Healthy Halloween Treats and Non-Candy Handout Alternatives

Here’s a collection of healthy Halloween handouts and candy alternatives that children of all ages will enjoy. This round-up of cool Halloween handouts includes healthy Halloween handout ideas for trick-or-treaters, as well as non-candy Halloween treats that are safe for children with food allergies.

I love tasty Halloween treats just as much as anyone else. What I dislike are candies that are filled with high-fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, and numerous other synthetic ingredients, especially in excess on occasions like Halloween night. This year, my husband and I have decided to minimize the impact by choosing to provide healthy Halloween treats and non-candy alternatives that are safe for children with food allergies.

These healthy candy alternatives for Halloween, non-candy Halloween treats, and other fun Halloween handouts are much better for children (and ourselves). Oh come on, you know you dig into the Halloween candy bowl, too! Offer any of these healthy Halloween treats or classic non-candy alternatives to party guests, and hand them out to trick-or-treaters on Halloween night. You might also enjoy this list of Halloween Art Projects.

Can I give out homemade treats on Halloween?

Unfortunately, it is best to avoid giving homemade treats to trick-or-treaters, especially those you don’t know well. Homemade treats, such as popcorn balls, carrot or celery sticks, caramel apples, and cookies, are not recommended for handing out on Halloween due to safety concerns, including food allergies, potential tampering, and contamination.

Parents often prefer, and sometimes prohibit, their children from eating the homemade treats provided by strangers that children find in their Halloween bags because of unknown ingredients, preparation methods, and health risks. Therefore, it is safest to stick with commercially pre-packaged, individually wrapped candies and non-candy treats, such as those recommended below.

Related: Halloween Pumpkin Salt Painting 

Halloween Treat Ideas: Healthy Halloween Candy, and Non-Candy Alternatives to Hand Out for Halloween

In the next section, a list of the healthiest Halloween candy and treats is provided that contain healthier forms of sugar than high-fructose corn syrup. These are a great alternative to Halloween candy that contains high fructose corn syrup and other artificial ingredients. In addition to these healthier forms of candy, there are also a few Halloween treat options that contain little to no sugar.

So, if you are wondering what to hand out for Halloween besides candy for children with food allergies, several of the Halloween treat ideas below provide an excellent option. There is also a separate list of non-candy Halloween treats perfect for the Teal Pumpkin Project to help you find the safest Halloween treats after the list of healthier candy alternatives.

To explore alternative non-candy options for Halloween, please scroll past the handout ideas listed in the next section. The non-candy Halloween handout ideas include handout alternatives such as Halloween toys and stickers, which won’t endanger children with life-threatening food allergies. You might also enjoy making a Ghost Sensory Bottle.

Healthiest Halloween Candy and Treats for Trick-or-Treaters and Class Parties:

This informative guide includes a list of the healthiest Halloween candies. These options contain healthier ingredients than your typical Halloween candy. Some of the more nutritious alternatives to typical Halloween candy, listed below, include a healthier form of sugar than corn syrup. In contrast, other healthy Halloween treats are not candy, but snacks, and may not contain any sugar at all.

Please note that not all the healthy Halloween treats for kids listed in this section are safe for children with food allergies. Some children are allergic to wheat gluten or nuts, which can be found in pretzels, crackers, and cookies, as well as some of the non-candy treat options recommended below.

However, the write-up for each product contains information to help you choose allergy-friendly options if you prefer to provide them. As a reminder, a fantastic selection of non-candy treat alternatives, such as toys and trinkets, for Halloween is listed in the next section for children with food allergies. You might also enjoy making Halloween ghost crafts in various shapes and sizes.

1. YumEarth Gluten-Free Candy:

This candy tastes better than mass-produced, chemically produced candy because it uses real fruit extracts and planet-friendly, organic ingredients. YumEarth candies are made with all-natural ingredients, no artificial colors or artificial dyes, no gluten, no peanuts, and no tree nuts. Just award-winning taste! In other words, these healthier treats for Halloween are safe for children with food allergies and thus perfect for the Teal Pumpkin Project.

Individually wrapped Yum Earth Halloween candy packs:

• Yum Earth Organic Halloween gummy fruits
• Organic Sour Littles
• Giggles and Chewys Variety Pack
• Halloween Lollipops (turn them into lollypop ghosts!)
• Variety Bag (Pack of 50)

YumEarth also offers a vast inventory of individually wrapped organic candies, available in bulk year-round. While they are not packed in individual bags specifically for Halloween, they make a great alternative Halloween treat for trick-or-treaters. Several of these options are listed below:

Individually Wrapped Yum Earth Organic Candy:

These organic candies also make a fun lunchbox treat for kids!

• Organic fruit snacks
• Yum Earth organic jelly beans
• Organic hard candy

2. SmartSweets Variety Pack:

SmartSweets candy has up to 92% less sugar per 50g compared to the leading traditional candy options. Made without major allergens such as tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, milk, eggs, fish, or shellfish, it is gluten-free and crafted with plant-based ingredients. Enjoy nostalgic flavors without added sugar, artificial flavors, or colors in these individually wrapped candies, making them perfect for Halloween and the Teal Pumpkin Project. 

3. Boxes of Raisins:

Boxes of raisins are one of the original healthy Halloween treats to hand out to trick-or-treaters. I recall finding boxes of raisins in my Halloween bag long before these healthy Halloween treats, featured in this informative guide, were introduced. Raisins are gluten-free and safe for children with nut allergies if they are processed in a facility that is free from nuts and other allergens. Unfortunately, most children don’t like them as much as candy. However, yogurt or chocolate-covered raisins are a treat many children enjoy more than plain raisins, but they are no longer vegan-friendly. Today, you can also hand out sealed pouches of raisins instead of boxes.

4. Annie’s Organic Halloween Fruit Snacks:

Another great candy alternative for Halloween is Annie’s Organic Fruit Snacks. They are made with real fruit juice and do not contain any artificial flavors, synthetic colors, preservatives, pesticides, gluten, or nuts, making them safe for children with allergies. Get them HERE–> Annie’s Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks (Individually wrapped organic fruit snack pouches).

5. Freeze-Dried Fruit Packs:

Freeze-dried fruit packs are a great gluten and sugar-free alternative to candy for Halloween parties and to hand out to trick-or-treaters. These fruit packs are filled with 100% all-natural, high-quality, hand-sliced, delicious freeze-dried fruit packed in convenient single-serve bags with no added sugar, artificial sweeteners, or artificial colors or preservatives.

6. Halloween Garden Vegi Chips Snack Packs:

These individually wrapped gluten-free Halloween treat bags are filled with healthy non-GMO veggie chips in fun ghost and bat shapes. Garden Veggie Ghost and Bat snacks are vegan-friendly and a perfect Halloween handout option for little and big trick-or-treaters with or without allergies. With 30% less fat than leading potato chips, these festive Ghost-and-Bat-shaped garden veggie chips are spooky, crunchy, and totally eerie-sistable!

7. Individually Wrapped Mini Cheese Ball Halloween Treats:

These individually wrapped Mini Cheese Balls by UTZ offer a gluten-free treat alternative for Halloween, made in a peanut- and tree-nut-free facility, making them safe for children with wheat or nut allergies. Thus, they are an excellent option for the Teal Pumpkin Project, but they are not suitable for vegans because they contain milk products.

8. Goldfish Cracker Halloween Snack Packs:

These cheddar goldfish crackers are a healthier choice for most trick-or-treaters than candy. However, they do contain wheat, so they are not safe for children with a gluten allergy. They also contain milk, making them unsuitable for vegans. Each box of Halloween goldfish crackers includes 24 snack pack pouches with fun Halloween graphics.

9. UTZ Halloween Pretzel Treats:

Please note that pretzels are not allergy-friendly for children with wheat or gluten allergies, so these treats are not appropriate for the Teal Pumpkin Project. However, they do provide a healthier treat option to typical candy for Halloween. These fun Halloween pretzels come in the shapes of bats and Halloween jack-o’-lantern pumpkins. Halloween pretzels are great for both Halloween parties and make a healthy handout alternative for trick-or-treaters on Halloween night. UTZ pretzels are available individually wrapped in a large barrel of Halloween pretzels.

10. Annie’s Organics Snack Variety Pack:

Annie’s Organic Snack Variety Pack, including Cheddar Bunnies, Bunny Grahams (honey, chocolate, and chocolate chip cookies), and Cheddar Squares, contains no artificial flavors, synthetic colors, or high-fructose corn syrup. However, these snack packs contain wheat, making them unsuitable for children with gluten allergies and those participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project. 

Related: Giant Stick Spider Web Halloween Decoration

Non-Candy Halloween Treats for Kids with Food Allergies:

Give children the gift of treats without the sugar this Halloween. This list of non-candy Halloween treats without the sweets is just what the doctor ordered for many children suffering from food allergies. In other words, this list of candy alternatives for Halloween is an excellent option for homes participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project. 

Non-candy Halloween treats are a much safer alternative for children with food allergies–and a necessity for children with life-threatening food allergies! Not to mention that too many sweets can also cause cavities for years to come. These Halloween treat ideas are suitable for filling treat bags, prizes, party favors, gifts, glow party favors, and trick-or-treat alternatives for children with food allergies. For a fun and safe Halloween, consider adding these candy alternatives to your Halloween handouts this year.

Give children treats and party favors that are both fun and functional this Halloween, instead of candy, with the excellent alternative options below. If you decide to provide any of these non-candy Halloween treats for kids, don’t forget to place a teal pumpkin on your porch to let parents and caregivers know that your home is providing handouts that are safe for children with food allergies. We hope you enjoy the alternative ideas for Halloween candy listed in this fun collection of cool Halloween handout ideas for children and adults of all ages.

1. Temporary Tattoos for Halloween:

Temporary Halloween tattoos make an excellent alternative to candy. Kids love to put tattoos on at school parties or find them in their trick-or-treat bags on Halloween night.

2. Halloween Stickers:

This colorful collection of circular Halloween stickers features a variety of non-repeating Halloween themes. This collection includes 100 waterproof vinyl stickers for Halloween.
These fun Halloween stickers can be attached to various surfaces, including computers, water bottles, refrigerators, closets, walls, bicycles, notebooks, mirrors, and other items you want to decorate, making them a great non-candy option for Halloween handouts. 

3. Self-Inking Stamps:

Another safe candy alternative for children with food allergies on Halloween is self-inking stamps. Try any of the Halloween self-inking stamp ideas listed below:

• Self-inking stamp variety pack
• Holidays and occasions self-inking stamps

4. Halloween Slime: 

Slime is a super cool Halloween treat for kids, making a fun alternative to the typical Halloween sugar-filled treats. Sensory and fidget toy gifts, like Halloween slime, are ideal for Halloween parties and make great additions to boo baskets or candy buckets, adding a fun, spooky touch to your celebrations. Give trick-or-treaters glow-in-the-dark Slime that comes in several neon colors – yellow, orange, green, blue, and pink! Alternatively, hand out Halloween Slime with spooky-themed charms, such as pumpkins, ghosts, skulls, and black cats.

5. Play-Doh Halloween Treat without the Sweet for Kids:

Give something fun and functional this Halloween instead of candy. Fill trick-or-treat bags with cans of Halloween Play-Doh modeling compound, instead of sugar-filled treats, with these fabulous Halloween treats for kids.

6. Bouncy Balls:

Mini green glow-in-the-dark bouncing balls and Halloween-themed multicolored glow-in-the-dark bouncing balls are fantastic Halloween party treats for kids. The multicolored glow-in-the-dark bouncy balls include six Halloween-themed character designs, including a pumpkin face, black cat, haunted ghost, fairy-tale witch, tricky bats, and spooky eyeball stamps. Glow-in-the-dark bouncing balls are also a fun alternative to traditional Halloween candy handouts for trick-or-treaters of all ages, making them safe for the Teal Pumpkin project. You might also enjoy making a glow-in-the-dark ghost sensory bottle.

7. Glow Sticks:

Hand out glow sticks for fun and safety on Halloween. Glow sticks and glow-stick party supplies, with glow-in-the-dark bracelets and necklaces, make great Halloween party treats for kids and candy alternatives to hand out to trick-or-treaters on Halloween night. Not only do children love glow sticks, but glow stick jewelry helps them stay safe on Halloween night. Glowing handouts like these help keep children safe by making them more visible to drivers on the road.

8. Flashing Halloween Rings and Finger Lights:

These fun flashing rings and the Halloween finger lights recommended below are another easy Halloween treat idea for kids. Like glow sticks, finger lights can provide a safety light for your trick-or-treaters on Halloween night.

• Flashing Halloween rings
• Glowing flashing rings
• Halloween rings that flash
• Bumpy flashing rings

9. Halloween Bubbles:

Miniature Bottles of Halloween bubbles are also fantastic Halloween treats for kids. They are a perfect non-candy alternative to hand out at class parties and make a great handout alternative for trick-or-treaters on Halloween night.

• Halloween bubbles
• Neon bubbles
• Bubble wand party favor pack

10. Halloween Parachute Toys for Kids:

Bat, pumpkin, and Skeleton parachute toys are a Halloween treat for kids that make a fun Halloween party favor and a perfect candy alternative to hand out to trick-or-treaters on Halloween night. Throw these Halloween-themed parachute toys high in the air, or drop them from a height, to see them deploy their parachutes and fall gracefully to the ground.

11. Stretchy Skeleton Toys:

These stretchy skeletons are individually wrapped and make perfect Halloween non-candy treats for kids. This 24-pack provides just the right amount for birthdays, classroom treasure boxes, or moderate trick-or-treat routes. Purchase more than one set if needed.

Related: Ghost Crafts and Decorations for Halloween

Fun Trick or Treat Bags and Trick or Treat Buckets for Halloween:

Don’t forget to provide trick-or-treat bags or trick-or-treat buckets for your trick-or-treaters this year! There are several options to choose from, featuring different Halloween designs and light-up features.

Easy Halloween Treats for Kids: Healthy Halloween Treats & Candy Alternatives for Halloween

Offer your trick-or-treaters, schoolmates, and Halloween party guests these healthy Halloween handout ideas with this comprehensive list of healthy treats and fun alternatives for the holiday. Children are sure to love this collection of healthy Halloween treats just as much, if not more than, other not-so-healthy Halloween handout ideas.

If you are looking for fun ways to keep the kids calm on Halloween night when all the ghosts and goblins come out to play, try a glowing Jack O’Lantern sensory bottle!

You may also like this collection of Halloween art projects that children LOVE! Art therapy is a great way to reduce anxiety on Halloween.

For even more fun ideas, check out this list of fall activities for kids with a printable bucket list to help you keep track of all the fun you have in the autumn.

Learn more about Nell Regan Kartychok, author of these healthy Halloween handouts HERE, and Rhythms of Play HERE!

If you Liked These Easy Halloween Treat Ideas, you may also like:

• Halloween Pumpkin Salt Art
• Glow in the Dark Halloween Pumpkin Sensory Bottle
• Tissue Paper Ghost Craft 
• Top 10 DIY Halloween Lanterns
• Visit a Pumpkin Patch
• Spider Halloween Crafts and DIY Decorations
• Skeleton and Spider Halloween Porch Decor
• Halloween Spider Web Door Decorations
• DIY Giant Outdoor Spider Web