Halloween has always been one of my kid’s favorite holidays — the costumes, the decorations, and yes, the candy. But when you’re raising kids with food allergies, it can come with a lot more stress than fun. That’s why, years ago, the Switch Witch made her first spooky appearance in our house and she completely changed how we do Halloween.
The Switch Witch Halloween Tradition
Every October 1, the Switch Witch mysteriously appears in our house. When my kids were younger, she’d hop around from spot to spot, keeping an eye on them all month long, kind of like the Halloween version of an Elf on the Shelf. We had a little Halloween book that came with the witch (you can find it here on Amazon) and it became one of our favorite October traditions. As an Amazon Affiliate I may earn a small commission on qualifying purchases.
On Halloween night, the Switch Witch really worked her magic. We’d go trick-or-treating like everyone else, and even though most of the candy wasn’t safe, I didn’t let that stop us from having fun. I did, however, grab out all the peanut candies right away since my daughter is contact allergic.
When we got home, the kids set their buckets out for the Switch Witch and we’d head downstairs to watch a Halloween movie or talk about our night trick-or-treating, giving the Switch Witch time to do her thing.
By the time we went back upstairs, the buckets of candy had been swooped away and in their place were teal pumpkin buckets filled with safe candy, allergy-friendly treats, and little toys. The Switch Witch had made her swap, and the smiles on my kids’ faces made the whole night worth it.
The next morning, the Switch Witch was gone, back to wherever she calls home, until her next appearance the following October 1.
We kept up this tradition until my kids were around ten. After that, the magic shifted a bit. We still did a “switch,” but more in the form of sorting, swapping, and donating candy to local dentists or troops overseas. The kids are older now, but the spirit of the tradition stays the same — keeping Halloween fun, safe, and inclusive.
Adding Teal Pumpkins to the Mix
Alongside our Switch Witch Halloween tradition, we always make sure to join the Teal Pumpkin Project. Every year, we put a teal pumpkin and a teal pumpkin bucket on our front porch filled with non-food treats like glow sticks, stickers, and small toys. We also have another bucket with allergy-friendly candy.
It’s our way of helping all kids feel welcome and included. Seeing those teal pumpkins on porches around the neighborhood always makes me smile, because it means more families are thinking about food allergies and safety.
If you want to participate, you can find teal pumpkin buckets online as well as teal pumpkin decor. You can also add your home to FARE’s Teal Pumpkin Project map, which shows families where they can safely trick-or-treat.
Allergy-Friendly Halloween Ideas and Recipes
Whether you’re doing a full-on Switch Witch Halloween or just looking for safer treat ideas, here are a few of my family’s favorites:
Spooky Apple Bites
Slice apples into wedges and spread with sunflower seed butter. Add dairy-free chocolate chips for eyes and fangs for a fun (and healthy) treat.
Ghostly Banana Pops
Dip banana halves in melted dairy-free white chocolate or coconut yogurt, then freeze. Add allergen-free chocolate chips for eyes.
Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats
Use allergy-friendly marshmallows and butter, shape into little pumpkins, and top with gluten-free pretzels as stems.
Cheese Stick Ghosts
This one’s almost too easy, just take string cheese and draw little ghost faces with an edible food marker or even a permanent marker on the plastic wrapper. They’re quick, mess-free, and a hit in school lunches or Halloween snack boards.
If you want to see what I else I put on this Halloween charcuterie board check out my blog post! It’s one of my favorite allergy-friendly spreads for parties and movie nights.
Halloween Parties and Food Allergies
When your child has food allergies, parties can feel like a minefield, but they don’t have to be.
- Communicate early. Let the host know about your child’s allergies in advance.
- Bring safe snacks. Pack a few treats your child loves so they can join in without worry.
- Skip questionable face paint. Many contain soy, gluten, or dairy. Look for hypoallergenic options like Kiss Freely.
Final Thoughts: Keep the Magic, Lose the Worry
The Switch Witch Halloween tradition helped our family keep the magic of Halloween alive without the fear or frustration that can come with managing food allergies. It turned what could have been a stressful holiday into something we all looked forward to every year.
Between the Switch Witch and our teal pumpkins, we found ways to make Halloween safe, inclusive, and still packed with fun. If you’re navigating food allergies this season, know this: you don’t have to miss out on the holiday magic. You just have to make it your own.
If you’re looking for safe Halloween candy ideas, check out my post on 15 Allergy-Friendly Halloween Candies. It’s a great place to find treats everyone can enjoy without the stress.