Written By: Marie Valden
There was a time, when I was a kid, when it didn't matter what candy I got on Halloween. We were free to run from house to house and eat to our heart's content. My goal was to eat as many of my favorites before I got home and my mom took up our candy to sparingly dole it out. But, things change.
For my kids, the scariest part of the holiday was checking candy for signs of tampering. Now, the most terrifying concern for a growing number of parents is food allergies. Although no one can pinpoint why, food allergies among children increased approximately 50 percent between 1997 and 2011 according to a study released in 2013 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) finds that although childhood allergies to milk, eggs, wheat and soy generally resolve themselves in childhood, many children now are still allergic beyond the age of 5. Allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, fish or shellfish are generally lifelong allergies and can be deadly.
The Teal Pumpkin Project™ was inspired by an awareness activity run by the Food Allergy Community of East Tennessee (FACET). FARE began a national campaign in 2014 in hopes this unique and fun way to help ease the stress of Halloween for kids and for parents would also help them survive the potential horrors of Halloween.
The Teal Pumpkin Project™ is a simple concept that encourages people to raise awareness of food allergies, increase community involvement and promote inclusion of all trick-or-treaters.
Here's how it works:
- You can sign a pledge on the FARE website.
- Provide non-food treats for trick-or-treaters.
- Paint a pumpkin teal, the color of food allergy awareness, and put it in front of your home as a show of support and to indicate you have non-food treats.
- Print the free sign from FARE to let parents know you have non-food treats.
It's so easy and can make a big impact on children who cannot enjoy as much Halloween candy as I did when I was their age. And who knows, you could potentially save a child's life while providing a safe and fun time for all kids this Halloween. Happy trick-or-treating!
