You probably remember Halloween as a night you got to dress up as your favorite superhero, trade candy with friends and “accidentally” consume your entire trick-or-treat bag. For some kids, it’s not so laid back and care free. With food allergies and intolerances on the rise, indulging in a classic Halloween treat can cause harm, or in some cases, can even be deadly. While that all sounds scary (and it is!), there are ways you can help bring back the fun for everyone.
These allergy-free Halloween activities for kids are a guaranteed good time!
1. Paint pumpkins teal
Food Allergy & Research Education (FARE) is the world’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to food allergy awareness, education, research and advocacy. The Teal Pumpkin Project, created by FARE, was started in 2014 with the belief that every child should be able to experience the magic of Halloween and the fun tradition of trick-or-treating. To take part, people place a teal pumpkin outside of their home to indicate they have non-food treats available – perfect for those with food allergies!
2. Stock up on allergy-free treats
There’s plenty of allergy-friendly candy and chocolate to hand out as special treats on Halloween. Just be sure your stash is free-from the top eight most common food allergens: wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish and shellfish. These eight specific allergens account for 90 percent of all food allergies in the U.S.
3. Carve out some craft time
Pumpkin carving never gets old—truly never. Plus, there’s the process of picking out the perfect pumpkin. You get to spend a crisp, fall day roaming through a pumpkin patch, and drinking hot apple cider. When you get home, you’re ready to carve your perfectly round pumpkin. Don’t worry if you’re not a master artist. Download this printable jack-o-lantern stencil, complete with chocolate chip eyes and a big, toothy grin!
4. Throw a spook-tacular party
Invite all your favorite guys and ghouls for a costume party. This is a great excuse to go overboard on Halloween decorations. To really bring the party to life, prepare a few themed recipes, such as Jack-o-lantern guacamole or banana pancakes shaped into pumpkins and ghosts. And don’t forget to identify your homemade treats with allergy-friendly tags, so everyone feels at ease.