How to Make Your Halloween Trick-or-Treat Handouts Nut-Friendly

Halloween is a little over two weeks away and the kids are so excited.  Our trip to the pumpkin patch was a wash thanks to all of the rain and wind we had this weekend, so we are hoping that the weather is good next weekend.  They are getting impatient and want to pick out and carve their pumpkins.  Carving is really more of a daddy and the kids project and I can't wait to see what they come up with this year!  I'm thinking the little guy is going to love playing with the "pumpkin guts."

While we have a lot of fun with Halloween, we also find it quite challenging at times due to our oldest son's peanut and tree nut allergy.  Trick-or-treating is the obvious time when his allergy poses a problem.  Bless his heart, each time he knocks on a door he tells the person that he has a peanut allergy.  We have tried to teach him what candy is "safe" and so if there's a choice, he goes on the hunt for those options.  Many times, though, he has to choose something that he won't be able to have.  We aren't really big into letting our kids gorge themselves on candy, but it is hard to watch his face while he watches us sort the candy and much of his "loot" actually gets taken away.  

While I understand that not everyone will go out of their way to accommodate children with these allergies, it is easy to do as there are some types of candy that are safe.  In case anyone would like to have some "nut-free" options on hand or choose to just hand out "safe" treats, here is a list of what we have typically found to be okay.  As always, be sure to double-check the label to see if there is any bold print about peanuts or tree nuts.

"Nut-Free" Trick-or-Treat Options:

Anything made by the Tootsie company.  Usually the large bags are called Child's Play Tootsie mix.

Wonka Mixups (contain Nerds, Laffy Taffy, Sweet Tarts, and Bottle Caps)

Kirkland Signature Funhouse Treats mix

Dum Dums lollipops

Skittles 

Starbursts

Hershey Milk Chocolate Kisses

Goldfish Crackers

Utz Halloween Pretzels

Betty Crocker Halloween fruit snacks

Oreo Halloween Minis

Swedish Fish

Pixy Stix

Fun Dips

Lifesavers

Twizzlers

I know there are more options out there, but this is just a list I could come up with off the top of my head!  We tend to buy bags of the first two, as it is a pretty good variety and we can give a few pieces to each kid.  If you really want to get creative, buy some Tootsie Pops, cover them in Kleenex tied off with yarn, put some eyes and mouth on them with a marker, and you have a cute ghost!

Happy Monday!  More Halloween activities, food, and tips to come!