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Managing The Halloween Loot

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AMY ELLINOR, Tribune Correspondent

Published: October 26, 2007

When I was a child, Halloween was one of my favorite holidays. I have vivid memories of sprinting from house to house trying to fill my pillowcase with loot before my dad reined me in. Afterward, my siblings and I would dump our candy into piles and begin sorting and trading for favorites.

I bargained for the elusive Mallo Cup. My sister coveted Kit Kats, and my little brother got all the m&m's. The Brach's candy was relegated to the living room candy dish, where it would inevitably die a slow and dusty death. And apples went into the garbage can, because my mom thought it would be just her luck that the rumored razor-blade-stuffing sociopath lived in our neighborhood.

When the dust finally settled, we would each take our sack to our room and spend an inordinate amount of time looking for the best hiding places. The following weeks were spent executing covert candy raids while stealthily guarding your own bag. My sister could make her candy last until the next Halloween.

Some things haven't changed. Kids still love massive amounts of candy. Siblings still enjoy the practice of trading, and parents get to glean whatever the sweet tooth craves. Allowing kids to hoard their loot, however, isn't such a popular idea anymore.

Halloween is different for my kids. We live in a rural neighborhood, so they only see about three or four neighbors. Since they know our kids, they'll have a small toy or a special treat they know they like. It's more about visiting and showing off their costumes to people who will make a fuss over them.

It's not the trick-or-treat marathon you see in most subdivisions. My older daughter gets a piece of candy for dessert after dinner until the goodies run out.

I asked some Tampa Bay area parents how they handled the candy load in their homes, and this is what they had to say:

"We keep the candy in the pantry, and the kids get to choose one item from their bag each day. After seven to 10 days, they forget it is there and stop asking. I usually end up donating it or tossing it after a few months, since we do not have an office or workplace we can take it to." — Mindy Taylor, Bayshore Beautiful

"We let the kids pick a couple of candies from what they get and let them give out the rest of the candies to the kids that come to our house after we get back. They really look forward to going trick-or-treating and even giving the same candy back to the other kids. The leftover candy either goes in the trash can, or I get it to work." — Parul Parekh, Carrollwood

"We ration the loot, only allowing Isabella to have one or two pieces of candy a day. Eventually we end up throwing some of it away because we try to keep her busy so she doesn't think of it." — Chris Piccone, Clearwater

"After I check it all out and get rid of the opened ones or skeptical ones, I then sort out the 'good' and 'bad' candy, leaving the good at the house and taking the bad to school for my students. Then, I put one piece in the boys' lunches every day to drive the teachers crazy." — Kristina Renaud, Ballast Point

"I let them have a little bit each day until it is all gone. We throw out the stuff that nobody likes and, of course, I eat some of it, too! We never manage to finish all of it anyway. We love it! It's one of the great things about being a kid. I think if you are going to trade it in for money at the dentist's (I've heard of that) or not let them eat it, then why bother going trick or treating?" — Theresa Houser, Odessa

"The boys usually count how many pieces or packs of candy they receive. They pick one to eat that night, and I stash it in the pantry and dole it out every once in a while. I usually eat all the good chocolate bar types myself within a week! Mommy wins!" — Lynn Bennett, Tampa

"I dump all of my kids' candy out on the floor and separate it into several piles. (It is sort of fun for them as well.) Anything unwrapped or otherwise 'sketchy' goes in the trash. We make another pile for stuff nobody likes. This candy will go to my office — they'll eat anything!! My 7-year-old can take one piece in his lunch every day, and he can have one or two pieces for dessert each night. After several weeks, we throw the rest away or bring it in for the office." — Suzanne Parker, Seminole Heights

"We let him have a little bit every day, but not a lot. We end up throwing most of it out, because he doesn't eat it quick enough." — Butch Whitney, Wesley Chapel

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