Teal Pumpkin Project - Halloween with Food Allergies

The Teal Pumpkin Project

Posted on: www.foodallergy.org 

This Halloween, FARE is encouraging communities to start a new tradition that will help make this holiday season less scary for children with food allergies: the Teal Pumpkin Project. This campaign encourages people to raise awareness of food allergies by providing non-food treats for trick-or-treaters and painting a pumpkin teal - the color of food allergy awareness - to place in front of their house along with a free printable sign from FARE to indicate they have non-food treats available. 

The Teal Pumpkin Project is designed to promote safety, inclusion and respect of individuals managing food allergies – and to keep Halloween a fun, positive experience for all.

Ideas for Non-food Treats  

Available at dollar stores, party supply stores, or online shops, these low-cost items can be purchased and handed out to all trick-or-treaters, or made available in a separate bowl from candy if you choose to hand out both options. Nearly all of these items can be found in a Halloween theme or festive colors.

Glow sticks, bracelets, or necklaces Pencils, pens, crayons or markers Bubbles Halloween erasers or pencil toppers Mini Slinkies Whistles, kazoos, or noisemakers Bouncy balls Finger puppets or novelty toys

Coins Spider rings Vampire fangs Mini notepads Playing cards Bookmarks Stickers Stencils

    At my house, if they are brave enough to approach the face-less goblin in the dark corners of  my  foggy
garage, while witches cackle and werewolves howl in the background, I will have a stash of "play-doh" and glow sticks. I also have gold fish crackers for those tiny trick or treaters who are obviously not going to eat all that candy as they hardly even have teeth! If it's a cool night, there will be a cauldron of fire as well. What sorts of things will you be doing?