Avoid Food Allergy Issues this Halloween

For the parents of preschoolers with food allergies, Halloween is arguably one of the scariest days of the year. My 5-year-old daughter has food allergies and no day makes me more nervous than October 31. Between the candy given out when she goes trick-or-treating (where I will be accompanying her) to the party they are hosting in her school (that I'm not attending) I have lots to worry about.

I'm lucky though, my daughter is very aware of what she can and cannot eat and is very responsible about choosing the right foods. I may drive her crazy with my constant reminding when she will be out of my sight, but I'm fairly confident that she'll do well.

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology 3 million children in the United States have food allergies. Halloween is an especially tricky holiday because many candies are made with peanuts, tree nuts, milk and eggs -- some of the most common food allergens in children says the AAAAI. In particular, peanuts and tree nuts can commonly cause severe, life-threatening reactions. It's up to parents to read labels ad find out what exactly are in treats, not an easy task when many snack-sized candies don't carry labels.

To help get these kids and their families through Halloween safely, the organization has developed a checklist:

• Before Halloween, distribute safe snacks to neighbors and request that they be handed out to your child.
• Instead of trick-or-treating, host a party that focuses on costumes, pumpkin carving, games and other Halloween-themed fun.
• Remember that small candy bars passed out to trick-or-treaters may have different ingredients than their regular-size counterparts. Even if a certain candy is safe for your child, the ‘fun size’ version might not be.
• Teach your child to politely refuse offers of home-baked goodies like cookies or cupcakes.
• Consider participating in a charity trick-or-treat event to raise money for a good cause, rather than collect candy

More tips can be found at the AAAAI website.

Learn About Food Allergies:

Food Allergy Quiz | Kids and Food Allergies | How to Safely Trick-or-Treat With Food Allergies