Food allergies on Halloween and how to avoid them

6th October 2021

Food allergies on Halloween and how to avoid them

The year is racing by. And now we’re in October, that can only mean one thing: Halloween is just around the corner. For many kids, it’s an exciting time of year. Between all the silly costumes and sweet treats, there’s a lot for them to love.

But if your child has a food allergy, it can be a scary time for a different reason. Do you let them go trick-or-treating? What if they eat something they shouldn’t? Do you stop them from going out and having fun? It’s a tough question to weigh up. We don’t think it means you have to stop the festivities. Here’s how you and your child can still have a great time this Halloween.

Check all the labels

As much as your child will want to dive into their sweets as soon as they get home, don’t let them. Not straight away. First, look over everything they have and read the ingredients. Maybe have an allergy-free alternative waiting for them while you do your inspection.

Not every treat will have a label on it, so you might have to do some research online. Also, fun-sized chocolate bars can have different ingredients from their bigger alternatives, so keep that in mind. If you have to take anything away from your child, maybe think about doing a sweet swap with something safer, this way, they don’t lose anything.

Allergy-free treats

Speaking of which, buy in some snacks you know your child can eat and enjoy. Both for the sweet swap and to give out to other kids who come knocking. This way, you can be sure no one’s allergies flare up on October 31st.

If you know the neighbourhood where your child will be trick-or-treating, it might be worth talking to the people who live there. Just let them know about your child’s allergies and ask what they might be giving out.

Host your own party

The best way to be sure is to control everything yourself. So why not throw your own spooky party? You can set the menu and choose appropriate sweets. Throw in some party games and decorations and everyone will have a great time!

If not that, then why not host a scary movie night? Depending on your child’s age, there are plenty of kid-friendly scary movies. Something like Scooby Doo or Goosebumps work if they’re younger, while classics like Ghostbusters and Gremlins are perfect if they’re a bit older.

Halloween is still a few weeks away, giving you plenty of time to prepare something special for your child. It can be a scary time for all the wrong reasons, but with some careful thought and planning, there’s no reason it can’t be the best Halloween yet.

If you have allergy concerns about you or your child, get in touch with our allergy specialists. We’re always happy to help you live a more comfortable life. Book an appointment online or call us on 02031 433 449.

Allergy horrors on Halloween: keeping your kids safe

28th October 2020

Allergy horrors on Halloween: keeping your kids safe

Prepare for a scare – it’s Halloween! This year’s festivities will undoubtedly be different from past years, but no doubt people will still be out in costume and trick or treating in whatever safe way they can.

But something that hasn’t changed is how dangerous Halloween can be for children with allergies. Parents of these kids worry about the content of their children’s trick-or-treating bags, wondering if the ingredients will set off an anaphylactic shock. But just because a kid has an allergy doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy Halloween. Here’s how you can keep your child safe this October 31st.

Trick or treating

A huge part of Halloween is the sweets and chocolates. And no kid is going to want to miss out on all that sugary goodness. But these treats will sometimes be packed with nuts, dairy, or other ingredients that set allergies off.

What can you do? You can always check the ingredients on their treats. Don’t let your child have any until you can assess how safe they are. Also, be aware that some miniature versions of chocolate bars have different ingredients from their regular-sized counterparts. And that some products will be labelled “may contain”.

If you have some treats that aren’t appropriate, consider doing a “treat exchange” so your child doesn’t have to miss out. This could be with a friend or from a selection you bought.

While your child is out trick or treating, make sure they don’t go alone and that they have any medical devices with them, such as an EpiPen or inhaler.

Alternatives

Of course, you don’t have to go down this traditional route. As people become more aware of food allergies, there are some who want to make the Halloween holiday more inclusive. The Teal Pumpkin Project, for example, is a way of showing people in your community that your treats are allergy friendly.

You don’t even have to go trick or treating to get in on the Halloween fun. Why not have a Halloween movie night? There are plenty of kid-friendly scary films, such as Monsters Inc, Hotel Transylvania, and even Ghostbusters and Beetlejuice for the slightly older children.

Or have your own Halloween party. You may not be able to invite anyone over, but it doesn’t mean you can’t get some allergy-friendly snacks, some blood-red punch, dress up, and have a laugh. Horrified is a board game centered around Universal’s classic monsters, like Dracula and Frankenstein, and the Exit collection brings the wonders of an escape room to your own home.

Having an allergy doesn’t mean you can’t have the same fun everyone else is this Halloween. Just make sure you’re staying safe, watching what your kids eat, and remember to have fun.

We want everyone to enjoy life without any worries. If you have any allergy concerns for you or your family, feel free to reach out to us on 02031 433 449.