October is here, which means that Halloween is just around the corner! If you're like me, then you're probably most excited about all of the spooky Halloween snacks and candy that you plan on eating. Even if you're too old to go trick-or-treating (which is just a matter of opinion,) you're probably still going to consume an unhealthy amount of candy, right?

What if I told you that not everyone is able to do that? What if I told you that for many kids, trick-or-treating is a dangerous and potentially life-threatening activity, that many parents choose to opt out of? The reason is simple: food allergies.

My youngest brother is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts, to the point of anaphylaxis. He carries two epipens with him every time he leaves our house. He's never been trick-or-treating. And he can't eat most types of candy. Even if it's a candy that doesn't have nuts in it, it may have been manufactured in the same facility or on the same equipment used to make candy that DO contain nuts. There's very little candy that is safe for him to eat, so my family decided to ditch the candy-collecting, and have our own nut-free parties filled with fun and (safe) food, as a family at home, so we could avoid taking the risk of him accidentally getting contaminated.

Many families are just like ours. This is the very reason that in recent years, the Teal Pumpkin Project was started. With food allergies in general on the rise among kids, the Food Allergy Research and Education organization realized that a growing number of kids were missing out on a fun activity because of the dangers posed to them. The purpose of the Teal Pumpkin Project is to allow kids with food allergies to still be able to participate in Halloween festivities, without being exposed to life-threatening allergens.

Here's how it works: Instead of buying candy to hand out to trick-or-treaters, non-food items are handed out, such as stickers, small toys, glow sticks, crayons, foam stamps, bouncy balls, and other inexpensive objects. A pumpkin painted teal is placed outside on the front porch to let trick-or-treaters and their parents know that non-food items are being offered at that house. A flyer may be posted outside to explain the whole concept to those who may not know about the Teal Pumpkin Project and it's mission.

My plea to you is simple. This Halloween, if you or your family plan are welcoming trick-or-treaters, consider participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project. Research the organization to learn more about it and check out their resources. But most of all, spread the word about the Teal Pumpkin Project, how food allergies interfere with Halloween celebrations, and encourage others to participate as well. The safer we can make Halloween for kids with food allergies, the better, and you can be a part of that too.

Teal is the new orange, friends.
~Alexis Grace