I love halloween, but the treats play tricks with my weight. I have found treats that kids love which are allergy safe, have no calories, no sugar,and leftovers can be kept for next year! My secret? I simply give out halloween toys for kids in their trick or treat bags.

Halloween toys are now available through discount stores, dollar stores and novelty companies. Halloween toys include bouncy balls that look like eyeballs; monster finger puppets; spinning spider tops, stretchy insects, etc. There are also toys for school, like Halloween pencils, erasers and pencil toppers decorated with witches, ghosts, ghouls, pumpkins, black cats and candy corn. I really like the craft items which kids can decorate themselves. Craft items can include Halloween wood shapes, coloring books, stampers, stencils and putty.

Novelties can cost as little as 5 cents, with most averaging 15-20 cents. Therefore, it is not any more expensive to buy toys than candy. Halloween toys are perfect for school, especially the pencils and erasers, since they pose no threat to children with allergies. Toys are also safer than candy since kids do not eat them and there is no worry of pills or razor blades being inserted into a pencil or bouncy ball.

Best of all, toys can be stored for the next Halloween if you buy too much. In fact, you can take advantage of after Halloween sales to store up on items for next year. If you are making Halloween trick or treat bags, or party favor bags, you can always add in a piece or two of candy for tradition. Giving Halloween toys does cut down on the calories and sugar kids consume. In an age where obesity is a big problem with our youth, substituting toys for candy can only be a good thing.

One last tip: If you do not want to eat the candy you buy for trick or treating, get a brand of candy you do not like. That way you won't be tempted!

Megan McInnis, aka schoolmom, is an educator and parent that writes about parenting topics and raising healthy and happy kids. For more information visit http://www.blogschoolmom.blogspot.com.