There is nothing quite like putting the world to rights with a three-year-old, even if it’s a bit confusing at times. “Mummy,” asked Chloe, in the car on the way home, “why do we have Arabs?” I gave her a very rambling and politically correct response explaining how the world has and needs lots of different people. “But mummy, why do Arabs tell me where to go?” Um...“An Arab told you where to go?” I asked, concerned. Rolling her eyes, Chloe replied, “Arabs tell me where to go ALL the time!”Hmmmm, I thought. And then wondered, “Chloe … do you mean arrows?”“Yes,” she said, with a look that meant: “Obviously!”With the Arab/arrow confusion cleared up and, never one for silence Chloe moved on to the topic of road safety. We discussed (among other things) stop signs, overtaking and roundabouts. I should have known that I was asking for trouble. Every car journey now feels like a driving test. “Two hands on the wheel, mummy!” pipes up my little back-seat driver.The drive-time conversations are without doubt, some of the best parts of my day. It’s one of the rare moments when we are actually still enough to have a proper conversation. Don’t get me wrong, after a relentless round of “Why? Why? Why?”, there are days when I wish I owned ear plugs, but then Chloe would probably say the same thing. After all, my poor girls have a mummy that is No Fun whatsoever in the run-up to Hallowe’en.This morning, I started setting the boundaries for the inevitable sugar-fest. Strapped into her car seat with nowhere to hide, I negotiated a swap-session after the trick or treating. The deal being that I get to swap out anything on my nemesis list, for something a little better. It’s actually easier to scale down the sugar and provide healthier options than you might think and your kids never even have to know. So if you are aiming for a happy compromise and would like some tips for healthier treats this year, see below.Five of the best Hallowe’en treats1. Mini-SmartiesWhatever your view on their global politics, you’ve got to give Nestle some credit for switching Smarties over to natural colours and flavours. The colours are still really fun and vibrant and Smarties are universally loved by kids. Smarties market Mini-Smarties in fun-size boxes which are perfect as Hallowe’en handouts. You can find them widely in grocery stores across Bermuda, and reliably in Lindo’s.2. Other more natural “mini” optionsIf you can’t get Smarties, try any of the other more natural chocolate options. Cadbury’s do great mini versions of all their favourites: Dairy Milk, Maltesers, Crunchies, Twirl, to name a few. Yes they contain sugar, but at least they are free of artificial additives. That’s half the battle.3. Yummy Earth Organic LollipopsI’m a big fan of these as treats for the kids. The Yummy Earth lollipops come in really great flavours like Wet-Faced Watermelon, Pomegranate Pucker, Blueberry Tooberry and Mango Tango. They are naturally coloured/flavoured and half the size of a regular Jolly Rancher-type lollipop so you slash the sugar intake. They are very affordable too, especially when you buy the multipacks. Available at Down to Earth, It’s Only Natural, Miles and Lindo’s Devonshire.4. Raisin boxesThe Lovely Husband shook his head in dismay when I put mini-boxes of raisins in the trick or treat bowl last year. He was worried we were going to be THAT house, the one with the boring treats. Instead, we had kids running up the driveway asking “are you the house with the raisins?” Raisins are high in natural sugars but the mini-boxes provide a sensible serving size. They are also rich in immune boosting antioxidants, so they are one treat you can feel good about.5. ToysIf you really are a candy-phobe, how about giving out little toys instead? Stickers, bubbles, bouncy balls and fun pencils are all well received by kids.Extra tips:Try to avoid: fluorescent, artificial colours and artificial flavours. Also be wary of giving out bubblegum/chewing gum, bubble pops, sweets with nuts or large, hard candies to little kids.Swap session: if you’re planning on swapping out candy with your kids, let them know before they go and have some great replacements lined up.Pre-empt the sugar buzz: Fill up your kids with a protein-rich snack before they go trick or treating. The protein will help to slow down the release of the sugar into their bloodstream and may even curb their appetite a bit. Try healthy hotdogs (Applegate do great organic ones), wholewheat crackers and cheese, a ham sandwich, or pasta with hummus and spaghetti sauce stirred through.The advice given in this article is not intended to replace medical advice, but to complement it. Always consult your GP if you have any health concerns. Catherine Burns BA Hons, Dip ION is a fully qualified nutritional therapist trained by the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in the UK. Please note that she is not a registered dietitian. She can be contacted at nourishbda[AT]gmail.com.