A few years ago, my two young daughters and I got all tricked out for some killer trick-or-treating in our Seattle neighborhood. While most of the neighborhood handed out candy, at a few homes, treasures like bubbles and stickers were placed in the girls' pumpkins. The children were thrilled, and I was wondering, "Why couldn't we make Halloween a little healthier for kids, and while we're at it, for the Earth?"

As the following Halloween approached, I was still wondering. Then I began planning, and that simple thought turned into action. Green Halloween®, a grassroots, community initiative was born.

With a goal of giving Halloween a healthy, green makeover (while keeping all the fun), Green Halloween, helps to raise awareness about alternatives to traditional candy, costumes and decorations.

What's so bad about what we've been doing all these years?

• The average child brings home ten pounds of candy on Halloween. More than 60% of adult Americans and one out of three children are either overweight or obese.
• Halloween is the second most popular holiday when it comes to spending for decorations. Much of the décor is made from petroleum products or other unsustainable materials. Much of it is tossed in the trash on November 1 and ends up in landfills.
• Purchased costumes, make-up and accessories often contain compounds that are harmful to our health. Last year, for instance, the Consumer Product Safety Commission discovered lead in "fake teeth" packaged as party favors.

It doesn't take a lot of money or time to create a fun holiday with fewer negatives on people and the planet. Here are a few ideas:

• Approach the "greening" of Halloween with a positive attitude. Let your children know that you are starting a new adventure and that you want their help. Plan together. Maybe this year, you choose one aspect of the holiday to green up such as composting leftover candy. You don't have to do everything at once.
• Plan ahead. Avoid shopping the night before Halloween (or that day), when alternative choices may be limited. If you take the time to plan, you can order items from the Internet or shop locally and discover treasures you'd never considered before.
• Think "treasures" instead of treats. www.GreenHalloween.org has dozens of ideas for alternatives to conventional candy. Some of these are "greener" than others. You'll find something to like no matter how far you want to take it.
• If you are going to hand out conventional candy, try a little moderation. Purchase a variety of candy, and when children knock, let them know that they can choose one very special treat. Just cutting back on the amount of candy we offer is a positive step. You also might have two bowls, one with candy and the other with alternative treasures. Do your own experiment to see which the kids choose.
• When it comes to costumes, encourage your kids to make their own. Even if they want to be a character from TV or movies, it is more fun and more personal for them to create their own version. Planning ahead means that you can find what you need from what you already own, borrow from friends or check out local thrift stores. If you do purchase costumes, be sure to pass them on when your child outgrows them. And rather than plastic, take a look at the imaginative long-wearing alternatives made from silk and other natural fibers like those from www.AToyGarden.com
• Décor helps bring Halloween alive, but the environmental costs can be creepy! If you're going to buy, spend on quality items that will last many years or look for products made with eco-friendly recycled materials or energy-saving LED or solar lights. If you're overstocked with Halloween décor, but are bored with it, why not organize a décor swap with friends and neighbors? And of course, use what you already have on hand in creative ways to create decorations like ghosts, scarecrows, and witches. Once again, get your kids involved, give them supplies, download ideas from the internet (www.instructables.com has loads of unique ideas) and let them go at it.

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Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell are a daughter-mother green lifestyle team and co-authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family which are available at www.CelebrateGreen.net. For more eco-friendly tips and tricks for Halloween, visit Corey and Lynn www.GreenHalloween.org and their blogs at www.GreenHalloween.org/blog and www.CelebrateGreen.net/blog.