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Food allergies and Halloween can be a frightful mix, but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you are managing a peanut allergy or multiple food allergies, let us assure you that you can have a wonderful time. Happy Halloween!

1. For safe trick or treating, carry the following: Epinephrine auto-injectors, wet wipes, medisafe alert card, cell phone, flash light, and a few pieces of safe candy (just in case). www.medisafealertcard.com

2. Don't allow your child to eat candy at all while you are trick or treating.

3. Have a nice dinner with a few pieces of safe candy or a treat for dessert so there is not too much temptation to eat while trick or treating.

4. Buy some trinkets for your neighbors to give to your child (Matchbox cars, bubbles).

5. Or, buy some safe candy* for your neighbors to give to your child. (Possibly* Safe Snack list available at AllergyMoms.com.)

6. Some parents prefer to put the safe candy in a little bag (cellophane, zip lock or brown) to prevent cross contamination.

7. Teach your child how to politely say "no thank-you" to candy that she knows is unsafe for her.

8. Buy two identical treat or treating bags or containers (i.e. pumpkins). When your young child (2-3 years) comes in from trick or treating, switch the bags to give him one filled with all safe treats.

9. As an alternative, you can trade the unsafe candy for a toy or toys that you have purchased ahead of time for this purpose. This works best when you have some safe candy at home as well.

10. Another idea is to "pay" your child for his candy. This works well for older children. You can make it into a fun game where you trade nickels or pennies for individual pieces and quarters for full sized candy.

11. Those novelty candies (ie. $5 lollipop that spins) that you always say "no" to, come in handy for trading too!

12. Set a good example: give out candy with clear ingredient labels . Save the outer bags just in case. Avoid mixed bags of candy (i.e. Peanut candies mixed with "safe" candy as the safe candy can easily become contaminated).

13. Better yet, consider giving out trinkets in place of candy to keep things safe for other allergic children. Here are some websites to get you started:

14. Some terrific ideas are: Silly Putty (latex free), wooden building sets, bubbles, mini play doh, magnets, glow sticks, chalk, stickers, gel pens, mini tablets, Barbie or superhero (latex free) band-aids, tattoos, stickers, charms for backpack or purse, plastic novelty cups, Halloween straws, mini slinky, plastic rings or bracelets, army men, and spider rings.

15. Have a party instead of trick-or-treating. If you have a support group, or a lot of food allergy friends, consider renting or buying an inflatable haunted house. They carry these at many WalMart stores.

16. Play musical chairs or "freeze dance" to the Monster Mash. Little kids get a huge kick out of "Guess the Ghost"!

17. Try bobbing for apples. You will laugh yourself silly at this old favorite!

18. How about a DIY Halloween costume ? You'll avoid toxic chemicals, save money, and have fun with your child!

19. Have a pumpkin carving or painting contest and a treasure chest full of wrapped dollar store prizes. If you have several children with various allergies, snow cones are often a fun and safe treat. You can make them healthier by sweetening them with fruit juice concentrate.

20. If you're on a budget you can have a costume party with Halloween games, “scary movies”, and “”ghoulish treats”. (Adapted for food allergy safety)

21. Instead of trick-or-treating, make scarecrows! It's safe, fun and green. Have parents donate supplies. Give prizes for the funniest, prettiest, and scariest.

22. Always read ingredients because different versions of the same candy have different ingredients. For example, chewy Spree contains egg white while original Spree does not.

23. Remember that different sizes of the same candy can contain different ingredients. For example, some "mini" versions of Laffy Taffy do not contain egg, but the large size does contain egg.

24. Don't rely on common sense to determine if a candy is safe. Even though your child may have eaten hundreds of lollipops, the next one "may contain" an allergen. Read the label every time.

25. Be especially careful with large bags of candy that contain different varieties. Often, individual packs can break open which will cross contaminate the wrappers of all of the candy.

26. If you do allow your child to eat some of the loot from trick-or-treating, make sure she knows that only labeled foods are allowed. Avoid "opened" candy that has been put into cute containers or snack bags. No label = No eating.

27. When attending parties or visiting around Halloween, remember that there is an abundance of candy everywhere. Remember to ask about Candy dishes and children's stashes of candy if your child will be visiting.

28. Get all unsafe candy out of the house as soon as possible. Send it to work, a neighbor's home, or donate it to a shelter.

29. Remember the needs of non-allergic siblings. They too can be given special treats in exchange for candy that is safer out of the house. Or, you could keep the candy in safe place and allow the non-allergic child to have some in his lunch or at a friend's house as a special treat.

30. Visit GreenHalloween.org for safe, green ideas and to "Think outside the Candy-box!"

31. Remember, your child will do as well as you do. Read Laurie Harada’s insightful comments from Allergic Living magazine and "Stay focused on what your children can have and do, rather than their limitations." After all, "It's just candy!"

Visit  www.safefamilycards.com