Did you know 1 in 13 kids who come to your door will have at least one food allergy?
The Teal Pumpkin Project can take the scare out of Halloween for families and kids who navigate the holidays with food allergies.
Placing a teal pumpkin near your door or posting a teal pumpkin flyer in your front window is a signal for trick-or-treaters that you offer non-food treats. On top of spreading awareness, this act of solidarity can also help kids with diabetes, gluten sensitivities, or other food intolerances.
Awareness is growing but experts say there is still an imbalance in ratio of teal pumpkins to kids looking for safe alternatives.
If you see a teal pumpkin in your neighborhood, show your support and join the movement to learn how to share a safe, healthy Halloween for everyone!
Here are a few tips for getting started:
- Buy or paint a teal pumpkin for trick-or-treaters to see. A quick alternative is to display a sign that shows you are a safe stop for all trick-or-treaters. You can pick one up at one of our clinics or download ours, here!
- Non-food treats are a fun, unique option to share with all kids. You could pass out glow sticks, bubbles, vampire fangs, and a slew of novelty toys.
- You can also give out candy, but be sure to place it in a separate bowl. Non-food treats are the safest, most universal choice for all trick-or-treaters. However, there are some treats that may be more allergy-friendly than others.
- The organization, Kids with Food Allergies, shares its top-8 candies that are free of peanut, tree nut, dairy, egg, soy, wheat, fish and shellfish ingredients. The list includes various chocolate options (you’d be surprised!), Sour Patch Kids, Skittles, Starbursts, and several treats from Surf Sweets with candies that are “produced and packaged in the USA in dedicated facilities that are free of the top 10 food allergens and are made with organic cane sugar, organic fruit juice and organic vegetable dyes. No artificial colors, sweeteners, or flavors are used.”
At Aligned Modern Health, we help parents learn more about what foods are working best for their families. Often your child may not be allergic to a food, but they may display symptoms of a food intolerance – including lactose intolerance, gluten sensitivity, and sensitivity to food additives. Typically, these symptoms are more digestive related and may include: bloating, gas, diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting.
To learn more about detection for food sensitivities and appropriate treatment, visit us for a free consultation with a Functional Medicine and Clinical Nutrition expert at any of our locations in Chicago and surrounding suburbs!
