How to have a green Halloween

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How to have a green Halloween

Halloween has only just begun and I’m already thinking about what to do when it ends. What to do with the pumpkin? What to do with the candy? What to do with the costumes?

I got some earth-friendly input from lifestyle and wellness experts Erica Reid (wife of Antonio “L.A.” Reid) and Latham Thomas. The two joined forces with Healthy Child Healthy World –  a California non-profit that empowers parents to protect their children from harmful chemicals — to offer a few tips on how to keep Halloween (and its aftermath) clean and green.

Compost Your Pumpkin: Cut the pumpkin into smallish pieces to aid the decomposition process and let the worms do their job. If you’re not into composting, try pumpkin recipes such as pumpkin pie or pumpkin ravioli.

Know what’s in those snacks: Kids will want to dive right into their Halloween goodies, but make sure you are aware of what they are eating. Many commercial snacks contain artificial colors, dyes, sweeteners, preservatives, hydrogenated oils and GMOs. Learn more at www.healthychild.org.

Craft your wrappers: Turn all those candy and snack wrappers into craft projects such as picture frames, purses, belts, jewelry and more.

Costume swap: Host a Halloween Costume Swap for your children and their friends. This will save everyone time, money and hassles.

Plan ahead: The day after Halloween means major discounts on decor, costumes and candy but consider limiting your purchases. Next year use items from nature for your decor such as pumpkins, gourds, leaves and beeswax candles instead of plastic cats, paper skeletons and electric lights. Choose costumes made from natural fabrics, host a swap (see above) or decide to make next year’s getups with items on hand.

What are some other ways to keep Halloween green?

Source : Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -  http://blogs.ajc.com/