Halloween brings joy to children of every age. However, kids with food allergies often face limitations when trick-or-treating. Many popular candies contain dairy or nuts, making them unsafe for these children. Hence, the Teal Pumpkin Project was created to ensure that all kids can join in on the Halloween fun without the worry.
Let’s look more into what the Teal Pumpkin Project is and how your house can participate this fall.
Why was the Teal Pumpkin Project Started?
The idea of the Teal Pumpkin Project originated from a desire to create a safer and more inclusive Halloween experience for children with food allergies or other conditions that could prevent them from eating traditional Halloween treats.
The project was launched by the Food Allergy Research and Education organization in 2014. While the project gained traction across the United States quickly, it has also spread to other countries around the world.
The project encourages people to place a teal-colored pumpkin outside of their homes to indicate that they offer non-food treats or alternatives to traditional Halloween candy for these children. More and more people are becoming familiar with the Teal Pumpkin Project, however every time a new house hold participates it continues to create a positive difference.
What about Candy Without Common Allergens?
Yes, candy is a part of the Halloween tradition. However, there are a few reasons why candy, even without common allergens, isn’t appropriate for children with these conditions. Let’s review the reasons next.
Cross-contamination
Children with food allergies are extremely limited to what candy they can and cannot have, and this is because of the risk of cross-contamination. Even if a candy does not list nuts or milk as direct ingredients, it is likely still processed in facilities that handle these allergies. This cross-contact can lead to trace amounts of these allergens being present in the candy, however this is enough to trigger an allergic reaction in individuals with a severe allergy. Because of this, especially on a holiday like Halloween when it is less than ideal to look at candy labels, non-food items are best.
Non-allergen Conditions
As mentioned above, the Teal Pumpkin Project was created not only for food allergies but also for children who may have other conditions. These conditions could be celiac disease, diabetes, dental health concerns, behavioral sensitivities related to disorders like Autism, or even certain religious or cultural preferences who adhere to a specific dietary pattern. In all of these cases, non-food items are a great alternative.
How to participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project this Halloween?
Participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project is straightforward and rewarding. So, thank you for wanting to join in on the fun. Here are the simple steps on how to participate this fall:
1. Paint it Teal
There are a few options when deciding how to indicate that your household is participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project.
- Purchase a real pumpkin and paint it teal yourself
- Purchase a plastic teal pumpkin
- Buy a teal pumpkin yard sign
- Download and print a teal pumpkin sign here
Regardless of which option you choose, all you have to do is display your sign or pumpkin outside of your house on Halloween night.
2. Choose Non-Food Treats
Instead of purchasing candy select age-appropriate non-food items to hand out to trick-or-treaters. If you want to still purchase candy in addition to non-food items, then that’s okay! However, just remember to separate the candy and non-food items into different bowls/baskets. If you purchase a plastic teal pumpkin, then you can place the non-food items in there! Here are some examples of non-food items to purchase this fall:
- Glow sticks
- Halloween stickers
- Bubbles
- Decorative pencils or Spooky pencil erasers
- Small toys
- Spider rings
- Bouncy balls
Regardless of the non-food item you choose, children with food allergies and their parents will be grateful for your thoughtfulness.
3. Spread the Word about the Teal Pumpkin Project
Share information about the Teal Pumpkin Project with your neighbors, friends, and community. Additionally, encourage others to participate and raise awareness about food allergies and the importance of inclusivity. Imagine how great a child in your neighborhood would feel this halloween if they could not only stop at your house, but many others as well.
4. Enjoy the Impact
This Halloween, after you display your teal pumpkin, take a moment to observe the joy and gratitude of children and parents who genuinely appreciate your efforts to make the holiday safer and more enjoyable for everyone involved.
Dealing with Food Allergies in your Family?
Outside of Halloween, food allergies can have a huge impact on your child’s nutrition and well-being. Whether it be at school, friend’s houses, or even at home, navigating the safety around food allergies can be challenging. A Registered Dietitian Nutritionist can help ensure your child is meeting all of their nutritional needs and provide tips on how to deal with food allergies. Schedule an appointment today.
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