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What's the one thing that comes to mind when you think of Halloween? CANDY. But for a lot of kids, the candy they pick up trick-or-treating isn't safe for them to eat because of food allergies: gluten, dairy, peanuts, and more. That's why FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) created the Teal Pumpkin Project. Adding non-food trinkets and toys to your treats makes Halloween safer and more inclusive to all trick-or-treaters.
I've got our teal pumpkin out again this year and will be handing out small toys to the (very few) trick-or-treaters who come our way. Mainly toy whistles, pumpkin guts slime, and neon bouncy balls, purchased from the Dollar Tree and Oriental Trading. In the past I've done bubbles (because everyone loves bubbles) and glow sticks.
What will you be handing out to your trick-or-treaters?
If you simply must give out candy because it wouldn't feel like Halloween without doing so, then might I suggest purchasing a bag of Enjoy Life candy? Enjoy Life products are always free of the top 8 allergens, making them a great alternative to traditional candy and something that everybody can feel safe eating.
If your kid is one of the trick-or-treaters with a food allergy, never fear! One of the most fun things your child can do is collect candy and give it to the Switch Witch. (This is also a good idea for parents who don't want their kids eating too much sugar.) Leave out all the candy on Halloween night. The Switch Witch will come to your house, take the candy, and switch it out for a fun toy. This way, kids still get something for Halloween and the candy can either be stashed and eaten by the parents, brought in to a parent's place of work for sharing, or donated to a dentist's office doing a candy take-back.
You can find participating Teal Pumpkin houses near you by using the FARE locator map. People will list their addresses so that you know those houses will be safe for your trick-or-treater.
The Teal Pumpkin Project website also offers resources for those putting out Teal Pumpkins this year, such as printables, easy tips for participating, and ideas for types of non-food treats to provide. Definitely check it out for more information!
And above all, have a happy and safe Halloween next week!
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