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People Are Displaying Blue & Teal Halloween Pumpkins This Year—Here’s Why

Colleen Dilthey Thomas
Posted: September 30, 2024
blue teal pumpkins

Halloween is just around the corner, and many families are getting ready for the spooky season. One of the highlights for kids this time of year is the annual tradition of Trick-Or-Treating. While this can be a fun night and a core memory for lots of kids, it can also be difficult for others. Not all children can fully participate in the fun for several reasons, but plenty of people are working to change that.

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The Teal Pumpkin Project is a simple way to make trick-or-treating safer and more inclusive for the one in 13 children living with food allergies, and many others impacted by intolerances and other conditions. Placing a teal pumpkin on your doorstep signals that, in addition to candy, you offer non-food trinkets and treats that are safe for all trick or treaters. Help us make this Halloween one to remember! By adding your home to the Teal Pumpkin Project Map, you are making your house easy to find for those on the hunt for non-food treats. The more houses added to the Map, the more inclusive (and therefore more fun) we can make Halloween! Reminders for Trick or Treating with a child with a food allergy: -Stock up on safe treats or inexpensive trinkets/toys to trade for any unsafe candies your child might receive while trick-or-treating. You can also use sorting through your child’s candy as an opportunity to teach him or her about hidden allergens and reading labels. -Enforce a “no eating while trick-or-treating” rule, so that you have time to review all food labels. -Avoid candy and treats that do not have an ingredient label. Always have an epinephrine auto-injector available, if prescribed. -Keep in mind that the mini-size, fun-size, or bite-size version of candy may contain different ingredients than their full-size counterparts. Make no assumptions, and read all labels carefully. Source: Foodallergy.org Will you be part of the teal pumpkin project this year? #tealpumpkinproject #babyledweaning #babydietitian #foodallergy #pediatricdietitian #thebabydietitian

♬ original sound – Cindy S. RD, IBCLC

Keep An Eye Out For Colored Pumpkins This Year

Black and orange are traditional Halloween colors but are not the only ones to look out for this year. You may notice teal and blue pumpkins popping up in retailers, and they’re there for a good cause.

Food Allergy Research & Education helped start the Teal Pumpkin Project, which helps identify homes that offer non-food treats on Halloween for kids with allergies.

“No child should ever be excluded from a celebration because of a disease. Food allergies are a disease of the immune system — not a diet — not a choice,” Sung Poblete, PhD, RN, CEO of FARE, explained to People. “We are grateful that Teal Pumpkin Project, which was created by one food allergy mom working to provide an inclusive experience for her child and other children with food allergies, is now a national initiative.”

In addition to teal pumpkins, blue is also becoming a popular color at Halloween time. According to the National Autism Association, this movement went viral after a mom posted about her autistic son on Facebook.

“If you see someone who appears to be an adult dressed up to trick-or-treat this year carrying this blue bucket, he’s our son! His name is BJ & he is autistic. While he has the body of a 21-year-old, he loves Halloween,” Alicia Plumer wrote.

Colored buckets are a personal choice, and families should choose what makes them comfortable. But if you see them this year, now you know why. Happy Halloween to all!

This story’s featured image is by EvgeniiAnd via Getty.

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