If you enjoy greeting children who come to your door and yell “Trick or Treat” on Halloween, then you probably already have your big bowl of candy ready to go. What you may not realize, though, is that there are children who often cannot participate because of food allergies. While they watch others fill their bags and run door to door, they are left with very little they can enjoy. You can change that by participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project. Keep reading to learn more about this effort and why it makes a difference.
What is the Teal Pumpkin Project?
The Teal Pumpkin Project was started in 2012 by a Tennessee-based food allergy group. Recognizing that many children with food allergies miss out on the fun and excitement of trick-or-treating, members encouraged homeowners to place a teal pumpkin on their porch to indicate they were handing out non-food treats.
Today, the project is led by FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education), and this initiative allows all children to experience a safer Halloween. All that is required from those who want to participate is a teal pumpkin and a separate bowl for non-candy items.
How Common is It for Kids to Have Food Allergies?
It is believed that 1 in 13 children have some type of food allergy. This means that certain snacks, like peanuts, egg, milk, etc., can be extremely dangerous, causing an allergic reaction.
Unfortunately, many of the ingredients that children can be sensitive to are found in candy that is passed out on Halloween. If ingested, it can mean a trip to the emergency room instead of enjoying the holiday festivities.
What Kinds of Treats Are Safe to Hand Out on Halloween?
If you still want to hand out candy on Halloween, you are encouraged to, just remember to keep it separate from other items. These can include:
- Glow sticks
- Bubbles
- Pencils, pens, crayons
- Stickers
- Bookmarks
- Miniature notepads
- Spider rings or vampire fangs
- Bouncy balls
- Whistles
- Finger puppets
- Stamps
- Silly Halloween glasses
- Playing cards
- Fidget toys
- Rubber spiders, snakes, etc.
- Erasers
- Pencil toppers
Halloween deserves to be a holiday that is fun for kids of all ages. By participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project, you can make sure everyone who stops by your house has a safe and enjoyable experience.
About the Author
Dr. Cory Grathwol is a pediatric dentist who thoroughly enjoys working with children to encourage happy and healthy smiles for life. After earning his dental degree from Midwestern University, he completed a specialty certificate in pediatric dentistry from Case Western Reserve University and the Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, OH. He and the team at G&G Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics of Lake Zurich want to minimize the risk of dental emergencies this Halloween, so if you want to make sure your child stays safe, contact us at (630) 238-1748 or visit our website.