The Ultimate Teal Pumpkin Project Guide

What type of allergies do kids have that might be looking for the teal pumpkin?

While there are many allergies and they are triggered differently in different children, there are a group of more common food allergies that the teal pumpkin would benefit. These kids and their parents are always reading labels, asking questions and are concerned about how food might effect their children.

• Milk: An allergy to cow’s milk is the most common food allergy in infants and young children. This can include liquid milk, dry milk, or milk proteins.
• Egg: Egg allergy is one of the most common food allergies in children, second only to milk allergy. This can be anything from undercooked egg, egg protein, powdered eggs just to name a few.
• Peanuts: Peanut allergy is one of the most common food allergies. Often this is the first type of allergy that people think of when they hear a child has a food allergy. A peanut allergy can be anything from the nut itself to an item prepared in a factory that had peanuts in it.
• Tree Nuts: Tree nuts include walnut, almond, hazelnut, cashew, pistachio and Brazil nuts. It is a common misconception that peanuts are in the same category as tree nuts. Peanuts are grown underground and are in the legume family.
• Wheat : Wheat allergy is most common in children—though most usually outgrow it by age three.
• Soy : Soybean allergy is one of the more common food allergies, especially in babies and children. Soy can include soy nut butter and oils containing soy.
• Fish: Salmon, tuna and halibut are just three kinds of finned fish people can be allergic to. While most people are not giving out fish at Halloween, be aware that fish oils are often hidden ingredients.
• Shellfish: Shellfish (including crab, lobster, shrimp and mussels) is one of the more common food allergies. See above.
• Sesame: Allergy to sesame affects hundreds of thousands of Americans—though you won’t always find it called out on food labels. It could call under the ‘other’ or ‘additional flavors’ ingredients.

Who started the teal pumpkin project?

In 2012, Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) was formed as the result of a merger between the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) and the Food Allergy Initiative (FAI). The new organization combined FAAN’s expertise as the most trusted source of food allergy information, programs and resources with FAI’s leadership as the world’s largest private source of funding for food allergy research. Today, FARE is the leading national organization working on behalf of the 15 million Americans with food allergy, including all those at risk for life-threatening anaphylaxis. Source: Food Allergy.org

Yes and no. Yes you can make a homemade treat as part of the teal pumpkin project but those that have allergies may say ‘no thank you’. Depending on the allergy they may not take the chance that your treat didn’t touch an allergen during preparation.  If you wanted to have the packages available for the parent to read the ingredients, that might be helpful.

image credit: FARE

Paint a pumpkin teal.

Painting a real pumpkin teal is a great option for showing that your family is part of the teal pumpkin project. But I like to paint a paper mache pumpkin and use it year after year.

Pumpkin painting supplies:

• paper mache pumpkin
• teal paint
• black paint
• paintbrush

Last minute teal pumpkin printableIf you just learned about the teal pumpkin project and want to participate but don’t have time to paint a pumpkin, simply print out a pumpkin and post it. There are english signs, Spanish signs and French language signs.

image credit: FARE

How do I let local trick or treaters know I am participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project?

FARE is providing a Teal Pumpkin Project Map that allows people participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project to add their home address, street or neighborhood. Adding your household to the map shows your support and allows you to connect with other families in your area who are participating. Also by displaying your teal pumpkin or teal pumpkin poster.

Non candy teal pumpkin project safe treats:

Looking for ideas of non candy teal pumpkin project treats? Here is a list that will take you to Amazon to purchase. Keep in mind you need to be aware of small pieces for younger kids and do your best to choose items that are latex-free.

• Halloween whistles
• Bookmarks
• Bubble wands
• Silly Straws
• Glow Bracelets
• Plastic Vampire teeth
• Light Up Rings
• Noise Makers

Where to get a teal pumpkin bucket.

One of the easiest ways to let people know you are looking for allergy friendly treats is to carry a teal pumpkin bucket.  Right away they will notice that the pumpkin bucket is a different color and it will spark a conversation as to what type of treat your allergy sensitive kid is looking for. It is also a reminder to younger kids to ask for allergy friendly treats.

Check out the FARE partners CVS and Michale’s Craft stores for your teal bucket or shop on Amazon.