Wondering if it's possible to have a healthy Halloween? Of course it is!

Halloween is that sweet time of year when children can collect and eat as much candy as they want. 

But with the obesity rate in the U.S. triple what it was a generation ago, and the number of cavities among children increasing for the first time in 40 years, some health experts consider the candy-focused holiday a nightmare.

The American Dental Association (ADA) launched a "Stop Zombie Mouth" campaign, offering coupons for the game Plants vs. Zombies that parents can distribute to trick-or-treaters instead of candy so that kids are not as prone to developing cavities, or, as the dentists are calling them, "zombie mouths".

Based on the nutrition labels on popular candies, the average child accumulates 3,500 to 7,000 calories worth of treats on Halloween night. According to a recent report, a 100-pound child who consumed all of those treats, or 7,000 calories, would have to walk for nearly 44 hours or play full-court basketball for 14.5 hours to burn those calories. And the dangers aren't just sweet-related: studies show that since children are walking neighborhoods in search of treats, there are more child pedestrian accidents on Halloween than any other day of the year.

Still, the holiday shouldn't be all spooks and no fun. If your children generally eat well all year long, then experts say that there is nothing wrong with letting them eat candy on Halloween night and a few mini pieces daily afterwards. The key, of course, is moderation. Family nutrition experts shared these tips about how parents can incorporate healthy foods, even workouts, into trick-or-treating - and some ideas for what to do with the rest of the loot when the trick-or-treating is over.

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~Fill up before trick-or-treating

If kids are full before they go trick-or-treating, then they will eat fewer pieces of candy afterwards. Consider having your kids eat something healthy before they go out so they aren't tempted to eat the candy along the way.

~Hand out non-sugary foods and toys

Nutritionists suggest some more wholesome treats that parents could give trick-or-treaters. Think animal crackers, mini rice cereal or granola bars, whole grain cheddar cheese crackers, and sugar-free hot chocolate packets. These all make great and healthy treats. There are also options such as, pretzels, apples, tangerines, dried fruit packets, or a trail mix of whole grain cereals. Also, kids will usually take cool toys over candy if given a choice, so it's advised that parents consider pencils, erasers, stickers, tattoos, glow sticks, and mini Play-Doh containers. Often children's excitement is in collecting the candy, rather than eating the candy.

Sometimes it's what's on the outside that counts more than what's inside. It's all in the packaging with kids. You can make healthy treats, but you can package them in a really cool, spooky way that will make them more likely to consume it. For example, cheddar popcorn balls in a plastic baggie sporting a smiling face can be instant pumpkin heads that are also a hit with kids who won't miss the sugar of a sweeter treat.

~Trick-or-treat and excercise

Parents are encouraged to make their walk from house to house instead of driving them. Parents can even encourage siblings or friends to wear pedometers or activity meters and start a friendly competition for who can be most active while they are collecting candy.

~Keep your favorite sweets. Hide the rest.....

Some nutritionists suggest that a little goes a long way and say it's best to allow kids to have 1 to 3 pieces of candy a day, starting with lunch at school, as an afternoon snack, or after dinner, making it a regular part of meals. The rest of the candy can go in the freezer so that it's out of sight and out of mind.

Parents should be just as vigilant about their candy consumption as children. Kids go to school all day, and parents are often home with the candy lying around, if you're buying Halloween candy to hand out to trick-or-treaters, buy your least favorite ones so that you are not tempted to eat them.

~Or give it away

When children get back home from trick-or-treating, have them make two piles: one for the candy they want to keep, another for the candy they will not eat. Consider donating the second pile to your local children's hospital, senior citizens home, food pantry, etc. 

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Be smart this Halloween, be healthy and stay active and always, always be careful while trick-or-treating.

Happy Halloween!