Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays even though environmental and food allergies prevent me from enjoying some of the traditional festivities, such as hayrides, corn mazes and eating lots of goodies. The trick to having a good Halloween despite your allergies is to stick to traditions that are safe and create new ones.

Which Halloween activities may not be safe?

Two to watch out for are corn mazes and hayrides, two popular around-Halloween activities. Both activities are potential allergy or asthma attacks waiting to happen for sensitive individuals because they involve exposing oneself to dried corn stalks or straw which are covered with mold and dust, two common allergens.

Be prepared with your inhaler or medication if you decide to go to a corn maze or on a hayride. A better option may be doing a pumpkin carving activity with friends or family, and then sending the rest of the crew off to the maze or hayride. Later, you can get together again for hot cider and snacks. Another thing to avoid if you are sensitive is burning candles for Halloween because smoke can be an irritant.

Which activities are safe?

Some of the October holiday’s traditions are just fine for allergy sufferers. Pumpkin carving/decorating, visiting a haunted house or dressing up in costumes are some that shouldn’t be a problem.

Replace traditions that won’t work with new ones. This year I created a new Halloween tradition by growing a huge pumpkin patch. When the pumpkins were ready, I invited friends with their kids over to pick a pumpkin or two for their Halloween jack-‘o-lanterns. The extra pumpkins were donated to the Salvation Army for families in need.

Some others Halloween activities I’ve tried are a scary movie night with “safe” snacks and goodies, going out to a favorite restaurant and movie, and hosting a gathering at my home (this can be with or without costumes). For a child with food allergies, plan a Halloween scavenger hunt instead of trick or treating.

Don’t wait until the last minute to make allergy-friendly treats, or plan a Halloween menu if you or family members have food allergies. Inform family members or friends, who are hosting gatherings, of food allergies.

Traditional Halloween foods and treats can be modified to eliminate allergens with a little planning. Here are several recipes to try.

Halloween Sun butter/Carob or Chocolate cups

Ingredients:

•1 bag vegan carob or chocolate chips
•¼ cup sun butter (sunflower butter) for those allergic to peanut or nut butters

Directions:

•Spray a mini-muffin pan with pan spray.
•Melt carob or chocolate chips in a dish in the microwave.
•Stir. Spoon 1 tsp. or so into each section of the mini-muffin pan. Top with 1 tsp. sun butter. You can top with additional melted carob chips.
•Cool to harden before removing the sun butter cups from mini-muffin pan.

Carob or Chocolate Coconut Balls

Ingredients:

•1 cup shredded coconut (substitute rice crispies if allergic to coconut)
•2 T. toasted carob or cocoa powder
•2 tsp. honey or agave nectar
•4 T. sesame, pumpkin or hemp seeds
•4 T. almond butter, tahini butter or other safe butter

Directions:

•Add the seeds and coconut to a food processor. (If using rice crispies, do not put in the food processor.) Pulse to grind seeds and combine with coconut. Add the other ingredients and continue pulsing. Place the dough in a bowl. (Add the rice crispies at this point and stir to combine with a spoon.)
•Shape the dough into balls. Make them as small or large as you want.
•Freeze or refrigerate the balls to harden.