Trick-or-treat? It’s what about 93 percent of all children in the United States will do on October 31. Each little goblin hauls in about 250 pieces of candy. That bulging bag is stuffed with about 9,000 calories and three pounds of sugar. Kind of scary? It doesn’t have to be. Here are some ways you can make Halloween healthier.

Sort through the candy when you get home.

• Toss out the taffy, hard candy, and sour-flavored treats first. These candies can quickly make your mouth more acidic, break down tooth enamel, and cause cavities.
• Keep the dark chocolate. It contains less sugar than traditional chocolate, and it’s high in antioxidants that can protect the heart and brain.

Give out healthier treats.

• Consider sugar-free fruit leather and candy-coated nuts.
• Hand out inexpensive toys like miniature cars, yo-yos, puzzles, play dough, or whistles (this is also a great way to include children with food allergies - for more information check out, The Teal Pumpkin Project.

Brush up before bed.

• After the night is over and your kids have enjoyed a taste of their hard work, make sure they brush their teeth before going to bed.