For those of you who may not know, the Teal Pumpkin Project is an initiative by the organization Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) to create a more inclusive Halloween for children with food allergies. It provides an opportunity for children who have food allergies to participate in Halloween with treats that are not food items.
While some health-conscious parents have been providing non-food treats for years, FARE has worked to create awareness of this issue at the national level. However, there are benefits of promoting non-food treats at the national level that exceed the benefits of children with food allergies. There are many different types of children who would benefit from having non-food treats as an option. For example:
Young kids. Everyone loves to see tiny little toddlers walk up to their doors in their adorable costumes. They waddle up to the door and get pieces of candy dropped into their tiny buckets. In most instances, they throw the candy out of the bucket and decide they would rather fill their buckets with rocks or mulch. While these kids are not necessarily left out of Halloween festivities by homes that offer candy, they are more than likely not going to be chewing on a snickers bar when they get home. However, imagine the excitement on that child’s face if they were offered a non-toxic glowing bracelet.
Organic kids. Kids whose parents have chosen a lifestyle that does not include processed food or high fructose corn syrup. While these children may not have an allergic reaction to the candy they put in their basket, they are more than likely not going to able to eat too much of it when they get home.
Hyperactive kids. Parents of kids who already exhibit levels of high energy are less likely to provide their children with additional sugar. They also may get the joy of trick-or-treating but most of their candy will more than likely end up in the trash can.
Kids with neurodevelopmental difficulties. Regardless of the diagnosis or level of impairment, there are several reasons why a parent would not allow a child with neurodevelopmental difficulties to eat Halloween candy.
Why should you care?
Some may argue that candy is integral to Halloween. Others may argue that it is their decision whether they place candy out, and the parent’s decision as to whether they let their child eat it. However, stop for a moment and consider the importance and excitement of trick-or-treating to a small child. They are so excited to wear their costume they practically sleep in it in the days leading up to Halloween. Halloween night arrives and they are literally standing at the door dressed and begging if it is time to leave. They make their way up the street at speed of an Olympic sprinter to get to as many houses as they can. They finally arrive back home with pounds of candy that are so heavy their little arms can barely hold the bag. They plop down on the floor, pour all the candy out of their bags, eat two pieces, and pass out in a mound of candy. For kids with food allergies and some of the difficulties listed above, they may not even get the opportunity to pass out in their mound of candy. They may just be sitting there watching others engage in the excitement of picking their favorite candies knowing that they will not be able to join. Wouldn’t it be nice for them to have an opportunity to have a different type of treat they could enjoy?
The intent is to increase awareness of how different children experience these events. While not the intention, treating all kids the same can sometimes be exclusive to other children. Other children who face being excluded daily. Wouldn’t it be nice to make an already magical night even more magical for them?
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