Add to this the obesity epidemic among children, the increase in juvenile diabetes - and I would like Hallow-e'en is approaching again, time to offer alternatives!  My children officially named me the Hallowe'en curmudgeon. We did not have this event in England when I was a child, and I found it offensive to think of my kids going to other people's houses and saying, in effect, 'Give me some candy, or I will do something unpleasant to you'.  Needless to say this is in addtion from my already negative feelings about overloads of candy. to propose an alternative.

Get your children a Hallowe'en box from UNICEF, and suggest they collect instead for children in genuine need.  Remember,  "Hallowe'en" means "Holy Evening"!

Get your school system involved.  This is a threefer! Less candy, no threats, and some needy children helped - not necessarily listed in order of important.

Another option is posted at www.reversetrickortreating,org, which is concerned about the abuse of children connected to the Cocoa crop.