Make Your Halloween a Green Scream by Carolyn “The Healthy Voyager” Scott.

You may be able to claim you’re under a witch’s spell this time of year, but that’s still no excuse for ignoring your carbon footprint or health.  Here are tips to keep you from the frightening realities of an un-green Halloween that will also keep you healthy and save some cash:

Keep It Local

Block and community parties not only help alleviate the stress of throwing one big party yourself but keep everyone out of their cars. Instead of driving all around or busing your kids to the best candy neighborhoods, make it a group affair that saves money, time and emissions and will be more unique then anything else across town!

Serve up Healthier Halloween Treats Like These

Snacks to share: Toasted pumpkin seeds, Raw Veggie Tray in the shape of a Skeleton with Guacamole (Brain) Dip, Shredded carrot salad (shaped like a pumpkin with raisin eyes), Baked apples with cinnamon, Pumpkins stuffed with Risotto, Orange bell pepper and black olive pizza, Air popped popcorn, Pumpkin or Butternut Squash soup, Pumpkin Cornbread, Pretzel Witch Fingers, and Cider made with 100% organic apple juice, simmered with cinnamon sticks.

Candy to serve: Surf Sweets or Vegan Licorice.

Candy for Trick-or-Treaters: Go Max Go Vegan Candy Bars or Organic Lolipops.

Fashion Your Own Costume

The best rule is to shop year-round at thrift stores and garage sales. Next year, keep a costume bin so come October 1st, you’re all set to put together a screamin’ outfit. If you or a friend knows how to sew, it’s easy to customize garments to suit your new identity.  (Instructables is sure to be inspiring.) Re-using old clothes and costume pieces keeps you from spending gobs of money on a store bought costume made of cheap, un-eco friendly materials that come wrapped in plastic. Besides, you won’t be 1 of 10 other sexy nurses at the party.

DIY Your Decor

Nothing is more fun than making your own decorations, especially if you have kids. It’s cost effective when using materials you have at home as well as eco-friendly since you’re reusing items that would normally end up in the landfill.  Make headstones from cardboard boxes, save your raked leaves and toss them on your yard, build a scarecrow or ghosts out of old sheets & clothes, and decorate with lots of gourds & fall veggies as they can be planted or composted after the holiday. In addition, opt for LED or eco-bulbs for outdoor lighting and go for heirloom pumpkins for your jack-o-lanterns.

Wrap Up All Hallow’s Eve

If you’ve bought things in boxes, break them down for storage so they can be used again next year for decorations. Compost leftovers. If you ruined your costume, don’t toss it as you may be able to use fabric scraps for next year’s. It’s also a good time to take inventory of what worked and what didn’t so you don’t waste money next Halloween on things that weren’t such a hit. Save your time and energy for what rocked and plan ahead for next October!

Just because Halloween is supposed to be spooky, that doesn’t mean it has to be scary to your health, the planet or your bank account!

Images courtesy of Flickr users Foxtongue, Emilyonasunday, LOLren, and ginnerobot.