For Halloween we have started a new tradition – “the Good Witch”. She comes late at night, takes the unsafe candy and she leaves a special toy in place of the candy! We talk about the “Good Witch” taking the unsafe candy and giving it to other kids who maybe were sick or in the hopsital and couldn’t go trick-or-treating. It is a good lesson on sharing/gving for kids and makes giving up the treats a positive thing and a way to help those in need. I then take the candy to a local children’s ward or senior center to enjoy.

I want to offer another suggestion for dealing with unsafe trick-or-treating spoils. I usually went trick-or-treating with my dad or some friends’ parents while my mother stayed home handing out candy. Before I left, she would give me a hit list of candy that SHE loved (Butterfingers and Three Musketeers topped the list). If I was at a house that had no safe candy for me, I would try to find one of the things that she wanted. Instead of feeling like there was no point in taking anything, I felt like I was helping my mom who was stuck at home. When I went home, we would sort the pile into “mommy candy” and “kid candy.” I’m sure she didn’t eat it all (in fact, I suspect she may have recycled some for the following year’s handouts), but it made me feel useful.

When I was 10, I had a huge crush on a boy who loved Nestle Crunch bars, and I made sure to get lots of those to give to him at school the next day.

(Just to clarify: I wasn’t particularly jealous of the unsafe candy. I knew it must be good, but so were Starbursts. I had no idea what Butterfingers of Three Musketeers were really like, so I didn’t crave them)

I just want to let everyone know that I got a bit of bad news today. I called to confirm that Rockets (aka Smarties) is actually safe only to discover that it is not safe in Canada. The product in the USA is safe, but once it enters Canada, it is packaged in a facility that produces nuts, dairy, and eggs. I have more details in this link here: http://www.halifaxaag.com/1/post/2009/10/safe-halloween-candy.html

I am so sorry and I really hope that no one gave it to their child. I am so grateful that I did not give it to my little girl before I called the company.

I hope everyone is safe.

Thank you so much for the info on the candy necklaces. It’s great to know there is a safe option for my son. He will be delighted!! He will probably be even happier with a necklace than a bracelet since there will be more (safe) candy on it! He has quite a sweet tooth.

Thanks!
Helen

I love your cook book. I have a question for or anyone out there that can help me. My daughter Natalie is also allergic to soy, so what do you suggest i use instead of the tofu and non dairy butter. what you have recommended she can’t have because of the soy.

thank you for all you are doing

Silvana

My little girl is anaphylactic to milk, eggs, and peanuts. I know that Regal Confections is an allergy aware manufacturer that dedicated an entire line of their products for food allergic individuals. In fact, this is what we’re giving out for Halloween this year, and it’s no more expensive than all the other candy. We buy it at Walmart or other grocery stores. Regal Confections makes Rockets here in Canada (also known as Smarties in the USA), and they make them in different shapes like necklaces. I am not sure if they do bracelets, but they definitely make the necklaces. You can see the full list of their products in this link: http://www.smartiesstore.com/Casesofboxexjars.html

And you can view their allergy statement here: http://www.smarties.com/allergen.html

I hope this helps.

Just a side note. I was at our major grocery store over the weekend and passed through the “allergy free” baking section and they had some new baking mixes and the prices they charge for those is almost criminal. That is why women like you have changed the food allergy world in ways I can’t thank you enough.