By MEGAN TUCKER
Staff Editor
Halloween is one of the most exciting holidays of the year for so many people. The beginning of Autumn brings exhilaration and cooler weather, but it also brings pumpkin patches and fun costumes. It is traditional to hand out candy to trick-or-treaters, but what if the child has a food allergy? Well, they most likely miss out on the fun.
Most of the sweet treats that houses hand out contain peanuts, almonds, wheat, and a variety of other allergens. This leads to many kids having to stay at home and away from the danger. Is this fair? Should people feel bad about a child’s allergies when they have no control over them? Well, there’s no need to fret when there’s a plan called the Teal Pumpkin Project.
Started in 2012 by Becky Basalone, the Teal Pumpkin Project seemed like an obvious solution. The single mother was the director of a food allergy support group, so she was aware of the roadblocks that children with allergies often face. Little did she know that her local project would turn into a hit, even reaching countries like Canada and Britain.
The main idea of the Teal Pumpkin Project is to take a teal pumpkin—either painted or already colored that way—and place it outside of your front door. This alerts other families that your house has non-food handouts. That doesn’t mean that you can’t still hand out candy if you truly want to, but keep it in a separate dish! The last thing to do is share the project. The more people that know about it, the more participation. This includes trick-or-treaters and houses that convert to the Teal Pumpkin way!
Some great ideas for non-food handouts are things like pencils, bubbles, spider rings, or spooky toys. These types of treats can usually be found in the temporary Halloween section at Target or a grocery store. If this section is not often stocked or unavailable, you might have some luck with the party aisle. Fun party favors can work just as well!
Hopefully it is clear to see how easy the Teal Pumpkin Project is and why it can help make Halloween better for kids. Food allergies are a main concern, but there are also other children that fit into the “no candy” category. Handing out non-food items can benefit children with feeding tubes or an illness that makes food consumption difficult. Honestly, participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project is not that demanding. Most families make a trip to the store to get candy anyways, so why not swap it out with little toys? Most families decorate their homes, so why not get a Teal Pumpkin?
Even though a typical Halloween is not possible this year, it might be worthwhile to get a Teal Pumpkin so you don’t forget the project. That way, when you get your Halloween decorations out next year, you will see the Teal Pumpkin and remember how you can help your community!
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Sources:
https://www.foodallergy.org/resources/about-teal-pumpkin-project