What Are You Handing Out for Green-oween?

It's that time of the year, when dozens of kids show up at your door dressed as ninjas, goblins, ghosts and Harry Potter. Heck, I even dressed as Gordon Gecco from Wall Street one year.  When I was a kid (I know you are saying "not again!"), I remember coming home with a bagful of unhealthy treats — Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Bubble Yum, sugar-filled jelly beans, gum drops (again, sugar-filled) and a variety of other processed and sugar-coated yummy snacks.  But never apples — mom believed that the inevitable razor blade would find itself inserted into any apple I brought home.

I never mentioned that we only trick-or-treated at homes of people we knew. We are now in the age of fighting obesity in children, healthy and organic diets and avoiding sugar. With this new era, an entire new line of healthy and green treats are available for your l'il goblins. The Daily Green provides a great overview in a handy-dandy article that appears today. Among their recommendations:

Yummy Earth Lollipops: USDA certified organic, contain no artificial colors or corn syrup and are available in 20 flavors such as Pomegranate Pucker, TooBerry Blueberry and Strawberry Smash. Fair Trade Gold Coins: Traditional gold coin milk chocolate pieces. Each bag has approximately 17 pieces. Both sides read "FARMER OWNED" and "FAIR TRADE." Kosher certified. Endangered Species Bug Bites: These .35oz. pieces are made with organic-certified, shade-grown, ethically traded smooth milk chocolate with 52 percent cocoa content. Milk Chocolate Bug Bites are certified Kosher by Orthodox Union and organic by the USDA and Oregon Tilth. And each one comes with an insect trading card.

I probably would have killed the kid in the witch costume to get my hands on insect trading cards when I was 10!  While the article presents some great and healthy options, there are many more out there to share this Halloween. Happy be-witching!