Starting to Think that X-raying Candy Bags Is Still a Good Idea

Well maybe not that extreme. But I’m checking my kids’ candy more closely this year, not just for unsafe treats, but unfortunately also to screen for religiosity.

This was the first year that my son has had enough interest in trick-or-treating to want to venture beyond our own block, where thanks to block parties and the slow walk to school each morning, I am pretty familiar with my neighbors.

We ended up a couple blocks over, picking up one of his buddies along the way. Somewhere in that two-block area, we ended up with three things I won’t forget:

• A full bag of marshmallows, apparently from a house whose occupant works for a candy company. (Super cool).



• A ziplock back of candy and two Chick.com tracts. (Yikes. I suppose if we’re going to knock we risk getting a sermon or at least a cartoon version of a sermon). Note the link takes you to Chick Publications’ guide for how to take advantage of Halloween in order to witness to hundreds of “unsaved children.”
• And, maybe my favorite, candy corn covered with a piece of plastic wrap and tape. (Not exactly what I’d consider safe to eat).

I’m wondering who else got the tracts and what your reaction is.

I’ve also tried to remember any bizarre things I picked up from trick-or-treating as a kid. I just can’t remember anything too strange. I do recall that my mother immediately trashed anything that wasn’t wrapped, especially things like candy apples. She’d also can anything that was loosely wrapped.

If you have any weird or cool treats stories to share, please do.

Update: Here’s more reaction about the anti-Islam tract that was distributed. “Halloween Blues” over at the blog Health at My Size.