The Must-Know Candy Bowl Etiquette For Any Halloween Event
The candy bowl is a staple at almost every Halloween event — just because we're so used to its presence, however, doesn't mean there aren't things we should consider with regard to etiquette. Whether you're the party host in charge of stocking the bowl or a guest who gets to indulge in its sweet contents, there are some simple rules you must bear in mind.
If you're the host, mull over the needs of your guests to guarantee a fun (and safe) experience for everyone, while also trying to make the event go as smoothly as possible. If you're a guest, it's important to know the unofficial candy bowl rules to respect both the host and other attendees. Additionally, Halloween parties can be the perfect opportunity to coach excitable children in basic party manners.
Below, we've covered some of the most important candy bowl etiquette tips for hosts and guests — so you've got plenty of time to brush up before all the Halloween festivities begin.
Provide a scoop for unwrapped candy
If your Halloween bowl only consists of wrapped candy, you might skip this piece of advice, but if your offering contains unwrapped treats like candy corn or a mix of the two, it's considerate to make sure you have a scoop or tongs available for your guests. This will limit the amount of people handling candy directly and prevent potential contamination. We've all seen it — hand goes into the bowl and out comes a fist full of the good stuff! But ew, who wants to eat candy touched by a dozen or more people?
After the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are more concerned about the spread of harmful germs, and having a safer way to handle your treats will put your guests' minds at ease. If you're hosting an event with children present, this is even more important, as kids are notorious for sticking their hands in less-than-hygienic places and forgetting to wash them — especially when their minds are focused on that mountain of sugary deliciousness.
Halloween also falls around the start of flu season, and the last thing you want is for any of your guests to get sick before the holidays. A simple scoop will do, and to be on the safe (and fun) side, create a small "monster" sign to sit next to your candy bowl with a reminder to use the utensils you've provided.
Keep on top of refills
There's nothing worse than patiently waiting in line for the candy bowl, only to find that when it's your turn, there's barely anything left. The best party hosts are able to preempt their guests' needs – so while you might be on top of asking people if they need their drinks refilled, don't forget about the candy bowl.
By keeping an eye on candy levels throughout the night, you'll know when it's time to top up the bowl with extra treats. However, obviously you can only do this if you've got enough candy on hand. It's always better to buy more than you think you'll need just in case guests have a major sweet tooth — and it's a good idea to start stockpiling candy at the right time so you aren't faced with empty shelves during the last-minute Halloween rush.
If you were a little overzealous with your candy purchasing and have loads left over, it shouldn't be a problem. Most candy takes months to expire, so you don't have to worry about it going to waste. You can also provide goodie bags with the remaining candy for your guests to take home, save it for later in the holiday season, or even donate leftovers to a food bank, children's charity, or homeless refuge.
Include a healthier option
While most of us associate Halloween with candy, guests can be turned off by an event if they think the only options are full of sugar. Some folks might be on a health kick or specific diet and they want to avoid excess fat or sugar — and certain parents may want to limit the amount of sugar their kid eats.
Also, there are medical conditions (like diabetes) that require careful monitoring of sugar intake to avoid harmful side effects — and these folks are often overlooked when it comes to Halloween goodies. That doesn't mean you have to ditch the candy altogether, but it's thoughtful to have one or two healthier options.
There are plenty of ways to add a Halloween twist to classic healthy party treats, like making batches of monster teeth out of apple slices, peanut butter, and seeds, or witches' broomsticks from breadsticks and cheese. Ultimately, you can get as creative as you like — a few drops of food coloring go a long way when it comes to making creepy dips and spreads. Making it fun and healthy for everyone doesn't have to be a chore; a little effort goes a long way.
Consider allergies
If you're fortunate not to worry about the food you eat — except maybe whether you need to put in a few more hours at the gym — you're one of the lucky ones. However, others must remain vigilant in case a certain food puts them in a harmful situation.
Although most people are aware of common allergies such as peanuts, tree nuts, and gluten, Halloween candy can still contain allergens that might slip under the radar. Ingredients like milk, egg, soya, and sesame are not uncommon in Halloween treats — and they have the potential to cause a series of side effects and, in some cases, anaphylaxis which can be deadly.
If possible, ask guests about allergies before prepping for your party so you know what to avoid — you can always create labels to warn of allergens. You might even provide a separate bowl for items that contain specific ingredients. If you're unable to confirm which of your guests might have food sensitivities, check the FDA website for a list of the most common allergens — this is a list food service businesses rely on — and simply avoid buying any candy that contains those ingredients.
Consider age range of guests
Although trick-or-treating might be an activity for younger children, you're never too old for a fun Halloween party. Whether you're hosting an adults-only affair, a party just for kids, or an event for people of all ages, you should tailor your candy selection to your guests.
For example, if you've got small children present, you'll want to avoid candy that might be a choking hazard. According to a study by The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, hard candy was responsible for 15% of all food-related choking incidents in children under the age of 14, with other types of candy contributing another 12.8% (via the American Academy of Pediatrics). Round candy and those that contain nuts, along with gummies and marshmallows, are some of the worst culprits, so bear that in mind when you're catering to kids. There are also flavors that are an acquired taste, like dark chocolate or coffee, so you might want to skip these if you've got younger guests.
While you won't have to be as picky if you're hosting an adults-only event, you might want to splurge on the fancier stuff, possibly from a local confectioner known for quality homemade candy. And never underestimate the power of nostalgia — you can find plenty of online retailers that specialize in the types of "old-school" goodies that filled the jars of the candy stores your grandparents used to visit — and your older guests will get a kick out of this!
Make your bowl easy to reach
Even the most curated candy bowl can be unappreciated if your guests are struggling to access it. Nobody wants to fight their way to the sweets, and they're a lot less likely to bother if there's an unruly line of people waiting their turn.
First, make sure the bowl is easily visible and accessible — creative Halloween decorations and signage can help show guests where they can find the treats. If you're hosting a larger party, you might even place multiple bowls around your venue so guests can grab from almost wherever they are. However, if you've got pets that can't help themselves when food (especially candy) is around, make sure they can't reach it and eat something that might make them sick.
Bonus points: If you've got kids present, some parents might want to monitor how much candy those kiddos are eating, so you may want to place your bowl somewhere little hands can't get to.
Enforce a limit if necessary
While it's nice to make sure your guests' candy needs are met and your bowl stays topped up, you aren't expected to have an unlimited supply. To make sure there's enough to go around, it's not unreasonable to reinforce a limit on how much candy people can take. This can be especially handy if you've made some homemade treats and want everyone to have the chance to try one.
Again, this is where a simple Halloween-themed sign placed next to your candy bowl will do the trick. Write a simple message asking each person to only take a certain amount of candy, at least until everyone else has their turn. You also don't have to enforce the limit for the whole party — if you get later into the event and are confident everyone's had a chance to pick some candy, remove the limit sign and let people take what they want. Of course, the message is primarily for kids, as most adults know how to regulate and share.
The other solution, which is a little more time-consuming but more effective, is to portion out the candy in advance. You can decorate small paper cups and add a combination of different candies to each one, making sure there's enough for at least one per person. While this also cuts down on the risk of contamination from a shared bowl, you'll also have to keep the risk of allergies in mind.
Ask the host before bringing your own treats
If you've been invited to a Halloween party, it's not uncommon to bring something as a nice gesture. However, no matter how good your intentions may be, always ask the host if they'd like you to turn up with sweets. There are a few reasons you should double-check. As we mentioned earlier, your host is (hopefully) considering their guests' allergies and might want to avoid specific types of candy.
You also want to ask so you don't bring something that might draw too much attention, especially if it's something homemade, like "spooky" rice crispy treats. While it's never your intention to offend the host of a Halloween party, bringing candy that will be in plenty of supply, or specialty treats already made by the host, might make them feel bad. The idea here is to simply communicate beforehand — that way, no ones feelings get hurt, and you might be asked to bring treats that would be greatly appreciated.
Wait your turn
If you've ever attended a Halloween event, especially one with hyperactive children, you know it doesn't take long for a crowd to form around a well-stocked candy bowl. In fact, it's not a surprise that sometimes even adults struggle to form an orderly line of their own volition.
If things are getting unruly, don't be afraid to suggest that people get in a line and go one at a time. A well-prepared host might have already come up with a solution for this in advance, but sometimes you might have to create a system on the fly.
Not only is waiting your turn just a considerate thing to do, but it's also a great opportunity to teach any children present about general etiquette and self-control. We can all remember that impulse as kids when you see the heaping bowl of Halloween candy, and the desire to sprint over and dive right in.
Before you take your children to a Halloween event, it's worth having a brief conversation about waiting their turn, and why it's important to stick to these social rules. Also, and we hope this goes without saying, if you're going to tell the children to wait their turn, you need to set a good example and do the same.
Don't touch what you're not going to take
If the Halloween party host is following our earlier advice, hopefully, the candy bowl has a scoop or tongs alongside it — but that might not be the case. If you're forced to use your fingers to pick out your candy, don't "double dip," meaning if you pick up something, don't put it back in the bowl.
Handling candy that someone else has to eat is unhygienic, and if the other guests see you do it, they might be completely put off from eating something from the bowl. However, we know that most Halloween candy bowls contain a mixture of candies, and there's always a chance your favorite might be in there, out of sight. What then?
If you really need to dig around in the candy bowl for a specific candy, use the scoop or tongs to gently move them around. If there aren't any utensils, use a napkin or empty cup to get a closer look without touching anything that you don't plan on eating. Also, it's fair to say that the lucky dip aspect of a Halloween party bowl is part of the fun, and if you've really got your heart set on a specific treat, you can always come back later and try again.
Don't hog the favorites
When it comes to Halloween candy, everyone has their favorite. If you're lucky, you might love a type of candy that everyone else hates. However, more often than not there are candies that have a lot of fans and are usually the first to disappear. If you can see there's a short supply of a certain candy, only grab one so everyone else has a chance to enjoy them too. If you're sure everybody's had a turn at the candy bowl, you can go back for another.
But what if there's only one of a certain type of candy in the bowl? It's polite to offer it to the other guests first, or if it's a bigger event, at least to those lining up behind you. People will usually tell you to go ahead and enjoy it. If someone does claim the candy, hold your head high knowing you did the polite thing.
Remember to thank your host
If you've ever hosted an event or party, you know just how much work goes into planning and preparing. They've had to source candy and decorations, snacks and drinks, and they might be someone who goes crazy for Halloween, putting superhuman effort into getting their place looking spooktacular.
The host will have had to anticipate everyone's needs, and while the guests are socializing and relaxing, the organizer will pull all sorts of strings (behind the scenes) to make sure everything's running smoothly. It's incredibly important to bear this in mind, and make sure you remember to thank your host for all their hard work.
For almost every host, knowing their guests enjoyed the event is what makes the effort worthwhile, and a simple compliment on their accomplishment will go a long way. Again, it's also the perfect opportunity to remind younger children about basic manners and party etiquette by encouraging them to thank the host for the invite and for all that delicious candy.