Things to Do with Leftover Halloween Candies

CEBU, Philippines — Halloween called for jack-o-lanterns, costumes and, of course, candies. Enjoying a few snacks after trick-or-treating is part of the holiday fun. But when it all wears off, there may be a massive amount of sweets left– which can be temptating for both children and adults.

"Sometimes when the candy is out and people don't know how to feel full, they will keep eating and eating," says Sarah Koszyk, MA, RD, founder of family-based wellness blog, Family. Food.Fiesta. "And then the kids can throw up or get sick and the parents may also keep taking a little here or there, which could result in overeating."

To stop the endless candy cycle, here are nine ways to use leftover Halloween candies:

Create a recipe.Adding Halloween candy to a recipe is both an easy way to use up the loot and an opportunity for the family to interact. "It's so exciting to have a family activity where you are providing them with expert skills, like measuring ingredients, which can help with math,” Koszyksays. "Cooking takes time, and the children feel a sense of accomplishment when it's finally achieved." For example, you can coat candy apples.

There are healthy recipe options, too. Using candy as a topping for frozen yogurt or within a trail mix are easy ways to balance sweet intake.

Share treats with others.While baking something candy-filled with the family, consider doubling the recipe and giving half of your creation to local firefighters, police or senior centers, as Dr. Deborah Gilboa, MD, founder of AskDoctorG.com and author of "Get the Behavior You Want Without Being the Parent You Hate," does with her family. "You can feel better about making a huge a cookie-candy pie if you're going to make two and donate one," Gilboa says.

Introduce the candy fairy. The Candy Fairy is a new popular alternative to avoid candy overload. Kids leave the sweets out at night and the Candy Fairy swaps them out for a toy or small gift. "It creates a sense of magic and creativity. I think it's really positive," Koszyk says. "It's a good way to divvy up the extra candy so they don't feel like they're losing out on anything."

Encourage education.Fuel the kids’ creativity by using leftover candies for a science experiment. A popular choice is the "spark in the dark" trick: Go into a dark room and have thechild crush up Wint-O-Green Lifesavers in their mouths. The result is a mini light show and a fun discussion about triboluminescence.

Be crafty.Plan for an upcoming holiday on the calendar and create a Thanksgiving craft out of your Halloween stash. The options are endless: candy corn wreaths or candy-filled plastic baubles. You can even make cute Thanksgiving place setting, where the kids make a paper turkey out of their handprint, attach to paper cups and fill the cups with M&Ms or other colorful treats.

Donate to the less fortunate.Whether it's to a homeless shelter or a halfway house for street kids, donating leftover candies is an easy way to brighten someone's day. "Kids that go to homeless shelters almost never get to trick-or-treat," Gilboa says. "You can donate some of your candy and then also have a meaningful conversation with your own kids about how lucky they are."

As an added bonus, donating will fill the kids with a sense of pride and create a positive atmosphere at home. "It's a win-win. It feels great for the parents and is a good thing for the kids," she says.

Reverse trick-or-treat. Another way for kids to get involved with their community while also extending the excitement of the holiday is to let them wear their costumes and take extra candies to a local senior-citizens center for an evening of reverse trick-or-treating. Gilboa does this with her own family on Halloween as a way to offer the "give me, give me, give me" aspects of the holiday a more uplifting spin. "My kids look forward to it every year and it makes the seniors very happy," she says.

Make a simple gift.Have the little ones create something special for a friend or relative, no holiday theme necessary. One fresh take is to create a mad-lib, where the kids write a fun message by taping mini candy bars to paper and using the candy names to form a story. Hershey Kisses and Sweet Tarts are also good for easy DIYs that will entertain the kids and get rid of the excess candy.

Pick favorites.Let the kids divvy up their candies into two piles, one of things they actually like and another pile of candies they don't. It will teach them the importance of only indulging in the things that are worth it.Bring the least-favorite candy to work to share with coworkers. "Sharing is caring," Koszyk says. "And then it won't tempt the parents at home."(www.care.com)