Eat a healthy meal BEFORE you go trick-or-treating. This reduces the temptation to “snack” while walking.

And talk to your kids before trick-or-treating time about how many pieces of candy they can eat that night.  That way they can choose those few pieces carefully instead of diving right into that plastic pumpkin.

Avoid the pillow case method and find a bag that’s the right size for your child

If you are giving out candy, buy candy that you don’t like. Then you and your family won’t be tempted to eat it. Also, buy it a day or two before Halloween so it is not sitting around waiting to be eaten.

Don’t buy a “jumbo” bag of candy if your neighborhood only gets a few trick-or-treaters.

If your kids come home with too much candy, think about arranging a buyout.  Play a nickel or dime for each sweet treat they “sell” you and let them “earn” money for their piggy bank (or for a toy or game they want to buy, if ok in house household)

The day after Halloween, get rid of all that candy! Take it to work, give it away or just throw it away. Remember don’t keep it around the house.

If you want to keep of few pieces of candy in the house after Halloween, have the kids go through and pick out their favorites. Then get rid of the rest of the candy.

Consider healthier treats at your house instead of candy:  Mini boxes of raisins, 100% juice juice-boxes, 100 calorie packs, 100% natural fruit strips/ropes such as Clif Kid Organic ZFruit Rope, YumEarth Organics Lollipops (available at Target or Marshalls/TJ Maxx),  granola bars such as the KIND bars, little bags of popcorn like Angie’s Cinnamon Sugar Kettle Corn (I like that there is only 5 ingredients too!), and one of my favorites…the Mini LARABAR.    Even hand out crayons, stickers, silly bands, or bubbles.

Avoid the urge to buy on-sale candy in the grocery stores AFTER Halloween.