Teal Pumpkin Project

Have you heard of the Teal Pumpkin Project?  

This Halloween, FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) encourages you to start a new, inclusive tradition that helps take a little of the SCARY out of Halloween!   This campaign encourages you to raise awareness about food allergies by painting a pumpkin teal and putting it in front of your house along with some non-food goodies.  Teal is the color of food allergy awareness and non-food treats mean that EVERYONE can be included.   Please don't take this to mean that we're trying to rid the world of Halloween candy!  The whole idea is to have an option for kids with food allergies.  Unfortunately, even if you buy candy that's free of wheat, milk, soy, gluten, peanut, tree nuts, shellfish and fish... there are OTHER allergies of which you'd need to be aware. For example, my son is allergic to sesame in addition to peanuts and tree nuts.  Some kids are allergic to artificial food dyes or even things like banana!  You can literally be allergic to ANY food or ingredient so the best way to help is to have non-food items.  Last year just before Halloween, we had to administer and Epi-pen to my son (who ironically was dressed as a doctor), then call 911 and go to the local hospital after he had mistakenly taken a bite of an unsafe candy.  It's something that nobody wants to experience!  Currently, we still go trick-or-treating; however, we bring along a bag of safe candies and just trick-or-treat for the experience. My son doesn't eat ANY candy he brings home (regardless of label).  To add to the fun, we use special Halloween plates, utensils and cups and have some delicious homemade cupcakes too! 



Need some ideas?
-Whistles
-Books
-Pencils
-Flashing rings
-Glow in the dark fangs
-Stickers
-Crayons
-Tattoos
-Crazy straws
-Glow sticks
-Rubber balls
-Bubbles
-Plastic bugs

You can read more about the Teal Pumpkin Project here: Teal Pumpkin Project

Photos are courtesy of an awesome, supportive allergy group on Facebook!