The Teal Pumpkin: What Does it Mean?
October is Children’s Health Month! This time of year is observed to raise awareness about unique health risks faced by children.
Halloween is also right around the corner! Some might find this ironic – Children’s Health Month overlapping with the fattiest, sugariest, stomach-ache-iest holiday the year has to offer our children. I don’t, though. Yes, it’s true that there is little to no nutritional value found in your average candy bar, but celebrating Halloween can absolutely have a beneficial impact on children’s health. Specifically, their social and emotional health.
Trick-or-treating gives young children the opportunity to learn and nurture important social skills. It encourages families to bond with each other, as well as meet their neighbors and form meaningful connections. Creative play is crucial to a child’s development, and what better way to channel that by donning a costume or carving a jack-o-lantern?
It’s disheartening then, when you think about the kids who don’t as easily get to participate in Halloween; mainly, children with food allergies. Inclusion is also imperative to a child’s wellbeing, and there are undoubtedly plenty of children with allergies feeling left out. And yes, I know there are food-sensitive kids out there who intentionally smash down candy they can’t tolerate, subsequently get sick, but then declare “WORTH IT!” and move on with their lives – I was one of them. But not all children have the privilege of just getting a day of stomach upset. Some can end up in the hospital and trick-or-treating isn’t worth the risk.
And that brings me back to the title of this article – The Teal Pumpkin: WhatDoes it Mean?
Have you ever seen a teal pumpkin on a neighbor’s doorstep? If so, this special squash has good news for kids with food allergies. The teal pumpkin is a sign that the house it stands before is offering non-food treats, such as toys and trinkets. Some people who participate will still offer candy, but all the goodies will be free from the most common food allergens: milk, eggs, wheat, peanut, tree nuts, soy, and sesame.
Excellent news for what amounts to nearly 8% of children! So how can we support them this festive season?
What are some of the best allergy-friendly Halloween treats?
Non-Food Items: 
- Halloween-themed toys
- Creepy rubber bugs, vampire fangs, etc.
- Glow sticks
- Bubbles
- Stickers
- Tattoos
- Plastic jewelry
- Craft kids
Most Allergy Friendly Candies:
- Skittles
- Swedish fish
- Starburst
- Sour Patch Kids
- Smarties (but let’s be real, these are the worst)
- Dots Candy
- Dum Dums
- Mike & Ike
- Pixy Stix
No Teal Pumpkins in the Neighborhood? Don’t Worry!
While it’s great that more people are making an effort to create an inclusive Halloween, the reality is that you might not come across an allergy-friendly house this year. It’s one of those things we do have to learn and accept early in life – we can’t expect the rest of the world to cater to each of our unique needs. But that’s ok, because we can get creative and make the best of this situation!
To the parents out there keeping an eye out for teal pumpkins but aren’t seeing any – there is at least one other way to ensure your kids can enjoy Halloween even with food allergies: Candy Exchange Programs.
Candy Exchange Programs exist not only to eliminate unwanted candy waste, but also to give kids with food allergies the chance to trade out their trick-or-treat earnings for toys. Check out this candy map to find a program near you! Your kids will get all the fun of Halloween, and their collections will be donated to a good cause!
Have a happy, safe, and allergy-free Halloween!
Katrina Jenkins
Author, Licensed Massage Therapist
Katrina Jenkins graduated from Towson University in 2013 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science and worked as a nurse’s aide briefly before pursuing her true passion. She graduated from the Massage Therapy Institute of Colorado in April 2016 with honors and completed the Touch of Healers Scholarship Program the following summer. She has been a part of the Moyer Total Wellness Team since the summer of 2017.
Resources
FARE: Food Allergy Research & Education. (2024). Food Allergy Facts and Statistics for the U.S. [online] Available at: https://www.foodallergy.org/sites/default/files/2024-07/FARE%20Food%20Allergy%20Facts%20and%20Statistics_April2024.pdf.
FoodAllergy.org. (2025). Teal Pumpkin Project. [online] Available at: https://www.foodallergy.org/our-initiatives/awareness-campaigns/teal-pumpkin-project [Accessed 19 Sep. 2025].
Pasciuto, J. (2024). The Role of Inclusion in Child Development and Learning. [online] Kids Included Together. Available at: https://www.kit.org/the-role-of-inclusion-in-child-development/.
US EPA, O. (2014). Children’s Health Month. [online] www.epa.gov. Available at: https://www.epa.gov/children/childrens-health-month.
Soldiers’ Angels. (2025). Treats for Troops Dropoff Locations. [online] Available at: https://soldiersangels.org/volunteer/special-campaigns/treats-for-troops/treats-for-troops-dropoff-locations/ [Accessed 19 Sep. 2025].
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