An Allan Candy Halloween!

Newsflash: I Have a Sweet Tooth.

I’ve always been addicted to candy – even in my late twenties when it was decidedly unfashionable to be seen with the sugary stuff – and certainly now that I’ve got two little boys who know the difference between “dinner” and “treat”… and how eating all of one will lead to enjoyment of the other.

In fact, my fondest “Trick or Treat’ing” memories involve me dumping out all the chocolate and passing it along to my brother, but only after bartering for his pieces of Big Foot, Peach Slices and Gummi Bears. Which I proceeded to stash up my pajama sleeves for a reunion later on, once everyone was in bed.

(I’m bobbing my head from side to side right now, humming the tune “I Want Candy”. True story.)

And it’s safe to say that both my boys have inherited my sweet tooth; they generally push, pull and climb on top of each other when they hear the rustle of a candy bag.

With Halloween just around the corner, I like to be well prepared so that both boys can enjoy the night. Here’s what I do:

One Month in Advance
Buy costumes. I hate waiting until the last minute; it allows for much less selection and available sizes, plus I can usually find early-Halloween promotions where I can scoop up costumes for less than $20.

Two Weeks in Advance
Start reading through flyers and decide who’s got the best candy for the best price. I’m not opposed to whipping out a calculator to determine unit cost – multiplied by how many I’ll have to dole out per child (1 bag of chips vs. 5 individually wrapped Sour Watermelon Slices). And, I never go to the dark side and give away nutritional alternatives. It’s Halloween, y’all, don’t try to mess with tradition.

One Week in Advance
Figure out an easy, spooky dinner that I can have on the table in under 30 minutes, but will be nourishing enough to keep them well-fortified against the cold. I usually have great intentions but always tend to end up with spaghetti and meatballs – ahem, brains and bloody eyeballs.

Photo Courtesy of Halloween Forum

As both boys are still young, we haven’t gone all out when it comes to decorating the house – usually, a spooky little monster and some white crepe paper strung around the door frame is sufficient for now.

On Halloween Day
Check the weather, have the candy sectioned into bowls, carve and light the jack-o-lantern. Check the weather again (I’m neurotic about the kiddos being cold). Get ready to enjoy one of my favourite holidays.

This year, I’m incredibly excited to team up with Allan Candy! Yup, I’ll be dishing some of the most delicious jubes and jellies that have become synonymous with childhood!

Allan’s sweet lineup includes:

Allan Intense Jubes & Jellies – delivering an intense sour flavor and a soft & chewy bite

Allan Chewy Rascalz – childhood favourites that include Big Foot, Sour Big Foot, Green Thumbs and Hot Lips

Allan Fruit Buddies – a variety of fruit flavoured such as Sour Watermelon Slices, Peach Slices, Sour Cherry Slices, Tangy Wild Strawberries and Sour Grape Slices

A bonus: All of Allan’s Halloween candies are made in Canada, PEANUT-FREE and individually wrapped! Safe, convenient and oh-so-gummy… it’s a match made in Halloween Heaven.

If you’re looking for convenient treats that you just know the neighbourhood kids will love, grab Allan’s Halloween packs before they’re gone! You can find them at Wal-Mart, Loblaws, and other major retailers.