An Eco Mom’s Guide to a Green Halloween
Another summer has come and gone, the kids are back at school, the smell of autumn
is in the air. As another crisp October beckons, kids everywhere are repeating the
age-old question “What are you going to be for Halloween?” The answer wavers often,
sometimes even after the costume is planned, made or purchased, but it’s Halloween
after all and that’s just part of the fun.
Fortunately for us eco-moms, Halloween is one of those celebrations that works well
in green. It’s easy to switch from drugstore candy containing more wrapping than
edible contents to eco-friendly treats. Do-it-yourself costumes can be a simple
and inexpensive alternative to their made-in-China counterparts. Of course even
with our best intentions, the double-espresso-speed schedule that so many of us
run on can render any new direction daunting. It’s tempting to get sucked in by
all the crazy promotions and point-of-purchase displays encouraging us to grab &
go in order to save some time. But with a few simple changes to hearken a more wholesome
holiday, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at what you’ll find.
Favorite Halloween Eco-Treats
Halloween treats don’t have to be individually wrapped balls of artificially colored
corn syrup – although kids will certainly get plenty of those. Locally grown, fair-trade
or organic candy makes a more conscientious alternative environmentally. Small,
sustainably-made toys are a healthy eco-friendly substitute. Halloween party-goers
often enjoy all-natural or home-baked goods even more than those overly sweet, questionable
ingredient-laden supermarket varieties. Look online or at your local healthy foods
store for some of our favorite treats below:
- Yummy Earth Organic Lollipops – delicious and dye free, they come in a large
variety of flavors including lemon, mixed fruit, peppermint, mango, watermelon,
and pomegranate.
- Plan Toys Monkey Pencils
– Made from reclaimed rubberwood, these eco-friendly pencils are as cute as they
are functional – a kid and parent favorite.
- The Ginger People Apple Spice Chews – You’ll love their apple spice chews.
Made from all natural apple spice, it’s the perfect holiday candy.
- Endangered Species Chocolates – These delicious bite sized chocolates squares
are fair trade manufactured by a company that donates a portion of proceeds toward
preserving animal habitat.
Eco-Friendly Costume Tips & Tricks!
Think back to when you were a kid and how the best costumes were always the most
imaginative ones, those last minute inspirations pieced together with a stapler
and glue gun. Part of the fun of Halloween is in giving kids permission to use their
imagination and figure out a way to create their vision, then see where it takes
them. Depending on the age, they may need guidance and ideas, but it’s so much better
when they help to create it themselves from objects or materials you have at home.
- Host a Halloween Costume Swap: Invite some friends to join you for a pre-Halloween
potluck. If they have kids, chances are they’ve got extra dress up, last year’s
costumes or accessories to swap. A perfect way to save money, go green and have
fun.
- Used Clothes: Costume Shops or your local Good Will are tremendously fun
to visit for Halloween ideas. Visit Goodwill for old linens to make a fun ghost
or toga costume. Dress them up with leaves to show they’re eco. Other favorites:
gangster, wise old crone, clown or cat (cheetah print is a common Good Will find).
- Spooky Scarecrow: Over sized flannel shirt, faded blue jeans with patches,
rope for belt and to tie at the cuffs of his jeans and sleeves, stuff the shirt
and jeans with plastic grocery, or paper, a little bit of straw to hang out of jeans
and shirt.
- '60s Hippy: This one is hard, after all its all back in style! What is real,
and what is costume? ;-) Tie die clothing, long wig (in the old days we called it
a "fall"), sandals, headband, anything with fringe on it (vests, purse...), and
light colored sun glasses.
As every mom knows, it’s got to be quick, easy and affordable to work in any color,
green included, but when you can stay true to the origins of the holiday without
breaking the bank, it’s worth a try. This year try trading pre-packaged for reused,
recycled and made by you. You’ll find an eco-friendly Halloween more fun, no additional
pressure or extra work - Go Green!
Please visit our Green Halloween section
for more fun and sustainable Halloween products you can use all year long.