Candy and chocolate based holidays can be tricky to navigate. Here are a few things that help me and my five year old enjoy the holiday.
Know your brands. I find it extremely helpful to know which brands carry vegan (or mostly vegan) products. YumEarth is my go-to candy brand and they even have chocoyums now as a chocolate candy option similar to m&ms. I also love Partake, Made Good, Enjoy Life, Emmy’s, and Dandies. I check all labels always in case anything changes but with these brands, I know I can pretty much grab and go without the worry.
Know the big brands and what to avoid. I avoid almost all big brands because I find that even if the ingredients look to be plant-based, they almost all use artificial dyes which freak me out and/or “natural flavors” which can be anything. Plus, while we do eat some “accidentally vegan” candy, I really love to support the ones who are doing it with purpose.
Find non-consumable ways to enjoy the holiday. My son is a big fan of painting projects so I often gift him a simple wooden holiday-themed piece or a canvas with some holiday paint colors and that’s a really fun activity that has nothing to do with what we’re eating.
Stock up on the goods and let your kid swap out gifts that aren’t vegan. If your classroom allows for candy and chocolate, you are probably going to receive non-vegan valentine’s. I just buy one extra bag of the candy or chocolate that my son loves most and then let him swap it out. I carry some in my bag and leave some at home. I always have extras to share with friends. The more they try the non-vegan items and become aware of the brands, the more I see them making those purchases in the future.
Advocate with your dollars. I know that the non-vegan items can sometimes be less expensive and so I know that this won’t work for everyone but if you have the disposable income to do so, I would love to recommend making purchases that align with your values. Even if you aren’t the ones consuming the item, (say giving as a gift or in a classroom) you are still speaking with your dollars. The companies that we all back are the ones that will grow.
I hope these tips are helpful. Please feel free to add more in the comments below.
