Halloween Tips for Kids with Food Allergies

Halloween can be a stressful time for parents of kids with food allergies. Not only, do they need to watch the Halloween treats and snacks provided at school parties and other events, but also carefully examine the treats brought home the night of trick or treating.

Halloween Safety Tips for Kids with Food Allergies

One way parents can help protect kids with food allergies is to provide children with safe treats to eat at school parties. Sign up to bring treats the day of the party or consider volunteering to help at Halloween school parties to help your child make smart choices when selecting the party foods to eat. Teachers often appreciate the extra help and you'll feel better knowing your child is not eating something that could potentially cause a life-threatening allergic reaction.

On the night of Halloween, parents should remind kids with food allergies to not eat any of the treats they receive while trick or treating. Children should wait until they return home and treats have been carefully reviewed before eating anything.

Buy Safe, Alternative Treats for Kids with Food Allergies

One way parents can help keep trick or treating fun for kids with food allergies is to have on hand a collection of safe treats that a child can trade unsafe treats for. Buy special allergy-free treats that your child enjoys. For instance, a child allergic to peanuts can't have most of the common chocolate Halloween candy handed out on Halloween which can leave kids with food allergies feeling a bit disappointed on an otherwise fun evening.

Having safe, fun treats for kids with food allergies to choose from can help eliminate the disappointment kids have when they can't eat many of the treats received while trick or treating. When choosing treats, parents need to always need to read the ingredient labels. What was safe to eat last year may have changed due to change by the manufacturer's processing.

If candy is not an option, consider letting your child trade unsafe treats for coins, trading cards, stickers, pencils or small toys. Make trading in the unsafe treats a game and your child will be more focused on having fun than examining all items he or she can't eat.

Parents who have kids with food allergies can make the evening less stressful by planning ahead. Following food allergy best practices and having safe treats for kids with food allergies to trade for unsafe treats received while trick or treating can make Halloween a safe, enjoyable night everyone looks forward to.