The Teal Pumpkin Project: Trick-or-Treat with food allergies

Halloween is a fun holiday for kids- with the fun decorations, costumes, and of course, the treats.  Kids who suffer from food allergies or have special dietary restrictions such as diabetes, are somewhat limited with trick or treating.   Enter, the Teal Pumpkin Project.

As a mother of two young boys that have separate, but severe, food allergies, trick-or-treating can be challenging.  I have to be diligent with their Halloween candy to make sure none of it is eaten before I can dig through it all.

FARE, or Food Allergy Research & Education is encouraging food allergy families and those who are wishing to accommodate food allergies for trick or treating to participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project.

The Teal Pumpkin Project is simple: if you are offering non-food items to trick-or-treaters, paint a pumpkin (real or plastic) the color teal and place it on your porch to signal to families managing food allergies that you have non-food treats available at your home.  You can even buy teal plastic pumpkins in select stores.

Buying party favors (Halloween-themed or otherwise) is a good way to get a larger amount of small trinkets inexpensively, such as glow bracelets, pencils, notebooks, crayons, erasers, bouncy balls, bookmarks, stickers, and bubbles.

Amazon, Oriental Trading, Target Dollar Spot, party stores, or dollar stores are good places to find inexpensive non-food items. (NOTE: Play-doh is not gluten-free, so it is not considered food allergy friendly due to the skin contact/possible absorption).  This year, I found a small treat bag at Target, that is teal and says- I have food allergies.  Perfect size for my three year old.

Print out on of the FARE’s teal pumpkin project posters to post next to your door to notify visitors that you are handing out non-food items in support of all children with food allergies, and to raise awareness within your neighborhood.

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Halloween happenings around Las Vegas