Hi, friends! If you were with me this time last year, then you remember my “Teal is the New Orange” post. If not, I am here to get your hip to why your neighbor has that cute little teal pumpkin on her porch on Halloween, and how you can join in on the inclusion.
So, what is the Teal Pumpkin Project®?
The Teal Pumpkin Project encourages people to raise awareness of food allergies and promotes inclusion of all trick-or-treaters throughout the Halloween season. The nationwide movement offers an alternative for kids with food allergies, as well as other children for whom candy is not an option. The steps to participate are:
- Provide non-food treats for trick-or-treaters.
- Place a teal pumpkin – the color of food allergy awareness –in front of your home to indicate you have non-food treats available.
According to FoodAllergy.org “A food allergy is a medical condition in which exposure to a food triggers a harmful immune response. The immune response, called an allergic reaction, occurs because the immune system attacks proteins in the food that are normally harmless. The proteins that trigger the reaction are called allergens.”
Both of my daughters have food allergies, and have for most of their lives. Staying educated and proactive is a part of my daily life being their mama. 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. I want to help spread the mission of Teal Pumpkin Project® and make Halloween a more inclusive holiday for all!
Not sure where to start? I’m here to help. First, you’ll need a teal pumpkin:
Obviously, the easiest way to achieve this is to simply purchase a bottle of teal paint to use on a pumpkin of your choice. I know a lot of other families how purchase a faux teal pumpkin that they can reuse each year. That is what we have.
I found a couple of affordable options for you online, but most stores (Food Lion, WalMart, Target, Michaels) have plenty of in-store options. Click on the photo to add to your Amazon cart. I have also listed all of these options in my Amazon store HERE.
This option is less than $10 and you can put your non-food treats right in the bucket. BUY
You could snag this super cute inflatable pumpkin to blow up and use each year! It is eight bucks. BUY
Display it as your garden flag for under $10. BUY.
Target has the cutest option with a light inside. BUY
What non-food treats could you offer?
We typically offer candy and non-food options to trick-or-treaters. 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. This includes school and social events. Consider sending in non-food or allergen friendly snacks with your kiddo. I promise there will be no shortage of candy if you don’t bring any!
Small toys and party favor type items are always a good idea, and there are so many options. The best part about non-food items is that they’re non-perishable! I typically go shopping after Halloween and get it all for 75-90% off! Then I pack it up with my Fall decor and already have it for next year.
- Pencils/Pens (HERE)
- Mini Notebooks (HERE)
- Necklaces (HERE)
- Party Blowers (HERE)
- Bubbles (HERE)
- Confetti Crackers (HERE)
- Plastic Fangs (HERE)
- Temporary Tattoos (HERE)
If you are like my family and prefer to have both food and non-food treats, consider food brands that are allergen friendly. One of our absolutely FAVORITE snack brands is Bitsy’s. Their snacks are organic, packed with veggies, and are completely nut free. They’re also produced in a facility that is completely free of nuts–a rarity when it comes to snack foods. Their Good Cookies and Smart Crackers are some of our go-to snacks, as they are free of all of my girls’ allergens.
This year we are taking their snack packs to our annual Halloween Potluck. I added on a fun custom sticker tag, and they’re the perfect size for the girls’ little friends. For the month of October, you can buy 50 count cases at Bitsys.com for parties and trick-or-treating.
EnjoyLife Brand offers chocolate candy that is free of the top 8 most common allergens: Wheat, Soy, Egg, Dairy, Shellfish, Peanut, Tree Nuts and Fish. You can find these festively packaged treats HERE.
I urge you to participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project® this year! 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! Tag me in your cute teal pumpkin photos, so I can share them!
Visit the Teal Pumpkin Project® Facebook page for more information, or to add your house to the 2019 map of participating homes.
XO,
Shakira
I have partnered with Bitsy’s on this post.
