The first question is, how do you actually separate the kids from the candy and make it a positive experience all around? This year, why not try the Legend of the Switch Witch? The Switch Witch is a very good witch who visits your house on Halloween night after everyone goes to sleep. Just have your kids leave out a pile of candy, and the Switch Witch will take it away and leave a special gift in it's place. Think of her as a Halloween themed mash-up of the tooth fairy and Santa Claus. There's even an adorable Switch Witch doll and book to help you tell the story.  

Now that you've safely gotten hold of the candy, have a piece while you consider what to do with the rest. The first thing you can do is think locally and consider donating your candy to places like food banks, homeless shelters and meals on wheels. Organizations that feed people really do appreciate donations of bite size pieces of Halloween candy. Nobody is pretending the candy is healthy, but everyone deserves a little treat every now and then. Halloween candies give these folks an opportunity to include a small treat along with the healthy, nourishing meals they provide.

You can also try your hand at baking with all that extra candy. The internet is filled with Halloween Candy Leftover recipes and I have no doubt you will be the star of your next school bake sale if you show up with Candy Corn Pretzel Bark, Butterfinger Whoopie Pies or Candy Bar Brownies.

If you're itching for a craft project, then just rip open all of those little bags of coated candies like M&M's, grab some glue and create a candy mosaic picture. Better yet, head to your local craft store for styrofoam shapes and glue the candy to create a holiday wreath or a Thanksgiving centerpiece. Be sure to save some for your gingerbread house.

Here are some other donation ideas:

Halloween Candy Buyback - Participating dentists all over Fairfield County collect candy from kids and trade it for prizes and sometimes money, buying your candy for $1 a pound. (Our pediatric dentist is raffling off an Xbox One this year.) The candy is then shipped overseas to troops through the Operation Gratitude. Troops not only enjoy the candy, but they also use the candy to create goodwill by handing out pieces to local kids where they are deployed. You can go to their website, enter your zip code and find a participating dentist near you. 

Operation Gratitude - You can cut out the middleman and donate your candy directly to Operation Gratitude. This organization encourages people to show their appreciation for the men and women who serve our country. In addition to Halloween candy, they provide a wishlist of items they would like, and encourage folks to send letters and drawings. For the candy donations, they provide a really helpful list of do's and don'ts and ask that you ship your Halloween candy no later that November 15th.

Send to: Operation Gratitude, 17330 Victory Blvd, Van Nuys CA, 91406-5438, ATTN: Halloween Candy/Angel Cuevas

Operation Shoebox - This is another group that collects donations for the troops and sends them out to those serving around the world. In addition to individually wrapped Halloween candies, they gladly accept other non-perishable foods, toiletries, games, music, books, socks... you name it. Their website provides all the information and ideas you need. You can even include a pre-addressed post card and you'll get a thanks back in the mail.

Send to: Operation Shoebox, 8360 East Highway 25, Belleview FL, 34420

Ronald McDonald House - The Ronald McDonald House of Connecticut is located just outside of Fairfield County in New Haven. They provide a home away from home for families dealing with a child in the hospital, and their mission is to keep parents and children together while the children receive medical treatments. They welcome donations of unopened candies in their original wrappers, since it provides a special treat for the families who are there for an extended stay.

Ronald McDonald House, 501 George St, New Haven CT, 06511, 203-777-5683