Ghouls and goblins won’t be the only things scaring kids this Halloween. For those with food allergies, the unassuming candy in their Halloween baskets can be more frightening than any spooky costume. Parents of kids with allergies have to be careful and selective when they send their little ones out to trick-or-treat.
Depending on the severity of the allergies in question, accidentally consuming the wrong thing could cause physical discomfort or even life-threatening reactions. Fortunately, a voluntary initiative called the Teal Pumpkin Project is seeking to make Halloween fun and safe for all children—including those with allergies.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 1 in 4 children in the United States have some type of allergy. Kids with food allergies often have a difficult time enjoying Halloween like their peers. Depending on what they’re allergic to, they may not be able to eat much of the candy they collect while trick-or-treating.
That’s where the Teal Pumpkin Project comes into play. The goal of the initiative is to raise food allergy awareness and get as many families as possible to provide non-food toys and trinkets on Halloween. Non-food items don’t trigger allergic reactions, so they’re a safe alternative for kids who can’t eat most treats. They also put an exciting and unexpected spin on the traditional sugar-laden offerings most trick-or-treaters receive.
Becky Basalone, a Tennessee mother of two boys, brought the Teal Pumpkin Project to life in the fall of 2012. She was inspired by both of her sons – one of whom has food intolerances and the other who was diagnosed in 2012 with life-threatening food allergies.
As all parents with allergy-affected children know, Halloween can be a particularly challenging holiday to navigate. It can be nerve-wracking and time-consuming for parents to sift through their kids’ Halloween buckets to make sure there are no allergens in them.
To help her own children and other children with allergies have a safer and more involved Halloween, Basalone created the Teal Pumpkin Project. She chose a teal pumpkin to signify that her home offered non-food goodies because teal is the color assigned to food allergy awareness.
It didn’t take long for an organization called Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) to pick up on Basalone’s great idea. In 2014, they helped promote her “Teal Pumpkin Project” all over social media. The movement soon went viral and continues to grow every year as more people become aware of it.
Halloween has long been an intensely food-focused holiday, and there’s nothing wrong with that. The Teal Pumpkin Project doesn’t intend to exclude candy from anyone’s beloved traditions. It simply encourages families to offer safe alternatives so that kids with allergies can still join in the fun.
If you want to become part of the Teal Pumpkin Project this year, it’s easy to get involved. Simply buy or make some non-food toys and put them in a bowl separate from your regular Halloween candy. Then, place a teal-colored pumpkin on your porch so trick-or-treaters with allergies can easily see that you offer allergy-friendly options. This small act of kindness can help make Halloween a more fun and enjoyable holiday for all children.
There aren’t many teal-colored pumpkins out there, but it’s easy to make one yourself. All you need is a real or faux pumpkin and a can of teal- or blue-colored spray paint. As more Utah families join this initiative, Halloween will feel much more inclusive to children impacted by food allergies.
