Teal Pumpkin Project

What’s​ ​with​ ​all​ ​the​ ​Teal​ ​Pumpkins?

At​ ​AAPRI,​ ​we’re​ ​very​ ​concerned​ ​about​ ​food​ ​allergies,​ ​so​ ​we​ ​strongly​ ​support​ ​and​ ​encourage​ ​the Teal​ ​Pumpkin​ ​Project​.​ ​You​ ​may​ ​have​ ​seen​ ​teal​ ​pumpkins​ ​popping​ ​up​ ​among​ ​the​ ​Halloween decorations​ ​in​ ​your​ ​neighborhood​ ​over​ ​the​ ​past​ ​few​ ​years.​ ​​ ​If​ ​you’re​ ​a​ ​parent​ ​of​ ​a​ ​child​ ​with food​ ​allergies,​ ​these​ ​pumpkins​ ​signal​ ​safety–and​ ​relief​ ​that​ ​your​ ​child​ ​will​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​participate in​ ​a​ ​holiday​ ​that​ ​has​ ​long​ ​been​ ​a​ ​challenge​ ​for​ ​food​ ​allergies!

Food​ ​Allergy​ ​Research​ ​and​ ​Education​ ​(FARE)​ ​created​ ​the​ ​Teal​ ​Pumpkin​ ​Project​ ​to​ ​raise awareness​ ​for​ ​allergies​ ​for​ ​Halloween.​ ​To​ ​learn​ ​more,​ ​go​ ​to​ ​the​ ​​FARE​ ​website​.​ ​There’s a lot of great info there. We’ve​ ​also included the​ ​basics​ ​for a food-allergy safe Halloween below.

Three​ ​easy​ ​ways​ ​to​ ​make​ ​Halloween​ ​safe​ ​for​ ​kids​ ​with​ ​food​ ​allergies:

Download​ ​your​ ​FREE​ ​Teal​ ​Pumpkin​ ​Project​ ​resource​ ​packet​:​ ​The​ ​resource​ ​packet​ ​contains​ ​signs you​ ​can​ ​post​ ​at​ ​your​ ​home,​ ​flyers​ ​you​ ​can​ ​share​ ​in​ ​your​ ​school​ ​or​ ​community,​ ​and​ ​even​ ​a stencil​ ​to​ ​make​ ​your​ ​own​ ​teal​ ​pumpkin​ ​jack​ ​‘o​ ​lantern!​ ​Kids can use these activities to​ ​participate​ ​in​ ​raising​ ​awareness​ ​for​ ​their​ ​friends​ ​and​ ​classmates​ ​who​ ​have​ ​allergies.

Put​ ​your​ ​house​ ​on​ ​the​ ​map​:​ ​By​ ​adding​ ​your​ ​home​ ​to​ ​the​ ​project​ ​participation​ ​map,​ ​you’ll​ ​let local​ ​trick-or-treaters​ ​know​ ​that​ ​you’ve​ ​got​ ​the​ ​goodies​ ​that​ ​will​ ​keep​ ​them​ ​happy​ ​and​ ​safe​ ​this Halloween.​ ​​ ​Also, make​ ​sure​ ​you​ ​put​ ​a​ ​sign​ ​up​ ​or​ ​a​ ​paint​ ​a​ ​teal​ ​pumpkin! It’s very easy. And it will make it clear that your house is serving safe treats. Wait ’til you see those smiling little trick-or-treaters!

Hand​ ​out​ ​allergy-friendly​ ​treats:​ ​Gone​ ​are​ ​the​ ​days​ ​when​ ​your​ ​only​ ​non-food​ ​option​ ​for Halloween​ ​giveaways​ ​were​ ​a​ ​penny​ ​or​ ​a​ ​pencil​ ​eraser.​ ​Today,​ ​there​ ​are​ ​many​ ​​non-food Halloween​ ​treats​​ ​that​ ​you​ ​can​ ​give​ ​out.​ ​However, you don’t need to stick to non-food items. We’ve​ ​also​ ​shared​ ​some​ ​resources​ ​and​ ​examples​ ​of allergy-friendly​ ​candies​ ​on​ ​our​ ​blog.​ ​Make​ ​sure​ ​you​ ​keep​ ​the​ ​allergy-friendly​ ​treats​ ​in​ ​a separate​ ​container​ ​to​ ​avoid​ ​confusion​ ​and​ ​cross-contamination,​ ​or​ ​go​ ​all​ ​the​ ​way​ ​allergy-free. (It might make it easier.)

Conclusion

In conclusion, creating​ ​an​ ​allergen-friendly​ ​Halloween​ ​for​ ​the​ ​kids​ ​in​ ​your​ ​neighborhood​ ​is​ ​easier​ ​than​ ​you think.​ Furthermore, it’s​ ​worthwhile​ ​to​ ​make​ ​sure​ ​all​ ​kids​ ​can​ ​enjoy​ ​the​ ​holiday​ ​safely.​ ​(At least, we think so!) Most of all, allergic kids and their parents will thank you. Join​ ​us​ ​in supporting​ ​the​ ​​Teal​ ​Pumpkin​ ​Project​​ ​this​ ​year.​ ​Together,​ ​we​ ​can​ ​keep​ ​Halloween​ ​safe​ ​(and​ ​fun!) for​ ​kids​ ​with​ ​common​ ​food​ ​allergies.