[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It is no surprise that
Halloween is a favorite holiday for many kids, given the perpetual thrill of suiting up in costume and roaming in the night with friends to collect free candy. It can
also, however, be one of the trickiest days of the year for children with food allergies, as well as those negatively impacted by refined sugar. Kids often haul home astonishing amounts of industrially processed sweets in a single evening. In fact, the average American child consumes approximately 3.4
pounds of candy on Halloween. This translates into around 7,000 calories, which equals
three entire cups of sugar.
Beyond the harms of sugar, even tiny amounts of one stealthy allergen can cause a dangerous reaction in children living with
food allergies, sensitivities and/or intolerances. This is where the
Teal Pumpkin Project comes in.
Teal Pumpkin Project: Food Allergy Awareness on Halloween
How can the Teal Pumpkin Project help?
The Teal Pumpkin Project offers a whole new take on Halloween that many health-minded families may feel is overdue, especially those with children suffering from food-related allergies, sensitivities to refined sugar and/or chemicals used in candy production or other associated conditions.
The Teal Pumpkin Project was created to help make trick-or-treating safer and more inclusive for the one in 13 children living with food allergies and many others impacted by intolerances and other conditions. Placing a teal pumpkin on your doorstep signals that, in addition to candy, you offer non-food trinkets and treats that are safe for all trick or treaters.
Most kids appreciate non-food treats like glow sticks, art/craft supplies or small toys, and these fun little items are ideal for children who have various conditions that may preclude them from having candy, including those with:
- Food allergies
- Food intolerances/sensitivities
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE)
- Celiac disease
- Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES)
- Diabetes
- Requiring feeding tubes
- Needing a special diet
To ensure the safety of your children and others you may care about, it is worth reading the ingredient label on any treat your child receives. Many popular Halloween candies contain one or more of the most common allergens, such as peanuts, tree nuts, milk, egg, soy or wheat/gluten. It is also important to remember that both chocolate and non-chocolate confections may contain common allergy triggers, even if they are not listed on the ingredient label.
How did the Teal Pumpkin Project evolve?
The Teal Pumpkin Project is part of a worldwide movement in association with the
Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE). According to this organization, 85 million Americans are living with life-threatening food allergies and intolerances. FARE supports these individuals, empowering them to lead safe, productive lives through education and advocacy initiatives and improved awareness around healthcare options and treatment.
FARE initially created the
Living Teal concept, which is all about cultivating a healthy lifestyle in the face of food allergies. It is an amalgamation of lifestyle tips, tricks, lifehacks, recipes and heartwarming stories focused on how we can cultivate Living Teal awareness. There is even a
Living Teal Channel (LTC), which is the premium video hub for all things Living Teal, with fresh episodes dropping weekly. From recipes to holiday hacks and personal food allergy stories, there’s something at LTC for everyone.
While actively promoted by FARE, The Teal Pumpkin Project was inspired by the
Food Allergy Community of East Tennessee (FACET), an organization striving to improve the social aspect of living with food allergies and anaphylaxis through support, education and advocacy. When Becky Basalone, FACET's Founder and Director, first initiated the Teal Pumpkin Project, the idea was to paint a pumpkin teal and place it on your front porch signifying that nonfood treats are available on Halloween night. On their site, FACET celebrates the overwhelming FARE support of the Teal Pumpkin Project, which has helped spread awareness of this project world-wide, helping to:
- Raise awareness of the severity of food allergies.
- Show support to families of children with food allergies by painting a pumpkin teal in recognition.
- Support inclusion for children with food allergies and other dietary restrictions during an activity that is primarily food focused.
- Encourage a new Halloween tradition of safe, non-food alternatives in addition to candy products.
- Help ensure children can participate in traditional Halloween trick-or-treating, regardless of food-related disabilities.
- Educate and facilitate communication about this important cause.
How can you benefit from the project in your own community?
If you want to “Live Teal” this Halloween, plan to offer non-edible goodies to trick-or-treaters and classmates, as well as stocking up on comparatively good-for-you treats, such as these
yummy organic lollipops or these
Organic Vitamin C Lolli-Pops in assorted flavors. Take caution with other forms of candy, as few mass-market sweets are totally free of allergens. In fact, while the top 9 allergens account for over 90 percent of reactions, there are over
200 reported allergens, and because of this, there is virtually no such thing as “allergy-free” candy. As for fun, inexpensive non-food goodies, the Teal Pumpkin Project suggests items such as:
Stickers
Wacky themed pencils
Crazy sunglasses
Play tattoos
Cute, stuffed mini toys
Novelty toys on sale
Boo Bags
The collaboration between FARE and FACET is reaching families across the country and around the world with the Teal Pumpkin Project’s messages of awareness, inclusion and community. Help spread the Teal Pumpkin Project in your neighborhood. For more information on how to get involved in “Living Teal,” please visit
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