Orange, Black and Green for Halloween

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Food

Newman's Own offers organic pretzels, chips and microwave Pop's Corn. Their products are sold through most conventional and natural groceries (see www.newmansownorganics.com for retailers), but if you can't find them locally, purchase them online at Amazon.com's new grocery store. For larger crowds, order some ready-made Pop'n Mama organic kettle corn ($23.99/2-20oz. packages, www.popnmama.com). Also, Frito-Lay still makes their Natural Lay's, Ruffles, Cheetos and Tostitos (available at most grocery stores; see www.fritolay.com for retailers), so set some of those out with one of the unique salsas from Seeds of Change (www.seedsofchangefoods.com).

To satisfy the sweet tooth, Sunspire makes SunDrops chocolate candy, similar to M&M's, in Plain Chocolate and Peanut ($4.29/10-oz. bag; www.sunspire.com). For your little cookie monsters, buy some Peanut Butter Cats & Chocolate Bats cookies from the Dancing Deer Baking Co. ($24.95/28-count box; www.dancingdeer.com). Your older kids and partygoers might enjoy Allison's Gourmet's organic Pumpkin Spice Cookies ($21.95/dozen, www.allisonsgourmet.com).

A Halloween party is a perfect occasion for serving high fructose corn syrup-free, organic apple cider from your local farmer's market. Learn more about buying cider from The Green Guide's Amy Topel: "Apple Cider—The Essence of Fall."

Pumpkin Carving

The use of pesticides on pumpkins varies by climate and region, but among the worst used are the organophosphates malathion, a nervous system toxin and possible human carcinogen, and diazinon, a nervous system toxin. To make your Halloween truly green, search for organically grown or pesticide-free pumpkins in your area at www.localharvest.org.

If you don't want young children handling knives, they can decorate pumpkins using least-toxic, water-based or tempera paints, such as Crayola Artista II watercolor sets ($3.73/16 pc. set) and liquid tempera paint ($3.46/pint; www.mrart.com). For other supplies, see Better Art Supplies for Budding Artists," from GG # 116.

Also, Hearthsong makes a pumpkin decorating kit that doesn't involve knives, just colorful wooden features children stick into pumpkins to make faces. A parent should still supervise and help make holes with a screwdriver for wood dowel inserts ($24.95; www.hearthsong.com).

Free pumpkin carving patterns are available at www.fabulousfoods.com.

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