Based on a recent “Candy Confessions” survey from Crest, 86% of parents eat extra Halloween candy that was given to their child while trick-or-treating! I am not sure if that’s better or worse than them eating it.
We have 3 kids in our house and that adds up to A LOT of candy. Too much to keep around for a couple treats here and there. So, we came up with a list of some pretty cool things you can do with your leftover Halloween candy.
Halloween Candy Buybacks
These are held at local businesses, traditionally but not limited to dental offices. Participants buy back kids’ Halloween candy at a scheduled event with cash, xylitol products, coupons, toothbrushes, creative exchanges – They can partner with local businesses to give away coupons for food, services, goods, etc. They can give away hygiene kits or coupons for their office as well! The Halloween Candy Buy Back web site is a great tool to find out where your kids can take their extra loot. Simply plug in your zip code and a list of nearby buyback locations will come up.
Donating your candy to the troops overseas
Just thinking about bringing some smiles to their faces may be inspiration for your kids to easily let go of their precious stash.There are a few options for donating your candy to troops overseas. Groups like Operation Shoebox, Soldiers Angels and Operation Gratitude will all donate your candy.
Turn it into a science experiment!
What could be better than getting something fun and educational out of this crazy holiday. Kimberly Crandell, a mom of three with an aeronautical engineering degree, came up with 10 ways to turn leftover candy into a learning experience. Check out her super-smart ideas on science20.com. Another great site for experiments is The Gift of Curiosity.
Freeze it and Use it for your kid’s birthday party
- Make a board game and use the candy as playing pieces.
- Create DIY candy necklaces.
- Stuff it into a piñata.
Leave goodie bags
Put them outside for your mailman, garbage collector, meter reader, or recycling worker. We are sure they’d be stoked to have a little treat in the middle of their work day.
