Teal Pumpkins Make Halloween Safer For Kids With Allergies

Halloween is a spooky night and it's supposed to be, but for kids with food allergies, it can be terrifying.

Any parent of a little one who has food allergies will tell you that finding treats on Halloween night that won't trigger an allergic reactions can be tricky. Because of the growing number of kids with life threatening food allergies, Food Allergy Research & Education, also known as FARE, is really pushing the 'Teal Pumpkin Project' in the spirit of both inclusion and safety.

The 'Teal Pumpkin Project' encourages people to paint a pumpkin teal, the color of food allergy awareness, to indicate that their home is safe for trick-or-treaters with food allergies and that they're offering non-food treats such as small toys.

According to FARE, food allergies affect 1 in every 13 kids, which is a lot of kids who might feel left out of the fun of Halloween. I went through most of my life completely oblivious to those who suffer from food allergies and then I met my husband who is allergic to dairy and my eyes were completely opened. It's not that kids with allergies are trying to get out of eating various foods or candies. It's that they're trying to stay alive.