The idea of children eating enormous amounts of trick-or-treat candy doesn't have to worry caring parents at Hallowe'en. Instead, they can create exciting traditions which avoid the heavy consumption of highly sugared foods.

Nutritionists agree that children are eating far more sugar than they should anyway – on average it is estimated that children consume 21 to 23 teaspoons of added sugar per day, most of it coming from carbonated sodas, fruit drinks, candy, and baked goods such as cakes and cookies. Because many children also get very little physical exercise, and spend several hours each day watching television or a computer screen, it is no wonder that many of them are at risk for diseases associated with obesity – which is a big health issue at the moment.

So, when children dressed as monsters, superheroes, princesses and outer spacers knock on your door next week, surprise them with something other than candy. A recent US study showed that trick-or-treaters between the ages of three and 14 were just as likely to choose toys as candy when offered both on Hallowe'en. Here are some suggestions for fun activities and non-food treats, as well as more nutritious treats:

¦ Plan activities focussing on Hallowe'en fun instead of sugary treats. Organise games with prizes, host a monster make-up party, or lead a neighbourhood scavenger hunt.

¦ Buy healthy treats for trick-or-treaters – for example, small bags of pretzels, mini-boxes of raisins, sugar-free gum, individual juice boxes, unshelled peanuts, small apples.

¦ Give non-food treats such as stickers, pencils, and wash-off tattoos. Remember, some treats present a choking hazard to toddlers. For young children, avoid hard or semi-soft candy the size of a grape that could get stuck in the throat, and toys such as balloons and small whistles. Other non-food ideas include: Hallow'en theme pencils, crayons or erasers; Hallowe'en theme magnets or stickers; creepy-crawly rubbery worms, spiders or Hallowe'en figures; orange coloured or pumpkin shaped note pads; all kinds of balls – beach balls, little bouncy balls that light up when they bounce, soft and spongy footballs, etc.; bubbles and bubble wands; plastic spider rings.

¦ Keep trick-or-treat outings short to cut down on the amount of candy children bring home. This is a lot easier to do when children know that other activities are planned for the evening.

¦ Encourage children to sort through their bags of candy and be selective about which pieces to keep. This gives parents the opportunity to examine the treats and discard any with loose wrappings or other suspicious items. Excess candy can be stashed in the freezer for later. The inconvenience of waiting for it to thaw will reduce its appeal for some children. If you're lucky, they may even forget it's there.

¦ Let children select one or two treats on Hallowe'en night, then store the rest out of sight, dispensing them sparingly in the weeks ahead, for example two in a lunch box or as an after-school treat.