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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!

Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name: Shawn
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Teal Pumpkin Project
https://www.foodallergy.org/education-awareness/teal-pumpkin-project
Does everyone know about the Teal Pumpkin Project? We've been doing this for several years now. You place a teal pumpkin (we have a teal pumpkin flag in front of the house, next to our orange pumpkin flag) in front of your house, and you have non-allergen items to give out to kids with food issues. We have a bunch of non-food toys and things, so we know it can't be a food allergy. Some of the kids who come by without food issues like the toys better than the candy... We have plenty of each, so it's not a problem.
We also just offer both options to everyone, so no kid has to specifically ask for anything special, since a lot of kids are very nervous talking to strangers and/or adults.
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Posted 10/23/18 8:12 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Teal Pumpkin Project
We did it one year and had no one ask for the "non candy" item. I was thinking those with food allergies probably don't go trick or treating. We don't get many trick or treaters to begin with though.
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Posted 10/23/18 10:27 AM |
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drpepper318
MIR MIR MIR!

Member since 6/07 8274 total posts
Name: me
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Re: Teal Pumpkin Project
No I haven’t done it, but since my kids have severe nut allergies I’m super aware of it so I only buy candy/chocolate that don’t contain nuts. I give out fruit snacks, pretzels, and plain chocolate bars usually (York peppermint patties, kit kats, etc.)... that way they can have candy just like all the non-allergic kids.
Message edited 10/23/2018 11:00:30 AM.
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Posted 10/23/18 10:57 AM |
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JWG421
Our miracle is here

Member since 12/12 2507 total posts
Name:
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Re: Teal Pumpkin Project
Food Allergy mom here!!!
And YES we do, we make it exciting my son paints the pumpkin teal and he helps to pick out the non edibles
I wish more families were allergy aware :)
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Posted 10/23/18 10:59 AM |
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drpepper318
MIR MIR MIR!

Member since 6/07 8274 total posts
Name: me
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Re: Teal Pumpkin Project
Posted by BargainMama
We did it one year and had no one ask for the "non candy" item. I was thinking those with food allergies probably don't go trick or treating. We don't get many trick or treaters to begin with though.
My kids have allergies and they do go trick or treating but I go through their entire stash piece by piece and remove any food items they can’t eat, Reese’s, etc.
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Posted 10/23/18 10:59 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!

Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name: Shawn
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Re: Teal Pumpkin Project
Posted by drpepper318
No I haven’t done it, but since my kids have severe nut allergies I’m super aware of it so I only buy candy/chocolate that don’t contain nuts. I give out fruit snacks and plain chocolate bars usually (York peppermint patties, kit kats, etc.)... that way they can have candy just like all the non-allergic kids.
But with non-food items, diabetics can participate as well. As a diabetic from age 12, I'm more attuned to Halloween being traditionally a non-diabetic friendly holiday. Also, chocolate has milk, so anyone with a milk allergy would have an issue. Kit Kats have gluten.
There are so many food issues, that's it's almost impossible to be aware of everything that anyone might be allergic, or react negatively to. Non-food items are just much simpler, and the kids are just as happy.
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Posted 10/23/18 11:04 AM |
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kris01
LIF Adult

Member since 10/06 1731 total posts
Name: Kris
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Re: Teal Pumpkin Project
I love this idea. DH & I just moved into our new house and are expecting a lot of trick or treaters from what our neighbors said. Do I keep the non food allergy items separate? or combine them into a bowl and let the kids pick what they want?
Thanks!
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Posted 10/23/18 11:05 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!

Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name: Shawn
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Re: Teal Pumpkin Project
Posted by kris01
I love this idea. DH & I just moved into our new house and are expecting a lot of trick or treaters from what our neighbors said. Do I keep the non food allergy items separate? or combine them into a bowl and let the kids pick what they want?
Thanks!
I keep them separate, and I offer both options to everyone. That way, nobody feels different, and anyone can pick from either container.
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Posted 10/23/18 11:11 AM |
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JWG421
Our miracle is here

Member since 12/12 2507 total posts
Name:
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Re: Teal Pumpkin Project
Posted by GoldenRod
Posted by kris01
I love this idea. DH & I just moved into our new house and are expecting a lot of trick or treaters from what our neighbors said. Do I keep the non food allergy items separate? or combine them into a bowl and let the kids pick what they want?
Thanks!
I keep them separate, and I offer both options to everyone. That way, nobody feels different, and anyone can pick from either container.
THANK YOU :) Seperate, Target sell Teal green Pumpkins to put your good in- This way allergy kids know its all safe to have
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Posted 10/23/18 11:19 AM |
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JWG421
Our miracle is here

Member since 12/12 2507 total posts
Name:
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Re: Teal Pumpkin Project
Posted by JWG421
Posted by GoldenRod
Posted by kris01
I love this idea. DH & I just moved into our new house and are expecting a lot of trick or treaters from what our neighbors said. Do I keep the non food allergy items separate? or combine them into a bowl and let the kids pick what they want?
Thanks!
I keep them separate, and I offer both options to everyone. That way, nobody feels different, and anyone can pick from either container.
THANK YOU :) Seperate, Target sell Teal green Pumpkins to put your good in- This way allergy kids know its all safe to have
TARGET LINK: https://www.target.com/s?searchTerm=teal+pumpkin+project&category=0%7CAll%7Cmatchallpartial%7Call+categories&tref=typeahead%7Cterm%7C0%7Cteal+pumpkin+project%7C%7C%7Cservice
Message edited 10/23/2018 11:20:46 AM.
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Posted 10/23/18 11:20 AM |
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kris01
LIF Adult

Member since 10/06 1731 total posts
Name: Kris
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Re: Teal Pumpkin Project
Posted by JWG421
Posted by JWG421
Posted by GoldenRod
Posted by kris01
I love this idea. DH & I just moved into our new house and are expecting a lot of trick or treaters from what our neighbors said. Do I keep the non food allergy items separate? or combine them into a bowl and let the kids pick what they want?
Thanks!
I keep them separate, and I offer both options to everyone. That way, nobody feels different, and anyone can pick from either container.
THANK YOU :) Seperate, Target sell Teal green Pumpkins to put your good in- This way allergy kids know its all safe to have
TARGET LINK: https://www.target.com/s?searchTerm=teal+pumpkin+project&category=0%7CAll%7Cmatchallpartial%7Call+categories&tref=typeahead%7Cterm%7C0%7Cteal+pumpkin+project%7C%7C%7Cservice
THANK YOU!!!!
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Posted 10/23/18 12:17 PM |
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ali120206
2 Boys

Member since 7/06 17795 total posts
Name:
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Re: Teal Pumpkin Project
Posted by JWG421
Posted by GoldenRod
Posted by kris01
I love this idea. DH & I just moved into our new house and are expecting a lot of trick or treaters from what our neighbors said. Do I keep the non food allergy items separate? or combine them into a bowl and let the kids pick what they want?
Thanks!
I keep them separate, and I offer both options to everyone. That way, nobody feels different, and anyone can pick from either container.
THANK YOU :) Seperate, Target sell Teal green Pumpkins to put your good in- This way allergy kids know its all safe to have
I also saw Teal Pumpkin buckets at Shop Rite.
We always participate but this year i was excited to find a real pumpkin bucket to put the items in. I have a bunch of stuff from Oriental Trading.
We typically go trick or treating with a child with allergies and they are so appreciative of non food items since most candies handed out aren’t safe.
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Posted 10/23/18 4:18 PM |
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PhyllisNJoe
My Box Is Broken

Member since 6/11 9145 total posts
Name: Phyllis
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Re: Teal Pumpkin Project
I have 2 separate bowls. One with candy and one full of toys. Each kid can pick from each bowl. Last year I gave out whistles and I think my neighbors wanted to kill me lol But the kids loved them. Allergies or not, who doesn’t love a few little toys too?
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Posted 10/23/18 10:14 PM |
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NYCGirl80
I love my kiddies!

Member since 5/11 10413 total posts
Name:
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Re: Teal Pumpkin Project
Posted by drpepper318
Posted by BargainMama
We did it one year and had no one ask for the "non candy" item. I was thinking those with food allergies probably don't go trick or treating. We don't get many trick or treaters to begin with though.
My kids have allergies and they do go trick or treating but I go through their entire stash piece by piece and remove any food items they can’t eat, Reese’s, etc.
This.
DS has a food allergy, but he still goes ToTing. He knows not to take items with nuts and if someone sneaks a Snickers into his bag, we pull it out right away. Our babysitter goes home with all of the pb candy!
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Posted 10/24/18 10:28 AM |
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IUIGirl
LIF Adolescent
Member since 10/14 852 total posts
Name:
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Re: Teal Pumpkin Project
Posted by JWG421
Posted by JWG421
Posted by GoldenRod
Posted by kris01
I love this idea. DH & I just moved into our new house and are expecting a lot of trick or treaters from what our neighbors said. Do I keep the non food allergy items separate? or combine them into a bowl and let the kids pick what they want?
Thanks!
I keep them separate, and I offer both options to everyone. That way, nobody feels different, and anyone can pick from either container.
THANK YOU :) Seperate, Target sell Teal green Pumpkins to put your good in- This way allergy kids know its all safe to have
TARGET LINK: https://www.target.com/s?searchTerm=teal+pumpkin+project&category=0%7CAll%7Cmatchallpartial%7Call+categories&tref=typeahead%7Cterm%7C0%7Cteal+pumpkin+project%7C%7C%7Cservice
Thank you! Just ordered this and a bunch of Halloween pencils, erasers and bubbles to fill it.
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Posted 10/24/18 1:43 PM |
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