Teal is the New Orange

Did you know that 1 in 13 children have food allergies?

That means that even if your child doesn’t have food allergies, it is very likely that a friend or classmate does.

Before becoming a mom, food allergies were a pretty foreign subject to me. Neither my husband or I have food allergies, but both of our daughters do. It can be scary, to say the least.

9 times out of 10, it’s no big deal. Most of our friends are super accommodating. Raegan’s preschool is on top of it. Raegan is starting to be able to comprehend that she can’t eat certain things. She’s well on the way to advocating for herself.

Sometimes though it’s tough. This is especially true when there are fun group activities that involve treats my girls can’t have. Birthday parties, Mickey Mouse shaped ice cream on cruise ships, and holidays! Halloween specifically.
So. Many. Reese. Cups. Which Mark and I totally don’t mind eating, but I digress.  Even a tiny amount of their allergen has the potential to cause a severe reaction.

Ever noticed a teal pumpkin on your neighbor’s porch while trick-or-treating? Did you know that they’re meant to symbolize availability of non-food treats for children with food allergies? Yeah, I didn’t either before 2015. This initiative is called the Teal Pumpkin Project®, and it’s impact is nationwide!

Basically you purchase some non-food treats (Example: glow sticks, stickers, spider rings, etc.), then on Halloween you place a teal pumpkin in front of your home to indicate you have non-food treats. Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still pass out candy. The goal is not to exclude candy from the Halloween tradition. The goal is simply to ensure that children with food allergies are able to enjoy a safer, happier Halloween.

Why non-food treats? Foodallergy.org tells us that “virtually any food can cause a reaction. Many popular Halloween candies contain nuts, milk, egg, soy or wheat, which are some of the most common allergens in children and adults. Additionally, many miniature or fun-size versions of candy items contain different ingredients than their full-size counterparts and some miniature candy items may not have labels, so it is difficult for parents to determine whether these items are safe for their child with food allergies.”

Non-food treats provide a safe, fun alternative for children with food allergies and other conditions for whom candy may present a problem. What I usually do is wait until the week after halloween when all of these items are on super sale. None of the items are perishable, so you stock up for next year when it is all 90% off!

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As for the pumpkin, you can choose to paint your own pumpkin, or purchase a reusable one from a variety of stores. Target has an entire Teal Pumpkin Project section in-store and online. If you don’t have the time or extra cash to purchase a teal pumpkin, you can print out a free sheet here to hang on your door. Some of these children may even be carrying teal pumpkin buckets while trick-or-treating.

I urge you to participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project® this year! Last year, it bought me to tears when all of our neighbors joined in just for my little girl. That is how it starts, with one home, with one neighborhood.

Share this post. Bring it up during your next block party or PTA meeting. Spend the afternoon painting pumpkins with your kiddos. Spreading awareness is key, and I appreciate your consideration!

Visit the Teal Pumpkin Project® Facebook page for more information, or to add your house to the 2018 map of participating homes.

XOXO,
Shakira