Halloween

Hi Everyone,
First off, I would like to thank everyone for helping to make this site such a success.  We are almost at 700 members in just a little over two months.  Not too shabby for a rare disorder! 
 
With Halloween coming up, I thought it might be a good idea to get a sense of how people have handled the whole situation with the diet.  I know there are some newer parents out there who are trying to figure out how to make it a special day for their child.
 
Here is what we did.  When Molly was under the age of five, trading in candy would have been like "taking candy from a baby" - which those of us who are parents know is actually one of the most difficult things to do.  The screaming and tantrums would have been unbearable, so we kept trick or treating to the immediate neighborhood.  I would go out a half hour before we were going door to door and give the neighbors a treat that Molly could have.  There were always some homemade chocolate treats (almond bark) because Halloween without chocolate is unforgivable (see last paragraph for ideas). 
 
Once Molly got a little older, she wanted to go to more houses, trick or treat in town AND not have me say anything about her being on a special diet.  That was a bit more challenging.  I decided to do a "store."  While the kids were at school, the dining room table converted into the store.  I bought lots of junk at Target (mostly Halloween stuff) and one super cool thing (webkinz, etc.).  Each item had a price -- in candy bars -- attached.  Both of my kids (I do have another -- he just does not have PKU and is a bit neglected) loved this, and we got rid of a lot of candy.
 
We also only bought candy that Molly could have to give to the trick or treaters.  This way if she still had some left over, she could trade.  The candy from the store went into the bowl for the trick or treaters (so I would not gain 20 lbs.).
 
I heard Molly telling her Aunt Jen that she purposely takes a high protein candy even if there is a low one in a neighbor's bowl, because they are worth more in store!  She is such a creep, but I do love her to pieces.  Molly and Jack are so excited for Halloween, and they are most excited for the Halloween Store.  They cannot wait to see what I got this year (neither can I since I have not gotten to the store yet -- arg!).  This was the way we handled Halloween and it worked for our family.  How do you handle the holiday?
 
Oh, wait did you guys want some candy ideas?  Here is what I have made.
Kit-Kats - dip sugar wafers in almond bark
 
Twix bars - the roll out sugar cookie recipe, melt caramels and let cool on a piece of parchment paper (so it is thin) and then cut out in the same shape as the cookie.  Press on top of the cookie and then dip in melted almond bark.
 
Nestle Crunch - place a thin layer of almond bark in your chocolate mold.  Add chopped rice krispies, and then pour almond bark in the mold to fill.
 
"Fruit & Not" bar - those with Irish blood in their veins know this one.  Chop low protein pretzels (the salty crunchy pretzel is like a nut) and raisins and using a chocolate mold, make a bar or fun shape.
 
Our favorite -- chocolate covered glutino or ener-g mini pretzels.  If you want to be fancy, once the chocolate sets, then drizzle with orange dyed white almond bark (make sure you use candy coloring not your regular cake dye). 
 
Chocolate covered Oreos (using Kinnitoos or Joe Joe's)
 
Get creative and start dipping.  It is actually a fun thing to do with the kids.
 
HAPPY HALLLOWEEN!!
Brenda