Leftover Halloween Candy?
Here’s what to do with it!
By: Sam Russo (Prototype Nutrition Coach and Registered Dietician)
Halloween has just passed and it’s one time a year where you get to dress up and veg out on sugar! Whether or not you and your family went trick-or-treating this year, there’s sure to be a surplus of candy in your household. And while we all would love to eat candy for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it’s just not a good idea. So, here are a few ways to make use of that candy that don’t necessarily involve eating it all.
Play candy checkers
If you have 12 pieces of two different types of candy, use them as checkers pieces. Skittles or M&Ms make great pieces that can be tossed in the trash after a game, but if you have wrapped mini-sized pieces, they are great for snacking when you capture your opponent’s pieces.
Bake
Add chopped chocolates to your favorite cookie or brownie recipe for an easy family-friendly activity. If you’re feeling ambitious, there are hundreds of recipes for creative treats on the internet, all you need to do is a quick search. You can also try this chocolate pretzel treats to use up several different trick-or-treating snacks in one!
The Recipe:
- Preheat oven to 350oF.
- Lay pretzels out on a baking sheet, making sure they don’t overlap.
- Top each pretzel with an unwrapped Hershey kiss.
- Bake for 3-5 minutes, until the chocolate, starts to melt. Be sure not to over bake!
- Pull out of the oven and press an M&M into each Hershey kiss.
- Let cool and enjoy!
Do a science experiment
Check out this resource with lesson plans for growing gummy bears, Skittles rainbows, dancing worms, and more! Or, let your kiddos create an experiment of their own!
Participate in a candy give-back or buy-back
There are several programs that collect Halloween candy donations to send to troops overseas, all you need to do is figure out which one works best for you! Also, many dentist offices participate in a buy-back program, where they will pay you to bring in your leftover candy.
Toss it
It is perfectly acceptable to throw candy away. Make it fun by playing a game of basketball, where the trash is your basket and the candy is your ball.
Of course, you can always enjoy your Halloween candy as is! Just be sure to enjoy everything in moderation. Happy Halloween!