How to Keep Halloween Healthy and Green (Without Losing the Fun)
With so much focus on sugary treats and mostly disposable costumes, it can be hard to plan a healthy and eco-friendly Halloween while keeping your kids happy. But what if we flipped the script and used this holiday to teach children the art of simplicity and the value of moderation?
It turns out, you don’t have to choose between spooky fun and sustainability. These green Halloween ideas make it easy to keep the joy while reducing the waste.
Halloween is big on fun but, unfortunately, it’s also big on unhealthy traditions and waste. Many moms worry about the impact of this holiday on the health of their kids and the planet.
Why Choose a Green Halloween?
This year, it’s estimated we’ll spend $13.1 billion on costumes, candy, décor, and other Halloween accessories. These are often made from unhealthy, unsustainable materials, by people who may not be paid living wages or treated fairly. Most of the stuff (or what isn’t eaten) ends up in landfills. Add in the frightening facts about high-fructose corn syrup, and the concern about lead-laden accessories and you’ll really fuel parent’s concerns.
But our goal is to show families that it’s easy and affordable to keep the fun, while losing the unhealthy traditions. It’s not about telling parents how they should celebrate. It’s about inspiring them to make choices that make sense to their families, their budgets, and their schedules.
And when many families make healthier and more sustainable choices for Halloween – taking even the smallest of steps – big impacts can be made for the short and long term.
Busy parents need greening to be simple. Adding an eco-friendly twist shouldn’t increase stress and chaos to an already hectic holiday season. But making healthy and green choices is, in fact, easier than it seems.
Plan Ahead to Avoid Waste and Stress
Halloween often creeps up without much planning, leading to last-minute purchases that don’t align with your values. A little forethought can save you money, reduce stress, and help you make more mindful choices.
- If something was a hit last year (like non-toxic temporary tattoos or LEGO minifigs), stick with it!
- Set a reminder for early October to plan costumes, party treats, and what you’ll give out for trick-or-treaters.
- Consider teaming up with friends or neighbors to buy sustainable treats or prizes in bulk.
Choose Healthier Halloween Treats
When it comes to parties and gatherings, think seasonal and colorful for a green Halloween. Plus, check out these eco-friendly Halloween decorations!
As you select snacks, desserts, and treats for the kiddos, look for organic and pesticide-free foods made from whole ingredients without artificial colors or flavors. Limit the amount of salt, sugar, and caffeine as much as possible, and opt for locally made foods when available. Here are some fun ideas.
- Toasted pumpkin seeds
- Air-popped popcorn and popcorn balls
- Jack-o-lantern faces drawn on clementines
- Shredded carrot salad, shaped like a pumpkin with raisins for eyes
- Baked apples with raisins and cranberries
- Mini broomsticks with pretzel sticks for the handle and string cheese for the broom
- Mini pizzas made into mummies using mozzarella cheese as “bandages” and black olives as eyes
- Hot apple cider or 100% organic apple juice and cinnamon sticks
Rethink the Candy Bowl
Who said trick-or-treating is just about junk food? (Well, just because it normally is, that doesn’t mean you can’t buck the trend.) Running to the grocery store the night before Halloween to pick up that 300-piece bag of candy will land you with enough artificial ingredients to scare adults and kids alike!
Some of the biggest offenders are:
- High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)
- Artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners
- Partially hydrogenated oils
- Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
- Preservatives – including: sodium benzoate, sulfites (sulfur dioxide), polysorbate 60, 65 or 80, nitrites, TBHQ, and BHT/BHA
- Children with gluten and dairy sensitivities should also avoid maltodextrin, modified food starch, caramel coloring or flavoring, citric acid, and “natural flavorings”, milk fat, and lactose.
What to give out instead? Opt for candy made from higher quality ingredients. Or check out our 40+ Healthy Halloween Treats for Trick or Treaters.
Include Kids in the Planning
Kids are more likely to embrace green habits when they’re part of the process. Ask them:
- What snacks look fun and spooky?
- What would be cool to give away instead of candy?
- Can they help make decorations or plan a costume?
Letting them take ownership makes the experience more creative and meaningful.
Make or Swap Sustainable Costumes
Costumes are often worn once, made from polyester, and discarded the next day. Greener options include:
- DIY costumes using old clothes, cardboard, and natural fabrics
- Costumes made from 100% cotton, wool, or silk
- Secondhand finds from thrift shops or online marketplaces
- Costume swaps with friends or neighbors
If you’re crafty, consider making your own costumes using items from around the house, recycled boxes, and old clothes. If you’re not into DIY, shop secondhand at thrift stores and online sale sites, or swap last year’s costumes with a friend. Many costumes are only worn once on Halloween, so you can score a like-new costume at a fraction of the cost.
Trick or Treat Mindfully
If you’re heading out to trick or treat, here are some tips to increase the exercise and decrease the sugar overload.
Make sure to eat a good, healthy dinner before trick or treating. Kids (and parents) are far less likely to binge on candy if they’ve already had a full meal.
Encourage kids to walk from house to house to trick or treat instead of asking parents to drive them.
When your kids get home, spread all the goodies on the kitchen table. Ask them to pick out their favorite 10 pieces (or however many you choose) to keep and bag up the rest. The candy they keep can be parceled out as after-school treats for the next week or until it’s all gone.
Relax and Enjoy the Holiday
Creating a healthy and green Halloween isn’t an all or nothing deal, and busy moms have a lot on their minds and plates. So start with simple green steps that will work for your family this year. You can always add more the next time around. Holidays should be about the fun, not about the stress.
Green choices that stress you out won’t be sustainable over the long haul.
Greening your Halloween means trying one new tradition–or trying them all. By going green for just one part of your Halloween, you’ll be making a difference you and your family can be proud of.
And here’s where your can find more Halloween fun:
40+ Healthy Halloween Treats for Trick or Treaters
DIY Halloween Costumes Inspired by Nature
Eco-Friendly Halloween Decorations
Easy & Healthy Halloween Veggie Trays
This article was published in 2011 and updated in October 2025.
