-Dan from L.A-
Short answer: no. Halloween has become an example of two of the worst of our unsustainable processes: the once-through, linear process (by which raw materials become costumes and decorations) and the mad dash for consumption of the unhealthy (in this case, tons of candy). Not nearly enough parents are willing to risk the social stigma to their kids that comes with giving up on trick-or-treating or dressing up, leaving little hope for avoiding the holiday madness without the danger of years of therapy for your child. That said, there are some ways in which we can take some of the edge off Halloween and restore a bit of sanity to the day.
1. Ditch the "fake-abs" Batman from [Insert name here] and get creative
Halloween is one of the holidays where young adults actually get it right better than the younger versions of themselves. Although some still shop for the "his and hers cave people" costumes, most would rather find clever ways to take existing household clothing and items, mix with some colored duct tape, and voila!....you are George and Mary from It's a Wonderful Life in the "Buffalo Gals" scene, or the president's secret service. Most pre-made costumes are made out of plastic (which comes from petroleum), require a significant amount of energy to make, ship, and dispose of, generally are not recyclable, and do not get used more than once. Using what "we have around the house already" makes better use of resources and avoids the end of holiday disposal. As a compromise, put some effort into making a costume from fabric or more benign materials. Also, make it of enough quality that it can be passed around the family for a couple of years. My wife is making a Boo from Monsters, Inc. costume that should find its way on many 2-year olds for Halloweens to come.
2. Forgo long journeys around the neighborhood looking to see who can fill a Hefty bag with treats
Another great tradition of the twenty-something set is the Halloween party, pub crawl, etc. whereby everyone assembles at one place for food, fun, and a lot of guessing what's under the costume. Although I would recommend a more tame version of this for your 5-year-old, getting together at one house, with a mix of homemade and whole foods can still be about "having a treat" without resorting to amassing piles of processed food in individual plastic wrappers. By all means, do a walk around to the neighbors and the friends of the family, and get out into the neighborhood to socialize, but make the food focus one where you can control both the quantity and quality.
3. Speaking of quality, avoid the unnecessary
I have to admit, that given the time of day when trick-or-treating happens (right after work) and my general disdain for handing out processed food (along with my refusal to be the "apple guy"), we generally avoid the issue altogether and do not hand out candy. If you cannot give it up, and I know many people who love seeing wave upon wave of kids at their door, make some smart selections:
* avoid foods with any ingredients that are not "kitchen foods"
* avoid candy with GMO ingredients
* do not be afraid to offer natural, pre-packaged "fruit snacks" or coinage
* do some research into the working conditions of the people harvesting the food
4. Donate your excess
Kids are not dumb, and if you scrape off half of their booty, they will notice. Include them in the process of separating out unsafe and really unhealthy foods, and encourage them to put together a "give away" pile. Then take that pile to a shelter to share with kids who did not get the same opportunity they did. It will reduce the waste, the number of post-Halloween days your kids have a sugar high, and the stress of the day. Any opportunity to turn what otherwise would be selfish consumerism into a way to bring light to another should be pursued.
There are many who will read this and think of me as just another anti-capitalism, anti-holiday, fun-sucker...which couldn't be further from the truth. I do think that we have taken the easy way out over the years and have allowed the holiday to be "mass-produced" for us without regard for the use of resources and affect on our quality of life. By dialing back on some of the more damaging activities, and enhancing the social and creative aspects, we will get to a more enjoyable holiday.
I hope you all have a safe and happy Halloween!
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