How to Be Allergy-Friendly on Halloween: A Guide to Inclusive Trick-or-Treating
Halloween is a fun and festive time of year, especially for kids. And while trick-or-treating can be a fall highlight, it can also be stressful for families of kids who have food allergies. But worry not! There are things you can do as the caregiver of an allergy kid to optimize their safety and experience, as well as ways to be an allergy-friendly ally and neighbor on Halloween.
Let’s dive into how to make this spooky time of year safe and inclusive for all!
5 Tips for Trick-or-Treating with Food Allergies
From coming prepared with safe snacks to setting a few rules upfront, your child can have a fun and safe trick-or-treating experience.
Create a “no snacking” rule until you get home.
While it’s tempting to snack on all the delicious candy you find along your way, it’s much safer to wait until you get home to check all the candy your child collected. If you anticipate this being an issue or they’re trick-or-treating with friends who will be snacking, consider bringing some safe candy along to ensure an easy, available option!
Bring emergency medicines.
Even if you aren’t planning on eating anything while trick-or-treating, it’s always a good idea to have epinephrine or any emergency medicines on hand, just in case. You likely don’t leave home without them, but it never hurts to have a reminder!
Stock safe candies at home.
Trick-or-treating with an allergy kid can be hit or miss. If you anticipate there may not be much to eat that’s safe for your child or you want to be extra prepared, stock up on a few of their favorite safe treats at home. That way, if they return with a pumpkin full of unsafe treats, you have a backup supply at the ready.
Always read the label, even if it was previously “safe” candy.
Sometimes, the mini versions of candy may contain different ingredients, and it’s always possible the ingredients may have changed. Even if your kid has safely eaten a candy before, it’s best to double-check the ingredients on each item they collect before eating it.
Look out for the teal pumpkin!
FARE’s Teal Pumpkin Project was started more than a decade ago to make Halloween more inclusive. It encourages people to set out a teal-colored pumpkin with non-food items that are safe for all. If you see a teal pumpkin, rest assured it is (most likely!) a safe house for your child. You can also scope out a map of anyone registered with a teal pumpkin here.
How to Be an Allergy-Friendly Neighbor for Trick-or-Treaters
If you want to be an ally to those with food allergies and make your home a safe destination, there are a few ways you can be allergy-friendly and inclusive to all who stop by your home.
Buy candy that is certified allergen-free.
One of the most straightforward ways to help include more kids in the Halloween season is by buying candy that is safe for all (or most!). Check the labels for certifications like “peanut-free,” “dairy-free,” or “gluten-free.” Some companies even highlight their allergen-friendly status! We included some of our favorites below.
Non-Edible
Deck of cards
Temporary tattoos
Fidgets, stickers, small toys
Edible*
Skittles
Starburst
Swedish Fish
SmartSweets
YumEarth Organic Pops
Free2b Sunflower Butter Cups
Sour Patch Kids
*While everyone managing an allergy has their own needs and requirements, these are some candies widely considered to be allergen-free for most.
Use a teal pumpkin to indicate you’re allergen-friendly.
As previously mentioned, participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project can ensure you’re providing safe options for all. FARE has an entire webpage dedicated to the movement, ideas for what to put in your teal pumpkin, and a map to which you can add your home as a participant!
Use a separate vessel for allergen-friendly candy and non-food giveaways.
Use separate vessels for allergen-friendly candy and non-food options to avoid cross-contact and confusion. You can also make allergy-friendly “goody bags” to easily be handed out to allergy kids! This way, they don’t need to dig through anything that might be dangerous for them or feel like they’re missing out.
Halloween doesn’t have to be scary—at least not for food allergy kids!
While spooky season is a highlight of the year for some, let’s save the scary part for the haunted houses. Using these tips and tricks, all kids can trick-or-treat safely with their loved ones and have plenty of treats to show for it. Whether you’re using a teal pumpkin, handing out non-food offerings, or traveling prepared with candy safe for your child, making Halloween inclusive is a wonderful way to support all children.
— Sara Weinreb
Sara Weinreb is a writer, intentional business strategist, herbalist, and host of the Medium Well podcast. Sara’s writing on sustainability, wellness, mindful living, and mission-driven business has been featured in Forbes, mindbodygreen, USA Today, Byrdie, and Cherry Bombe, among others. When she’s not writing and shopping in the bulk section of health food stores, you can find Sara on the yoga mat, making herbal elixirs, having solo dance parties, and hanging out with her growing collection of plants.