Have you picked up any non-food treats for trick or treaters with dietary restrictions? There are a lot of great suggestions on the Food Allergy Research & Education website.
Everyone in our family has severe food allergies, so I mega appreciate this initiative for allergic kids. However, I also think it's a hoot that someone even thought this up. I honestly never minded collecting Halloween candy that I couldn't eat when I was a kid. I just thought it was fun to run around in the dark while wearing a costume, knocking on my neighbors' doors and yelling in their faces. My girls don't mind either. There was the one year when Eden's favorite color was yellow, so every time she was offered the trick or treat bowl she picked out a yellow package -- which meant all peanut M&Ms or Butterfingers -- none of which she could eat.
However, if you'd like to offer allergy-safe treats to your neighborhood monsters, there are several ways you can let them know. You can either paint a pumpkin teal and place it on your stoop OR you can download and print out this sign to hang near your front door. If you want to get your kids involved, you can print out this one and have them color it in. If you really want to get your kids involved and don't want to spend any more money on treats, ask them to collect some gently-used trinkets they have lying around: stickers, Matchbox cars, unopened kids' meal toys, toy jewelry, unloved Lego mini-figures, unused school supplies, etc.
I also perused the aisles of my local Big Y store recently in search of non-food treats ideas and came away with plenty:
It doesn't have to be expensive -- office/school supplies if you open up the package and give separately, individually wrapped character band-aids, straws, plastic utensils or balloons. Last year, one of our neighbors was giving out gourds and my girls loved that! This initiative is great not only for kids with food allergies, but any child with any dietary limitations.
Offering a treat they can actually enjoy will be an awesome trick. Happy Halloween!
This was such a great idea for Halloween. I don't know who came up with it, but I'm glad they did. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Marti Tabora | 01/05/2016 at 09:23 AM