Ever feel like you're on information overload as a food allergy parent?
We hear you. We've got you.
Sharing the best 2024 allergy-friendly resources we've found so they're right at your fingertips. Halloween planning simplified — from trick-or-treating tips, to allergy-friendly treat ideas, to ideas for fueling your superheroes, witches, spidermen, and princesses through the night.
All sources are linked at the end of this post.**
Tips for Safe Trick or Treating with Food Allergies
The Minimum Must Do's
If you remember nothing else, remember that in the event of an allergic reaction, quick treatment with epinephrine leads to better outcomes. So:
Keep your epinephrine within reach at all times.
Carry TWO. Red Sneakers for Oakley explains why.
Epi First, Epi Fast if you suspect a food allergy reaction. Pediatrician Dr. Julie Sweeney (@allergymom.md) shares some lived experience.
Grow Your Halloween IQ & EQ
Browse these Tips to Keep Kids Safe from food allergy advocate Hillary Tolle Carter.
Allergy Force's Halloween Trick-or-Treat Strategies can help, too.
And don't miss FAACT's 12 Halloween Safety Tips.
Greet tricker or treaters with not only kindness and generosity, but with empathy. Costumes, noise, hustle & bustle can make it really hard from some trick-or-treaters. Meltdowns are no fun. Dr. Ali Griffith and The Elijah-Alavi Foundation on Instagram point the way to a night full of fun, not tears.
Food-Free Treat Ideas
In this season of sugar overload, food-free treats are smart alternatives. The below lists are a treasure trove of ideas for inspiration. It's still not too late to source some:
Allergic Living offers up inspired ideas for food-free treats for 2024.
FARE offers a solid list with ideas, too.
Go Dairy Free also weighs in with fun ideas for food-free treats for Halloween.
Check out Amazon, too. With prime you can often order today and get it tomorrow.
Your local Duane Reade/Walgreens, CVS, or Walmart are possible sources, too.
Allergy-Friendly Sweet Treat Ideas
Just because you've safely eaten the full-size version of certain candies does not mean their mini-versions are equally safe to eat with your food allergies. Why? Mini versions of your favorite candies may be made on equipment shared with your allergens, or processed in a different facility that also processes your allergens. Never assume. Do your homework. Pick up the phone. Call manufacturers.
Allergic Living offers a meticulously researched list of allergy-friendly treat options for 2024.
Kids with Food Allergies offers some good suggestions, too.
FARE provides a summary of candy facts that's a good refresh on where allergens can hide in candy.
Dots, Skittles, Starburst, Lifesavers, and Swedish Fish were our go-to's for many years for our son with ANA allergies to eggs & peanuts, plus allergies to tree nuts, shrimp, soy, green peas, lentils, and chickpeas. Hershey's Chocolate Kisses, too, as we did not manage a dairy allergy. (Be wary of cross contact in the treat bag.)
You will always want to do your own due diligence.
Halloween Activity Ideas
Your Halloween traditions don't have to look like everyone else's to be magical and memorable. It's perfectly ok to march to a different drummer on Halloween.
Meet 'candy apple making V2.0.' This apple dip idea from Mamacado can be a fun party or playdate activity. The activity is easily adaptable for your dietary restrictions.
Don't miss this from Allergic Living — the Furry Monster Chocolate Cupcakes! Have the kids roll up their sleeves and get creative with you in the kitchen. These are smile bringers!
Download some coloring sheets from FAACT to make "This House is TEAL" signs. Get the 'Teal Ghost Non-Food Fun' and the 'Non-Food Treats Available Here' coloring sheets here and here!
Go to Home Depot, Lowes, or Michaels and grab some teal paint to give your pumpkins a teal make-over. Check out this article from Allergic Living for some teal inspiration. So fun!
Halloween Eats Made Simple — Let Them Eat Pumpkin
We have pumpkin on the brain with Halloween this week. Did you know that pumpkin is considered a superfood because it's chock full of vitamins, minerals, omega-3's and fiber? Plus it's versatile, too, and can be used in sweet and savory recipes, for breakfast, for snacking, and for dinner. Here are some pumpkin-based recipes to fuel your crew through trick-or-treating fun.
For Halloween Breakfast and After-School Munchies
Why not start Halloween off with a delicious breakfast of Pumpkin Pancakes. This recipe for Pumpkin Pancakes from The Allergen Free Kitchen caught our eye. Surprise the crew with pumpkin delicious-ness for breakfast. They'll feel the love.
Pumpkin Bread is quick to make. Try this (one bowl!) Pumpkin Bread recipe from Allergylicious — great for breakfast or for an after-school snack. It will disappear in a heartbeat. Might want to make a double batch.
Our favorite allergy & celiac-friendly chef, Allergy Dragon (aka Martha Morgan), offers a recipe for Pumpkin Bread Cookies that are gluten-free, Top 9 Free, and vegan. Allergy Dragon's recipes are easy to follow and easily adapted to your dietary needs. Yummy!
What's for Dinner? Some Halloween Dinner Ideas
Why not serve up homemade Pumpkin Soup, before heading out to trick-or-treat? Try this Super Easy Allergy-Friendly Pumpkin Soup recipe from Allergy Dragon. Add some protein and serve it with some crusty bread. Consider Halloween dinner planned.
Kids with Food Allergies offers a ton of allergy-friendly recipes that are also quite adaptable. This is something you can make while your kids are at school and serve it to them for dinner. This Pumpkin Turkey Chili will definitely power your crew through a night of collecting treats and giving frights!
Meet Go Dairy Free by Alisa Fleming. Go Dairy Free offers awesome, allergy-adaptable recipes. What about making a Stuffed Pumpkin Dinner tonight? A bit 'fancy' but the kids will have fun with dinner served in a real pumpkin. We like that you can prep this ahead of time, then serve it piping hot from the oven at the appointed hour.
Wishing you SAFE, spooky FUN this Halloween!
Allergy Force is committed to helping people with food allergies live freely — with less fear, less anxiety, more confidence — through technology and education. The Allergy Force food allergy app is peace of mind in your pocket.
Images: Saso Tusar on Unsplash and Allergy Force Canva creation
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