Depending on how many Halloween events your family attends, you will end up with anywhere from several fistfuls (highly unlikely) to an ungodly amount (more likely) of candy. Of course, you can choose to allow you and your kids to nibble on it until the Zombie Apocalypse, but it’s likely that you are already looking for an excuse to get the candy out of the house. Here are some ideas to do exactly that:
#1 Participate In The Halloween Candy Buyback Program
Dentists nationwide “buy back” Halloween candy from children in their communities and then send the candy to U.S. Military deployed in combat through Military support groups. All types of candy are acceptable, including chocolate. Trick-or-treaters can bring their excess candy to offices like Aspire Dental and receive $1 per pound. Dr. Brandon Hall has joined the anti-decay movement by giving away dollars plus the chance to win prizes from local businesses in exchange for cavity-provoking candy. Candy will be collected at Aspire Dental, November 2nd from 7:30 am to 6:00pm. Plus, supplies will be provided for anyone that would like to create a letter for our service members.
Check the Halloween Candy Buyback website to find the closest location to you. Offices participating in the Austin area include:
Mai Orthodontics
6012 W. William Cannon Drive, Suite D-103
Austin, TX, 78749
Phone: (512) 892-1188
Email: kristy@maiorthodontics.com
www.MaiOrthodontics.com
Liberty Hill Pediatric Dentistry
9415 W. Highway 29
Liberty Hill, TX, 78642
Phone: (512) 930-4040
Email: info@LHKidsDentist.com
www.LHKidsDentist.com
Leander Pediatric Dentistry
903 Old Bagdad Road
Leander, TX, 78641
Phone: (512) 337-6499
Email: Office@LeanderPediatricDentistry.com
LeanderPediatricDentistry.com
Austin Laser Dentist
11615 Angus Road
Austin, TX, 78759
Phone: 512-346-4690
Email: patientcare@austinlaserdentist.com
www.austinlaserdentist.com
Aspire Dental
3951 W. Parmer Ln Suite 200
Austin, TX, 78727
Phone: (512) 491-5244
Email: melissa@aspiredental.com
www.aspiredental.com
Sage Dentistry
11420 Bee Cave Rd Ste B-150
Austin, TX, 78738
Phone: (512) 263-8500
Email: info@sagedentistryaustin.com
sagedentistryaustin.com
TUCKER FAMILY DENTISTRY
10703 E. CRYSTAL FALLS PARKWAY
LEANDER, TX, 78681
Phone: (512) 260-9333
Email: doctortucker@suddenlink.net
TUCKERFAMILYDENTISTRY.COM
Family Tree Dental Group
5310 Burnet Rd.
Austin, TX, 78756
Phone: (512) 458-5999
Email: burnet@familytreedentalgroup.com
FamilyTreeDentalGroup.com
Family Tree Dental Group
1008 Mopac Cricle Ste. 100
Austin, TX, 78746
Phone: 512-609-8998
Email: beecaves@familytreedentalgroup.com
FamilyTreeDentalGroup.com
Hapii Dental
9300 N. Lamar Blvd., Suite A
Austin, TX, 78753
Phone: (512) 782-8744
Email: hapiidental@gmail.com
hapiidental.com
Daylight Dental
6501 S. Congress Ave., Suite 2-201
Austin, TX, 78745
Phone: 512-782-8738
Email: daylightdental@gmail.comwww.facebook.com/daylightdental
Northpark Family Dental
10009 North Lamar Blvd
Austin, Te, 78753
Phone: (512) 491-7800
Email: northparkfamilydental@gmail.com
www.familydentalnorthpark.com
Bright Side Dental
9222 W. Parmer Lane
Austin, TX, 78717
Phone: 855 725 3628
Email: plenning@brightsidedental.com
www.brightsidedental.com/office-locations/austin-tx-dental-office/
Brilliant Smiles
5608 Parkcrest Dr. Suite 250
Austin, Te, 78731
Phone: (512) 452-0888
Email: gglauser@brilliantsmiles.com
www.brilliantsmiles.com
ReVive Dental
3300 Bee Dave Road Ste 290
Austin, TX, 78746
Phone: 512-327-2131
Email: misty@reVive-Dental.com
reVive-Dental.com
Supersmiles Dental Center
15300 S IH 35 STE 300
Buda, TX, 78610
Phone: (512) 523-8183
Email: denise@supersmilesdentalcenters.com
Supersmiles Dental Centers
4529 E HWY 71
Del Valle, TX, 78617
Phone: (512) 247-6000
Email: maritza@supersmilesdentalcenters.com
#2 Donate The Candy
If one of the dentists’ offices above aren’t convenient, or if you would rather send candy to the troops yourself, you can do so by checking out the guidelines on the Operation Gratitude site. Letters and cards to troops are also encouraged. Does the Capital Area Food Bank take candy donations? Here’s what the Food Bank posted last year to answer that question.
#3 Trade Your Kids’ Candy
If there is something you wouldn’t mind trading your kids’ candy for, you can ask them to trade it. Maybe your daughter would be fine with a stuffed black cat, since it’s Halloween time? Or perhaps your son would be interested in a Goosebumps book instead of sugar? There is even a poem you can print out about Susie Switch Witch who comes at night and leaves you a little something in exchange for your treats. Hopefully your kids won’t notice when you suggest they…
#4 Conduct A Candy Experiment
Remember the Mentos experiment? There are tons of other ways to use science as an excuse to use up that Halloween candy. Here are some ideas to get you started.
#5 Make Your Own Cookie Candy Mashup
Maybe Halloween candy is one of your favorite things and you don’t really want it to leave the house? Raynelle Shelley, a Dietitian at Baylor Scott & White – Round Rock, gave us a recipe to turn that candy into….cookies! Yum!
Raynelle Surprise Cookies
TOTAL TIME: one hour for whole recipe
MAKES: 32 Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups butter
- 1 1/2 cups Jiff’s Natural creamy peanut butter
- 2 cups sugar, divided (1 1/2 cups + ½ cup for rolling)
- 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup egg whites
- 1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- Mini chocolates: Snickers, Milk Way, Almond Joy, Milk Duds, Reese’s Cups, Kit Kat, etc.
Directions:
- Cream the shortening and peanut butter then add 1 1/2 cups each of both brown and granulated sugars (save remaining ½ cup of granulated sugar for rolling) and mix on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add whole eggs and egg whites and beat well.
- Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl and stir by hand until combined
- Slowly add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture and mix well.
- Once dough is thoroughly mixed divide it into four portions. Lay each portion on a separate piece of plastic wrap, pace another piece of plastic wrap on top and pat down into a disk. Place the four disks in the refrigerator and chill for 1 hour or more.
- Shape 2 tablespoons of dough around each chocolate candy so it is completely covered.
- Roll balls in remaining ½ cup sugar.
- Place cookie balls about 2 inches apart (to allow cookie to spread slightly) on parchment sheet lined baking sheets.
- Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until set.
- Cool cookies on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before removing to wire racks.
What’s your favorite way to get rid of Halloween candy?
