Moms Talk: What To Do With Leftover Candy

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We put this week's question to our North Potomac-Darnestown Patch for their ideas and advice. The suggestions don’t end here. Add your own tips and advice in the comments section below.

This week's question comes from Heather Stewart:

What do you do with your left over candy from Halloween? We always have excessive amounts of candy left over. The big problem each year is figure out what to do with Halloween candy the week after Halloween.

: This year, we'll be donating all of our leftover candy to Operation Gratitude, a non-profit that puts together care packages for our troops overseas. If you'd be interested in donating, you can drop off your candy in our donation box at the Washingtonian Woods Clubhouse at 511 Midsummer Dr. in Gaithersburg from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6. The donation box will be inside the clubhouse so the vendors at the holiday boutique can keep an eye on it and answer any questions.

: One of my neighbors works with Operation Gratitude. This is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization that ships care packages to troops overseas to collect excess Halloween candy to send to the troops. It's a great way to both cut down on the amount of candy our kids consume while donating to a really great cause. She is also collecting webkins/beanie babies to send with the candy. The significance of the toys and candy goes beyond making the troops happy but also helps with the detection of hidden explosive devices as described by this letter from a marine overseas:

"I live with 17 Marines and Sailors in one room. Everyone got a package and everyone loved it especially the cookies and beanie babies. The cookies are excellent and the beanie babies help us out a lot with the local kids. We give them candy and toys and they give us the location for IEDs. Once again, thank you for everything and for all the hard work that you put into the package. LCPL ND"

So this year we will be donating our extra candy and beanie babies to Operation Gratitude. We will also include hand-written notes/cards/drawings to the troops as well. If anyone else want's to contribute let em know and I'll pass on the information.

: In the past I keep the "good" stuff (candy bars like Snickers, Milky Way, Hershey's bars, etc.) and put it in a ziplock in the freezer for holiday baking. The kids will eat some over the course a week or two and then I often throw it out. This year I have heard of so many different organizations collecting to send to service men and women overseas we will participate in one of those to help get rid of it faster!

Renee Enright: Eat it?!? Really, not ready to part with it yet, but we will end up either giving it to the dentist for a nifty $2 bill and a chance at a $100 Target gift card or donating it to a charitable organization like Operation Gratitude.

: Our orthodontist buys back Halloween candy and donates it to Operation Gratitude. The problem is that the buy back is the first two days after Halloween and the kids are not ready part with it so soon. Some people have recommended giving it to an organization that provides meals for the homeless. This year I am keeping the candy that could be used to decorate our gingerbread houses for Christmas but that still leaves a lot left over.