Could it be that Halloween is lurking just around the corner? Yikes!
That means it is time to bust out the Halloween candy. As it turns out, we've been on the search for the ideal Halloween candy since last October. We had a number of criteria to fill:
- We wanted a candy that was as organic and natural as possible, and preferably even containing some healthy ingredients, as opposed to just sugary stuff.
- We wanted a candy that tasted delicious and would satisfy kids of all ages.
- We needed a candy that was securely, individually wrapped, so that it could be handed out at Halloween time without concerned parents having to question its safety.
- We wanted a candy that was affordable and would appeal to budget-conscious families.
- We preferred a candy that would be safe for children with allergies (nuts, soy, gluten, etc.)
After all our searching, we are sticking with the same candy we sold last year- YummyEarth Organic Lollipops.
Why?We found some wonderful candies and chocolates, but none seemed to measure up to all of the criteria above.
We love Sweet Earth Organic Chocolates, especially their Very Scary Skulls, but at $1.50 each, handing out candy can quickly add up if you live in a busy trick-or-treating area. If they can fit into your budget, we strongly recommend them!
We also love the deep, rich taste of Equal Exchange Organic & Fair Trade Dark Chocolate Minis. You can buy a 12 oz. bag for $20.00- again, quite a bit more than many families are able to budget.
Organic Milk Chocolate Bug Bites are tasty and fun. A box of 64 mini-bars (for a total of about a pound and a half of chocolate) costs $32.00, so you're paying about 50 cents per bar- not too bad.
Glee All-Natural Chicle Gum is also a big hit, and it comes in cute little individually-sealed boxes with 4 pieces of gum per box. With 21 individual packs for $6.25, you're paying about $.30 per box for a cool gum that was chewed by the ancient Maya Indians!
But at around 10 cents per lollipop, we found YummyEarth Lollipops to be the best buy for parents who have to hand out lots of candy. They come in fun flavors like Blood Orange Cocktail, Chili Mango Mambo, and Tooberry Blueberry. And they are packed with real fruit goodness! Check out the ingredients:
Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Organic Tapioca Syrup and/or Organic Rice Syrup, Non-GMO Citric Acid (from beet sugar – not corn), Natural Flavors, Organic Black Carrots, Organic Blackcurrant, Organic Apple
On top of those awesome ingredients, we can't forget to mention all of the things that are NOT in these candies, which is great for kids with allergies or sensitivities:
Certified Organic Gluten-free
100% Natural Colors Wheat-free
No Chemical Dyes Casein-free
100% Natural Flavors Dairy-free
100% Vegan Nut-free
GMO-free Soy-free
Allergen-free Egg-free
Finally, don't forget to join the Fair Trade Reverse Trick-or-Treat Program, which aims to help youth reverse the Halloween tradition to hand adults a sample of vegan-friendly, Fair Trade dark chocolate. Order your free kit by Oct. 13, 2009, which includes 25 Fair Trade chocolates with info cards, and is sponsored by Global Exchange's Fair Trade Cocoa Campaign. Cool!
https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/703/t/9669/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=5154
Great ideas for Halloween treats! For waterless Halloween safety cards at incredible prices, go to www.overnightprints.com. Free online designers are available along with thousands of designs to choose from. You can even upload your own file for free if you already have a design lay out.
Posted by: Mac | October 09, 2009 at 02:15 PM