per set of 2 washable paints: $.90

  7. Glow Stick

    This is a great option for older kids.

    Cost per stick: $.30

  8. Mini Pumpkins

    When presented with a choice, some children may opt for a fun fall decoration.

    Cost range: $.50-$.75

  9. Bead Necklaces

    Fun for girls.

    Cost: $.25 per necklace

  10. Healthier Candy

    This may require some legwork and extra cost. Options include:

Some of these options present choking hazards for small children. Consider having a separate basket of choices for toddlers.

Have a good-quality flashlight on hand to shine on the tray/basket so children can easily choose.

Most of all, enjoy the reward of knowing you're giving kids something a little healthier this Halloween!

Quotes

"I've been living in a mold-infested home for 13 months... I was going CRAZY! Finally figured it out... Just a few days of recovering in a mold-free home and I feel AMAZING!!!"

– Lauren

"I have been sick for almost 6 months now and doctors were not able to figure out why. I finally put it all together after going away for vacation for a week and suddenly my symptoms were going away."

– Anonymous

"I was skeptical at first that these (natural cleaning) products would work, but they work better than the stuff I buy at the store! We will soon be moving to the personal care products as well!"

– Jennifer

"My daughter started having digestive problems... heart palpitations... coughing episodes... muscle/joint pain... asthma/allergies... Her doctor finally advised me to check for mold in our home."

– Anonymous

"We were having a lot of health problems and had been to the doctor countless times... we had large circles of slimy greenish-black mold on the bathroom ceiling, where it had caved in a few months before."

– C.

"I'm new at this, but today I cleaned my bathroom with baking soda and vinegar. It's much better not having those strong chemical smells afterwards."

– Anonymous

"Both of my sons went downhill quickly and coughed for months... They both lost their ability to read, had profound vision disturbances, and had phenomenal gastric issues."

– Lee

"Our family has been out of our home for 9 months due to mold... I am so scared and weak from all of this. We have lost friends; family members don't understand."

– Anonymous

"I knew it was mold, but doctors kept telling me I had anxiety. I was sitting in my office and could not remember who I was talking to, or what we were talking about."

– Brenda

"We all suffered from headaches, hormonal body temperature fluctuations, brain fog, fatigue, difficulty breathing, thrush, rashes, and yeast infections... we vacated our home two weeks ago."

– Anonymous

"The entire time we lived in our (mold-infested) house the kitchen sponge would get musty smelling within 3-4 days. It was so strange. I had to buy a pack of sponges nearly every week."

– Anonymous

"...at age 35 or 36 I started to become allergic to everything, and I got asthma at age 36... I went to doctor after doctor after doctor and was desperate for help, but nobody could help me."

– Mia

"The ERMI mold test as well as your helpful articles and Toxic Talk Tuesday programs have helped us avoid a terrible mistake in purchasing a new home."

– Angela

"My symptoms persisted and eventually turned into lethargy and depression. At the age of 26, I required a nap every evening after work."

– Jennifer

"I started finding myself sitting on the floor in rooms of my house and not remembering how I got there, what I was doing before, or how long I had been there."

– Brenda

"In my moldy home if I left the wet clothes in the washer they would get musty very quickly and I'd have to re-wash... Sometimes I'd run a load, go to work, and they'd be musty when I returned that evening."

– Anonymous

"My daughter has had many blood samples taken to test for everything imaginable and her doctor just seems puzzled. Everything comes back normal."

– Anonymous

"I had been struggling with headaches, head fog, breathing difficulties (unable to get a full breath), constant scalp tingling, migraines, nausea, feeling spacey/detached, and severe itchy skin."

– Anonymous

"We had some water leaks in our home... we never thought we needed to clean out and remove the floor, the ceiling, or the drywall... my two small children and I have remained constantly sick for years in this home."

– Mia

This site is dedicated to a true friend and mother — Barbara Dell Kessel (1929-2009)