The Teal Pumpkin Project
By Julia H.
For most families, Halloween is all about costumes, candy, and community fun. For some families, however, Halloween comes with a big challenge - how to avoid exposing loved ones to potentially deadly food allergens while still allowing them to participate in the holiday fun. The good news is that it's easy to make trick-ore-treating more inclusive by simply making the choice to offer a non-food treat option to people who visit your home on Halloween!
Here are some tips from the Teal Pumpkin Project, which advocates for allergy-related Halloween safety:
Offer candy and treats in separate bowls so as not to cross-contaminate the non-food treats.
Try to choose toys that don't include common allergens, like molding dough (which sometimes includes wheat) or balloons (which usually include latex).
- Make sure trick-or-treaters know that you have a toy option.
- Tell others you're planning to include a non-candy option; the more people who offer alternatives, the more inclusive Halloween can be!
Got tips of your own? Send them to weeklysqueak@bothellfamilycoop.org and you may be featured in an upcoming Squeak!