What can you do with peanut allergies on Halloween?

Should you deprive your children of trick or treating due to the allergy?

Being allergic to peanuts and other nuts can be a little hard to live with, especially around Halloween time. So what can you do that may help to avoid any treats that may have traces?  Nowadays more and more products are available as peanut-free. The thing is not everyone agrees in giving out peanut-free goods to children on Halloween. This is always, of course an option to those giving away the candies, but I think now that schools are becoming peanut free, the parents are also becoming aware of this growing problem and some may choose to help and some may not.

If you or your child is allergic to nuts, you have more of an understanding and chances are some of those children coming to your door may have a peanut allergy as well. In this case you may be the one to distribute peanut-free safe foods to your fellow trick or treaters since you know the feeling of knowing or living it the same situation.

It can also be difficult to not have those non-peanut free products come in contact with the products that are peanut-free. Depending on the sever ness of the allergy to some, even just the smell of the peanut flavour product may end up in an allergy reaction. How can we avoid this problem without making it interfere with your child’s fun in going out all dressed up this year?

For one, I think it is important that you bring your child door to door and if you are not sure what is being handed out than bring an extra bag with you. Most people giving out the candy are usually friendly and it only takes an extra second at the door to ask if the product is peanut-free. So if the product is full of peanuts than put them in the extra bag that you brought with you. Yes it can be a hassle, but it will save you and your child from a bigger problem that can even be life threatening. I also think that even if you are asking the person giving away the chocolates or candies, the community you are in will become more and more aware that more and more children have peanut allergies and purchase peanut-free products next year.  The other thing is that you will be sure that your child’s bag will not come in contact with the other products or even smell of the other products that contain nuts. It is important to bring awareness of this dangerous allergy and how it can harm someone who has a really big allergy to nuts.

Once your child is older and knows how to read it may be an easier task for you since they will learn to ask for themselves.

The other thing you can do is maybe have a Halloween party at your house. Once all the children have done with the trick or treating they can come over for more candies and chocolates that you will give away. The best part is that you definitely know that you bought peanut free food. That way your child won’t feel so left out the next day at school when all the other kids talk about their outing on Halloween night, after all, Halloween is all about giving the kids something to remember, besides the big sugar rush you may have to put up with in the end!

If you have any other ideas for this Halloween season, please do comment and spread your ideas to the peanut-free world!