'Teal Pumpkin Project' Aims to Make Halloween More Fun For Kids with Food Allergies

By Shannon Antinori (Patch Staff)

Credit: FARE

Halloween is fun for most kids, but what about kids who find it hard to find a trick without a treat?

Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) is urging Americans to start a new tradition by painting a pumpkin teal and putting it on their front porch this Halloween, as well as offering non-food treats to little ghosts and goblins.

Harmless-seeming treats can be dangerous to kids with allergies to nuts or milk, and allergies to soy, eggs and wheat are also common among kids.

The Teal Pumpkin Project also encourages people to raise awareness of food allergies by placing a sign in front of their home or in their window to indicate that they have non-food treats available.

The campaign is dubbed the Teal Pumpkin project because teal is the color of food allergy awareness.

“The Teal Pumpkin Project is designed to promote safety, inclusion and respect of individuals managing food allergies – and to keep Halloween a fun, positive experience for all,” FARE notes.

Homeowners can download a printable poster and flyers to promote the event from the FARE website. The organization also urges people to change their Facebook profile pictures to a teal pumpkin image offered on the site.

FARE also offers suggestions for non-food treats for trick-or-treaters:

• Glow sticks, bracelets, or necklaces
• Pencils, pens, crayons or markers
• Bubbles
• Halloween erasers or pencil toppers
• Mini Slinkies
• Whistles, kazoos, or noisemakers
• Bouncy balls
• Finger puppets or novelty toys
• Coins
• Spider rings
• Vampire fangs
• Mini notepads
• Playing cards
• Bookmarks
• Stickers
• Stencils

Read more about the Teal Pumpkin Project online.

Related: Mom Works to Make Halloween a Treat for Kids with Food Allergies