Putting the Teal Pumpkin Project into Play This Halloween

October 15, 2018 | by anna rogers

Kids love Halloween. Dressing up, spending time with friends and family, and of course, getting lots of candy! But this kid-friendly holiday can be tough for children with food allergies, as many common food allergens are found in treats given out for Halloween.

The Teal Pumpkin Project® is working to raise awareness and promote the “inclusion of all trick-or-treaters throughout the Halloween season.” Participants provide non-food treats for trick-or-treaters and place a teal-colored pumpkin in front of their home, letting families know that the stop is allergen-free. Participants can also add their home to an online map.

The project, supported by FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education), makes it easy for neighborhoods to participate. Providing non-food items means no wondering if the treats have dairy, soy, nuts, eggs, etc. The Teal Pumpkin website has excellent resources available, like free downloadable signs, flyers, and kids’ activity pages.

The website is also a great resource to inform and inspire your search for non-food items that kids will love. Some great ideas included on the site are glow sticks, bubbles, Halloween erasers, stickers and bouncy balls, to name a few.

The Teal Pumpkin Project doesn’t exclude the handing out of candy. You can participate in the project by providing non-food items AND offering candy, giving trick-or-treaters a choice. Even kids without a food allergy will love having the option to choose a prize on a night when they’re receiving a surplus of candy.

Through a simple act, you can participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project and offer inclusive treats for kids in your neighborhood. Check out FARE’s Teal Pumpkin website to download resources and find more ideas for non-food treats: https://www.foodallergy.org/education-awareness/teal-pumpkin-project.