Consumer Corner

Halloween is just one week away. Parents and their children are out looking for costumes and buying the treats to give to those trick or treaters knocking on the door.

We all go to Wal-Mart, grocery stores and other stores to buy candy and treats for Halloween. What does one buy? You buy your favorite treats/candy, we all do, and everyone probably does.

Here are some ideas to think about, and some “healthy” alternatives:

1. Jelly Belly Candy: Intertested in corn flavored jellybeans? Then you want to find Jelly Belly corn flavored jellybeans. These corn-flavored jellybeans will please anyone who can’t get enough of candy corn. This candy corn jelly bean has the texture of jelly beans and the yummy taste of the candy corn. Go for it.

Cost $6.00 per bag.

2. Sun Cups: the sun cups are allergy proof for those kiddies who can’t have peanut butter cups. These sun cups are peanut free made from sunflower seed butter. The sun cups are great for those children who have allergies to nuts and gluten. They are great tasting and what some may call – Delicious.

Cost $2.00 to $2.50 a bag.

3. Tootsie Ghost Dots. This is an old candy that’s been around for a long time but with a new look. The fruit flavored ghosts are all mixed so you will never know what flavor you will get. A word of warning – the ghostly gum drops are chewy and could take out your fillings.

Cost: $1.00 per box.

4. Goody Good Stuff Gummies: this is gluten free, all natural vegetarian gummie candies. These gummies are a little different from regular gummies – they taste fruitier and juicier. Enjoy.

Cost: $2.00/$3.00 per package.

5. Hershey’s Air Delight: Hershey’s has made these lighter – than-air chocolates kisses filled with thousands of tiny air pockets. The thousands of tiny air pockets give the candy a soft and creamier melt in your mouth. Not only light by being airy but light in calories – only 200 calories for 11 kisses. Not bad plus you get your chocolate fix.

Cost $13.70 per package

Halloween treats that are alternatives to candies:

1. Go to the Dollar store and pick up some pencils, temporary tattoos, bubbles and more. You can look around and get some great ideas. You can also pick up Halloween snack bags to put your “buys” in for the kiddies. Even toothbrushes!

2. Other ideas from the grocery store, Wal-Mart or the dollar stores include: pretzels, sugar free gum, gummie bears, gold fish, hot chocolate packages, granola bars, junior juice packages and other boxed items at the above stores.

These are healthy alternatives to candy. Try it and help our children stay healthy.

Have a safe Halloween.