Halloween is all fun and games until someone hands out the wrong treats. Every neighborhood has those houses that kids dread because of disappointing candy choices — or even worse, non-candy surprises. Don’t be that house this year by avoiding these treats.
From toothbrushes to raisins, these are the treats that might just leave your doorstep in danger of a little Halloween mischief. If you’re looking to avoid the dreaded egging or toilet paper job, check out this list of the top nine handouts that just don’t pass the vibe check this year, or ever.
Make sure you’re giving out goodies that bring smiles instead of groans this Halloween. Everyone enjoys the holiday so much more when you do.
According to kids everywhere
Trick or treating is a modern part of Halloween, yet most of us can’t imagine anything else. Remember what it was like when you were a kid? Remember the houses you skipped? That’s no fun for sure.
So be sure to skip these treats to hand out. Read up and stay alert when someone tries to tell you what’s better than candy. Spoiler alert: This is a candy holiday, there are no two ways about it. Without further adieu here are the treats to avoid.
Natural treats
Think granola bars, healthy gummies and sugar-free gum. Yes, you guessed it, no one wants these except maybe parents everywhere. When choosing your treats to hand out, do your house a favor and skip anything labeled as natural.
Boxes of raisins fall in this category too. These often go to waste because there’s no way to tell if it’s been opened before rendering them practically useless. And let’s face it, those little boxes are always dried out anyway because they’re not airtight.
Toothbrushes
Unless you’re a dentist, oral hygienist or at a dentist’s office there is no need to hand these out. These will earn you a reputation that no one wants, the house to skip, or worse, trick. You may feel strongly but the kids feel even more strongly.
Religious tracts
You might think that now is the time to strike with religion by handing out religious paper leaflets that look like a folded $20 bill. But I can assure you nothing breaks a kid’s heart faster than finding that in their bag and realizing it was a trick, on them.
Loose candy
Unwrapped, loose candy is definitely off the list this year and every year. Unwrapped candy is a hard pass for parents and kids alike. Want to take this one up a notch? Circus peanuts.
Hard candy
While these are candy and fall in the sugar treat category, no one wants them. Things like butterscotch or peppermint disks, those strawberry-filled hard candies, and so on are giving old, stale, chewy and no thank you. However, if you do hand them out, they can be used later on gingerbread houses or yule log cakes as decorations.
Fruit
Apples or oranges just don’t scream Halloween fun for most kids. And given their awkward history with hidden objects inside they’re a must pass.
One exception? Adorable mini clementine pumpkins with faces drawn on with Sharpies or a food-safe marker. Those make cute and healthy treats that kids actually love to find in their bags because they can go in their lunch box the next day. But they’re actually better served at parties where sweet treats might be frowned upon.
Homemade treats
Due to safety concerns, many parents won’t allow their kids to eat homemade goodies from strangers. This one is a true shame because it used to be that everyone knew their neighbor was making popcorn balls for Halloween and the other neighbor made taffy. If your parents didn’t make candy or treats like these, then this was such a nice treat to receive.
Loose change
Kids and parents alike cringe to see a bowl of change for treats. Money is dirty, and mixing it in with candy, even in the wrapper, just feels wrong. And very germy. This one might incite parents to mischief. So beware.
Pencils and erasers
While practical items, the holiday versions are not great quality and, therefore, rather useless. The pencils are often covered in a plastic wrap over the wood, making them impossible to sharpen. And the cute erasers aren’t cute when they mark up papers. Hand these out and you’re sure to be in line for some kind of prank.
Keep it fun this year
This Halloween, don’t be the house that sends kids running the other way. Remember the thrill of a bag full of goodies when you were a kid? Make sure your treats bring the same joy to today’s little ghouls and goblins. Simply put, a couple of bags of candy is all it takes to make your house a highlight on the Halloween route — no tricks required!
Laura Sampson of Little House Big Alaska is on a mission to teach modern family-oriented home cooks how to make old-fashioned foods new again. She shares her passion for home cooking, backyard gardening and homesteading on her website and blog.