*This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. Information and statistics are taken from the FARE website.
My son came running in to tell me his exciting news. He was watching tv with dad and saw a news feature about the Teal Pumpkin Project. He was emphatic that we participate and spread the word. Here is what our family is doing to start a new tradition and how you can too!
My son does not have food allergies, but he is affected. So many children that we know have severe allergies. My son is totally aware of the anxiety that food allergies can cause his friends and how diligent they have to be at all times to protect themselves. Statistics from 2013 show that 1 in every 13 children has food allergies and every 3 minutes food allergies send someone to the emergency room.
The Teal Pumpkin Project it an incredible campaign to create food allergy free homes for children to Trick or Treat with non-food choices! I love this idea for the other fantastic reason that people who do not want their children to acquire a ton of (or any) candy can also stop at these homes!
My son picked out his perfect pumpkin. Then we ran to the craft store to pick out the perfect shade of teal paint. Teal is the color of food allergy awareness! My son did not want to use a paint brush because he thought it would cause unsightly brushstrokes so he used his hand to smooth the paint onto his pumpkin.
He let it dry overnight and the next day we took some of the paint off in the natural lines of the pumpkin using a sharp object. I love the way the orange comes through and emphasizes the look of the pumpkin.
Then we set it out on the front porch so that everyone can see that we support children with food allergies!
For more information you can go to the FARE website and read all about this movement. There are printable flyers to help spread the word. We are going to hand these out to Trick or Treaters on Halloween night!
You can also print off a sign to put in your window that has a teal pumpkin on it and says “Non-Food Treats Available Here”
It is easy to go to the party stores, dollar stores and more to find lots of fun gifts to give out. We are doing stickers, nail polish, bubbles, rings, vampire teeth and lots of glow bracelets!
Do you think this Teal Pumpkin Project is something you might do?
Leave a comment with your thoughts.
[tweetthis]How to Join the #TealPumpkinProject [/tweetthis]
Michele
What a great project! I am all about non-candy items for classroom treats and trick or treaters. It’s not only great for food allergies, it’s also a healthier choice. I love your pumpkin, it turned out beautiful.
Jennifer
I think the Teal Pumpkin project is great! So many kids have food allergies these days. It’s nice for them to be able to get some swag on Halloween, too. Plus, there are PLENTY of houses giving out candy.
Rebecca Swenor
The Teal Pumpkin Project is so awesome. Kudos to your son for being such a caring friend. I love it and I will be doing the Teal Pumpkin Project myself. Thanks for sharing.
Andi
What a GREAT campaign! I don’t do trick or treating, but I helped support it by tweeting about it.
Savannah Miller
Very pretty! I didn’t get a chance to do anything with our pumpkins yes this year, maybe I will try this since I dread carving!
Hannah Staveley
Thats so cool we have just done ours it an frozen olaf one .x
Anne
This sounds like a great initiative! Halloween is a tough holiday for kids with food allergies, and this is a great way to help.
michele d
What a fun project! I love the color of the painted pumpkin… I love that it’s unique.
Dawn
I have been hearing so much about the teal pumpkin project! I am so happy that something like this is starting to become popular. Kids with food allergies should get to enjoy Halloween too (:
Jon
I had no idea there was a color for food allergy awareness, let alone that it’s teal!
Debra
What a great idea! I hadn’t heard of the Teal Pumpkin project before reading it here! Love it!
Kathleen Bailey
What a great idea! This is my first time hearing about this but I think it’s a great way to go. We don’t have food allergies here but I hate that my kids get so much candy. I love non candy choices. I think in a few years when this is known about more, it will be around North America.
Freya
What a great initiatives I love it. Healthy gifts is for sure a lot more healthy as well than candy.
Have a great Halloween.
Shirgie Scf
This teal pumpkin thingy sounds interesting., I guess I want to do this, hopefully I could find time.
Ronni
I think this campaign is so awesome! We bought pumpkins yesterday to decorate tonight after school. I got a special one to make teal and will be starting it here as well!
Ann Bacciaglia
This is a great way to let parents know there is another option available for children with allergies. I have always handed out non food treats at Halloween. I like to give out funny pencils and erasers.
Chelley @ A is For Adelaide
What a fabulous idea!!! I will be particitpating this year, too! I just need to grab some paint!
Rebecca
This is the first time I’ve heard of this and I know people and children who have severe food allergies, I LOVE this project!!! I am going to let Jennifer of DeliberateMom.com know! She will love this, thank yoU!
Jennifer | The Deliberate Mom
My daughter has an anaphylaxis dairy allergy. Halloween is a “scary” time for us because of her allergies. We usually end up “buying” her treats from her and substituting with toys or treats she can have.
We definitely will be participating – we always have non-candy options available… but I’ve downloaded a sign so it’s more apparent that we are an allergy-friendly trick-or-treat spot.
Thanks for sharing… and I’m so thankful that Rebecca from Diz Mommy sent me this way.
xoxo
Kelly Hutchinson
I have not heard of this before, but what a great campaign! My kids would LOVE this and although we do not have food allergies, we can still participate.
LauraOinAK
I just heard about this the other day. We are fortunate to not have food allergies in our house, but several friends do.
Stefani Tolson
I have never heard of this but I think it is a great idea. I will be keeping my eye out on Halloween to see if I see any teal pumpkins.
Mistee Dawn
I would definitely participate in something like this. Unfortunately, we live clear out in the middle of nowhere and we get no trick or treaters. =( Great cause, though.
Angela S
This campaign is brilliant! So many kids have food allergies these days. I love that your son was the catalyst for this family activity.
Jenn
This is the first time I am hearing about this. I think its a great idea! So many little ones have allergies these days. Plus the color is pretty on the pumpkin.
Chrissy Mazzocchi
I love the teal punpkin, what a great cause! My SIster had ovarian cancer so it runs in our Family.
Jennifer Williams
What a great idea, we always have things that are not food items to pass out to kids just in case.
Alison M.
This is such a great idea. And it looks like fun to make with the kids.
Margarita Ibbott (@DownshiftingPRO)
This was not something I knew anything about. We only have two handful of kids that come to the door so I try and buy something that isn’t food related. I may just have a teal pumpkin at my door this year. I also sent the tweet that you had posted above to spread the word.
jtemcio
Thank you Angela! I am so proud of his giant heart 🙂
jtemcio
That is so mice of you! The best of both 🙂
jtemcio
I am curious to look for them as well. Happy Halloween Stefani!
jtemcio
Thank you for spreading the word to your friends and bloggers! I am excited about it too.
jtemcio
YAY!! I am so excited that you are going to do it too 🙂
jtemcio
That will be great! Happy Halloween 🙂
jtemcio
Yes, a LOT healthier! You have a great one too.
jtemcio
I appreciate that Andi! Thank you so much 🙂
jtemcio
Once the word gets around about our No-candy house we may have less Trick or Treaters too. – lol – But in our area there are SO MANY food allergy kids, that it is a great idea. And we are giving out fun things too 🙂 Thank you for Tweeting and supporting!!
jtemcio
Sorry to hear that your daughter has such a severe allergy. We were nervous that trick-or-treaters would be disappointed about the lack of candy, but were elated when the kids were even MORE excited to get non-candy treats! The 10 and up crowd wanted candy but every younger child was appreciative to get glow stick jewelry and stickers 🙂 I hope that you and your daughter had a happy Halloween. I am glad to know that we are sharing this new tradition together each year!!
Shelly otremba
My son was doagnosed 20 years ago with juvenile diabetes, i went door to door explained what he would be dressed up as and i would be with him. I then left matchbox cars stickers, toothbrushes, balls etc at their homes……he never knew for years! I wish this teal project was around then, i love it! There is a catalog called”oriental trading” that u can get items by the gross or doz……it us so cheap…….i hope this keeps going! Joeys mom
jtemcio
I agree that there are so many other options and Oriental Trading is THE place to get them!!! It was interesting last year because the 10 and under crowd were overly excited to get something other than candy (especially stickers and glow sticks) but the tweens and teens were not happy – lol
The Teal Pumpkin Project ~ Functional Living Solutions
[…] Other blog posts about the Teal Pumpkin: * Jenny At Dapperhouse […]
Melissa
Doing the teal pumpkin project this year in addition to the candy. Perhaps I could put up flyers at the kids gym and put flyers in the you’ve been booed neighbor pack.
Janelle Milliken
Thank you so much for being an advocate for non food items during the holidays! As a food allergy parent, it really does bring a little relief that other non FA parents take a stand!
Monica
From a Mom that has a 6 y/o son that has a very unwanted and unwelcome food allergy. THANK YOU!!! I couldn’t love this post more. ? Monica and Kenan Como
jtemcio
Hi Monica. Allergies for kids are more common than many people know. It isn’t a small population and kids who need candy alternatives (including diabetics and other health reasons) should have a fun holiday too. Happy Halloween to your son!