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This tip was originally posted on Sustainable Table’s Daily Table blog.

Today’s Tip: Start thinking about healthy Halloween treats!

It’s unavoidable; you and your kids are going to end up in front of a tasty bowl of Halloween candy sometime soon. We can hope that it doesn’t happen and assume our friends and family know better than to tempt us with food that is not only bad for us, but also unsustainable and not local. It’s probably best to be realistic and come up with an action plan.

First, accept that it’s going to happen and think about moderation! Letting yourself indulge a little will keep from overindulging in some closet away from everyone. If you have said to yourself, “I’m just not going to have any Halloween candy this year, none!” it’s guaranteed that you will eat some and end up feeling bad about yourself. So, make a plan. On Halloween if you have a party or are trick-or-treating, give yourself and your children a limit. Put the rest away, and hope everyone forgets about it. If they don’t, allow them 1 or 2 pieces a day for a week (and then hope they forget!).

Secondly, if you are bringing treats or handing out treats, don’t cave and show up with traditional candy. If you start planning now, you can make a healthy contribution to this unhealthy holiday! For a kids party, think other fun foods or prizes. Bring fruit, boxes of raisins, individual organic fruit leather, mini bags of popcorn, small bags of nuts, or divert from food completely. Colored pencils, crayons, coloring books – go to the store and look around, be creative! Also for school events or adult parties, bake something, it’s always healthier than the store-bought version, try these Holiday Pumpkin Cookies from our website.

You could also stick to candy, but go the sustainable route – organic candy comes in many forms, I’m tempted by it often on line at the Park Slope Food Coop. Organic treats – chocolate, suckers, gummy bears, my favorite dark chocolate with coconut, there are many to choose from.

Get creative and write a comment to share with us if you have more ideas!