Discover Fun Non-Food Halloween Goodies and Join the Teal Pumpkin Project

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When our eldest child, Lily, was diagnosed with a gluten intolerance at the age of 7, it threw us for a loop. The initial adjustment was a challenge, but over the past decade, awareness and accommodations for kids with dietary restrictions have significantly improved. It’s heartening to see this shift!

While Lily’s gluten issue isn’t as acute as a severe peanut allergy, it has given me a newfound empathy for parents who must constantly monitor what their kids eat. Discovering that your child has a dietary limitation can turn life upside down. Quick stops for fast food during road trips become a hassle, and snacks at kids’ events can be a gamble. Even the simplest outings require some foresight.

Halloween was particularly tricky for us. Lily’s fondness for Kit-Kats became a source of stress when we realized she couldn’t have them. Each year, we’d dive into the world of candy research to figure out which treats were gluten-free, and after trick-or-treating, we would sift through her haul to swap out the non-compliant goodies.

For families with children who have severe allergies, like peanut allergies, the stakes are even higher. A PayDay bar in a trick-or-treat bag could lead to an emergency room visit, making Halloween a genuinely risky endeavor.

To address these concerns, FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education) launched the Teal Pumpkin Project in 2014. The initiative is straightforward: offer non-food treats and show your support by placing a teal pumpkin on your porch. This gesture communicates to parents that you’re aware of dietary restrictions and are making an effort to include all kids in the festivities.

You might be surprised to learn that nearly 6 million children in the U.S., or 8% of kids, have food allergies. Many families know someone dealing with these issues, and although it’s easy to dismiss some food intolerances as exaggerated, many children face serious reactions to everyday treats.

Kids may also need to avoid certain foods for medical reasons. Whether it’s sugar, dairy, or another common ingredient, there’s no reason they shouldn’t enjoy Halloween like everyone else.

You might think kids would turn their noses up at non-candy treats, but you’d be amazed at how much they appreciate them—especially those who can’t indulge in traditional sweets. Here are some fun non-food ideas:

• Glow bracelets
• Bubbles
• Stickers
• Fun pencils or pens
• Erasers
• Temporary tattoos
• Bouncy balls
• Kazoos
• Yo-yos
• Whistles
• Mini flashlights
• Bookmarks
• Slap bracelets
• Stamps
• Cookie cutters
• Noisemakers (sorry, parents!)
• Mini-crafts
• Carabiners

You can still offer candy along with these treats; just keep them in separate bowls to avoid any mix-ups.

If you want to join the Teal Pumpkin Project, you can either paint a pumpkin yourself or buy a pre-made one. Many stores, including most Target locations, carry faux teal pumpkins that you can reuse year after year.

Consider adding your home to the participation map at foodallergy.org so families in your community can know they can come to you for allergy-friendly trick-or-treating. And if your child needs non-food options, use the map to locate teal pumpkins nearby.

It truly takes a village to raise a child. Let’s come together to ensure all kids in our neighborhood, especially those with life-altering food allergies, can join in the Halloween fun and feel included.

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