How to Participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project

How you can participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project by making your own teal pumpkin. Plus ideas for what to hand out instead of candy and why you should make a teal pumpkin this Halloween.

Why I Don’t Give Out Candy Anymore on Halloween

A few years ago I was inspired to hand out free Jr. Frosty coupons from Wendy’s instead of candy on Halloween. I had a couple of reasons for this:

• The purchase of the Jr. Frosty coupons support the Dave Thomas Foundation which has one mission: to increase the number of children from foster care to adoption. This is special to me because my son is adopted.
• I was tired of handing out candy and then eating the rest of it.
• My cousin was recently diagnosed with severe allergies and I was introduced to the Teal Pumpkin Project.

Related: 30+ Fall Activities for Parents and Kids: Free Download

What is the Teal Pumpkin Project?

According to the Food Allergy Website, the mission of the Teal Pumpkin Project is to:

1. Provide non-food treats for trick-or-treaters.  You don’t have to pass out toothbrushes – it can still be fun. Ideas are limitless.
   • temporary tattoos
   • coins
   • pencils
   • erasers
   • bubbles
   • sidewalk chalk
   • Go to the dollar store and see what you can buy in bulk.
2. Put a teal pumpkin in front of your house to indicate to trick-or-treaters that you have allergy safe treats.
3. Add your house to the Teal Pumpkin Project map to let allergy suffers know where it’s safe to trick-or-treat from!

Decorate Your Own Pumpkin for the Teal Pumpkin Project

You can buy teal pumpkins from the craft store. Or why not paint your own? Plus it’s simple enough your kids can paint a teal pumpkin by themselves.

Related: How to Throw a Fantastic Halloween Party for Kids

You can either paint a real pumpkin or a fake one from the craft store specifically for painting. I’ve done both and they turn out the same. If you use a real pumpkin, the weight will come in handy during breezy fall nights.

1. Give the pumpkin a simple cleaning if you’re using a real pumpkin.

2. Paint the pumpkin. I used this basic acrylic paint. It worked and stayed good all of October! For the most part, I had the pumpkin under a covered roof outside but it did get a wet occasionally.

3. Seal it with spray paint clear sealant.

Related: Trick or Treat? 7 Ways to Encourage Healthier Choices This Halloween for Your Child 

On Halloween Night

That’s all there is to it. Just remember on the night of Halloween, to put your teal pumpkin where the trick-or-treaters can see it.

You want them all to know you have allergy-friendly treats. And consider giving Frosty Jr. coupons to donate to Dave Thomas foundation – it’s 2-for-1 kindness!