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This Halloween, not all pumpkins will be orange or yellow. Some homes will be putting out a light-blue colored pumpkin as part of the Teal Pumpkin Project. The goal of this project is to help kids who suffer from allergies by giving out toys rather than candy, but this helps protect kids’ teeth as well. Learn more about this creative movement and see if it would be beneficial to your neighborhood.
The Teal Pumpkin Project – Favoring Fun over Food
Hosted by the Food Allergy Research and Education organization, better known as FARE, the Teal Pumpkin Project is a creative way of making Halloween more accessible. Kids with severe allergies can’t enjoy the candy that the average kid can, so the Teal Pumpkin Project encourages homeowners to put teal pumpkins with non-food treats in them this Halloween.
Also Beneficial to Oral Health
It’s no mystery that sugar is the main cause of cavities and the candy your kids will be collecting on Halloween is full of it. While one day of eating extra candy isn’t going to have a drastic effect on their smile, more treats that are non-candy will not only include kids with allergies in the Halloween festivities but will help reduce the sugar consumed by every kid this Halloween.
Want to Participate?
If you want to commit to handing out non-food treats in your neighborhood, it’s a lot easier than you might expect. Simply put out a teal pumpkin on Halloween along with a sign explaining the purpose of the Teal Pumpkin Project. You can obtain signs and other valuable resources at the official FARE website. From there, it’s just a matter of deciding what type of non-food treats you want to hand out to trick-or-treaters!
What Treats Can I Hand Out?
Since candy is so common on Halloween, it may seem difficult to choose non-food items to hand out as treats. This list of ideas suggested by the Teal Pumpkin Project will help your decision:
- Glow sticks, bracelets, or necklaces
- Pencils, pens, crayons or markers
- Bubbles
- Halloween erasers or pencil toppers
- Mini Slinkies
- Whistles, kazoos, or noisemakers
- Bouncy balls
- Finger puppets or novelty toys
- Coins
- Spider rings
- Vampire Fangs
- Mini notepads
- Playing cards
- Bookmarks
- Stickers
- Stencils
Reduce Sugar and Minimize Cavities this Halloween!
We understand that most kids and adults are going to indulge in candy on Halloween – it’s one of the things the holiday is best known for. Simply remember to brush and floss at the end of the day and drink plenty of water throughout and you’ll minimize much of the damage to your teeth. If you need oral care or have a toothache, remember that Dr. Kosinski and his dental team in Bingham Farms, MI are there for you. Contact us to see how we can help your smile!