Treats for trick-or-treaters?

[sublime311]

So what types of treats do you hand out for trick-or-treaters?


When we first moved into this house, it was a brand new subdivision with TONS of new families with young kids. That first year, I went ALL out and made a TON of little bags with little trinkets and candy. I kid you not, in less than 1 hour, my 70 bags were LONG gone! We had to go to the store to buy more bags of candy. After that year, we now just buy about 10 of the BIG bags of random candy - we usually try to the buy varieties that we don't necessarily like so we're not tempted to eat it while we're waiting for the next door knock!

Anyway, all that to say that we buy candy. Usually, not chocolate.

[Cohl]

We have so many kids that come to our house! Our first year here we had to go the the store 2 extra times because we ran out. Now, we buy the BIG bags of candy and lots of them!! Mostly a mix of candy and chocolate.

[MrsWilson]

I've always lived in an apartment complex (once I moved out of the folk's house) and although there were tons of kids, they never came to our place. I had candy ready, but I ended up eating it or giving it away to someone when they came to visit. Now we live in the county and not in a neighborhood, so I have no idea what will come. I'll probably have a little candy, just in case.

[lml41981]

Last year I gave out some chocolate, little raisin boxes and little bags of animal crackers. We had a lot of parents come with little children and I'd ask if they could eat chocolate or if they'd prefer raisins or animal crackers. The parents would scrunch their noses at the non-chocolate options and plunge their hands into my basket of chocolate. Yeah...something tells me they didn't give that to their kids.

This year, we're going to go to Sam's and get a case of Cracker Jacks and probaly a case of some other kind of non-chocolate non-nut treat...maybe fruit snacks or animal crackers again.

[Reenie]

Always candy. Since living in an aparment, though, noone ever comes to us, so I always make little packs for the kids in the complex and take it to their doors. :p I put WAY more candy in their bags than I would hand out to a single kid, but since we don't get trick-or-treaters, I think it's a fair trade.

[Chimichanga]

This is our first year in our house, and we'll be handing out candy. :D

My parents have always handed out king size candy bars from Sam's club - and I'd like to do that as well. they'd get about 5 different varieties and let kids take one (since they are so big). They always had the "cool' house on the block.

Our subdivision has quite a few kids, so we'll have to get quite a few boxes of candy. I love the holidays, and DH knows that we're going all out for it.

[MrsTazlvr]

Last year I gave out some chocolate, little raisin boxes and little bags of animal crackers. We had a lot of parents come with little children and I'd ask if they could eat chocolate or if they'd prefer raisins or animal crackers. The parents would scrunch their noses at the non-chocolate options and plunge their hands into my basket of chocolate. Yeah...something tells me they didn't give that to their kids.

This year, we're going to go to Sam's and get a case of Cracker Jacks and probaly a case of some other kind of non-chocolate non-nut treat...maybe fruit snacks or animal crackers again.

When I took DD last year I liked when we got pretzels, teddy grahams, etc. because she could eat those. I think raisins would scare me because those boxes really aren't sealed and I'd be too scared of someone doing something to them. I think that's my mother talking in my head. :rolleyes: LOL Maybe that's why they weren't such a hit for you last year?

[Etoile]

I LOVE trick or treaters but haven't gotten very many at all the past 5 years. I think our record was like 8.
However, we live in a house now (rather than apartment) in a very well-established neighborhood so I think it might be different. I am planning on getting a bunch of little cheap toys from orientaltrading.com to give out. I hate to contribute to the sugar high!

[lml41981]

When I took DD last year I liked when we got pretzels, teddy grahams, etc. because she could eat those. I think raisins would scare me because those boxes really aren't sealed and I'd be too scared of someone doing something to them. I think that's my mother talking in my head. :rolleyes: LOL Maybe that's why they weren't such a hit for you last year?
The raisins were actually a bigger hit than the animal crackers!

I looked for boxes of raisins that were individually sealed...and I swear I've seen them...I might look harder this year. :p

[MsRo]

The boy has been living in our house since '98 and last year was the first time we had over 10 kids. I think we handed out Snickers, Three Muskateers, etc.

[Reenie]

When I took DD last year I liked when we got pretzels, teddy grahams, etc. because she could eat those.

Oh, teddy grahams are a great idea! I might do those and those little bags of Ritz bitz sandwiches or fruit snacks this year! :) Good idea.

[BooeyJ2]

I always make goodie bags that have:

Candy (one chocolate type and two non chocolate type - usually M&M's, Twix or something and then Dum Dum pops, Sweet Tarts or Nerds)

Toy - Anything from a finger puppet to a whistle or a Ring

Non toy - Either a sticker or temporary tattoo


Here were my almost gone goodie bags from last year......
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v519/BooeyCruz/HalloweenBags.jpg



This year i'm doing something totally different. I'm handing out these with little ribbon and tags around the necks that will say "Happy Halloween" ........
http://image.orientaltrading.com/otcimg/5_387.jpg?resize(350x350)

[camberne]

I go to BJ's and get full-size candy bars. It was always so awesome to get these (and rare) when I was a kid, that I always said I would do that. I'm thinking of changing to two quarters this year. The only thing better than full-sized candy bars was money!! ;)

[jellybeany]

When I was a kid my mom would give out handfuls of candy. But since I've moved out we've lived in an apartment and never had trick or treaters. I'm so excited that we will be in our house this year in a family neighborhood so we will probably have some! :)

[princess1224]

We usually buy a big case of chips or something like that.

Speaking as a parent, the raisin are risky because of the easily opened boxes. I never let my kids have the tootsie roll type candy or the fruity equivalants....the kind that sits and eats away at their teeth for a half hour instead of quickly dissolving like good candy should.

I have three kids and they all have different tastes but it's always the same thing that doesn't get eaten, lollipops (they like them they just seem to get so many) and hard candy's - the kind that has a clear wrapper and twists on each end (this excludes the rocket kind that are tiny little discs in a long row...they love those). The chocolates, chips (and similar items), twizzlers and gummy treats go first.

[Photobug]

I always give out candy... I like to give out sweet tarts, sprees and m&ms cause that's what I always wanted when I was little! We're looking forward to this year, the first in our new house! The last couple of years we lived in an apartment and the only kid we saw was the one that lived upstairs, so we always just gave him half a bag of whatever we bought and kept the rest just in case someone else showed up. (Bet he's gonna miss us this year.)

[Brandles]

I LOVE the "lil' goblins"! :D I hand out candy. When I was a "lil' goblin" myself, I remember the lady who gave us nickels!! That ROCKED! I also remember the guy who gave out full-sized candy bars (and who I went back to each year when I was older).

My Grandma used to buy those Halloween nickel holders and give those out with a nickel. But...I think Current discontinued them.

[KrissyCat7]

We give out all sorts of Hershey candies. Last year I bought about 5 big bags, and NOT ONE CHILD CAME. Needless to say I gained some weight. :p

[MLA]

This year i'm doing something totally different. I'm handing out these with little ribbon and tags around the necks that will say "Happy Halloween" ........
http://image.orientaltrading.com/otcimg/5_387.jpg?resize(350x350)

I think this is a really cute idea, but it seems pretty expensive to me. Do you know where you can get stuffed animals like this in bulk? Thanks!

[IrishMeg]

I chose other because where I live I have never had one, single trick or treater! :o I live in a condo and I think that may be why. We have a no solicitating sign so maybe thats what keeps them away.

I always have candy on hand just in case (usually Starburst because I know I won't eat them!).

[Ki Ki Marcus]

I always give out Halloween pencils. One year I forgot and gave out quarters. I'm not sure if the kids remeber me or my dog. Hunter will usually escape out the door and follow a group of kids arounf for awhle. The kids always bring him back because he cuts down on their getting treats. He starts "protecting" them from the houses they go to. So, in my neighborhood, I'm known as the pencil lady with "that" dog!

[laurenc]

I voted candy & gum, but we also hand out bags of fruitsnacks (this past Halloween it was Sponge Bob themed snacks). Small kids (under age 5) usually go for the fruitsnacks because the bag has more surface area than anything else in our treat basket, and the bags are brightly colored. Plus Sponge Bob is a huge hit with the little ones!

[tinkerbelljenny]

Last year I handed out:
small boxes of cereal (like fruit Loops, Apple Jacks, etc
Doritos Bags
fruit Snacks
And Stickers

We have so many kids though and every year I buy more and every year I still run out. This year I was thinking maybe I would give out coloring books or pencils. I love all the ideas posted!

[usafwife]

Where we live we won't get any trick or treaters. We will buy something for our nieces and nephew but that's all the kids that we will see.

If we did have kids come then we would probably go with candy of some sort.

[BooeyJ2]

I think this is a really cute idea, but it seems pretty expensive to me. Do you know where you can get stuffed animals like this in bulk? Thanks!


www.orientaltradingcompany.com


They are $39.95 for 50 + $7.95 for shipping, so they come to about 95 cents a piece....which come to think of it is kinda expensive.

I might do something else like these instead.........
http://image.orientaltrading.com/otcimg/8_254.jpg?resize(250x250)

http://image.orientaltrading.com/otcimg/12_1881.jpg?resize(350x350)

[Etoile]

We're getting these two things from oriental trading:
http://image.orientaltrading.com/otcimg/25_2373.jpg?resize(250x250)
"Glitter Sticky Halloween Characters" 3.95/6 dozen

and

http://image.orientaltrading.com/otcimg/39_1807.jpg?resize(250x250)

"Glow in the dark Magic Jumping Beans" 6.95/gross (144)

[Littlelamb11]

I'm usually anal retentive healthy mom but on Halloween, we go whole hog on the candy. we give out a variety of full sized candy bars and then one or 2 other candy novelties. last year we also gave out giant pixie sticks. they year before it was push pops and ring pops :p

Maybe i'll get some animal crackers for the little little ones this year. I like that idea. it's hard to find healthier options for small children that aren't choking hazards.

[mrsdrummer]

We are finally in our house, and it's DH's favorite holiday, so we'll have all the outside decorations, and I got some treat bags on clearance at K-mart last year so I'll fill those up. unless things have changed in the past my parents never really had too many TorTr's so hopefully i'm prepared. I'll probably put in some stickers and a candy bar or 2 and possibly something non chocolate. We'll see, it's gonna be a ball i know.

[ajb524]

I have given out juice boxes before (always chilled :) ) and my IL's sometimes give out soft drinks. The kids always seem to like them.

[Lauren23]

We give out candy, but don't get too many trick or treaters. Still, it's more than FH's mother gets at her house! Last year they got one tricker or treater. One!

[ambam]

I'm really excited this year for Halloween. We are in a house and I hope we get trick-or-treaters. We always had quite a bit at my parents house. And its always fun handing out candy to the kids. I will probably buy some chocolates to hand out. Not those nasty Bit O honey that my grandma always handed out. LOL

[ManteoChik]

My parents have always handed out king size candy bars from Sam's club - and I'd like to do that as well. they'd get about 5 different varieties and let kids take one (since they are so big). They always had the "cool' house on the block.

My BFs family has always done the same thing. This is our first year in house where we will have kids coming instead of an apartment. We plan on going to Sam's and buying King Size candy bars in bulk to give out to trick-or-treaters. His house was always the "cool" house on the block as well...lol.

[Katy]

We don't usually get any kids - we live in a tri-plex on a street with quite a few other condos and apartments. For the past two years though, I still bought the "good" candy for the kids. The first year, the dog ate most of it, wrappers and all (yes, we freaked out in a BIG way)! The second year, I wound up eating all the candy. This year, I'm going to buy one bag only (just to have on hand) and it's going to be something that I don't like (or that I can pass on to the nieces and nephews)

[shopaholic]

I live in an apartment this year so I really don't think we will be getting any trick or treaters??

But if I were to hand out candy, it would be something that I enjoyed so I can eat it while handing it out :)

Mini Twix bars or something sweet/fruity like Sweetarts or starbursts and/or skittles :)

[jeneca128]

I'm loving these... I might have to order some.

http://store1.yimg.com/I/candywarehouse_1864_30742081

From candywarehouse.com

[jeneca128]

http://store1.yimg.com/I/candywarehouse_1864_48402568

http://store1.yimg.com/I/candywarehouse_1864_48489417

These are cute too.

[jeneca128]

Ok..just one more.... I think these are cute too, a little expensive, but cute.

http://www.smalltoys.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/C02240.jpg

They're from smalltoys.com. The little bags of blood are sour strawberry flavored gel candy. Probably much nicer to look at than to eat though....