Food Allergy Safe Elementary School | Innovation Academy Las Vegas
Food Allergy Safe Halloween Supported by the Teal Pumpkin Project
More and more children are being diagnosed with food allergies. These can range from being a relative inconvenience, to being life-threatening. It is important that our communities work to learn about them, so that these children and families can be supported. This especially applies to our schools. Innovation Academy is Las Vegas’ premier Montessori elementary school, and we are committed to raising awareness about food allergies. For example, did you know that Innovation Academy is Las Vegas’ only food allergen free campus?
READ MORE ABOUT IA’s UNIQUE APPROACH TO FOOD ALLERGY SAFETY HERE
Being “food allergy safe” is about more than just isolating kids with severe allergies from their peers. Innovation Academy uses education, awareness, and a little planning, to create an inclusive and safe environment for all our students. F.A.R.E. started the Teal Pumpkin Project 3 years ago to help make Halloween a fun occasion for all kids.
Teal is the New Orange
In 2014, the Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) organization started the Teal Pumpkin Project. The idea is to help raise support and awareness for children with food allergies during the Halloween season. The goal is to create an inclusive and safe environment for all trick-or-treaters. Traditionally, Halloween can be a very challenging holiday for families with food allergies. Children typically have to miss out on the fun and treats because of their need to be food allergy safe. The color teal is the national color for food allergy awareness. Accordingly, if you see a teal pumpkin out front of a house, it signifies a house that offers allergen-sensitive treats and food alternatives.
How You Can Participate
You don’t need to have a child with a food allergy in order to support the Teal Pumpkin Project. You only have to be willing to provide some non-traditional treats this Halloween. From the FARE website:
Participating is simple. Pick up some inexpensive toys, and place a teal pumpkin and/or a free printable sign from FARE outside your home to show that you have non-food treats to hand out.
This truly is a small and simple gesture that can have a big impact on a child’s life. To learn more about the Teal Pumpkin Project, please visit the FARE website. Also, the Scary Mommy blog put together a great article about the subject as well.
From the Innovation Academy family, to you and yours, have a SAFE AND FUN HALLOWEEN!!!! And please share the message of the Teal Pumpkin Project!
Learn more about Innovation Academy!
- How music is helping Innovation Academy students learn
- A Better Way to Manage Students with Food Allergies
- Why teaching kindness matters
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Food Allergy Safe Elementary | Innovation Academy Las Vegas Montessori