Low-CarbTrick-or-Treat Ideas

So you've worked and slaved to try to keep those nasty carbs and devilish sugar away from your own youngsters, only to have to turn around and dole it out to the neighborhood kids, right? Well, they will get enough candy and sweets--trust me! You don't need to add to their belly aches.

But you can avoid getting "tricked" by giving them a tasty and nutritious low-carb snack instead of the sweet stuff. Try some of these ideas:

• Give out the single-serving packets of peanuts, cashews or mixed nuts.
  
  
• Hand out party favors.
  
  
• Sugar-free gum is a nice treat.
  
  
• Kids need pencils, so give the kind with the specialty erasers, just for fun.
  
  
• Small boxes of crayons make a good "treat."
  
  
• Give out small bags of barbecue pork rinds.
  
  
• Make a batch of "cinnamon crisp" pork rinds by sprinkling Splenda and cinnamon on plain-flavored pork rinds. Separate into baggies for the kiddies.*
  
  
• Want something simple? How about handing out individually-wrapped string cheese snacks?
  
  
• Treat 'em with some beef sticks or beef jerkey.
  
  
• If candy is a must, buy bags of sugar free hard candy or chocolates to pass out to the kiddies.

*In some areas, like bigger cities, it may not be wise to hand out "homemade" of home-packaged items. In smaller communities, some people still do this.