The Teal Pumpkin Project: Making Halloween Memorable for All Kids

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A boy holding a teal pumpkin.Childhood is full of magical celebrations, and almost all of them involve food. We’re thinking chocolate and handmade cards on Valentine’s Day, eggs filled with candy at Easter egg hunts, melting popsicles and ice cream cones at a 4th of July celebration, a bag full of candy after a night of Trick or Treating, cookies, and sweet treats at Christmas, and cupcakes at school birthday parties. Kids with food allergies, especially allergies that are life-threatening, are often excluded from these special activities, as it just simply isn’t safe for them to participate.

Enter the Teal Pumpkin Project.

Have you ever seen a teal pumpkin on a neighbor’s doorstep on Halloween? It serves a purpose (besides looking nice!). The teal pumpkin signals to food allergy families that this house will provide a safe, non-food treat. It was created so that all children, regardless of allergies or special diets, could participate in the fun of Halloween.

It’s easy to participate! You can paint a pumpkin teal (the food allergy awareness color) or buy one. Additionally, free printable signs are available in your window so families know you’re providing alternative treats.

Buy non-food treats for trick-or-treaters. Of course, you can also give out candy, but non-food treats should be kept in a separate bowl. You can give children the option for a non-food treat when they come to the door.

What are “non-food” treats?

Luckily, there are many inexpensive options at party stores, online suppliers, dollar stores, and department stores. Here are some ideas:

  • stickers, tattoos, or stencils
  • glow sticks, bracelets, or necklaces
  • pencils, markers, or crayons
  • Halloween erasers or mini notepads
  • bubbles
  • Halloween-themed rings, bracelets, necklaces, or fangs
  • playing cards
  • bouncy balls
  • whistles, noisemakers, or  kazoos
  • novelty toys
  • bookmarks
  • coins

Some candy might not contain an allergen as an ingredient but may have been cross-contaminated during manufacturing or packing. Other candy may seem safe but still contain an allergen (for example, Twizzlers aren’t safe for kids with a gluten allergy). Kids allergic to food dyes, kids with feeding tubes, kids with other disorders that prohibit them from consuming sugar, and kids whose siblings have life-threatening food allergies will undoubtedly appreciate any non-food option you can offer.

The goal of the Teal Pumpkin Project isn’t to take candy out of Halloween; it is simply to help include those kids who can’t enjoy Halloween in the traditional sense. So, this Halloween, tell your neighbors and friends and display those teal pumpkins proudly!

2 COMMENTS

  1. Thank you for this article! We are a food allergy family and the more people who know about the Teal Pumpkin Project means a safer Halloween for the food allergy community! Thank you for taking the time to write this! It means a whole lot to our family and to others as well.

    • Thank you for your message. We greatly appreciate it and are so glad we can help spread the word.

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