I was not asked to write about Food Allergy Research & Education’s (FARE) Teal Pumpkin Project™ nor am I receiving any compensation for this post. The Teal Pumpkin Project™ is something I personally believe in and thought I would share with my readers.
Two years ago I came up with an idea as I read a post my friend Missy (link to all her food allergy posts) had written about her daughter’s food allergies and Halloween. I wanted to start a movement called “Happy Alloween” where people could pledge to be allergy safe on Halloween. Obviously, it was only and idea and it did not come to reality. Someone else, however, had the same idea and it did come to reality in the form of the Teal Pumpkin Project™ by FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education).
My family does not have any food allergies but I know plenty of families who do. I have heard many friends talk about how hard Halloween is for their children who can not eat candy. The Teal Pumpkin Project™ makes Halloween fun and safe for everyone!
I encourage you to check out TealPumpkinProject.org to learn how you can make Halloween fun and safe for those with food allergies. They have a wealth of information and ideas as well as print-outs for your door to let people know you are an allergy safe house. Also read Missy’s post about the Teal Pumpkin Project. She’s got even more ideas and questions you would love to ask but are too afraid to do so.
This evening, as my family carves our Halloween pumpkins, we will also paint a pumpkin teal to let our trick-or-treaters with food allergies know that we have things for them too.
We don’t have allergies either but we know plenty of families that DO. I always buy ‘regular’ candy and then candy for small kids (Smarties) and then teal pumpkin approved items for allergy kids.
I hope this takes off big all over because I know so many children with food allergies. I almost always have little pots of play-doh for kids and maybe some pencils just because I know not all children want candy. Weird I realize but sometimes a little toy treat is even better. Good to know I might really be making someone’s night.
Lee
We do not have allergies here, but I think that this is a REALLY great idea.
Having a child with allergies, I am so appreciative that others would go out of their way to make it special. I never expect people to do anything special, but it melts my heart when people do.