Author Topic: Halloween: What do you give out?  (Read 22002 times)

BlueHouse

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4136
  • Location: WDC
Halloween: What do you give out?
« on: October 21, 2014, 04:24:06 PM »
For those that participate in Halloween, what do you give out as treats and how much do you give to each child? 
Do you set any limits?  # pieces per person?  Age of person?  Time of night?

Are there any universal signals (such as turning off the porch light and locking the door) that signal that you either aren't participating or are out of candy or are closed for the night? 

For me, I live in a recently gentrified area where the former residents drive back with their children and too-young mothers expect candy for themselves (they have their own bags) while walking around with their children.  Older children will keep taking until you tell them they have enough.  I routinely run out of hundreds of pieces within an hour, and I wonder if I should institute a strict "one piece per person" rule and hand it out myself.    I feel the need to simplify (only one type of candy to avoid the feeling that i need to give people one of each).  Am I a Halloween grinch or is this acceptable?

MayDay

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4953
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #1 on: October 21, 2014, 04:46:08 PM »
I start out handing one piece per kid, and give more towards the end if I have it left.


Our town has strict time limits so it's only 2 hours anyway.  Lights off, jackolanterns blown out after the 2 hours.

If obnoxious teenagers come by, they get one peice same as everyone else. I've never had an adult ask for candy.

rocklebock

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 244
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #2 on: October 21, 2014, 04:54:21 PM »
We get hordes of kids all evening. We do it for a couple hours and then either leave to go to a party or shut off the lights and watch a movie. I hand out a couple pieces to everyone, with the goal of having no candy left in the house for us to eat. Everyone gets candy - I don't want the burden of making judgments about who deserves candy.

lexie2000

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 218
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #3 on: October 21, 2014, 04:54:35 PM »
We used to give out full-sized candy bars (purchased free after coupons).   Unfortunately, over the last 8 years, the number of kids that we had at our door gradually decreased to the point where the year before last we only had a handful.  I realized that over the years, fewer and fewer people in our neighborhood (mostly retirees) were participating and finally gave up myself. 

Zamboni

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 3882
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #4 on: October 21, 2014, 04:57:01 PM »
Two pieces per child.  I pick out of the bowl and drop into their buckets.  This is more normal than letting the tots dig in and take what they want.  <-My ex used to try that strategy and often it backfired.  They can trade with each other later to stock up on their favorites if you don't give them exactly their favorite from your selection.

The most popular thing I've ever given away was those little plastic vampire teeth that you can wear over your own teeth.  I think they were $1 a dozen at the time; the 7-10 year old crowd all seemed to be instantly adding vampire teeth to their current costume as they walked away from my door.   

I've never seen a parent with their own bucket.  That's just bizarre. 

I have seen carloads of tots who don't live the neighborhood and that doesn't bother me at all.  I figure these are mostly kids from one of these types of locations:
1) apt complexes or downtown areas where it's tricky to trick or treat because each resident doesn't have a way to control their porch light and thus advertise whether or not they welcome a knock at the door,
2) rural areas where the houses are miles apart from each other, or
3) really, really unsafe neighborhoods where the parents don't want the kids knocking on neighborhood doors.

Congratulations, you live in the perfect type of neighborhood for trick-or-treaters!  If you loved this ritual as a child, then by all means pay back by participating as a candy source now.  If it's a burden, then either head out for the evening or just turn on the lights as another poster has suggested.

VirginiaBob

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 429
    • LRJ Discounters
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #5 on: October 21, 2014, 05:05:35 PM »
I actually pay a few kids $0.25/lb to go collect candy from the rich neighborhood.  I drop them off and pick them up 2 hours later.  Everything gets sold on ebay the next day. 

deborah

  • Senior Mustachian
  • ********
  • Posts: 15958
  • Age: 14
  • Location: Australia or another awesome area
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #6 on: October 21, 2014, 05:06:27 PM »
In Australia I don't ever remember having "trick or treat". However, last year we were shocked when the neighbour's kids came around to do it, and we gave them each a chocolate. This year I want to know what you are "supposed" to do if it happens again. Can anyone advise what the process is supposed to be? From the above I assume that kids are supposed to have buckets (those teeth!) for their spoils.

gimp

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2344
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #7 on: October 21, 2014, 05:07:28 PM »
Quote
Our town has strict time limits so it's only 2 hours anyway.  Lights off, jackolanterns blown out after the 2 hours.

What the fuck nazi town do you live in?

BlueHouse

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4136
  • Location: WDC
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #8 on: October 21, 2014, 05:32:10 PM »
In Australia I don't ever remember having "trick or treat". However, last year we were shocked when the neighbour's kids came around to do it, and we gave them each a chocolate. This year I want to know what you are "supposed" to do if it happens again. Can anyone advise what the process is supposed to be? From the above I assume that kids are supposed to have buckets (those teeth!) for their spoils.
I hope you don't live in one of the states that celebrates "Mischief Night" or "Devil's Night" because that would TRULY shock anyone that didn't expect the results. 
I grew up in the Northeast and Mischief night was very popular.  Toilet paper in trees and soaping car windows was what the good kids did.  Bad kids used eggs and shaving cream and water hoses. 

galliver

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1863
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #9 on: October 21, 2014, 06:23:07 PM »
When I was a kid, we only went to homes that were *decorated* and had lights on. Probably pretty smart move in an immigrant-heavy area. Nothing wrong with apartment complexes, either, as long as you only go up to decorated doors. And they were quick to get around (more units/area than single family home neighborhoods).  Past couple years I've lived in a shady-ish neighborhood, and although we had tons of kids I never saw trick or treaters. We also didn't decorate. In a new place (city) this year, hoping someone will come by...we're off a large non-residential street, though, a dead end for trick or treaters. So probably not many.

It's totally fine to hand out candy yourself. IMO, it's also fine to judge by age and/or costume, although a friend posted something on FB about kids without costumes possibly having sensory sensitivity, or kids who don't talk having a developmental delay. That seems like a good thing to be aware of... I would totally give a 10yo with an awesome homemade costume an extra big handful and a costume-less teen just one.

Actually, when we got up into the 12-14 age range (where some still wanted to ToT and others felt awkward), my friends and I started making up and singing "Halloween carols," such as "the people outside are frightful" to the tune of "let it snow". Big success. We also did always make/design our own costumes at that point.

clarkfan1979

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 3352
  • Age: 44
  • Location: Pueblo West, CO
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #10 on: October 21, 2014, 06:28:18 PM »
48-count boxes of Snickers was on sale 2 weeks ago for 9.97 at Costco. Because they are full size, 1 per child.

kimmarg

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 750
  • Location: Northern New England
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #11 on: October 21, 2014, 06:54:41 PM »
I buy one bag of my favorite and one bag of my husbands. One per kid is policy but if it's slow I get lax. Lights on if you're home and giving treats, all outdoor lights off if you're not.

momoneymama

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 18
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #12 on: October 21, 2014, 07:09:41 PM »
They sell trick or treat size goldfish, pretzels and other non candy treats. I buy a couple boxes of those and hand out 1 to each kid.

sol

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8433
  • Age: 47
  • Location: Pacific Northwest
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #13 on: October 21, 2014, 07:12:44 PM »
Full sized candy bars for age appropriate kids in costume.

Single jolly ranchers for everyone else.

MayDay

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4953
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #14 on: October 21, 2014, 07:21:09 PM »
Quote
Our town has strict time limits so it's only 2 hours anyway.  Lights off, jackolanterns blown out after the 2 hours.

What the fuck nazi town do you live in?

Both the towns near me do this.  Its 5:30-7:30.  By 7:30 the 10 and under set is tired and freezing cold, so I think its to discourage obnoxious teenagers.  As both a parent of TOT-ers, and handing out candy, I like it.  I don't want to walk them around for 4 hours, and I don't want to have to repeatedly answer the door for 4 hours.

Chuck

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 407
  • Age: 35
  • Location: Northern VA
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #15 on: October 21, 2014, 08:47:28 PM »
This is my second year as a homeowner, and for the second time I won't be participating. Me and the Mrs. are 26, and we still have parties to be going to ;)

FreeWheel

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 131
  • Location: Chicagoland
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #16 on: October 21, 2014, 09:11:15 PM »
We hand out the "fun size" of popular brand candy bars. 2 or 3 per customer, probably $40 in total?

The trick is to not fall for the candy specials that started 4 weeks ago, 'cause then you eat a bunch and have to buy more for the goblins. The stores know this well.

As a kid we would fill our bags, dump them off at home and go back for more late into the night. And why not? We had plenty of fuel to keep us going! I don't remember Mom or Dad ever going with us. Ahhh, the good old days when a parent could trust their little kids running around the neighborhood on Halloween night! Heehee

Zamboni

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 3882
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #17 on: October 21, 2014, 09:51:34 PM »
Virginia bob wins this thread.

It just occurred to me that one of my offspring might look like "a young mom" who is trick or treating, because at nearly 6 feet tall she towers over most grown women (and even over the majority of grown men.)  But she's only 11, so be nice to the big kids, please, everyone.

Mrs. PoP

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 421
    • Planting Our Pennies
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #18 on: October 22, 2014, 06:43:34 AM »
We buy a few bags of mini chocolate bars and hand them out... last year we sat with the neighbors across the street and they were also handing out mini margaritas to the parents, so we'll probably pick up some cheap booze or cups and ice and contribute to that too. 

Our neighborhood doesn't have all that many kids, so $10 in candy is plenty to be generous but not feel like we've spent an obscene amount. 

WESTOFTHEHUDSON

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 91
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #19 on: October 22, 2014, 11:10:19 AM »
We live in a neighborhood with lots of kids. In our town though, a lot of kids seem to inundate the newer section for their trick or treating. I won't get started on this as it annoys me (they assume the McMansions will equate with a much higher rate of candy) but this is not the place to rant.

to answer the question, we get around 30-40 kids and Dh likes to budget for two pieces of candy each. I generally buy a bag of 70-90 pieces of chocolate for under $8.00 and when we're out (or done with handing it out) we turn off the lights on the porch and that sign is respected for no one else comes to the doors. Because my kids are little, last year I even took part of their candy stash and gave it out to the last stragglers. They're pre-schoolers and just going up and down our street once yields them more than they'll eat in a year. I may not do this after this year but we really try to limit their candy intake and then if it wasn't in the bowl for after lunch treat then I'm not tempted to eat it all.

Catbert

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 3298
  • Location: Southern California
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #20 on: October 22, 2014, 11:42:13 AM »
I buy two Costco size bags of chocolate fun size bars. 1st we give away the ones we don't like so that what is leftover are our favorites.  I hand out the bars.  Generally one per person although maybe two to the youngest kids.  I don't mind teenagers trick or treating as long as they fucking dress up!  I'd not charmed with a 6" guy who says in a deep voice that he's dressed as "a bum".  But I still give them candy. 

Around here porch light off seems the universal "closed for Halloween" signal. 

Frankies Girl

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 3899
  • Age: 86
  • Location: The oubliette.
  • Ghouls Just Wanna Have Funds!
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #21 on: October 22, 2014, 11:53:28 AM »
I don't care if it's a kid or adult, costume or not... everyone gets candy at my house if they say the magic words. As far as I'm concerned, Halloween is one of the last true community events still left around from the old days where you get outside and talk to people and meet some folks that usually are just running in and out from home to work. I have met more of my neighbors and had actual long talks than I do all year otherwise. The kids roam all over and get to be a little crazy after dark and aren't sitting in front of a computer or television for at least that night. I've been lucky that we've never had so much as a smashed pumpkin and even the kids in street clothes are polite... and we have a larger than normal amount of teenagers that do dress up in full costume. Some people even dress up their dogs!

I give out a mix of fun sized chocolate bars (usually the snickers/milky way ones) and the Wonka mix (Nerds, Sweet Tarts, Laffy Taffy). We've been discussing going to full sized chocolate bars, but we tend to get anywhere from 70-150 trick or treaters, so probably stick with the small mixes as they're easier and less expensive overall. Average around 3-4 pieces each kid, but for a good homemade costume, they get a big handful.

Oh! And we do give out toys/trinkets as well. Glow bracelets (10 for $1 at michaels crafts), bat rings, whistles shaped like ghosts (oriental trading), halloween themed erasers and stickers... whatever I find that is a good deal. This is in addition to the candy. We really like the glow bracelets as they are cheap and they're very popular with kids of all ages.



« Last Edit: October 22, 2014, 11:57:02 AM by Frankies Girl »

frugalnacho

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 5055
  • Age: 41
  • Location: Metro Detroit
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #22 on: October 22, 2014, 11:57:38 AM »
We bought the fun size chocolate candy mix from costco.  I always loved getting the good candy as a kid (snickers, reeses, that sort of thing) and hated little hard candies, or bags of pennies, or some other nonsense.  If you are handing out crap that nobody wants you might as well not participate.

Trick or treating is from 6-8pm.  Porch light on means come-a-knocking, no porch light means move on.  We don't get very many kids though.  I'm hoping we don't get many this year either and I can gorge myself into a diabetic coma with a whole bag of candy.  That is if mrs frugalnacho doesn't hide them on me and distribute them to me over a several month period to prevent my candy binging.  She probably will, because she knows me too well.  Not well enough to hide the candy to prevent a preemptive strike though.  She is going to be surprised in a week to find half of the candy bag has mysteriously disappeared into my secret stash.   

FreeWheel

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 131
  • Location: Chicagoland
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #23 on: October 22, 2014, 12:39:57 PM »
@Frankies Girl: Right On!

@Nacho: LOLOL


Individually wrapped servings of diet melba toast bought in bulk at Trader Joe's, Costo or the Food Bank using a coupon.

I'll bet these go well with the flying eggs you're sure to collect.

A couple of years I dressed up like a stuffed scarecrow and sat hunched over quietly on the front porch with my bowl of candy. HeeHee... Surprise!

I was sure to always start moving long before the little ones got close... don't wanna make 'em cry!

FuckRx

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 793
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #24 on: October 22, 2014, 12:46:46 PM »
Individually wrapped servings of diet melba toast bought in bulk at Trader Joe's, Costo or the Food Bank using a coupon.

oh shit i died laughing after i looked up what melba toast was... good one

sheepstache

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2417
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #25 on: October 22, 2014, 02:28:54 PM »
I would agree with handing out a couple of pieces to each kid yourself. I remember being told to take 2 at some houses when I did it, but then, depending on your personality, it's uncomfortable if the kid doesn't listen to you. And porch light out when you're done.

In my city now I would hand out candy but kids don't come around to any private apartments. The convenience stores give out free candy instead.

What ground my gears in the neighborhood I grew up in was seeing kids driven between houses. We're talking about half acre lots. Cryin' out loud, people.

Ha, regarding age of the trick-or-treaters, I remember the year I asked all my friends what their trick or treating plans were but none of them were going out, so I made up a matching costume for my dog and went with him instead.  I was maybe a freshman or sophomore in highschool. It wasn't until at one of the houses they dropped some candy in my pillow case, looked at me, and said, "Good for you," that I realized none of my friends were trick-or-treating because we were too freaking old. I turned around and headed home.

Re: margaritas for the adults. That's brilliant!


Jellyfish

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 153
  • Age: 52
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #26 on: October 22, 2014, 03:50:36 PM »
Has anyone else seen the "teal pumpkin" idea for kids with food allergies that has been clogging up my facebook feed?  I have several kids in my neighborhood who can't eat candy at all due to food allergies so this year I may do a teal pumpkin and either eliminate candy entirely or do candy plus a non-candy option like glow bracelets.

MoneyCat

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1752
  • Location: New Jersey
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #27 on: October 22, 2014, 03:58:50 PM »
I buy candy in bulk from BJ's Wholesale and give the kids handfuls each.  It's Halloween and they are little kids.  They can learn about healthy eating some other time.

Mrs. Frugalwoods

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 353
  • Location: Vermont
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #28 on: October 22, 2014, 04:07:36 PM »
We got a barrel of snack-size pretzel packages from Costco this year and I'll probably give a couple to each kid. I've been informed that this is "not a cool treat," but, pretzels are a treat to me! Plus, we'll eat any that we don't hand out. Plus, they were the cheapest treat at Costco...

Dan_at_Home

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 87
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #29 on: October 22, 2014, 07:25:01 PM »
I get a random assorted bag of candy from the grocery store the week before halloween. 

Don't be that house to give out healthy stuff on halloween, kids hate this, and your house will get egged one night as a result.

BarkingSquirrel

  • Guest
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #30 on: October 22, 2014, 08:11:14 PM »
I used to go to the store ON Halloween and buy Halloween-themed candy marked down.  But, they started marking it down earlier and everyone buys it, so last year it was Christmas candies. 

2Birds1Stone

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 7916
  • Age: 1
  • Location: Earth
  • K Thnx Bye
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #31 on: October 22, 2014, 08:22:34 PM »
I do the mustachian thing.....and give out tricks ;)

gimp

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2344
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #32 on: October 22, 2014, 09:08:29 PM »
Has anyone else seen the "teal pumpkin" idea for kids with food allergies that has been clogging up my facebook feed?  I have several kids in my neighborhood who can't eat candy at all due to food allergies so this year I may do a teal pumpkin and either eliminate candy entirely or do candy plus a non-candy option like glow bracelets.

Oh my god, every parent thinks their kid is a precious little angel and needs to be treated specially.

Fuck 'em. Halloween is for candy. Allergic? Too bad, life ain't fair, learn the lesson early and learn it well.

frugalnacho

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 5055
  • Age: 41
  • Location: Metro Detroit
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #33 on: October 23, 2014, 07:19:12 AM »
Has anyone else seen the "teal pumpkin" idea for kids with food allergies that has been clogging up my facebook feed?  I have several kids in my neighborhood who can't eat candy at all due to food allergies so this year I may do a teal pumpkin and either eliminate candy entirely or do candy plus a non-candy option like glow bracelets.

Oh my god, every parent thinks their kid is a precious little angel and needs to be treated specially.

Fuck 'em. Halloween is for candy. Allergic? Too bad, life ain't fair, learn the lesson early and learn it well.

Why the hell would a kid with candy allergies be trick-or-treating?

Also what specifically are they allergic too?  Candy is a pretty wide term and I have a hard time believing they are allergic to all candy.

GardenFun

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 454
  • Location: Packers Hell - they're everywhere!
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #34 on: October 23, 2014, 07:31:15 AM »
Frugalnacho - I have to also hide the candy from my spouse.  Snickers and Almond Joy are DOA if he finds them. 

Hand out 2-3 pieces of candy to kids, shots of apple pie drink to adults.  We live on a cul-de-sac so all the neighbors gather at one house, have a fire in the driveway (movable firepit), drink and eat our kid's candy.  Good times, good times. 

Some may think it is redneck...and it probably is...but it is a blast! 

daymare

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 465
  • Age: 34
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #35 on: October 23, 2014, 08:07:05 AM »
I don't do anything now - live in a city in an apartment, trick or treating doesn't happen.

But I grew up in the suburbs and LOVED trick or treating -- definitely did it through at least sophomore year in HS (always with a costume, plus I had a brother who was two grades younger).  The things that stand out really vividly (in terms of what folks handed out) - the house giving giant candy bars (score!), the house that gave out potato sticks (savory treat amidst all the candy), the house who gave out juice boxes (OMG so amazing after eating tons of candy), and the house where the older couple took pictures of the trick-or-treaters and put up the pictures the next year, along with giving everyone hot cider.  This definitely added to the community feel, and the hot cider was much appreciated, especially in the years when it was freezing!

pachnik

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1894
  • Age: 59
  • Location: Vancouver, BC
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #36 on: October 23, 2014, 08:08:31 AM »
This is our first year in the duplex next to my brother and sister-in-law.  My SIL told me to be ready for 100 kids.  So we'll pick up enough of the little chocolate bars for 120 since we'll be eating a few too.  + maybe some Rockets - and then give each trick or treater one of each.  My husband remembers these from when he was a boy. 

Jellyfish

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 153
  • Age: 52
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #37 on: October 23, 2014, 08:31:19 AM »
Has anyone else seen the "teal pumpkin" idea for kids with food allergies that has been clogging up my facebook feed?  I have several kids in my neighborhood who can't eat candy at all due to food allergies so this year I may do a teal pumpkin and either eliminate candy entirely or do candy plus a non-candy option like glow bracelets.

Oh my god, every parent thinks their kid is a precious little angel and needs to be treated specially.

Fuck 'em. Halloween is for candy. Allergic? Too bad, life ain't fair, learn the lesson early and learn it well.

Why the hell would a kid with candy allergies be trick-or-treating?

Also what specifically are they allergic too?  Candy is a pretty wide term and I have a hard time believing they are allergic to all candy.

What the fuck, people?  Is the hate really necessary?  Kids with life threatening nut, milk, and soy allergies often can't eat candy if it isn't properly labeled because its not worth the risk. I have friends that fall into this category.  Why would they still trick or treat? Maybe because its fun and they want to fit in with their friends, dress up, and participate?  I'm not saying you have to do it but at least allow that for some minority of people this is a legitimate reality. 

sol

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8433
  • Age: 47
  • Location: Pacific Northwest
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #38 on: October 23, 2014, 08:37:38 AM »
What the fuck, people?  Is the hate really necessary?  Kids with life threatening nut, milk, and soy allergies often can't eat candy

Unless you have a sugar allergy, there will always be some kinds of candy you can still eat.  When I was a kid I would have LOVED to go trick or treating with an allergic friend who then wanted to trade all of his chocolate and nut candy for my starbursts, jolly ranchers, and skittles.  We still would have argued over the nerds, I guess.

In my experience, the only kids who aren't allowed to go trick or treating because of allergies are kids whose parents don't want them trick or treating for some other reason, and use allergies as a convenient excuse. 

frugalnacho

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 5055
  • Age: 41
  • Location: Metro Detroit
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #39 on: October 23, 2014, 08:52:49 AM »
Has anyone else seen the "teal pumpkin" idea for kids with food allergies that has been clogging up my facebook feed?  I have several kids in my neighborhood who can't eat candy at all due to food allergies so this year I may do a teal pumpkin and either eliminate candy entirely or do candy plus a non-candy option like glow bracelets.

Oh my god, every parent thinks their kid is a precious little angel and needs to be treated specially.

Fuck 'em. Halloween is for candy. Allergic? Too bad, life ain't fair, learn the lesson early and learn it well.

Why the hell would a kid with candy allergies be trick-or-treating?

Also what specifically are they allergic too?  Candy is a pretty wide term and I have a hard time believing they are allergic to all candy.

What the fuck, people?  Is the hate really necessary?  Kids with life threatening nut, milk, and soy allergies often can't eat candy if it isn't properly labeled because its not worth the risk. I have friends that fall into this category.  Why would they still trick or treat? Maybe because its fun and they want to fit in with their friends, dress up, and participate?  I'm not saying you have to do it but at least allow that for some minority of people this is a legitimate reality.

Nut, milk, and soy allergies are NOT candy allergies.  There are tons of candies that contain none of those.  Also if you scroll back up the person I quoted said "several kids in my neighborhood who can't eat candy at all" and I think I raised a legitimate question. 

If they are allergic to all forms of candy I still don't see why they couldn't participate in all the other aspects of Halloween, and also still go trick-or-treating for the experience and just not eat the candy.  In all my years of trick-or-treating I was never force fed a piece of candy.

NumberCruncher

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 610
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #40 on: October 23, 2014, 09:59:17 AM »
The trick is to not fall for the candy specials that started 4 weeks ago, 'cause then you eat a bunch and have to buy more for the goblins. The stores know this well.

haha, yes! 

I buy candy < 1 week from Halloween for this very reason.

ruthiegirl

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 336
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #41 on: October 23, 2014, 10:54:36 AM »
Pixie Sticks

They are cheap, the kids like them and I can easily hand one or two to each kid.  We have dealt with a lot of food allergies in our house and my kids have always been able to eat Pixie Sticks without problems. 

10dollarsatatime

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 703
  • Age: 39
  • Location: Utah
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #42 on: October 23, 2014, 11:27:26 AM »
It's my first year owning a house in a trick-or-treatable neighborhood.  I need to check with the neighbors to see how many kids to expect and I guess the kind/amount of candy will depend on that.  Less than 40 kids... possibly full size candy bars.  More than that?  Mini candy bars.  More than 100?  Handfuls of the tootsie fruities.  Which I loved as a kid, and still love now.

I figure I need to give back. :)

My best friend was told she had to stop trick-or-treating when she hit 5' tall.  She never broke 4'11.5".  So the last time I went trick or treating I was 21 and she was 23.  Nobody ever commented on my age, but that was probably because I always had a pretty awesome/intricate costume.  And nobody every knew how old my friend was.

Dicey

  • Senior Mustachian
  • ********
  • Posts: 22318
  • Age: 66
  • Location: NorCal
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #43 on: October 23, 2014, 11:53:54 AM »
I actually pay a few kids $0.25/lb to go collect candy from the rich neighborhood.  I drop them off and pick them up 2 hours later.  Everything gets sold on ebay the next day.
Sorry, Zamboni, if you're calling this comment a treat, I'm calling it a trick.

One of the things I love about this forum is that people can ask their questions without fear of ridicule. Most posters are wonderful about sharing their experience/insights/tips/support. Others feel the need to crack wise for reasons only known to them. Sure this is only one comment and perhaps it was meant to be light-hearted, but "Look how funny I am" is not all that helpful and sometimes borders on outright disrespect. There's something on this forum that's magic and virtually unmatched, hence its popularity. Sure, there's plenty of room for humor here and there are some damn funny folks in this cast of characters, but cracking wise without adding anything to the discussion looks like the OP is being made fun of, and that shit ain't right.

gimp

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2344
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #44 on: October 23, 2014, 12:20:31 PM »
I actually pay a few kids $0.25/lb to go collect candy from the rich neighborhood.  I drop them off and pick them up 2 hours later.  Everything gets sold on ebay the next day.
Sorry, Zamboni, if you're calling this comment a treat, I'm calling it a trick.

One of the things I love about this forum is that people can ask their questions without fear of ridicule. Most posters are wonderful about sharing their experience/insights/tips/support. Others feel the need to crack wise for reasons only known to them. Sure this is only one comment and perhaps it was meant to be light-hearted, but "Look how funny I am" is not all that helpful and sometimes borders on outright disrespect. There's something on this forum that's magic and virtually unmatched, hence its popularity. Sure, there's plenty of room for humor here and there are some damn funny folks in this cast of characters, but cracking wise without adding anything to the discussion looks like the OP is being made fun of, and that shit ain't right.

Thin skin much? It's a joke, it's not even "offensive" in any way, no need to get upset about it.

Quote
Nut, milk, and soy allergies are NOT candy allergies.  There are tons of candies that contain none of those.  Also if you scroll back up the person I quoted said "several kids in my neighborhood who can't eat candy at all" and I think I raised a legitimate question. 

If they are allergic to all forms of candy I still don't see why they couldn't participate in all the other aspects of Halloween, and also still go trick-or-treating for the experience and just not eat the candy.  In all my years of trick-or-treating I was never force fed a piece of candy.

Yup. All the peanut allergy kids survive just fine fifteen years ago by not eating candy with peanuts. The new crop will survive just fine, too. It's not rocket science. Half the candy is made out of pure sugar, just eat that.

Seriously, there is no need to double your effort to satisfy the last 1% of kids.

MillenialMustache

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 265
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #45 on: October 23, 2014, 12:36:08 PM »
I got A LOT of single boxes of Jello with a great coupon for my hubby...and then he got tired of Jello...so I am giving that out. I normally only get like 10 trick or treaters. Hopefully Jello isn't weird.

gimp

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2344
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #46 on: October 23, 2014, 01:59:55 PM »
Jello is definitely weird.

Dicey

  • Senior Mustachian
  • ********
  • Posts: 22318
  • Age: 66
  • Location: NorCal
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #47 on: October 23, 2014, 02:09:57 PM »
I got A LOT of single boxes of Jello with a great coupon for my hubby...and then he got tired of Jello...so I am giving that out. I normally only get like 10 trick or treaters. Hopefully Jello isn't weird.

Oh, now this one's funny MillenialMustache! It's like that Now&Later Candy. The little goblins can gorge themselves on candy now and when it's all gone, they can make Jello later! Also, it's not likely you will be tempted to eat it yourself if there is any left. Score!  We're in a new house and I suspect we'll have more traffic than we're used to. I stocked up on Jello when DH got braces. They're coming off soon, so I won't be buying any more. Perhaps that will be my backup plan in case we're overrun by goblins. Thanks for the wacky idea. I love it!

To gimp: it's subtle, but can you see the difference? BTW, my skin is just fine, thank you. Very kind of you to ask.

To the poster with the tall daughter: excellent point and good reminder.

Zikoris

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4536
  • Age: 37
  • Location: Vancouver, BC
  • Vancouverstachian
Re: Halloween: What do you give out?
« Reply #48 on: October 23, 2014, 03:12:15 PM »
No Halloween for me! I live in a large apartment complex with very few kids (mostly bachelor suites and 1 bedrooms with strict limits on people-per-unit), and you need an electronic fob to get in. Been here 4 years, and it's one of many reasons I'm a huge fan of the place.


 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!