Healthier treats for Halloween should be more of a common practice. Children love to get dressed up and go trick-or-treating on Halloween, but this tradition usually ends with bags filled with candy. With obesity, juvenile diabetes and poor dental hygiene issues growing in America, treat choices should be reconsidered.

When I was a child, I had a neighbor who would only give out Red Delicious apples. My mother would always seem very happy and gracious after her house, but I never understood why. After growing up a bit, I now understand that children do not need more candy! Kids in America already have too much access to candy and other various types of junk food, so giving kids pounds and pounds of candy on Halloween is unnecessary.

I am a strong health advocate and an intern Strength and Conditioning Trainer at Jake Sweeney’s House of Iron, so I know through personal experience the importance of physical fitness and healthy eating. Weight loss and health maintenance is generally 75 percent diet and 25 percent exercise, so even if you exercise for three hours, but then gorge on Halloween candy all night, the negatives will outweigh the positives.

People will be less tempted to partake in eating excessive amounts of candy if they receive less candy. There are plenty of other snacks that taste good and are healthier. For example, people could give out popcorn instead of chocolate, peanut butter crackers versus Reese’s Cups or even apples versus gummy bears. It is a known fact that cavities and tooth decay happen the most in between teeth, so sticky candies are often one of the culprits of tooth decay. This problem can be reduced, or even avoided altogether, by substituting sticky, sugary treats with healthier options.

Yes, everyone likes candy here and there, but I believe excessive candy consumption on Halloween is not necessary. It is becoming a big factor in the equation that makes up America’s health problems. Giving away healthy alternatives is the much better option and should be strongly considered by everyone.