With Halloween a little over a week away, I'm rerunning this post today to remind everyone about the Teal Pumpkin Project. We did this at my house last year, and it was a big success!
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I have been very fortunate - neither of my boys has any food allergies. Both of them wish they were allergic to brussel sprouts, but no such luck.
One of my older son's best friends, however, has a life threatening peanut allergy. M carries an epipen with him wherever he goes, and when he was younger and came to spend the night, I always made sure I knew exactly where it was.
The first year M went trick or treating with my son, he couldn't eat 90% of the candy they collected. As everyone spread their loot on the floor, counting chocolate bars and making trades, M poked through his bag, looking for the few pieces of hard candy that he could eat. It made me really sad.
The next Halloween, I decided to give out small toys instead of candy. I went to the dollar store and bought spider rings, stickers, bouncy balls and colorful pencils. My "treats" were a hit with the neighborhood kids, and I have continued the tradition.
So I was excited to read recently about the Teal Pumpkin Project, where people are encouraged to place a teal colored pumpkin on their porch to show that they offer non food items to trick or treaters. The Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) website also has a flyer you can download to place by your front door.
When I was little I didn't know anyone who had serious allergies. But today, one in thirteen children has food allergies, and there has been a significant increase in life threatening allergies in the last ten years.
If you'd like to participate, paint a teal pumpkin or download a flyer from FARE. Dollar stores or websites like Oriental Trading Company have tons of little toys that won't break the bank - some of them are even cheaper than candy!
When I was growing up, I didn't know anyone with food allergies and today so many of my daughter's friends have them. Love the idea of the teal pumpkin. I think I'm going to make one for trick or treating this year!
ReplyDeleteJill
Doused In Pink
If I ever get around to getting my pumpkins done, I'm doing it again this year too!
DeleteI did not know more than 1-2 people that had allergies, it seems like it is epic now... I would do the teal pumpkin, however; where I live no children ever trick or treat... I have been here for 7 years, I always had to take Valentina elsewhere... :) xox
ReplyDeleteI didn't know anyone with allergies growing up, but it seems most of my son's friends have them.
DeleteLove this idea!!!!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it great, Andrea?
DeleteFirst of all, teal is one of my favorite colors! The cause is awesome. We don't get trick-or-treaters or else I'd totally be teal pumpkin-ing it up.
ReplyDeleteHaha - I bet you would!!! I love teal too.
DeleteWhat a great idea! We have never had trick or treaters because we lived so far out in the country so when we moved here I was so excited to pass out candy I decorated and bought the store out of candy! Not one trick or treater and I gained 5 lbs!
ReplyDeleteWe never know how many we're going to get. It really depends on the weather. I always buy so much candy and then feel like I have to eat it later!
DeleteYou use your blog as such a great vehicle for information, awareness, goodness, kindness.
ReplyDeleteAwww...Leslie. You're so sweet. Thank you.
DeleteAlthough I'm a massive fan of candy myself (!) this is a super idea. I've never heard of it before, but it is such a nice thing to do. I'll do this next year when we're at home for Halloween.
ReplyDeleteIt was a big success at my house!
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