Halloween is one of the most fun and creepy times of the year – however, it shouldn’t be the treats that spook us! For many people, holidays that centre around snacks and candy can induce a lot of fear around managing food allergies and intolerances, especially when you’re trying to find allergy friendly Halloween Treats!
Did you know?
Food sensitivities affect 1/5th of the population, and most common food sensitivities are often staples in our diets – making them challenging to avoid!
As a dietitian who specializes in GI disorders, I work with many different conditions that have food sensitivities & allergies, including celiac disease, eosinophilic esophagitis, and more traditional IgE mediated food allergies, like peanut, soy, egg or dairy.
One of the most challenging conditions is Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE), a condition that causes inflammatory immune response in the esophagus, requiring short term elimination of the top 8 priority allergens (also known as the ‘6 food elimination diet – combining seafood and all sorts of nuts), often resulting in the need to avoid at least a few of them forever.
The top 8 priority allergens in EoE are:
- Wheat
- Milk
- Fish & shellfish
- Eggs
- Soy
- Peanuts & tree nuts
Now that you’ve seen the list – I’m sure you’re wondering – what is left to eat? Sure, it might be easy to prep meals at home – but often times, this list leaves us feeling like we can’t ever have a snack or a treat again, and when something like Halloween comes around, it certainly can feel isolating.
Let’s be clear – avoiding allergens should not mean you have to feel isolated or like you can’t enjoy food!
Luckily, there are brands that are allergy conscious and are making celebrating Halloween a lot simpler for those with food sensitivities.
Ignite has partnered with MadeGood– to bring you our top 3 tips for choosing allergy friendly Halloween treats – perfect for all you allergy conscious ghouls and goblins this Fall!
Make it yourself!
Whether you’re heading to a Halloween party or simply packing school lunches, there are lots of great homemade snacks that are totally free from the ‘big 8’ allergens. Try making some of your own allergy-free snacks like smoothies, energy bites, or homemade ice cream (with coconut milk).
For some more recipe inspiration that is guaranteed to be allergy-friendly, check out Ignite Nutrition’s EoE snack guide.
Keep it simple
Don’t have a lot of time? Go for simple, whole foods that are naturally free from allergens. Think about foods that are “closer to the farm” with less ingredients. This makes it much easier to identify any potential food triggers. These types of snacks may include fruit, raw vegetables with hummus, roasted chickpeas, pumpkin seeds, or air-popped popcorn.
Buy It!
Being conscious of food allergens doesn’t mean you need to make your own snacks from scratch. But let’s be honest, finding top 8 allergy friendly snacks can be challenging! Therefore, it is important to become educated on brands that will work for you and family at Halloween and all year round
As you now know, one of our favourite allergy-friendly brands is MadeGood. This awesome company is passionate about making bite-sized snacks for kids and adults alike that are completely free of the ‘big 8’ allergens. Not only are they allergen friendly, they are certified gluten free, vegan, and even offer a full serving of vegetables!
One of our favourite grab and go snacks from MadeGood is their Crispy Light Granola- we like to sprinkle the strawberry flavour on coconut yogurt for a filling, balanced snack.
We often recommend MadeGood to patients with:
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis
- Peanut or tree nut allergies
- Dairy allergies
- Soy allergies
- Egg allergies
- Celiac Disease or Non-Celiac Wheat Sensitivity on a gluten free diet
- Vegan or Vegetarians
- Those looking to include more plant-based snacks in their diet
Talk about inclusive snacking for those looking to provide allergy conscious trick-or-treat’ers safe snacks.
Allergy Friendly Halloween Treats
This fall, MadeGood has released some new products that are perfect for Halloween.
The Chocolate Chip Granola Mini Bars even come in a Halloween pack of 36; perfect to send to school for sharing or to hand out to trick-or-treaters!
Our other favourite treat is their soft-baked mini cookies- they’re oh-so-tasty while also being school safe. Not to mention, they come in a variety of flavours, so those with allergies aren’t stuck with bland and boring options. Check out the apple cinnamon- so perfect for Fall!
So, this Halloween I challenge you to think about how food allergies and intolerances may affect your family, friends, and neighbours. By making an effort to eliminate problematic allergens, you can give those around you the ultimate treat – no tricks – by providing options that will normalize the Halloween experience and keep it fun for everyone!
Choosing products you can give out this Halloween, like MadeGood, is the perfect way to ensure everyone feels included, whether they are allergic to peanuts, have celiac disease, or don’t have allergies at all!
If you struggle with allergies and intolerances, or have Eosinophilic Esophagitis, consider working with one of our registered dietitians to help you manage your nutrition!
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I was compensated for my time in writing this post. While the information conveyed may support clients’ objectives, the opinions expressed are my own and based on current scientific evidence. I do not engage in business with companies whose products or services do not match my personal and professional beliefs.
About the Author
Andrea Hardy
Andrea Hardy is known in the media as Canada's Gut Health Dietitian. With her expertise, she has spoken internationally on all things digestive health, from SIBO, to the gut microbiome, to IBS. As owner of Ignite Nutrition, she has trained her team in the 4 Pillar Approach™️ to digestive health management - our comprehensive, evidence-based approach to managing digestive issues.
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