The Teal Pumpkin Project will not "change" Halloween

Halloween can be frightening, but the Teal Pumpkin Project doesn't have to be. So please stop associating it with the word "change"! Unfortunately for many, "change" can be a scary word, especially when it comes to tradition.

For those of you who are not familiar with the Teal Pumpkin Project, it is an online campaign encouraging people to leave a teal pumpkin outside their doors as a sign to those managing food allergies that you are offering non-food treats this Halloween, all while creating awareness about food allergies in your neighborhood. However, many sharing information on this project are, in my opinion, using the wrong language and in turn causing the usual uproar among those without food allergies.

Let it be known that the Teal Pumpkin Project is NOT trying to "change" Halloween! I believe its the word "change" that is causing certain (we all know who they are) people to get all up in arms assuming that we (the parents of those with food allergies) are going to ruin little Johnny's Halloween just like we "ruined" his lunch by asking that he eats his beloved PB&J sandwich at home. Well, I'm here to tell you that this isn't the case.

People have been handing out non-food goodies for Halloween for as long as I can remember (no need to put a number on it). What the Teal Pumpkin Project is doing, is offering a simple solution for identifying those homes and of course creating a little awareness in the process. Trust me, there will be no shortage of Halloween candy this year!

You can learn more about the Teal Pumpkin Project and how you can participate here.