Halloween is about more than just a competition to see who brings home the most candy. Instead of focusing on the sugary side of this scare-fest, try working with your kids to build lasting memories that focus on healthier Halloween staples like pumpkins, creative costumes and haunted houses. Below are six helpful strategies from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, to keep your Halloween focused on building lasting memories and away from unhealthy candy binges Follow these great Healthy Halloween tips:

1. Trick or post-dinner treatTrick or treat after eating a wholesome dinner. Children who are full may be less likely to snack on the treats they accumulate.

2. Pillow cases are for pillows

give the kids smaller treat containers like recycled grocery bags or small, plastic jack o’ lanterns so they won’t bring home too many sweets. Use your pillow cases to create ghostly costumes instead.

3. Scare ‘em with vitamin E

Instead of handing out candy corn, get healthy in Halloween and hand out prepackaged servings of carrots or dried fruit that has no added sugar. Both are great sources of vitamins that can help your children stay healthy. Take it a step further and hand out cut fruit and berries packed in small plastic bags.

4. Use your pumpkins

Pumpkins are for more than just pumpkin pie and jack o’ lanterns. Use the flesh and seeds from your pumpkins to make delicious, healthy treats as a replacement for candy.

5. Give ‘em treasures for treats

Hand out boxes of crayons, stickers, colored pencils, erasers, Halloween tattoos (the removable kind!), or rubber spiders!

6. Patrol those sweets 

The best way to limit the amount of candy your children eat is to limit the number of treats they CAN eat. After inspecting all treats to make sure they’re safe, set a limit on how many they can keep. Then remind them to eat in moderation so they last longer (wink, wink). Store the bag in a high but public place so you won’t be tempted to snack on the candy either! If you love these tips you can support the Alliance for a Healthier Generation wonderful work by having a Party for a Cause at EcoFriendlyPary.com.

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation works to address one of the nation’s leading public health threats – childhood obesity. The goal of the Alliance is to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity by 2015, and to empower kids nationwide to make healthy lifestyle choices. Founded in 2005 by the American Heart Association and William J. Clinton Foundation, the Alliance works to positively influence the locations that can make a difference to a child’s health: homes, schools, doctor’s offices and communities. For more information please visit: HealthierGeneration.org.