If your children suffer from food allergies, Halloween and the upcoming holidays can be a bit of a struggle, to put it mildly. The Teal Pumpkin Project is a great way to revamp your celebration so everyone can enjoy it. 

The project began as a local awareness activity in Tennessee and quickly spread through word of mouth and social media, leading to a national campaign launch with Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) in 2014. The goal? To provide a safe Halloween for kids with food allergies by offering non-food treats  at the door. 

If you’ve got an allergic child, look for the porches with the teal pumpkins, signs, or posters associated with the project, and you’ll know that behind the door will be non-food treats — such as a small toy or other trinket — for your child to enjoy. 

Want to get involved yourself? You can print a sign, buy a poster, or display a teal-painted pumpkin at your house this Halloween to let others know you’re involved. Looking for a pumpkin? Try Target, craft stores, and Amazon for options.

For the big night, be ready with an option for children with allergies, like these non-food item suggestions (avoid latex items and moldable clay, the latter of which may contain wheat), and a bowl of candy for children without allergies. Simply ask the kids at the door if they have any allergies — asking reduces stigma and makes children with allergies feel much more included.

It’s 2020 so that means this isn’t running exactly the same way as in years past. FARE is not hosting the map for locations participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still put your teal out at your own home and include non food treats for the kiddos who come by. However you choose to do Halloween this year you can still be inclusive to children with food allergies!

So get involved, and get the Main Line on the map of areas that make this holiday safer and more fun for our children. Want to see who in your neighborhood is also participating? For families who registered online, you can view them here.

Photos courtesy of Food and Allergy Research and Education.