Why are there Teal Pumpkins in my Neighborhood?

While I was running through my neighborhood last week, I noticed that quite a few homes had unnaturally colored pumpkins on their stoops. They're a growing trend across the Treasure Valley, for a very important reason!

Rather than the traditional range of orange colors we're used to seeing this time of year, these pumpkins are a very pretty shade of teal. They're not just a flash in the pan trend for 2018. They are actually part of an initiative started by the Food Allergy Research & Education non-profit. Your child may be lucky enough not to have any allergies to the ingredients in some of the most popular Halloween candies, but chances they have a classmate that may be allergic to milk, chocolate, peanut and other allergens hidden on the wrapper. For those kiddos, trick or treating can be a real bummer where they feel like they've been left out because they can't accept those treats.

That's where the "Teal Pumpkin Project" comes in! FARE encourages homeowners to select a more inclusive non-food trick or treat item to pass out. Homeowners choosing to do that can mark their home as a safe place for kids with food allergies by placing a teal colored pumpkin or jack-o-lantern on their doorstep.

Want to participate, but not sure what a non-food trick or treat items kids would love? FARE suggests these to make your house a hit!

Halloween Erasers or Pencil Toppers
Glow sticks, bracelets or necklaces
Pencils, pens, crayons or markers
Bubbles
Whistles, Kazoos or Noisemakers
Bookmarks
Bouncy Balls
Mini Notepads
Playing Cards
Stickers
Coins (my neighbor that handed out quarters ever year was my favorite house in the neighborhood!)
Stencils
Silly Straws
Finger Puppets
Vampire Fangs
Spider Rings

Teal Pumpkin Inspiration

If you'd love to participate but don't have a ton of spare time to paint and create your teal pumpkin masterpiece, there's a ton of cool pre-made teal pumpkin decorations at your disposal on Amazon. With many of them being Prime eligible, you'll have no problems getting them before Halloween night if you order now! Here's a few of my favorites!