You’ve probably heard about the Teal Pumpkin Project in conjunction with Food Allergy Awareness and Education (F.A.R.E.) organization. We hope it’s not just the media play that has piqued your interest but seeing a street lined with teal pumpkins. The Teal Pumpkin Project is a movement to make Halloween and its activities accessible to everyone by encouraging people to hand out non-food items as treats. This way, everyone can enjoy Halloween without worrying about eating something dangerous.
Many families have personally seen the horrors of food allergies long before it was in the media. Peanut butter in the classroom is one we often hear about but there are eight main food groups that are responsible for 90 percent of food allergies. These include cow’s milk, eggs, peanuts, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, and soy. The severity and reaction may vary from fairly minor to life-threatening. Seeing a young child rushed to the emergency room because of anaphylactic shock, is not fun.
Luckily today, awareness about food allergies is better and there are more safety measures parents can take. The Teal Pumpkin Project originated from the Food Allergy Community of East Tennessee and has been gathering steam across the country. The way it works is this…
Homes that are participating in the campaign hang out a poster and paint a pumpkin the color teal, the official color of food allergy awareness. This way, parents know which homes to visit on Halloween. Of course, homes can provide both treats and non-food items, but parents will know your home is welcoming everyone. Just be sure to ask children if they have a food allergy. These days, kids are very aware and will tell you if they need a non-food treat. You can paint a pumpkin teal or place this poster from F.A.R.E. where it is clearly visible.
Some of the ideas for hand-outs from the F.A.R.E website include:
– Glow sticks, bracelets, or necklaces
– Pencils, pens, crayons or markers
– Bubbles
– Halloween erasers or pencil toppers
– Coins
– Spider rings
– Vampire fangs
– Bookmarks
– Stickers
Food allergies are serious business and as a community, we all need to take responsibility for kids’ health and well-being. The Teal Pumpkin Project is one simple way to do this. Help make Halloween safe and fun for all kids, paint a pumpkin today! Follow us on Facebook for other safe Halloween tips.
