Tag

teal pumpkin project

What is With the #TealPumpkin?

Posted by — No Comments

In addition to potting some mums that were on sale at Home Depot and hanging the last of my fall decor, it was time for us to put out our Teal Pumpkin. This is a tradition my family and I began last year (you can read about it here), with some inspiration from the awesome people at FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education).

Teal Pumpkin Project 15-3

For those that regularly follow, Home Everyday, you know all about my kids food allergies. But did you know (according to FARE).

  • About 15 million people in the United States have food allergies.
  • About 1 in 13 kids in the United States as a moderate to severe food allergy. (that’s about 2 per classroom)
  • Every 3 minutes a person is sent to the Emergency Room due to an allergic reaction.
  • A reaction can be mild or extremely severe and even fatal. This life threatening reaction is known as anaphylaxis.
  • Many allergies are not outgrown over time, peanuts, tree nuts, finned fish, and shellfish allergies often tend to be life long allergies causing severe reactions.
  • A food allergy can develop at any time.
  • According to the CDC, between the years of 1997 and 2011 food allergies in children increased by 50%

While my kids have food allergies, they are just like any other kids. They go to school, play sports, go to events, and restaurants. All of these activities just require a little extra care and planning. For the most part, the people we associate with are extremely helpful and accommodating. Also, while my kids have been educated from very early on to read packages to look for possible allergens, ask a trusted adult what is in a dish before eating it, come find me at a party, or when in doubt refrain from eating a treat, they are also still children who are learning how to deal with their allergies.

In The Moment 1

This is why Halloween, for a Mom of allergy kids, is extremely stressful. While my kids are planning out the final details of their costumes, I am wondering how to navigate a through a day that is so centered on candy. Who will we donate our candy to after Halloween? Can I call every candy manufacturer between now and Halloween and find out what candies ARE safe? Should we go trick or treating or a just have a Halloween party instead?

When I found out about the #TealPumpkinProject through FARE, I was so excited to participate. This campaign was designed not only to bring awareness to food allergies, but also allow children who have food allergies to participate a little more fully in the Halloween traditions that we are so used to.

When you knock on the door or ring the doorbell of a house with a Teal Pumpkin (teal is the color of FARE) this tells the trick or treater that this house is offering glow sticks, stickers, pencils, bubbles, or some other Halloween trinket other than food. For the kids with food allergies, this is so exciting! My kids have always trick or treated in the past, and we would often donate our candy or share with family and friends after the holiday was over. Now, the kids have a small memento or trinket they can play with from their night of trick or treating with friends.

Teal Pumpkin Project 15-1

This year, I have a jar of candy for those that can have candy, and a jar filled with Halloween stickers and glow sticks.

Teal Pumpkin Project 15-4

And of course, I have my Teal Pumpkin in front of my door, again, this year. For not only my kids, but for all kids to have a happier healthier Halloween.

Teal Pumpkin Project 15-3

For more information about the #TealPumpkinProject, visit the FARE website. You can find ideas for non food treats, free printables, and all kinds of awesome information!

Free Friday: Teal Pumpkin Project

Posted by — 5 Comments

If you love someone with food allergies as I do, you might also experience the same anxiety with holidays, birthdays, occasions, and other special events. I have a confession to make. When my little ones were old enough to start reaching the tops of tables, we took a hiatus from such occasions for awhile (hangs head in shame). I hosted a lot of things, but was afraid to attend functions at other people’s houses (except family) because I was so afraid of what my kids might accidentally consume.

We have talked with our kids about how knowledge is power, and in their case knowledge means safety, but there is only so much a 2 year old can absorb. The point being: the village surrounding my kids had to be on board with helping to keep them safe, because at one point my kids were just too little to help themselves.

 

Now, that they are older, I am a little better about letting them out into the big wide world because they are starting to become more knowledgable about protecting themselves when it comes to what they can eat. My oldest can read labels, my middle know which adults to ask, and everyone knows to refrain from having a snack unless they are absolutely sure it is safe for them to eat when they are out and about.

However, we are coming on the scariest time of year, and it has nothing to do with terrifying costumes or spooky decorations. Halloween for people with food allergies and those that love them, can be more frightening than The Ring (seriously that movie is THE WORST).

Halloween for allergy kids often meant Trick or Treating and giving all your candy away. Attending parties and not being able to eat anything there. Bringing your own special treats to functions. It even meant being a social outcast at some schools because of certain allergy policies.

That is why when I found out about the Teal Pumpkin Project being sponsored by Food Allergy Research and Education, I was so excited! This is a chance for every single kid to enjoy Halloween. FARE is being fair. (Plus, anytime we get to do a craft project, I’m a happy camper).

 

The Teal Pumpkin Project operates as follows. You can download a sign here OR paint a pumpkin teal. Place the sign or pumpkin in a visible place on Halloween night. This will indicate that not only do you have traditional Halloween treats for Trick or Treaters, but you have a NON FOOD treat to hand out for allergy kids too. Some sample treats include: stickers, faux tattoos, mini bottles of bubbles, wrist bands, pencils, erasers, tiny yo-yos, super balls, or any other kind of small toy or treat you might put in a treat bag for a birthday party.

When I told the kids about this, they were so excited, and we got to painting right away.

 

We decided to paint one big pumpkin (this is a faux pumpkin because I thought it would be nice to have from year to year) and the kids each painted their own small one (these are real).

 

I found acrylic teal paint at Michael’s, and we used sponge brushes to paint. Keep in mind because of the pumpkins sheen, it is actually easier to dab the paint on rather than brush it on.

 

While painting we thought of good ideas for treats to hand out on Halloween night.

 

So, what say you? Instead of buying 5 bags of candy, will you buy 4 bags of candy and one bag of non food treats? Will you put out a sign or a teal pumpkin? Will you make Halloween a fun for everyone?

If you want to know more about the Teal Pumpkin Project you can read my post about it on Chicago Parent. This article in the where I was interviewed for Chicago Tribune. Or here, here, or here.

If you like this post and would like to read more about all things domestic with a touch of humor, become a Home Everyday follower! For blog updates or to see other places I write such as ChicagoNow or Chicago Parent follow Home Everyday on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.