It’s Halloween again and in a little while you’re going to hear the little patter of feet of excited trick-or-treaters looking for sweets. You hate to be the Halloween Grinch, but for your own reasons, you just don’t want to hand out sweets this year. You also don’t want your house to be egged, either. Maybe you just want to be unique, and give non-edible treats but you hate to see little frowning faces looking up at you. Whatever your reasons are, don’t despair: There are lots of alternatives to trick or treating candies. All you have to do is to keep an eye out for these items:

1. Fast Food and Arcade Coupons. Don’t have time to painstakingly choose and buy treats in bulk? You’re in luck because a lot of fast food and arcade establishments now offer special Halloween coupon books that you can just tear out and hand out when trick-or-treaters come your way. Just check if the coupons have any age restrictions, like, only kids 12 and above can redeem the coupon.

2. Stickers. There are loads of Halloween-themed stickers and sticker books out there. Kids love stickers, so receiving these in lieu of candies isn’t too bad.

3. Plastic Jewelry. Even though all the kids are all made up nice and dandy on Halloween, having some more accessories wouldn’t hurt. Plastic rings, necklaces, tiaras, bracelets and “bling” for little boys are always a welcome addition. As a side note, don’t hand out costume jewelry or glossy pearls, because there’s a possibility that they contain lead.

4. Children’s Makeup Kits. Back then, little girls were itching to try mom’s makeup kits but were afraid of getting scolded. These days, makeup kits made especially for children are now available and are wildly popular. Include nail polish, lip gloss, eye shadow and other makeup accessories for makeup kits to hand out to the little girls.

5. Face Paint. Who says you only get to have your face painted on during Halloween or parties? Giving face paint kits as an alternative to candy gives kids a chance to have a ball painting themselves as animals or other weird characters anytime they want. (Learn how to make a face paint)

6. Temporary Tattoos. Glitter tattoos and rub-on tattoos are novelty items that kids usually get in birthday parties or in those occasional trips to the toy store. You’ll be sure that those tattoos will be the first out of the bag. They’ll be really excited to put them on.

7. Healthy Alternatives. If it pains you to see kids going away from your front porch without a single edible item from you, have no fear for healthy alternatives are here. Granola bars, pretzels, trail mix, fruits in yogurt, cereal bars, pre-packaged fresh kettle-popped corn, sunflower seeds, pistachio, dried fruits and mini boxes of cereal are very much welcome in any trick-or-treat bag because not only are they healthy, but they are also delicious treats.

8. Drinks. Trick-or-treating can be exhausting, especially for very small children, and truthfully, candies aren’t much help if you are tired or thirsty. Handing out chilled juice boxes or small Gatorade bottles for these children will be certainly received with a warm thank you. If the night is chilly, you can also hand out cups of warm apple cider from a boiling “cauldron.”

9. Glow Sticks. If there was ever a time to use glow sticks other than a rock concert, it’s during Halloween trick or treating. The kids will most likely use it as soon as you hand it out, and it’s useful too, since they can provide a bit of illumination during the dark Halloween night.

10. Activity Books. Coloring books, picture books, and other activity books may sound boring, but for some kids, there’s nothing as exciting as a new, clean and crisp activity book all for their own use.

11. Art Materials. Buy kid-friendly crayons, chalk, play-doh, watercolors, magic markers, painbrushes and oil paints to encourage the artists in the kids. They’re also very colorful, so they won’t feel left out among the candies.

12. Mini Pumpkins. Believe it or not, kids actually get a kick out of getting their own personal pumpkins. Select small, hand-sized pumpkins from your nearest pumpkin patch. You have the option of carving them yourself or having the kids do it for themselves. Another fun thing to do with mini pumpkins is to hollow them out, put instant pie filling inside and microwave marshmallows on top as frosting. Instant pumpkin pies!

13. Jokes and Gags Gear. Plastic rats and cockroaches, fake blood, false teeth, plastic eyeballs, fake vomit, ooze and whoopee cushions are appropriate for Halloween and will be a sure hit for the older kids. Don’t be surprised when word gets around and kids start requesting for them specifically .

14. School Supplies. Some kids may not admit it, but it’s thrilling to receive brand-new school supplies, especially when you least expect it. Give pencils, paper pads , pencil sharpeners and erasers in a Halloween theme for a useful alternative to candies.

15. Food and Drink Packets. Packets of hot chocolate mix, Kool-Aid mix, popcorn, raisins and other dried fruits are also a different route when it comes to treats in Halloween.

16. Puzzles. Provide kids with an opportunity to flex their brain muscles with brain teasers like jigsaw puzzles, Rubik’s Cube or 3D wooden animals. Origami paper with instructions are also a fun way for them to learn and develop their artistic skills.

17. Toys. The problem with handing out toys is that if you buy cheap ones of bad quality, they’ll probably be thrown in the trash. Yet you don’t want to spend too much on them. The solution? Go for the simplest toys like marbles, bouncy balls, play money, piggy banks, a Lego starter pack, plastic tea sets, slinkies and dolls’ clothing—toys don’t have to be fancy to be enjoyed. If you think about it, kids can have hours of fun with just cardboard boxes, so why not simple toys? Just make sure you don’t hand out toys that may cause choking to the really small children.

18. Cute Toothbrushes. Yes, yes, it’s the cliché and you don’t want to be “that dentist neighbor” handing out dental instruments like dental floss and tongue scrapers. However, you can’t deny that after gorging on candies, that’s exactly what they need. Hand out toothbrushes with design from today’s most popular kids’ TV shows like Pokemon or Hannah Montana and see if they don’t grab it right from your hands! Pair them up with bubblegum-flavored toothpaste for a complete set.

19. Bubbles. Bubbles are cheap, cute and an endless source of fascination for kids. These are easily available at any toy store and are always a favorite among kids.

20. Jerky. True, not exactly the kind of thing you’ll see in a trick-or-treat bag, but jerky can come in sweet flavors, too. The salty kind can also be a good respite from all the sweet flavors in the other candies. (Tips on how to make beef jerky)

Handing out these alternative trick-or-treat goodies may cause a little bit of surprise, but don’t worry. They’ll enjoy your stuff, too. You’ll also feel better for not contributing to the sure sugar shock that will come later. Not only does giving out candy alternatives a unique respite from candies, but it’s also a thoughtful act to kids who may be allergic to certain sweets. Parents will love you for giving out these alternative treats!