Food allergies are so common nowadays that about one in thirteen kids suffers from at least one type. Because of that, trick-or-treating can be a let down for kids who have these allergies since there are so many candies they won’t be able to enjoy.
But there’s a solution for that:
The Teal Pumpkin Project started so that all kids can have the best night on Halloween. We think it’s a wonderful initiative and it deserves all the attention it can get!
“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” - Mae West
What Is the Teal Pumpkin Project
It all started with the Food Allergy Company of East Tennessee and it’s a project which envisions to have all children enjoying Halloween night and trick-or-treating! The project quickly spread beyond Tennessee and all over the country. It even was launched as a national campaign in 2014 by Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) and by 2015 the project had already gone international with 14 countries participating!
It’s definitely a project that deserves the recognition and we want to help it keep happening! In order for that to happen, people need to understand how it works, right?
Here we go…
Many kids suffer from some kind of food allergy, such as:
- Peanut allergy
- Celiac disease
- Lactose intolerance
- Egg allergy
And as we all know very well, most candies given out on Halloween have at least one of those items.
So, how can kids with food restrictions have fun on Halloween?
This is where the project comes to action! The idea is that instead of giving candies, householders give out Halloween-themed items.
Those can include:
- Vampire fangs
- Glow-in-the-dark sticks
- Spider rings
- Noisemakers
Of course, these are just a couple of ideas; you can add a lot more options for treats! Isn’t it so heart-warming that people take these kind of initiatives? I simply love it!
Another important question…
How can people know you’re participating in the project?
Here’s where the actual teal pumpkin shows up! The householders taking part in the project place a painted teal pumpkin in front of their house as a sign that they’re offering non-candy treats for the kids. It’s that simple!
How to Make a Teal Pumpkin
If at any point you were asking yourself why teal is the color used, well, it’s because for over 20 years this color has been used to raise awareness of this food allergy condition! It’s only fair that we keep the tradition and keep raising awareness about it!
You can actually find teal pumpkins for sale, but we love a good craft and this is just so easy to make! It’ll be even easier if you already have a real pumpkin in your home decor for fall, that way you can just purchase teal acrylic paint or spray paint and paint your pumpkin! And that’s it!
There’s also the option of decorating your teal pumpkin, here are some ideas:
What do you think about this project? I’m really glad it’s spreading all around the globe and let’s keep it teal...er, I mean, real: food allergy is a serious cause and it deserves recognition! Help people be aware of the situation and share the Teal Pumpkin Project idea with your friends and family, this is part of small actions that make a big difference. Let’s be a part of it together!
Keep reading:
- The 10 Most Impressive Pumpkin Carving Ideas To Try This Year
- How to Make a DIY Image Transfer Pumpkin
- 7 DIY Ways to Decorate Your Porch for Fall