I have two small children and each of them has a food allergy—one isallergic to eggsand the other one has toavoid all tree nuts. We carry EpiPens and Benadryl with us wherever we go (even if it’s just a trip to the supermarket). We’ve taught the kids to be self-advocates, to not share food or water bottles, and to never eat anything without asking, “Does this have eggs/nuts in it?” It’s a lot to manage—and a huge responsibility to dump on a 6-year-old—but for the most part, my kids lead pretty normal lives. The trickiest times are when food-related holidays like Halloween roll around. It’s important to be vigilant to keep everyone safe, but I also just want my kids to feel normal and be able to enjoy their night. And let’s face it, poring over ingredient lists at every doorstep in the dark takes the fun out of it for everybody—including me.So I’ve developed a few tricks of my own to make Halloween as fun as possible for everyone, but especially for my kids with food allergies.1. Have a stash of allergy-free treats on hand.If there’s one thing I’ve learned from raising two kids with food allergies, it’s to always be prepared. I can’t necessarily control what will end up in my child’s candy bag—and so I never really know what will end up in the safe pile and what needs to be removed. Sometimes what’s left is a little … sad. So I always stock up on some of my favorite spooky treats that I KNOW are safe—and that I can feel good about giving to my kids.Thankfully, companies likeEnjoy LifeandWholesomemake delicious snacks and treats that taste just like our childhood favorites without some (or all) of the top food allergens. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite options to help ensure every child in the neighborhood, classroom party or home can enjoy this special day, too.
I have two small children and each of them has a food allergy—one isallergic to eggsand the other one has toavoid all tree nuts. We carry EpiPens and Benadryl with us wherever we go (even if it’s just a trip to the supermarket). We’ve taught the kids to be self-advocates, to not share food or water bottles, and to never eat anything without asking, “Does this have eggs/nuts in it?” It’s a lot to manage—and a huge responsibility to dump on a 6-year-old—but for the most part, my kids lead pretty normal lives. The trickiest times are when food-related holidays like Halloween roll around. It’s important to be vigilant to keep everyone safe, but I also just want my kids to feel normal and be able to enjoy their night. And let’s face it, poring over ingredient lists at every doorstep in the dark takes the fun out of it for everybody—including me.
So I’ve developed a few tricks of my own to make Halloween as fun as possible for everyone, but especially for my kids with food allergies.
1. Have a stash of allergy-free treats on hand.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from raising two kids with food allergies, it’s to always be prepared. I can’t necessarily control what will end up in my child’s candy bag—and so I never really know what will end up in the safe pile and what needs to be removed. Sometimes what’s left is a little … sad. So I always stock up on some of my favorite spooky treats that I KNOW are safe—and that I can feel good about giving to my kids.
Thankfully, companies likeEnjoy LifeandWholesomemake delicious snacks and treats that taste just like our childhood favorites without some (or all) of the top food allergens. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite options to help ensure every child in the neighborhood, classroom party or home can enjoy this special day, too.
Surf Sweets Sour WormsWholesomeBuy NowTruly allergy-safe, these candies are produced and packaged in dedicated facilitiesfree of the top 8 allergens(peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, eggs, soy, wheat, fish, shellfish), making them our top choice at home. No fake food dyes here, and the real-fruit flavor shines through in these gummies. Bonus? Surf Sweets is a member of 1% for the Planet, which means that they donate 1 percent of their sales to environmental causes that help to clean the oceans.Buy It:Surf Sweets Sour Worms, 2.75-Ounce Bags(Pack of 12), $32.75No-Whey Chocolate Halloween Lollipop CollectionNo-Whey FoodsBuy NowThese spooky, kid-approved chocolate pops are all-natural, vegan and free from the top 8 allergens.Buy It:No-Whey Chocolate Halloween Lollipop Collection(set of 3), $11.95YumEarth Organic Halloween CandyYumEarthBuy NowYumEarth’s Halloween candies have no artificial colors and short ingredient lists (something allergy parents will appreciate!). Their lollipops, gummies and some other candies are made with real fruit flavors and are nut-free and gluten-free.YumEarth also makes organic Candy Corn that is nut-free and gluten-free (but it does contain eggs).Buy it:YumEarth Organic Candy Corn and Gummy Fruits Combo Pack(48-count), $33.95Enjoy Life Foods Halloween Chocolate MinisEnjoy LifeBuy NowThese mini chocolates are non-GMO and free from an impressive list of 14 allergens (including the top 8): wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, casein, soy, egg, sesame, sulfites, lupin, mustard, fish, shellfish & crustaceans. But you would never know it. My kids love the Ricemilk Crunch chocolates, with crispy bits of rice. As a parent, I love the short ingredient lists. The dark chocolate minis have just three: unsweetened chocolate, sugar and cocoa butter.Buy it:Enjoy Life Halloween Chocolate Minis Variety Pack(72-Count), $26.99Annie’s Organic Bunny Fruit SnacksAnnie’s HomegrownBuy NowThese cute little bunny-shaped snacks aren’t just for kids—adults love them, too! Made with real fruit juice, natural colors and zero allergens, these sweets from our favorite mac and cheese brand are a favorite Halloween candy option, too. Each pack contains 100% of your daily vitamin C needs to help keep your child (or yourself!) safeguarded against cold and flu season.Buy it:Annie’s Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks(42-Pack), $19.50Free2B Sun CupsFree2BBuy NowBreak up with your Reese’s habit in light of these allergy-free, sun butter-filled chocolate cups. Made with almost half the sugar of traditional Reese’s cups (and none of the peanuts!), this is a satisfying option for everyone involved.Buy it:Free2B Sun Cups(12-Pack), $32Zee Zee’s GrahamzZee Zee’sBuy NowWhile these do contain gluten and soy, Zee Zee’s whole-grain graham crackers are free of other top allergens for a lower-sugar treat. And with flavors like Birthday Cake and Strawberry, we think your kids will forget all about their Skittles for this more natural option.Buy it:Zee Zee’s Grahamz(24-Count), $22.99
Surf Sweets Sour WormsWholesomeBuy NowTruly allergy-safe, these candies are produced and packaged in dedicated facilitiesfree of the top 8 allergens(peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, eggs, soy, wheat, fish, shellfish), making them our top choice at home. No fake food dyes here, and the real-fruit flavor shines through in these gummies. Bonus? Surf Sweets is a member of 1% for the Planet, which means that they donate 1 percent of their sales to environmental causes that help to clean the oceans.Buy It:Surf Sweets Sour Worms, 2.75-Ounce Bags(Pack of 12), $32.75
Surf Sweets Sour Worms
Wholesome
Buy Now
Truly allergy-safe, these candies are produced and packaged in dedicated facilitiesfree of the top 8 allergens(peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, eggs, soy, wheat, fish, shellfish), making them our top choice at home. No fake food dyes here, and the real-fruit flavor shines through in these gummies. Bonus? Surf Sweets is a member of 1% for the Planet, which means that they donate 1 percent of their sales to environmental causes that help to clean the oceans.
Buy It:Surf Sweets Sour Worms, 2.75-Ounce Bags(Pack of 12), $32.75
No-Whey Chocolate Halloween Lollipop CollectionNo-Whey FoodsBuy NowThese spooky, kid-approved chocolate pops are all-natural, vegan and free from the top 8 allergens.Buy It:No-Whey Chocolate Halloween Lollipop Collection(set of 3), $11.95
No-Whey Chocolate Halloween Lollipop Collection
No-Whey Foods
These spooky, kid-approved chocolate pops are all-natural, vegan and free from the top 8 allergens.
Buy It:No-Whey Chocolate Halloween Lollipop Collection(set of 3), $11.95
YumEarth Organic Halloween CandyYumEarthBuy NowYumEarth’s Halloween candies have no artificial colors and short ingredient lists (something allergy parents will appreciate!). Their lollipops, gummies and some other candies are made with real fruit flavors and are nut-free and gluten-free.YumEarth also makes organic Candy Corn that is nut-free and gluten-free (but it does contain eggs).Buy it:YumEarth Organic Candy Corn and Gummy Fruits Combo Pack(48-count), $33.95
YumEarth Organic Halloween Candy
YumEarth
YumEarth’s Halloween candies have no artificial colors and short ingredient lists (something allergy parents will appreciate!). Their lollipops, gummies and some other candies are made with real fruit flavors and are nut-free and gluten-free.
YumEarth also makes organic Candy Corn that is nut-free and gluten-free (but it does contain eggs).
Buy it:YumEarth Organic Candy Corn and Gummy Fruits Combo Pack(48-count), $33.95
Enjoy Life Foods Halloween Chocolate MinisEnjoy LifeBuy NowThese mini chocolates are non-GMO and free from an impressive list of 14 allergens (including the top 8): wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, casein, soy, egg, sesame, sulfites, lupin, mustard, fish, shellfish & crustaceans. But you would never know it. My kids love the Ricemilk Crunch chocolates, with crispy bits of rice. As a parent, I love the short ingredient lists. The dark chocolate minis have just three: unsweetened chocolate, sugar and cocoa butter.Buy it:Enjoy Life Halloween Chocolate Minis Variety Pack(72-Count), $26.99
Enjoy Life Foods Halloween Chocolate Minis
Enjoy Life
These mini chocolates are non-GMO and free from an impressive list of 14 allergens (including the top 8): wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, casein, soy, egg, sesame, sulfites, lupin, mustard, fish, shellfish & crustaceans. But you would never know it. My kids love the Ricemilk Crunch chocolates, with crispy bits of rice. As a parent, I love the short ingredient lists. The dark chocolate minis have just three: unsweetened chocolate, sugar and cocoa butter.
Buy it:Enjoy Life Halloween Chocolate Minis Variety Pack(72-Count), $26.99
Annie’s Organic Bunny Fruit SnacksAnnie’s HomegrownBuy NowThese cute little bunny-shaped snacks aren’t just for kids—adults love them, too! Made with real fruit juice, natural colors and zero allergens, these sweets from our favorite mac and cheese brand are a favorite Halloween candy option, too. Each pack contains 100% of your daily vitamin C needs to help keep your child (or yourself!) safeguarded against cold and flu season.Buy it:Annie’s Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks(42-Pack), $19.50
Annie’s Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks
Annie’s Homegrown
These cute little bunny-shaped snacks aren’t just for kids—adults love them, too! Made with real fruit juice, natural colors and zero allergens, these sweets from our favorite mac and cheese brand are a favorite Halloween candy option, too. Each pack contains 100% of your daily vitamin C needs to help keep your child (or yourself!) safeguarded against cold and flu season.
Buy it:Annie’s Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks(42-Pack), $19.50
Free2B Sun CupsFree2BBuy NowBreak up with your Reese’s habit in light of these allergy-free, sun butter-filled chocolate cups. Made with almost half the sugar of traditional Reese’s cups (and none of the peanuts!), this is a satisfying option for everyone involved.Buy it:Free2B Sun Cups(12-Pack), $32
Free2B Sun Cups
Free2B
Break up with your Reese’s habit in light of these allergy-free, sun butter-filled chocolate cups. Made with almost half the sugar of traditional Reese’s cups (and none of the peanuts!), this is a satisfying option for everyone involved.
Buy it:Free2B Sun Cups(12-Pack), $32
Zee Zee’s GrahamzZee Zee’sBuy NowWhile these do contain gluten and soy, Zee Zee’s whole-grain graham crackers are free of other top allergens for a lower-sugar treat. And with flavors like Birthday Cake and Strawberry, we think your kids will forget all about their Skittles for this more natural option.Buy it:Zee Zee’s Grahamz(24-Count), $22.99
Zee Zee’s Grahamz
Zee Zee’s
While these do contain gluten and soy, Zee Zee’s whole-grain graham crackers are free of other top allergens for a lower-sugar treat. And with flavors like Birthday Cake and Strawberry, we think your kids will forget all about their Skittles for this more natural option.
Buy it:Zee Zee’s Grahamz(24-Count), $22.99
2. Set the ground rules BEFORE you leave the house.
3. Know your safe treats ahead of time.
If you see a bucket of options, you can direct your kids to choose ones you know are safe so they won’t be disappointed later on. Find a yearlyallergy-friendly Halloween candy guideonline from FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education). SnackSafely.com also provides aspecial Halloween edition of their Safe Snack Guideeach year (download the free PDF and scroll to the very bottom to find the Halloween candy section). They update it regularly, so you’ll want to always download the most recent version and stop using it after the expiration date printed on the guide.
4. Keep your eye out for teal pumpkins.
MargoeEdwards / Getty Images)
5. Always read labels.
Even if you know that a candy is safe for your child, some Halloween-specific candies are manufactured in different facilities and may have different ingredients or cross-contamination risks than their everyday counterparts.
6. Be on the lookout for lurking allergens.
I’m always surprised at the range of candies that contain eggs. Things with nougat like Snickers and Charleston Chew bars are a little more obvious. But even some hard candies like Nerds and some lollipops may contain eggs.
7. When in doubt, throw it out.
Some Halloween candies won’t have a full ingredient list on the wrapper. If a candy has no label at all and you can’t find the ingredient and allergy information online, remove it from your child’s stash. The risk is not worth it.
8. Save the allergy review till after bedtime.
“What the eye doesn’t see, the heart doesn’t grieve over,” as my mother used to say. At our house, we don’t throw out unsafe candies, we just put them in the “parents' pile.” Our kids are happy to share a little bit, but I’ve found that for younger ones the review process goes a lot more smoothly after the kids are in bed.
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