Teal-o-Ween Catches On
It appears that pumpkin aficionados will be spotting more teal pumpkins this year. The color does not simply mean “no candy,” although that concept in itself is quite valid — but there is a lot more to it.
A few years back, in a relatively quiet American state, a revolutionary movement began with the Food Allergy Community of East Tennessee (in particular, Becky Basalone.) The Teal Pumpkin Project has spread because this broad issue touches children in every state. In the USA alone, around six million children (roughly one out of 13) suffer from food allergies, and nearly half of those affected have experienced at least one serious allergic reaction.
Commercially available candy, and this goes double for the specialized Halloween variety, is very likely to include in its recipe one or more common allergens. These include milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, and sesame. Also, as has been widely publicized over the past few years, any type of candy is likely to contain unhealthful amounts of sweeteners with serious downsides.
A worldwide sensation
FARE, the organization concerned with Food Allergy Research and Education, says that…
Kids with food allergy are not the only ones who benefit from non-food treats. Many other medical conditions make candy off-limits, such as food intolerances, eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), celiac disease, food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES), diabetes, and having a feeding tube.
Now in its 10th year, the Teal Pumpkin Project has been catching on in other countries, too. Even more significant, its core principle has encompassed other groups, such as kids with autism spectrum disorder, who encounter their own set of difficulties. This area is a bit controversial, however.
While allergic children can collect treats in any receptacle of their choosing, autistic children are encouraged to carry a blue hollow plastic pumpkin or some other blue container, as a signal that they may be unable to make the traditional “Trick or Treat!” request. The notion is problematic from the start, because in the minds of many observers, teal is blue, and vice-versa. And this goes double after dark.
On the psychological level, this self-labeling can easily be interpreted as different from the other kind, and among children, adults, neighbors, and medical professionals, the response to the concept is mixed. Other controversies exist too, of course, and some grouches enjoy telling the parents of differently abled children that “Your kid’s problem is your problem. Not mine.”
FARE’s website is a place to download signs to print out at home or at school or wherever, that part does not matter as long as people are inspired to use them. “Non-food treats available here” is a friendly, neighborly, inclusive message. As for what those treats might be, this page offers a very comprehensive list, compiled by Maria Chamberlain, of possible alternatives to sweets. (A few more suitable items not included on that list are key rings, mini notebooks, mini puzzles, and fidget toys.) The page also offers the official posters available for download and print.
To be a good Teal host…
— Please register ahead of time with the Teal Pumpkin Project Map, if your community offers this amenity. If it does not, find out how to promote the movement locally. In the Age of Social Media, there is very little we can escape knowing about, so jumping on board with this trend should be easy.
— Parents can also pass out flyers at school events, well ahead of time, to alert others to the possibilities. Workplaces can educate their employees about the idea, and you know that retail stores will jump right on it and promote it if they sell anything relevant, from teal paint to little non-food prizes.
— For everyone’s convenience, have the non-food treats in a separate container from the food treats, this just goes without saying.
— Display a Teal Pumpkin Project sign from a window, porch step, or in some other visible area.
— A person doesn’t even need to have a house from which to operate, but, depending on the environment, can get together with one or two like-minded adults, set up a “Trunk-or-Treat” car, and distribute treats from any available space. If the weather or the neighborhood’s ambiance is likely to be too harsh, get together with other parents and responsible adults to plan an indoor event.
— Have big fun.
Your responses and feedback are welcome!
Source: “Bring Magic to Halloween With the Teal Pumpkin Project,” FoodAllergy.org, 10/15/24
Source: “Here’s what the Teal Pumpkin Project is and why it matters,” NBCNewYork.com, 10/18/24
Image by Jen Reeves/Attribution 2.0 Generic
The post Teal-o-Ween Catches On first appeared on Childhood Obesity News.
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