Ghouls, ghosts and goblins, oh my! Halloween is a festive, fun celebration millions of families participate in every year. However, Halloween can be a tricky time for families managing food allergies, leaving children feeling excluded from family and school celebrations.

Many traditional Halloween treats aren’t safe for children with life-threatening food allergies. According to FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education), almost 5.9 million children in the U.S. have food allergies (1 in every 13 children). Almost 30% of these children are allergic to more than one type of food, making Halloween trick-or-treating especially challenging. This is where the Teal Pumpkin Project comes to the rescue, making Halloween a fun, positive experience for all trick-or-treaters to enjoy. The Project’s mission is to raise awareness for children with food allergies, and promotes inclusion for all trick-or-treaters throughout the Halloween season.

Looking for a few suggestions? Try glow sticks, stickers, or even small toys as an alternative to candy on Halloween.  Or if you would like to continue handing out traditional candy treats at Halloween, consider offering a non-food alternative in a separate bowl for others to enjoy. Every child should get to experience the joy and tradition of trick-or-treating on Halloween safely, including kids with food allergies.

For more information and ways to help celebrate, check out the Teal Pumpkin Project website.