How we do Halloween at our house (+ your 2025 Candy Collection)
Steal these ideas. Or don’t. I share them because I’m asked every year how we do Halloween without the sugar spiral.
Our kiddos have never done traditional candy. I know, a little unusual. As someone who was unwell and then healed naturally, this is a priority for me and my family. I feel better now than ever and I don’t want to slip backwards or set our kids up for the same struggles. They also have a bunch of sensitivities. Fat loss isn’t my current goal, but keeping prediabetes, PCOS, and hypothyroidism from coming back definitely is. No judgment if you do it differently. If you’re in a fat loss phase, these tips can help for that, too.
What we do:
• A loose “Switch Witch.” The kids dress up and trick-or-treat for the fun and community. We donate the candy afterward and give them a small gift in place.
• We make our own treats together. Freezer fudge (our usual), cups, bars—sweet, satisfying, and made with ingredients we feel good about.
• A small stash of better-for-you store-bought options on hand for that night (think SmartSweets, JOJO’s, Lily’s, Unreal, YumEarth, Zolli, Hu).
• Non-food handouts for trick-or-treaters. Tattoos, pencils, glow sticks, bubbles, rings, sunglasses, fidgets—the change of pace is (surprisingly) usually a hit since they get candy at all the other houses.
We eat our regular PFF style, enjoy some intentional treats, and skip the weeks of candy calling our name. No cravings kicked up. No “start over” on Monday. No deprivation. No drama.
I made you a new recipe book ... Candy Collection 2025
It includes ...
• Maple Cashew Chocolate Fudge (5 ingredients, freezer set)
• Date Caramel Apple Rings (blended date caramel on crisp apple “donuts”)
• Pumpkin Peanut Butter Cups (salty-sweet, pumpkin-y center)
• Pan-Seared Salted Dates with Cashew Butter (warm, chewy, 15 minutes)
• Cheesecake Freezer Bites (3 ingredients)
• Tahini Cookie Dough Freezer Fudge (sesame-cookie-dough vibes)
• Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Freezer Fudge (fall in a bite)
• Cherry Jello Squares (tart, bouncy, lower-sugar)
• Chocolate Covered Peanut Caramel Bars (Snickers energy, freezer-friendly)
Most are kid-helper approved, live in the fridge or freezer, and are built to play nicer with satiety and blood sugar than the usual suspects.
Download your Candy Collection 2025 here.
A few pro tips for a calm, happy Halloween:
• Stick with balanced meals ... protein, fat and fiber at every meal.
• Decide which your favorite treats are so you're sticking with what matters most to you. ENJOY it and move on.
• I'd say walk after dinner but I'm guessing with all the trick or treating, you may be doing that anyway?
• Keep some of the favs for each family member and send extras out of the house or out of sight.
If you make any of the recipes, hit reply and tell me your favorite. I love seeing what lands in your kitchen!
Happy Halloween,
Tara