With an eye on the food allergy community as a unique group of consumers since 2008, we're on a quest to find and share ways to continue enjoying the good things in life.


01 November 2008

Halloween With or Without Food Allergies

We enjoyed a safe and fun Halloween yesterday. Hope you had a safe and enjoyable Halloween too! This year, I accompanied Buzz Lightyear and Darth Vader (known as "Dark" Vader to those still unable to pronounce the word "Darth"). We had a successful trick-or-treating outing followed by some exciting rounds of flashlight tag at a neighborhood Halloween party. One house we visited had a separate bowl of treats for trick-or-treaters with food allergies! Very cool!! While we did receive a number of small plain M & M packages and other candies which we deem unsafe due to peanut traces, we received very few peanut containing candies. Just a few Butterfingers, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and M&M's with peanuts which we've already thrown out. We avoided touching the wrapped candies by sporting gloves which matched the costumes.  I presented the gloves, light saber and flashlight as costume accessories and the kids loved that idea. We saw lots of impressive Halloween decorations on our way and at the party too--floating eyeballs, skeletons in chains, strobe lights, and pumpkins galore.

I wouldn't think of skipping trick-or-treating because of the peanut allergy! The kids love running amok at night, in the dark, and in costume with their friends and family. While the candy is exciting too, and there are safe candies, Halloween can be so much more than candy. This year was especially fun since Halloween fell on a Friday night, and we couldn't have asked for better weather. It was an opportunity for the kids to simply enjoy being kids, do things they don't ordinarily do, and stay up late with friends and family on a clear and starry autumn night--all the makings of fond childhood memories.

3 comments:

Erin said...

I was glad to find your blog, I have a daughter with a severe peanut & soy allergy...this year for Halloween we totally skipped the trick or treating, but had a big party in our backyard with a bounce house and safe food and candy. We had all our guests enter through the gate, wipe thier hands with sanitizing wipes and leave their trick or treat buckets in their cars. The party was so fun that my children didn't even miss trick or treating and I was able to relax and enjoy myself too. Glad your Halloween was safe also!

Jenny said...

I'm glad you had a good Halloween and I also agree that we would not skip Trick-or-Treating. My daughter got a little grumpy after she was handed her 25th Snicker's bar, but in general, my kids really had a blast! Plus, a party followed at our house so this mom did all she could!

Unknown said...

Welcome, erin, glad to have you here! Soy and peanut at Halloween--that's a tough one but it sounds like you and your family had a great time. Good for you! :)

Jenny, glad to hear you all had a good Halloween as well! I always look forward to your comments. Seems the Halloween party is the way to go. My kids actually suggested skipping trick-or-treating next year so we could spend more time "partying". I was a little surprised, but we just might do it.