You know the drill: You go to a kid’s birthday party, you leave with a swag bag. Often, though, the party favors inside aren’t particularly eco-friendly. You might get a couple of dodgy plastic bath toys, a board book, and some candy, which your child will probably shove in his or her mouth quicker than you can say “High fructose corn syrup!” Here are some ideas for greener party favors – and they’re all under $10, so you can buy one for each of the little guests at your kid’s next get-together.

Bud takes the traditional rubber duckie bath toy and puts a fun twist on it. Give kids a Space Duck, complete with a clear plastic space helmet and orange NASA jumpsuit. Darling Duck is turquoise with cute white polka dots; Rock Duck is black with red skull-and-crossbone logos; Love Duck has hot pink hearts on a bright pink background; and, for little ghouls, Horror Duck has gory red blood splatters on his smiling face. All Bud bath ducks are made of phthalate-free plastic.

Printing new books involves cutting down trees; bleaching paper involves releasing possibly carcinogenic products into our water. It’s much greener to go to the library, and to buy used books. That doesn’t really fly at a kid’s birthday party, however. Enter Green Start recycled board books. They’re made from 98% post-consumer recycled materials, and printed with soy-based ink. They’re not only green on the outside; each book contains a story about nature and our effects on it. There are four titles to choose from, covering subjects like the ecosystem that surrounds a single tree, and where different baby animals live. You’re buying a “new” book for your party guests, but still staying green, and hopefully educating growing minds in the process.

Swag-bag plundering often leads to candy consumption, which in turn leads to one hopped-up kid. It’s well-nigh impossible to stop young ’uns from eating sweets at a birthday party, and near cruel to take away their goodie bags after the festivities (unless your kid has a bona-fide sugar issue, in which case you’re completely justified in nixing the candy). You can do a bit of damage control by giving out organic, natural candy at your kids’ birthday parties. YummyEarth makes a line of organic lollipops you can buy in bulk. They’re all-natural, colored with red cabbage and purple carrots, and flavored with organic extracts. The 150-count container is $18.85, which means each lollipop will set you back 13 cents. Sure, Junior will still be on a sugar high, but without the usual extra kick of artificial colors and flavors.

Depending on the ages of your kids and the age group attending the birthday party, there are plenty of other excellent green options for party favors. Stay green by picking books and toys made of recycled paper, phthalate-free plastic, or wood. Choose cuddly toys constructed of organic fabric and stuffing, and get candy that contains natural/organic colors and flavors. Other moms and dads will be grateful that you aren’t filling their homes – or their kids – with junk.