As a mom of a child with severe food allergies, Halloween is the biggest nightmare of them all as far as holidays go.  It’s hard to explain to a child that while others are getting dressed up to go out and gather treats from door-to-door they can not go. While it is for the safety of the child, kids are kids and they do not understand the reasoning.

During the other holidays, there is no candy and treat gathering and the environment can be so much more controlled, making it possible to not have to deal with allergy awareness.  Halloween however, is a holiday kids live for and love and not being able to participate because they can’t touch or come into contact with particular items is just aggravating for both the child and the parents.

Avoidance is the best tool at present rather than having an anaphylactic episode which warrants an Epi pen, but there is an easier way to work with food allergies during the holiday.  There are ways to work around allergies during the holidays and this is how to lavishly live Halloween out loud and how TEAL pumpkins raise food allergy awareness.

How Teal Pumpkins Raise Food Allergy Awareness

The Teal Pumpkin Project was officially launched nationwide in 2014, as a means to raise awareness about the dangers of food allergies. Why the pumpkin, you ask? It’s simple. Every child deserves to participate in the fun and excitement of Halloween, even when candy is strictly off limits

How It Works

If you plan on handing out non-food treats this Halloween and want to take part in the project, you can do one of two things. Either incorporate a teal-painted pumpkin into your Halloween display or print out a free sign to hang on your door. The signage is available at the Teal Pumpkin Project website.

Why It’s So Important

One in every 13 children (in the United States) has a food allergy, which has the potential to become life-threatening at any moment. For a large number of these kids, almost any food can cause an adverse reaction.

Some of the most common childhood allergens include soy, wheat, nuts, milk and eggs. All of these ingredients are typically found in Halloween candy, making it extremely dangerous. That’s where non-food treats come into play.

Non-Food Treat Alternatives

There are many fun and affordable candy alternatives to choose from. This includes small prizes such as:

• glow sticks
• mini notepads
• stickers
• vampire fangs
• kazoos
• bubbles
• Halloween pencil toppers
• bookmarks
• spider rings, etc

You can easily purchase these items at your local dollar store or from online merchants such as Oriental Trading Company. OTC sells scads of small trinkets, perfect for trick-or-treating fun.

Whether or not their child has a food allergy, most parents appreciate non-food treats over sugary candy… and kids love them! Candy gets stale, small prizes don’t.

Of course, you still have the option of handing out both. Simply ask your trick-or treater’s if they prefer candy or a prize. It’s the best way to ensure that every little ghost and goblin has a safe Halloween.

Allergen Friendly

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While it may seem like a large effort to include everyone in the holiday, the smiles on the kids faces are well worth the changeup and you don’t even have to say anything, just display your Teal Pumpkin.  Lavishly live Halloween out loud knowing How Teal Pumpkins Raise Food Allergy Awareness and making kids smile.  Display those teal pumpkins and be safe!