Teal Pumpkin

By: Susan Hickey

Does Halloween thrill you?  Do you love choosing costumes, decorating your home, and picking out the best Halloween candy?  Have you ever considered children who might not be able to enjoy Halloween  treats for medical reasons?  A few years ago I became aware of these issues through a friend’s daughter who was diabetic.   Nowadays we hear of more kids who are unable to eat various foods due to life-threatening allergies, gluten sensitivities, and other conditions.  In response to this development, the Food Allergy Research and Education group (FARE) created the Teal Pumpkin Project to help make Halloween not only safer, but more fun for these kids.  The Teal Pumpkin Project was originally inspired by a local awareness activity run by the Food Allergy Community of East Tennessee and launched as a national campaign by FARE in 2014.  In recent years, according to FARE, almost 18,000 households in all 50 states participated in the program, and it continues to grow each year.

It’s easy to join the movement.  You don’t even need a teal pumpkin; the website offers a printable sign you can post on your door (which is what we do at our house).   https://www.foodallergy.org/education-awareness/teal-pumpkin-project/free-resources

Next, choose your non-food treats.  The possibilities are endless.  Some of the more popular ones at our house have been:

• Glow sticks/bracelets (perfect for Halloween night!)
• Pencils
• Plastic toy figures (dinosaurs, horses, princesses)
• Stickers
• Temporary tattoos
• Bubbles
• Plastic jewelry (spider rings, etc)

You can find these items at the dollar store, any large retailer, or online at sites like www.orientaltrading.com .  You can find inexpensive bulk items, and the great thing is you can save extras for next year!  Another way to stock up is to hit those post-Halloween sales for all the half-off goodies and box them up for next year.

Lastly, decide if you will have strictly non-food treats, or if you will also have candy available.  If you plan to have both, it’s a good idea to have two separate bowls for food and non-food.  We generally offer both bowls and allow the child to choose.  FARE suggests you could have a sign that states, “You Pick:  Candy or Prize!”
Don’t be surprised if kids who don’t have allergies choose the non-food items!  Kids like to be surprised with something different.

Think about it this year.  How could you make a difference for a child who might be excluded from typical kid celebrations because of an allergy or other condition?  This is an easy way to bring a smile to a child’s face.  Trick or Treat!

For more information:  https://www.foodallergy.org/education-awareness/teal-pumpkin-project