With racks of disposable costumes and bags full of (more bags) of irresponsibly produced candy, Halloween tends to leave a ghastly footprint on the earth. This year, local mom Corey Colwell-Lipson hopes to improve the tradition with Green Halloween, a program that helps families "think outside the candy box."

The website offers greener, healthier Halloween alternatives. For example:

• Make costumes from recycled materials like used clothing and cardboard boxes.
  

• Use a pillowcase instead of a plastic bag for trick-or-treating.

• Replace candy with healthier sweets like fruit leather or honey sticks, or give "treasures" like stickers or temporary tattoos.
  

• Decorate with fair-trade skeleton streamers or homemade creepy crafts. 

Colwell-Lipson knows that when you're strapped for time, the most convenient solutions usually win. So she encourages greener, healthier choices that don't require more time or money ... or less fun.

"If you're going to go out and buy a costume and treats, it doesn't take any more time to stop at Whole Foods for healthy treats or visit a used clothing shop for a costume," she says.

Want to green your Halloween? Print a Green Halloween sign for your door or window, and add your house to the map that tracks households giving earth and kid-friendly treats. Green Halloween is sponsored by Whole Foods, ParentMap, and Overlake Hospital, and all proceeds go to local non-profit Treeswing.