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Let's Celebrate A Very TEAL Halloween

October 1, 2021  |  Advocacy, Allergies, Allergy, Allergy-Awareness, Anaphylaxis, Anaphylaxis-Action-Plan, Awareness, Blog, Candy, Caregivers, Celebrations, Children, COVID-19, COVID19, Education, Epinephrine, FAACT, FAACTs-Teal-Ghost, Family, Food, Food-Allergies, Food-Allergy, Food-allergy-blog, Friends, Friendship, Halloween, Holiday, Holiday-Tips, Holidays, Know-The-FAACTs, Label, Medic-Alert, Medical-Alert-ID, Medical-ID, Medication, Parent, Preparedness, Readlabels, Recipes, Resilience, Resources, Safety-Tips, School, School-Lunch, School-Nurse, School-Resources, Student, Support
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by Caroline Moassessi, FAACT’s Vice President of Community Relations

As a parent of children with food allergies, Halloween used to be my most dreaded time of year. But as I learned how to manage food allergies, everything changed. I am now a master at baking mummy hot dogs and egg-free sugar skulls. I head over to Walmart in search of the FAACT Teal Ghost sticker to find bags of non-food treats like eyeglasses, creepy hands, or rings. (These items sell out quickly, so don’t wait for the last minute to pick up a few bags!)

Our little ghosts and goblins are counting on us to keep spirits high and maybe break out a can of teal paint to create treasured Halloween memories. FAACT’s Safe and Alternative Halloween Family Activities guide can help you plan creative, family-focused activities and alternatives for trick-or-treating that will tickle the fancy of all ages. As always, speak with your family healthcare provider to better understand the safest and most appropriate approach to the holidays to meet your family’s unique needs. 

Following are a few more resources and ideas to kick-start your creativity.

Halloween

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a brightly colored and easy-to-follow Trick or Treat Guide for Halloween 2021 to reduce exposure to Covid-19 and the flu. The CDC suggests avoiding direct contact with trick-or-treaters, handing out treats outdoors, and setting up a station with individually bagged treats for kids to take. Of course, washing your hands before handling treats and wearing a well-fitting mask are part of a safe Halloween routine. 

Here are some ideas for at-home Halloween fun:

  • A virtual or in-person family Halloween costume contest can bring giggles, especially if grandma and grandpa join in. Do not forget your furry family members too!
  • Plan a scavenger hunt where children look for Halloween-themed items such as witches, teal ghosts, or pumpkins.
  • Create allergy-safe Halloween goodie bags for each family member, friends, or trick-or-treaters. Be sure to look for FAACT’s Teal Ghost-labeled non-food party favors in the Halloween section at your local Walmart.
  • Challenge family members to learn the dance from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video.
  • Compete for the title of the Spookiest Halloween Dessert or Dish.
  • Download and place FAACT’s Free Halloween Posters in your windows and front door to let kids know you will be offering non-food treats.
  • Visit FAACT’s Pinterest page for more allergy-friendly Halloween ideas. Some of our most cherished Halloween moments are made with paper, crayons, and scissors. 

Día de los Muertos

The Day of the Dead is a multi-day Mexican holiday when families remember and celebrate deceased loved ones through prayer and feasting. Kicking off the holiday season, the CDC has recommendations to help everyone enjoy safer celebrations from afar or in person.

To make this year’s celebration special:

  • Cook/bake traditional dishes for family members or neighbors who may be shut in or at high risk for Covid-19 and plan no-contact delivery.
  • Host a virtual family celebration or safe in-person event.
  • Decorate an altar to honor the deceased with homemade items.
  • Play your deceased loved one’s favorite music.
  • Make sugar skulls with your children using aquafaba (the liquid leftover from cooked chickpeas) instead of egg whites or meringue powder.

Let your TEAL SPIRIT shine as you create safe memory-making moments for your family this Halloween!