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• Throw a Halloween party at your house and provide all the snacks; that way, you control the food.

• Take advantage of local Halloween happenings that focus on more than food. Farms, zoos, museums and schools may offer haunted houses, movie nights, or other spooky activities.

• Get a group of families together and organize a food-free Halloween party. Book a crafts studio, bowling alley or gymnastics center. Don't forget to wear costumes! My kids loved the years we went to a food-free Halloween party organized by a local group of parents of children with food allergies. Held at a gymnastics center, it was scheduled just like a birthday party. The kids had a blast tumbling and jumping on the trampoline in their costumes. Instead of the usual birthday cake, they colored and did simple crafts. Only water was served, and each child was given a small gift bag of inexpensive toys at the end.

• Keep the fun at home instead of focusing on going out on Halloween. Dress up, decorate your entryway, and open the door for trick-or-treaters in your neighborhood. Enjoy snacking on the safe candy that your family hands out.

Bottom Line

When you think of all the unsafe candy that your child with food allergies will get while trick-or-treating, don't panic! Follow your usual food safety rules while doing the Halloween activities that your child and family enjoy. Take the opportunity to create some new Halloween traditions. In our family, when my two oldest kids were younger, they both?even the one without food allergies?couldn't wait to trade in their candy for a wrapped present. Kids love to have Halloween fun?it doesn't have to be about the candy.

One last thought

Even if your children don't have food allergies, you can be helpful to those who do. If you are giving out candy, make sure the ingredients are listed on the individual treats so someone with food allergies can determine later if it's safe to eat. You might also consider giving out non-food items like pencils or small plastic toys to trick-or-treaters.