Rural lifestyle has lead us to create our own Halloween traditions. We don’t trick or treat in a neighborhood, but we do watch a scary movie late in the afternoon – this year it was Ghostbusters 2. After dinner scary music is turned up, jack-o-lanterns are lit and the kids trick or treat at each door to our house. This is why I am loaded with treats for them and not neighborhood kids. After this they visit with our two neighbors (one being their grandparents), who spoils them with goodies and Halloween fun.
My family opts for an organic diet (generally speaking) and my son doesn’t like chocolate. Until this year he also struggled with fructose malabsorbtion, but in the last few months this has subsided after years of limited diets and supplements at every meal. I’m not sure if I was more excited for him to be able to enjoy Halloween candy for the first time, or for myself because I could pick out fun things for the kids. No more sad single serve bags of peanut butter crackers – bring on the candy!
There are lots of traditional, readily available vegan candies on the shelf of your local grocery store, so there is no need to stress. These are some of my personal favorites that definitely remind me being a kid, walking through the streets of my grandparent’s neighborhood.
This year, as my very own Max Enstien and little blonde mummy were loaded up with:
- Organic lollipops from Yum Earth
- Honey Mustard Pretzel Bites from Asheville Pretzel Company
- Justin’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
- Coconut Caramels
- Lemon Cups – perfect for my son who doesn’t like chocolate
- Mango Bites
- Cinnamon Bears
- Fruit Leather
- Raspberry Licorice
- Candy Corn
- Organic Fruit Chews (like Starbursts)
I didn’t sample everything this year, but can report that the Candy Corn is a little weird. Raised on Branches (which I still put in my desk occasionally) the slightly more vanilla-ish flavor and the little chew to the texture were kind of gross, but the kids were fine with them. The biggest hits were the mango bites, lollipops, pretzels, peanut butter and lemon cups respectively.
Mostly Vegan Mama 