I read an article by Ed Levine at the food site Serious Eats and Ed says there are 10 Halloween treats nobody wants. They are:
1. Toothbrushes - Usually given out by dentists, of course.
2. Raisins - When they say trick-or-treat, they want candy that will rot their teeth, not dried grapes.
3. Candy Corn - "The fruitcake of Halloween."
4. Smarties and Necco Wafers - These chalky candies "taste like dust."
5. Dum Dum Lollipops - "Usually foods on a stick are yummy (corn dogs, ice pops), but Dum Dums just can't be included on that list. Not even if they were breaded and deep-fried and served at a fair."
6. Apples - Do not give out unwrapped or unsealed treats.
7. Tootsie Rolls - Too chewy; "will strip the fillings" out of your teeth.
8. Miscellaneous Wrapped Hard Candies - Halloween is "not for senior citizens. Save these for Granny."
9. Laffy Taffy - Too sticky; gets stuck on your teeth.
10. Anything fun sized - "Who started calling it this? Since when is one bite fun?! Give us the rich houses with the sprawling driveways and full-sized candy bars any day. Portion control doesn't need to start this young."
I agree with everything on the list except #10. I always hand out fun sized Snickers, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Hershey Bars, etc. Each kid gets at least 2 of these. Besides, I like them; especially the Snickers. And they are more than one bite each unless you are a pig.
Oh, and it is probably not a good idea to hand out a business card with the candy. :-)
What are you going to hand out?
Hi Shirley, I'm with you on the fun sized candies! I have to say I also love candy corn...call me crazy. Some years I handed out caramel apple lollipops (I got a huge bag from Costco) and I think people liked them. This year I'm on weight watchers so I am trying to think of non-boring non-food items....I'll check back here to see what folks come up with! Cheers, Harley
Howdy Shirley
I'm also not a fan of those there candy corns. Do like give out the fun size candies.
Shirley I would have to disagree with #7 as well. I love tootsie rolls!
Hola SP! I agree with this list as well EXCEPT #9! Who doesn't like laffy taffy! Oh my goodness! I love it! We did October pop-bys, little pumpkin bags w/candy in them. I bought mixed bags of all kinds of candy @ costco - took out all the laffy taffy & saved it for myself. :). It's evil.
I don't usually buy candy & hand it out. I go with my nephews so my house looks like one of those dark, dark, spooky ones where nobodys home. BTW - I agree w/you on #10 also, FUN SIZE doesn't make you feel like you are eating all that badly, just a few bites & your done! It's fun! KM
Harley - I have been known to have a few pieces of candy corn in addition to my favorite, Snickers.
Dale - The fun size candy bars are usually chocolate and sometimes have nuts and caramel. Yummy!
Bill - I liked Toosie Rolls as a kid. Enjoy yours but save some for trick or treating kids ;-)
Kristin, We have some older kids (like you LOL) who come by, usually later in the evening. I indulge them with candy as well.
Shirley - I am sitting here eating candy corn while I read this :). I'm addicted to the stuff.
Snikers! Yum!
I think Dots should be #2, right under dentists, because that's usually where you end up after eating a few of these things. They don't just stick to your teeth, they rip them out.
Erik - You are getting a sugar high.
Trey - Yes!
Joshua - I have never had Dots but from what you say they sound like they could do some damage and make your dentist some money ;-)
My mom used to give out those peanut butter things that were wrapped in black or orange wrappers.
I like anything chocolate, and those fun-sized bars are always favorites with me!
Oh, I love Laffy Taffy. Always have since I was a kid. And I like candy corns but not when I was younger.
We don't hand out any candy at Halloween. I live on a cul-de-sac in an older neighborhood so we just don't get any kids coming by. I miss handing out the candy to the kids.
Ann - I almost forgot about those peanut butter candies. Those are good.
Linda - I enjoy seeing all the children who come by in their cute costumes. They always seem to be having so much fun and the really little ones seem a little bit scared at the same time. I love them all.
Ah yes, that famous list. I would not hand out any of those items on the list unless I did not want the children to come back next year. I'm all about the chocolate. Who was the genius that came up with the idea of candy corn. That is all sugar. Toxic for me.