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Don't just eat candy, use it by Sarah McLaughlin Public Relations What if this article didn’t tell you to limit Halloween candy collection or to avoid unhealthy choices; but instead, it encouraged you to allow children to bring heaps of it home. The catch? Rather than eat it, use it.   The first step to downsizing the candy heap is throwing away any unwrapped or otherwise potentially unsafe candies. Many parents hide the candy, and hand out small amounts during a long period of time. But several dentists argue that this approach is much worse for children’s teeth than allowing them to indulge for up to three days. After that, there are countless things to do with candy besides eating it. The following are some suggestions: Donate it: give the candy to a food bank, school, or church to be used as special treats during the holidays. Freeze it: frozen candy can be used later for ice cream toppings. Melt pure chocolate: chocolate will not freeze as well as other candies, but can be used in molds, sauces, or to make s’mores. Make a piñata: fill a piñata with leftover candy for upcoming holiday or birthday parties. Wear it: use an assortment of candy and lollipops with wrappers to create colorful necklaces or bracelets. Make gingerbread houses: almost any type of candy can be used for these holiday crafts, and the houses can be frozen to be displayed later. Do candy crafts: from hard candy mosaics to animal sculptures, there are numerous craft ideas available at craft stores or online. Share it: bring a basket to work, or bring by the local police or fire station to say, “thank you.” These are only some examples of alternatives to consuming the inevitable piles of Halloween candy. During the upcoming holidays, these ideas can also make  great gifts, which help to get the candy out of the house. For more creative ideas, visit http://www.candyusa.org.     Friday, Oct. 28, 2005 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.