Autumn Fun

Wow!! Fall is in the air. I love the cool, crisp weather, mums, pumpkins, and falling leaves. However, one holiday I used to dread was Halloween. With all the candy that my child couldn't enjoy and the fear that she might get into something that she shouldn't, I was always glad when October 31st passed. As she got older, I learned some great tips that I would like to pass along for enjoying all those wonderful fall festivals and trick-or-treating, if you decide to participate.

One year, rather than collecting candy, we collected donations for the Food Allergy Network. I went door to door with my daughter to share about food allergies and how a donation would help. We also set out a box with information at my family's business and people would drop in change from their purchases. My daughter really enjoyed knowing that she was helping other kids with food allergies.

Another tip would be to allow your child to trade their candy for a safe treat, or better yet, a toy or special trip to the movie with mom and/or dad. This is definitely the healthier alternative.

On a side note...all that sugar suppresses the immune system and is partly responsible for all the illness that we see from October to April. Think about all the sugary holidays...Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentines, Easter. We finally get a break in the summer when our kids are eating more fresh fruits and vegetables.

Either way you look at it, the holidays are challenging times for us and our children with food allergies. Plan ahead. Being prepared will make the holiday time much more enjoyable.