The Teal Pumpkin Project

Did you realize that one in thirteen children has some kind of food allergy? And many more have food intolerance, or are on medically restricted diets, perhaps for Type 1 diabetes or celiac disease.  Halloween Trick or Treats may not offer anything appropriate for these children. Most home hostesses offer a bowl full of candy or other edible treats to the costumed callers who ring the doorbell.  You could make Halloween a more inclusive, safe and fun holiday for children who may not be able to eat a candy snack. You could offer small toys, packages of stickers, puzzle books, or games in a separate bowl from the candy.  How do you let kids (and parents) know that you’re making non-candy treats available? Put a teal pumpkin on the front step to show that you are part of the Teal Pumpkin Project. You can also add your home to the Teal Pumpkin Map. Parents can search the map by zip code, state, or city, or your home address.  The Teal Pumpkin Project was started in 2014 by Food Allergy Research and Education as a way to help children with food allergies enjoy Halloween night along with their friends. Participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project also helps raise public awareness of the issues faced by children with food allergies.