Halloween treats and longevity

October 29, 7:33 PMPortland Longevity ExaminerMicheline Ronningen

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Do not take candy from this creature.
Photo by Mickey Ronningen

Trick or treating at Halloween is an amazing tradition. Frivolity, fun, generosity, spookiness all roll into one dark night of fantasy. Choosing Halloween treats to pass out to Trick or Treat-ers is for most an exercise in restraint: does one buy the candy one prefers in case there’s leftovers? Or buy the candy that’s not a temptation because there are always leftovers. Or does one seek healthy treats and is that a contradiction?

This picture can be expanded. Longevity routines start at an early age—well before childhood obesity, malnutrition, decaying teeth, and heart disease take hold. The importance of selection of treats expands exponentially: the more Treat-ers one gets (and some get hundreds) the more defining the treat and its societal impact.

Children, like adults, do not need high fat, high sugar, high salt to develop well. Trick or Treat-ers come in all sizes and sorts: from princesses to Power Rangers, from 2’ tall to 6’. Allowing for wide-ranging appeal—including oneself and some sort of ethical and financial ideal—can raise Halloween buying up there with December holiday shopping.

Smart shoppers consider it a year ’round activity for inedible treats and backup. For example, pick up backup decorative items (stickers, ribbon, etc.) after the holiday. This is a no-brainer to anyone noticing signs saying “40% OFF!!” or better.

Several suggestions for healthy treats naturally involve inedible things such as school supplies and personal grooming items. A few years back one could even purchase Halloween-themed toothbrushes. Martha Stewart likely shared her influence.

All suggestions for treats assume there’s some adult lurking in the background, checking the Trick or Treat-ers Halloween loot. All suggestions are also based on the premise one doesn’t have time to bake and frost eighty made-from-scratch cupcakes using natural sugar substitutes and gluten-free flours or dip apples in corn-syrup-laden caramel rolled in allergenic nuts.

In general, to be adequately prepared as a kindly host to Trick or Treat-ers, one will need some snack-size plastic bags, curl-tie ribbon in orange and/or black, lots of Halloween stickers, maybe a black felt-tip marker or two, in different tip widths, and return address labels if appropriate.

--For edible fresh treats:
* Organically-grown produce. Squash is not such a big hit with Trick or Treat-ers, bags of salad too bulky, but little bags of “baby” carrots can appeal. Fruit is healthy. Apples are in season and are much sturdier than squishy fruit like plums. (It’s a shame grape tomatoes don’t hold up better.) To sidestep the apple-with-razor-hidden-inside myth, use up those extra self-adhesive return address labels. Stick one on each beautifully polished apple. Your neighbors will appreciate the courtesy.
* Raisins (dried fruit). The little raisin boxes are cute, and more reassuring to strangers receiving them, than decorative home-bagged portions. Boxed raisins are also wildly more expensive than buying raisins in bulk. Do what fits your budget. Mixing golden and brown raisins with dried cranberries and/or blueberries can be fun and gorgeous and healthy.
* Boxes of juice. Do not select juices with sugar as a primary ingredient. Look for juice or juice blends. Or surprise everybody with low-sodium V-8 or Clamato.
* Pretzels. These are generally low in fat at least. Not suitable for all due to gluten in wheat. They also break easily. But, bag at will.
* Peanuts. Again, pre-packaged is more reassuring. These are generally healthy except for those with peanut allergies. Deliver with caution.

--For home office/school supplies:
* Everybody likes pencils. Pencils were good enough for Thomas Edison, after all. Regular black ones are made with graphite and clay. Colored pencils are a possibility too; available in boxes of eight. Decorate boxed pencils with stickers. Or tie two or three graphite pencils together with curly ribbon.
* Even better, everybody likes erasers. Fun shapes available. Check for sales in August. Put one or two in snack-size bag with Halloween sticker decoration.
* Rubber bands. Everybody needs some sometime. Colored ones are more attractive than the traditional brownish. Put a dozen or so in snack-size bags, decorate the bag with a Halloween sticker or draw pumpkin face on bag with (wide) felt-tip black marker.
* Little pads of paper. Some tiny Halloween-themed pads show up in October once in awhile; check dollar stores. Or make your own if you have time to cut, staple together and decorate a heavier-weight paper cover. (Yeah, right.)
* Crayons. Some children still use these. Markers are more popular. If buying a box of crayons, stick a Halloween sticker on the box to show you care.

--Personal grooming:
* Travel-size stuff. Little children get excited by little things and really big things. A small bottle of shampoo, conditioner, hand lotion, a small bar of soap, even a small tube of toothpaste might strike just the note. If feeling extravagant, how about buying those one-use toothbrushes? Come in assorted colors. Put Halloween stickers on everything.

--Other:
* Money. Seeking a benevolent outlet for all that loose change? Rather than donate 10% to the coin machine or bank, make some sort of treasure chest (or just use a bowl, decorate with Halloween stickers) and let those Treat-ers grab a handful. Be sure the treasure includes some nickels, dimes, and quarters. Toddler-size Trick or Treat-ers might require two handfuls.
* Balloons. Buy orange/black balloons after Halloween. Place five or six in a snack-size bag. Punch hole in bag and tie curly ribbon through hole to decorate. Or just put a Halloween sticker on the bag. Or draw a Halloween picture—pumpkin face, arched cat, ghost, witch, witch’s broom, Power Ranger, princess, in black felt-tip marker. Go with your enthusiasm, it’s more important than talent sometimes.