Halloween, for us, is Samhain—the festival from which Halloween evolved. But I also give out treats. A couple years ago, it occurred to me that my own allergies prevented me from eating the candy we were handing out, so what about the children who might come trick-or-treating who have allergies? That’s when I found out about the Teal Pumpkin project.
FARE (the Food Allergy Research & Education organization) supports the Teal Pumpkin project. Inspired by an east Tennessee food allergy community’s activism, participation in the Teal Pumpkin project is easy! With so many children coping with food allergies—and the number of both children and adults who are affected is growing—this ensures all children can have a safe, happy Halloween.
How to participate? It’s simple!
- Put out a Teal pumpkin to show you are participating.
- Hand out non-food treats—little toys, stickers, etc.. I’m handing out adorable little rubber ducks that are dressed as Halloween critters!
And as a plus, here are some easy treats you can make for your allergy-sensitive loved ones.
Cupcakes! One of my favorite gluten/dairy free cake mix brands that makes both great cakes and cupcakes is Pamela’s vanilla and chocolate cakes.
Dairy, soy, nut, gluten free chocolate chips: Enjoy Life. They also make dairy free chocolate bars that are pretty tasty.
Make dairy free and gluten free S’more sandwiches using a gluten free marshmallow, Enjoy Life Honey Graham cookies, and dark chocolate.
And you can always plan activities that are fun in lieu of sugary treats—a game night for your children and their friends, a spooky dinner party…spooky movie night.
Have a happy and allergy-safe Halloween!
