31 Non-Food Items You Can Hand Out This Halloween

As Halloween night dawns on us, some people may have come across something called the Teal Pumpkin Project. Many people might think it’s just a nice idea to have a pumpkin that’s different than the “normal” orange color; however, to many people living with issues related to food, it holds a different meaning.

The Teal Pumpkin Project was designed to allow inclusion on the amazing holiday that is Halloween. Halloween should be a fun period of time where kids and adults alike can enjoy some spooktacular fun. Children with issues which may mean they cannot eat, have a limited diet, need special accommodations, etc. face being isolated from other children as they cannot enjoy Halloween to the same extent children who don’t face difficulties with food and/or eating do. Having any medical condition, special need, etc. is difficult enough – you face being left out when it comes to the holiday season and parties because many people either decide not to accommodate for these requirements or they simply do not think to accommodate for them.

I can completely understand the not thinking part, as before I was diagnosed with food allergies I never once considered that what I enjoy eating could be harmful to other people, and until I lived with with a feeding tube I never realized just how difficult it can be to live life without eating and/or drinking. It can really leave you feeling alone and remind you of how different your life is to other people’s. Adults struggle with this and I can only guess it must be harder for children, particularly young children, as they don’t carry the same level of understanding about their condition(s) that someone older might. Can you imagine being extremely excited about going out trick-or-treating but feeling your stomach sink when you realize that many people won’t be inclusive of you?

Kids with food allergies may feel disappointed that most of their candy stash will have to be taken away from them due to the risk it poses to them. Kids who cannot eat may feel disappointed on realizing many people still only have candy treats. Children who struggle with food aversion won’t necessarily want to eat the treats they’ve obtained from going out trick-or-treating, etc. The Teal Pumpkin Project encourages people to have a selection of treats that are non-food-related. It aims to allow people with different dietary requirements to still feel a sense of inclusion and not be reminded that they are different from their peers on the basis of their condition(s). These can be easily obtained from many stores (supermarkets, stationary shops, card shops, etc.).

Some suggestions I personally have for non-food items are:

1. Glow sticks/bracelets/necklaces
2. Balloons
3. Bubbles
4. Stickers
5. Temporary tattoos
6. Toy soliders
7. Coloring pencils
8. Pencils
9. Pens
10. Crayons
11. Marker pens
12. Erasers
13. Pencil toppers
14. Slinky
15. Coins
16. Finger puppets
17. Notebooks
18. Bouncy balls
19. Whistles
20. Mini coloring books
21. Halloween-themed rings
22. Halloween-themed hard animals
23. Vampire fangs
24. Playing cards
25. Bookmarks
26. Stencils
27. Beaded necklaces/bracelets
28. Squishes
29. Fidget toys, i.e. tangle, fidget cube, etc.
30. Hard vehicles
31. Yo-yos