If you’ve got kids in the house, you’ll likely end up with more Halloween candy than you need. Between trick-or-treating, Halloween parties, and the stuff you hand out yourself, it’s often a LOT. You can lower the pile by hiding some of it for later consumption and maybe sneaking a little of it for yourself. But we’ve got five other good uses for your leftover Halloween candy.
Before we share them, we want to remind you of the importance of bringing your family to a dentist in North Palm Beach, FL regularly for exams and cleanings. It’s one of the best ways to keep their smiles healthy. We may also suggest fluoride treatments and/or dental sealants to help keep their teeth cavity free. If you need to schedule a visit, call us today at 561-763-9578.
Why not use your leftover Halloween candy for:
- Boosting soldiers’ spirits
- Holiday decorating
- Welcoming the Halloween Fairy
- Making special treats
- Making art
Send Leftover Halloween Candy to Soldiers
There are several organizations that collect leftover candy, then distribute it to soldiers. They include:
- Operation Gratitude – This organization has been sharing leftover candy with soldiers since 2007.
- Soldiers’ Angels – This organization works with businesses to send candy to soldiers. You can find drop-off locations on its website.
Dress Up Your Holiday Tables
Thanksgiving and Christmas aren’t as far off as you think. Use your leftover Halloween candy to set an impressive holiday table for either holiday or both of them.
You can make these fun Thanksgiving turkeys by combining some favorite Halloween treats with Oreos or similar cookies. Either make them ahead or set up a fun DIY station for your guests.
If your family makes gingerbread houses for Christmas, go ahead and stockpile candy now that can be used for building supplies. Tootsie Rolls and candy bars make great “logs” for houses and fences. Try Nerds if you want to add colorful “gravel.” M&Ms, Smarties, and other small candies can be used in many different ways.
Introduce Your Kids to the Halloween Fairy
Just like her cousin, the Tooth Fairy, she’ll sneak like a ninja into your kids’ rooms where she’ll swap some of their leftover Halloween candy for a fun toy or even cash. As your kids get older, mom and dad can remove the middleman and make the exchange without the Fairy’s participation.
Use Leftover Halloween Candy to Cook Up Treats
While the treats aren’t exactly great for your dental health, they are better than just chowing down on a big stack of candy. You can repurpose leftover candy by adding it to:
- Cookies – Chopped up candy bars, Reese’s Piece, and M&Ms are great add-ins for many kinds of cookies. Nerds are a fun topping for cookies or cupcakes.
- Milkshakes – Blend ice cream or yogurt with candy bars for simple and tasty milkshakes. Throw in a banana and/or berries to make them a little healthier.
- Trail Mix – M&Ms or similar candies take your favorite trail mix to the next level.
- Brownies – It’s easy to give brownies an extra tasty twist by hiding a layer of fun-size candy bars or similar treats between two layers of brownie dough.
‘Paint’ With Skittles
If your kid likes crafts as much as candy, consider turning Skittles into “paint” that makes vibrant colors and has a fruity smell too. Clear corn syrup and some small containers are all it takes. (Baby food jars are excellent for this activity.) Here is how to do it:
- Sort Skittles into the jars by color
- Cover the candy with corn syrup
- Wait until the corn syrup picks up the colors (This could take a few hours, so sit the jars somewhere where they won’t be disturbed)
- Stir to blend, and your “paint” is ready to go
If you need to make an appointment at Acosta Dental Arts to get your family’s dental exams out of the way before the busy holiday season begins, call us today at 561-763-9578.