The concept involves a trade. After children go trick-or-treating, parents allow them to select a certain amount of their collected Halloween candy to keep. The remaining candy is then exchanged, often secretly, for a desired toy or other non-edible treat. For instance, a child might wake up on November 1st to find their excess candy replaced with a new video game or a doll.
This practice offers several advantages. It reduces the consumption of sugary treats, promoting healthier eating habits. It can also extend the excitement of Halloween beyond just one night by providing a secondary reward. Furthermore, some suggest this idea originated as a response to concerns about potentially unsafe or tampered-with Halloween candy, providing a way for parents to manage the intake without completely eliminating the fun of trick-or-treating.