Welcome to the Peanut Allergy Kid Halloween party! I realize its a few weeks early. But, as we all know, preparation is key in keeping PA kids safe. This week, all week, we will be talking about how to have a "Happy and Reaction Free Halloween."
Yes, its OK to chuckle at that little mantra.
Of all the holidays that revolve around food, Halloween has got to be the one that causes me the most anxiety. I try not live my life fearing peanuts lurking around every corner but Halloween is a time I admit that I do. I will probably say the same thing come Christmas time, though.
This week, at our little virtual party, you can look forward to posts on the following Halloween topics:
- What our family has done during past and what we are doing differently this year (and how I'm handing the anxiety this change is bringing!!)
- Ways to stay safe without being a "party pooper"
- Alternatives to traditional Halloween
- Plus, as a fun treat, on Friday, I will have a video of how to make safe caramels easily in your own kitchen. After all, how can you celebrate Halloween without caramel? (Oh wait, that may just be me!)
The only thing I love more than good party food is good conversation!! Let's chat in the comment section today (or any day this week) about how your family celebrates Halloween and tips to help other readers. We would also love to hear how any fears that you have and how you are handling those.
I will be back tomorrow to talk about Halloweens past and future (this year) in our home. Again, I invite you to share in the comments section today!
For those of you that are looking for my "Clearing Up Eczema" series, I will return with that next week.
Photo courtesy of abbietabbie
4 comments:
I'm looking very forward to this series, Robyn! I've wondering how to handle Halloween for months now- I think it depends on the severity of the allergy and a person's comfort zone. My son is very allergic to peanut residue. I have thought of a possible way for us to go trick-or-treating that may be safe (not completely risk-free, but not any greater risk than we take any other day out in public.) I also plan to ask my son's allergist tomorrow what he thinks about our plan (eating dinner beforehand, no snacking while trick-or-treating, only allowing others to place non-peanut items in son's bag that he is holding open, and using lots of wipes,and also exchanging all candy (even safe ones) at end of night for ones I have purchased. How's that for a plan!
We usually just dress up and give out peanut free candy. We sometimes order pizza, or my Mom will come over and bring McDonalds-a treat for them. It's too scary (not even talking about the costumes-lol!) to know those darn peanuts are lurking in all those bags and all over those little fingers out there in the neighborhood. Ofcourse, I can walk out the door the next day and there are Reeces wrappers in the street. Grrr!!! Karen in NC
I really like Halloween and always enjoyed it as a kid. Our town has a ragamuffin parade that day, people come from out of town, there's tons of kids everywhere. The town has a costume contest and gives out candy too. All the stores on the main street give out candy. My daughter is 6 (peanuts/tree nuta allergy). Even though, there's alot she can't have. We go anyway, it's a fun day to be out and see everyone in their costume. She knows she can't take anything from her bag unless I check first. She gets very excited when people put things in there that she can have, such as skittles. Some people give out trinkets. Kids don't ring bells here. So people sit outside to hand out candy, so I can usually see what they have, if it's not safe (like a recess or snickers) then we just skip that house. With the candy that she can't have, we usually give it away, my husband will bring some to work.
Her school lets the kids dress up and they have a parade around the block. I always volunteer that day to go in the class to help and get the kids ready. Some people will give out candy, but in the past the teachers had them put it in their backpack and they don't eat it in class.
Yesterday, my sister in law had a halloween party for my niece's friend from school. She invited my daughter also, there were two other kids their with nut and peanut allergies. One of those moms made the cupcakes. My sister in law is so good she always makes nut free safe stuff and always ask me about what is safe. It was a great time, weather was perfect, were able to be out in the yard the whole time.
So when it comes to holidays that all seem to involve food, we just do our best to partcipate in the experience while being safe.
Happy Halloween to all
Linda
Hello! I too am looking forward to hearing how others handle Halloween. My son will be 2 in December and has a peanut/ tree nut allergy, at this time I don't think he has a contact or residue issue, but still watch just in case. I know Big Brother who will be 5 is really looking forward to going trick or treating so I will probably let them go (knowing I will watch everything that goes in the bags, no snacking until they get home and I will switch out the youngest with some peanut free candy that I bought. I just don't know what to do about my oldest...do I put away his candy where little brother cannot get it and it is only is allowed out after brother goes to bed or is not around? Or do I just switch out the candy for older brother so they can enjoy the bounty together. I limit what they eat anyway (I think I still have candy from valentines day hid away). I am leaning toward switching big brothers candy as well.
Is there a place that I can find a master list of candy that is ok...seeing how most of the halloween stuff may not be marked with content info.
Looking forward to hearing others comments.
Kathy
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