Six Reasons To Support the Teal Pumpkin Project
Raising awareness of food allergies and promoting inclusion of all trick-or-treaters throughout the Halloween season.
What is the Teal Pumpkin Project
The Teal Pumpkin Project encourages people to raise awareness of food allergies and promotes inclusion of all trick-or-treaters throughout the Halloween season
How to Participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project
- Provide non-food treats for trick-or-treaters.
- Place a teal pumpkin – the color of food allergy awareness –in front of your home to indicate you have non-food treats available. Find one here.
- Display a free printable sign or premium poster from FARE to explain the meaning of your teal pumpkin. (source: www.foodallery.org)
Why the Color Teal?
Teal is the color of food allergy awareness. It has been used to raise awareness about this serious medical condition for nearly 20 years. (source: www.foodallergy.org)
Six Reasons to Support the Teal Pumpkin Project
Allergies
The Teal Pumpkin Project was founded to help kids with allergies participate in and enjoy the Halloween season.
Food allergies are a life-altering and potentially life-threatening disease, and a growing public health issue. In the U.S., one in 13 children has a food allergy – that’s roughly two in every classroom. For these children, even a tiny amount of their allergen has the potential to cause a severe reaction. (Source: www.foodallergy.org)
Health
Let’s face it, there are no real food ingredients in candy. Candy is not only lacking in real food, it is full of chemically adultered non-food ingredients that create toxicity and inflammation in our children’s growing bodies. Overeating sugar and nutritionally void processed foods are contributing to our epidemic of obesity and chronic diseases.
Inclusion
No kid should be left out on Halloween regardless of allergies or overprotective Moms who don’t want their kids to eat too much junk food! The Teal Pumpkin Project is a way for all kids to participate in all the fun.
“It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength.” — Maya Angelou
Dental Health
It is no secret, sugar damages teeth. In fact, to protect your kids’ young teeth, many dentist offices will buy your kids Halloween candy off them.
Behaviors
High fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, hydrogenated oils, dextrin, artificial food dyes, corn starch, potassium sorbate, carnauba wax, etc., etc., are not ingredients that promote calm, well-behaved children.
Sugar is 8x as addictive as cocaine. Mark Hyman, The Truth About Cancer
The Start of Holiday Binging
Over-indulging in Halloween candy ramps up our sugar cravings and leads us right into the holiday season. We are set up for failure from the start!
Teal Pumpkin Project Ideas
- Pencils
- Erasers
- Stickers
- Glow in the dark braceletes
- Stamps
- Bounce balls
Allergy Friendly and Healthy Food Options
- Clemintines or mandarin oranges (they even look like little pumpkins)
- Apples
- Apricots
- Popcorn
- Oraganic fruit snacks
- Fruit pouches
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Cold and Flu Season is Coming
Cold and flu season starts in the fall when the days get shorter and temperatures get cooler. Eating sugar and processed foods weakens your immune system and makes you more vulnerable to the lurking germs. You can make your immune system work for you and not against you! Keep your immune system strong by eating clean. Download my free Clean Eating Guide to keep you and your family healthy and happy this holiday season.
I love this! Being a celiac, this really resonates with me. Thank you for bringing attention to the Teal Pumpkin Project, the fact that not all children can eat all Halloween candy, and offering ideas for healthy food and non-food options.
What a cool idea and so many healthy alternatives. I love this. Thanks.
I really wish more people would do this. Our home is a nut-free home and we really limit sugar intake at home too with the exception of the holidays because of such events. I try to send non-candy items and healthy or toys of some sort for these things.
My family acts like I’m completely bonkers when I want to use non-food items or healthy treats 😬
Someday they’ll get it, right? 🙏
This is a great initiative – thank you for spreading the word! I have food allergies and know many others who will appreciate this!
Thank you! Food allergies are almost becoming an epidemic now. We all need to be so vigilant.
Brilliant idea! So unique and thx for sharing. I really hope this will help reduce the impact of sugar on the little ones :), whilst also creating more awareness too.