Cupcake of the Week: Halloween Candy Overdrive

This week's Cupcake of the Week:

What to do with all that Halloween candy your trick-or-treating kids (or you) bring home?

It's in your house.  It's right there for all to see, eat, store, pack away, whatever - for days on end.  I don't know about you, but my kids could easily survive for three weeks eating nothing but the candy they pick up at Halloween.

So again, what to do with it all?

Here's what we do.  When the kids come home, we divide up the mountains into two piles: a small keep pile and a larger give-away pile.  We eat some from the keep pile that night, then continue to enjoy it every day for the next 3 to 4 days.  Then, we gather all the candy up from all piles and donate it.  That's right, give it away.

A local dentist in our town buys back the candy for a few bucks then donates it to local shelters, organizations and to the troops overseas.  It's a total win-win.  Check out in your area and see if anyone is doing something similar.

Need more inspiration?  I ran across this video last week and it made me smile.  The 5th graders at Elysian Charter School in Hoboken, NJ, exchange their candy for fruit which is then made into smoothies.  But the twist?  The smoothies are created by the Purple Pedal Power Berry Bicycle Blender (powered by the kids exercising).  These enterprising kids have been making videos to spread the word about exercise and healthy eating - encouraging children (and parents) all across the country.  I love it and can't wait to see what other creative videos they make to promote health.

Have a fun Halloween everyone!