It wouldn't be Halloween without pumpkins.
And there is no better place for picking them than New Jersey and Pennsylvania, ranked one and two, respectively, in pumpkin producing.
In a recent survey of Halloween habits, eight of 10 parents reported carving a pumpkin for their holiday decoration and going out trick-or-treating with their youngsters.
With more than 48 million youths ages 2 to 14 out there, by Census Bureau count, that means almost 40 million youngsters plus parents making the rounds collecting sweets as well as preparing pumpkins for decoration and cooking.
You may think that passing out healthful snacks is the ultimate trick, but quite a few younger ghosts and ghouls have been raised to appreciate non-sugary treats. And when it comes to cooking a pumpkin, not just any variety is perfect for eating.
For trick-or-treaters, try offering a choice of regular candy or healthful snacks from different bowls. Include good-for-you snacks such as mini-boxes of raisins, sport/energy bars, low-fat granola bars, popcorn, pretzels, and cheese or peanut butter cracker packs.
Or, offer single-serve packets of oatmeal, cereal, cocoa mix or other more staple foods. Save homemade cookies, muffins, dried and fresh fruits, and other unwrapped treats for your guests and friends.
And, yes, overall, according to an M&M/Mars poll, 86 percent of those manning the door on Halloween night dole out the treats directly, rather than let youngsters help themselves.
Kids love Halloween, but it can become a nightmare for parents if those handing out the treats are not careful to keep safety issues in mind. And remind your Halloween trolls not to toss candy wrappers around town.
For help with party plans, recipe ideas, decorations and costumes, M&M/Mars is operating a Haunted HelpLine. Consumers can call 800-865-4406 through midnight Oct. 31 for recorded tips from the experts at Family Fun magazine, Universal Studios' makeup artists and others.
Whatever your party plans, you probably will want some kind of pumpkin. It was the American Indians who introduced early settlers to this squash, as well as to pumpkin-seed snacks. Pumpkin is still a staple in Southwestern, Mexican and Caribbean cooking.
When selecting a pumpkin, remember that if it's a 20-pounder, it's a carver. If it's about five pounds, red-orange and oddly shaped - often called a sugar pumpkin - it's for cooking.
