Creating a safer, happier Halloween
As Halloween is approaching you may see teal painted pumpkins appearing on the front porches of your neighborhood. No, this is not the new fall color, and no this is not a form of Pinterest Halloween decorating ideas. The teal pumpkin project is a trend to raise awareness for food allergies.
Halloween is the holiday of candy, candy and more candy. For a child with food allergies, trick or treating is more of an activity of collecting candy they can not eat. Trick or treating should be enjoyable and safe for as many children as possible, and that is just what this project aims to do. Launched three years ago by Food Allergy Research & Education, the project has spread to many communities.
You can participate very easily; simply offer non-food treats, such as necklaces or small toys, instead of candy. If you are not going to be home you can have a orange pumpkin with a candy bowl in front of it and next to it a teal pumpkin with a bowl of non-food items. Need ideas of non-food items? Try placing glow sticks, bubbles, crayons, spider rings, vampire fangs, or stickers in your toy bucket. This simple act can create a big difference for a child suffering from a life-threatening food allergy.
This project is not to take away from the tradition of candy giving at Halloween, just to enhance this fun holiday for every child. You may not even realize what children are allergic to now-a-days and what candies contain these allergens. A Twix bar may not have nuts to your knowledge, but if you read the label on the back it states it “may contain peanuts and tree nuts." This tiny writing can mean a traumatic experience and a long night at a hospital for one in every thirteen children. Children get pounds of candy each year, one toy item will be a fun surprise for children who don’t even have an allergy.
As a candy enthusiast and a person who suffers from many food allergies, I fully support this project. So, spread this information throughout your community, neighborhood, and loved ones. You can even host a pumpkin painting party for your friends or give a teal pumpkin as a small gift. The spread of food allergy awareness goes a far way. For more information about the project be sure to visit foodallergy.org and tag your pictures of how you supported this project to #tealpumpkinproject. Have a happy and safe Halloween!
