Halloween, which used to be my favorite holiday–yes, it trumped Christmas before  life threatening food allergies came along to visit.  I quickly realized Halloween was now a crazy dangerous night.  Potential threats of peanuts were being handed out openly and freely across my city at schools during the day and then homes at night!!  AGH!

Fear or Fun?  To make matters worse, I had several food allergy friends who had Emergency Room runs on Halloween night thanks to cross contact and little ones “sneaking” their allergen.  After I accepted the fact that I was terrified and I would not let life threatening food allergies hold my family hostage, I wrote down my plan of attack.  Still to this day, I write up my plan to be the “master of Halloween”.
Halloween Fun Plan.  I write up a checklist of areas that I am going to address and then I tackle them.  In theory, I should do this in September, in reality, if I do this mid October, I’m still doing okay.  My main goal is to create stress fun where my kids are carefree and enjoying themselves.

Cocoa Krispies with Kraft Jet Puffed Pumpkin Spice Marshmallows 10 Oz (Pack of 3)

  Why I cut them in Stars, I don’t know, maybe pumpkin shapes would have been better?

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• Decorations (indoors and outdoors)--bring in box from garage (don’t forget to dust it off before bringing the gray stuff into the house.  My son used to be allergic to pumpkin, so we used to decorate the outside of pumpkins.
• Costumes–nothing that will make me sneeze, like the year I wore a clown’s wig.
• School celebration— Email the teacher ASAP to see what she has planned to insure safe foods or to offer fun creative non food ideas like games and crafts.  It’s even better if you can discuss parties at the beginning of your school year.
• Halloween night—  Are we trick or treating, hosting a  small party or heading out of town to somewhere special.
• Trick or Treats—  I always chose treats!  Since we have few kids come out our way, I give a small assortment of fun items, which usually includes a cup, straw, pencil and spider rings.
• Halloween baking!  Let the sugar fly.  This is the one time of year we turn it loose and welcome Mummy Marshmallows, candy corn popcorn, mummy hot dogs, meringue ghosts and anything baked with pumpkin.  Although, thanks to Weight Watchers, I do create some better choices too!
• Halloween snacks— If I purchase snacks, I usually focus on my old favorites from Divvies, Amanda’s Own Chocolate, Premier Chocolates, Vermont Nut Free, Surf Sweets, Skeeters Snacks, Yummy Earth Organics, NoNuttin granola bars (a serious favorite)  and a visit to Peanut Free Planet to see if I missed anything.
• Halloween night countdown–  Up until Halloween, I like to bake or serve Halloween themed foods.  Like pumpkin shaped pancakes, mummy hot dogs or pumpkin muffins.
• Candy— If we go trick or treating, then what happens to the candy?  My favorite is to collect the candy.  Never open up the bag and then hand it to the next kid who comes to our door or the next kid we see on the street.

As always, call the manufacturer before trusting a snack or treat to confirm there have been no recipe changes or recall problems.  During the government shutdown, the FDA and USDA are NOT emailing any allergen recalls.
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Food allergies or not, I am a huge fan of games and crafts for kids.  They create really meaningful moments and items kids can take home and savor.  I just love everything about Halloween: the colors, pumpkin foods, witches and costumes.  I simply hate the fact that food allergies are free wheeling on Halloween night.  Now that we have a plan in place, I truly enjoy the Halloween once again.  I think we all process this disease differently and at different times, so Halloween was a significant hurdle for me to jump as I realized that creative solution finding is my new best friend.

How do you get ready for Halloween when managing life threatening food allergies?  Share your comment!