If you happen to notice a teal pumpkin this holiday, there’s a very good reason why it’s there. For kids suffering from food allergies, celiac disease, diabetes, food intolerances or other food related challenges, trick or treating can be an exercise in frustration for both parents and these special food-need kids.
Gluten Freedom Project, along with, Celiac Disease Foundation, Mom.Me blog, and many other wonderful organizations are supporting and encouraging the Teal Pumpkin Project™. It started in 2014 as an international initiative created by Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) that promotes safety, inclusion, and respect for children managing food allergies by encouraging households to display a teal pumpkin and provide non-food treats for trick-or-treaters.
Join the party by painting a pumpkin teal and offer some non-food treats to your trick-or -treaters this year. Here are some low cost ideas that are usually available at dollar stores, party supply stores or online sites. Just about all of these can be found in a Halloween theme or bright colors. My favorite is the glow stick accessories, they add a bit of safety, are way fun and the kids love them.
• Glow sticks, bracelets, or necklaces
• Pencils, pens, crayons or markers
• Bubbles
• Halloween erasers or pencil toppers
• Mini Slinkies
• Whistles, kazoos, or noisemakers
• Bouncy balls
• Finger puppets or novelty toys
• Coins
• Spider rings
• Vampire fangs
• Mini notepads
• Playing cards
• Bookmarks
• Stickers
• Stencils
If you feel that you need to offer some candy too, check out this very thorough list from the Celiac Disease Foundation: GF Halloween Treats for 2015:
Provide two different bowls, one for candy and one for non-food treats and let the kids choose! Help to ease the minds of their parents and make Halloween about more than candy! Have a fun, safe, stress-free spooky good time!