Trick or Treat and Food Allergies: Teal Pumpkin Project (plus Halloween party favor options)

Halloween is a fun holiday for kids- with the fun decorations, costumes, and of course, the treats. Kids who suffer from food allergies or have special dietary restrictions such as diabetes, are somewhat limited with trick or treating. 

FARE, or Food Allergy Research & Education is encouraging food allergy families and those who are wishing to accommodate food allergies for trick or treating to participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project.

How to participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project

The Teal Pumpkin Project is simple: if you are offering non-food items to trick-or-treaters, paint a pumpkin (real or plastic) the color teal and place it on your porch to signal to families managing food allergies that you have non-food treats available at your home. 

You can even buy teal plastic pumpkins in select stores.

Buying party favors (Halloween-themed or otherwise) is a good way to get a larger amount of small trinkets inexpensively, such as glow bracelets, pencils, notebooks, crayons, erasers, bouncy balls, bookmarks, stickers, and bubbles. 

Amazon, Oriental Trading, Target Dollar Spot, party stores, or dollar stores are good places to find inexpensive non-food items. (NOTE: Play-doh is not gluten-free, so it is not considered food allergy friendly due to the skin contact/possible absorption),

Here are some reasonably priced options from Amazon:

(many are cheaper than buying bags of candy!)

• 120 Pack Fidgets – kids love these and always want more
• 80 Pcs Kawaii Squishies
• 32 Pcs Mini Spring (ie: slinkies)
• 1000 Pcs Fidget Toys (look to see if theres’ a coupon on product page)
• 32-Piece 8 Colors Mini Bubble Wands (on sale!)
• 48 Pack Stress Balls, Squishy Ball
• 65 pack Play-Doh Ultimate Color Collection 1-oz Cans, Includes Sparkle, Confetti & Color Burst
• 30 pack JOYIN Pop Fidget Keychain Mini Fidget Toys
• 18 Pack Pop Tubes, Sensory Toys (on sale!)
• 120 Pack Fidget Toys Set

Halloween Themed non-candy items for trick or treat or classroom parties

• 200Pcs Halloween Party Favors (on sale!)
• 320 PCS Halloween Party Favors
• 100PCS Halloween Pumpkin Theme Vinyl Water Bottle Stickers
• 48 Pcs Halloween Spooky Notepad Set
• 28 Pack Halloween Stretchy Strings Toy Pack Pumpkin and Witch Sensory Toys 
• 72Pcs Halloween Pencils
• 60 pcs Crayola Play Foam – Silly Scents
• 60PCS Halloween Coloring Books
• 50 Pcs Mini Pull Back Cars Set

Print out on of the FARE’s teal pumpkin project posters to post next to your door to notify visitors that you are handing out non-food items in support of all children with food allergies, and to raise awareness within your neighborhood.