Hello all you ghouls:

I don’t know what I was thinking when I sent out a non-Halloween Body Designs for this week.  Man, I missed the boat.  I guess with Saturday being my wife’s birthday and since we don’t have kids ourselves, it completely slipped my mind.

Therefore, I decided to give you another installment this week.  That way, I’ll be free this weekend and I’ll use the extra hour to sleep (yea, right) and not develop a Body Designs for next Monday (11/2).

Ok, so I am sure you’ve already guessed this Body Designs is all about trick or treating.

Look, even though I don’t have any kids and most of you think I never was one, I do believe in letting kids be kids.  However, I also believe that there are compromises that can satisfy a kid’s sweet tooth as well as a parent’s goal of having a healthy child!

Let’s face it, youth obesity is off the charts!  So here are a few tips to get your kids, and you parents too, through any Halloween.  Oh, come on I know you guys go through your kids’ bags just as our moms and dads did when we were little.  I remember my dad, God rest his soul (can I say that here in WLA) – just kidding – used to take all of our dark chocolate the second we got home.  It was his favorite!  Who knew then it was healthier than milk chocolate?

Anyway, I know it’s late to be talking about what to hand out for this Halloween.  But if you’re a last minute shopper, or want to file this away for next year, here are are few ideas:

1.  Go Sugar Free:  Yes!  Many great tasting treats now come sugar free:

      Jelly Beans, Gummy Bears/Worms, Hershey’s Chocolate, Dove’s Chocolate, Tootsie Rolls, Werther’s Original Caramels, Double Bubble Gum and many more are readily available in your local grocery store.  

Also,

www.Candywarehouse.com/sugarfreecandy.html

www.sugarstand.com/sugar–free–candy.htm

www.strictlysugarfreecandy.com

are web sites that sell our childhood favorites, sugar free, in assorted sizes and in bulk.

2.  Go Non-Candy:  Yup.  There is nothing saying that candy needs to be given out for Halloween.  How about some raisins, dried fruit, fruit rollups, string cheese, sugar free pudding, animal crackers, popcorn snack bags, mini granola bars or mini bags of nuts or pretzels.

3.  Go Small:  Yes size does matter!  Instead of being the house that gives the “King Size” treats, get the miniature assorted bars and just give out one or two.  Don’t worry, in this economy, no one will question it. 

4.  Go Combo:  Ok, you don’t want to be known on the street as the do-gooder that just gave out raisins for Halloween.  Next year your house might get TPd on Mischief Night.  So use gift wrap ribbon and tie a Non-Candy treat to a mini “good” treat.  For example, tie a box of raisins to a mini Mr. Good Bar. 

Now, you might be saying.  Gee Bill, that’s all well and good for what I give out, but how about what my kid gets?  Well, why not call all of your friends where your kids might be going trick or treating and politely suggest some of the above ideas?  Then you can plan for next year and get a bunch of parents together and order in bulk from some of the above mentioned web sites.

Also, you can attempt to limit the amount of homes your kids go to without shortening their time out with friends.    Maybe instead of having them go to all the houses on a particular block, you can have them go to every other one.

Well, I hope this helps and I hope you all have a Happy Halloween!