Fliers posted in a Connecticut neighborhood are asking residents to “practice responsible parenting” and not give out candy containing any nuts, gluten or dairy.
“Attention parents: My son has severe allergies and comes home every year devastated that he can’t eat any candy he’s collected at your homes while trick-or-treating,” reads the sign, which was posted this week on a number of telephone poles in New Britain, Conn. “Don’t exclude my child or any other child from the fun.”
The sign encourages “tasty and allergy-conscience (sic) suggestions” that include carrot sticks; Necco wafers cookies; Smarties, Life Savers and Brach’s Lemon Drops candy; and raisins, “but stay away from Raisinettes (sic)!”
Yes, carrot sticks, Smarties and raisins just scream “fun,” don’t they?
Of course, there is a chance someone put the fliers up as a prank to ridicule those who think the rest of the world should adhere to their own narrow dietary guidelines or those of their children. These days, you can get in almost as much trouble in some places for bringing any sort of nut within 500 feet of a school as a gun, for example.
But, if the above is legitimate, one of the “irresponsible” parents of New Britain needs to track down this busybody and tell them to stop trying to ruin Halloween for the rest of the kids in the neighborhood.
If Mr./Mrs. Narcissist’s son comes home “devastated” because he can’t eat the candy he’s collected during Trick or Treat, why not simply sort through the items he can’t have and replace it with things he can?
Besides, anyone who starts handing out carrot sticks on Halloween is going to probably end up having their house pelted with said vegetables later that night.
The Cotton Boll Conspiracy 
I did think I might draw Jack o Lantern faces on a few tangerines as a healthier option…does that make me a Halloween killjoy?
Naw, folks can give out whatever they want. Tangerines are tasty. Carrot sticks are not. Anyone trying to shame other adults into giving kids carrot sticks for Halloween is a ninny. I don’t know that science has conclusively proven that last bit, but I’d wager hard cash on it.
I’ll take the leftovers! 🙂
I saw the “teal pumpkin” project started in some areas were just for this type of issue — kids who couldn’t eat gluten and other foods that triggered allergies. I thought it was a great idea and I do hope it takes off in other neighborhoods. I understand the frustration of parents who have children with severe food allergies but in those instances, you can’t dictate what an entire neighborhood is going to do. Instead, you create alternative plans like a party at home with friends and family or perhaps an outing to an age appropriate scary/haunted house with a basket full of goodies given to the child afterward that you’ve made yourself…or something like that. It could be the start to a family tradition that is just as fun as trick or treating and deals with all of the food allergy issues.
Yes, I like the idea of taking control instead of expecting everyone else to conform to your whims.
What’s wrong with fruit rolls and dried fruit snacks? I’ve never met a kid who didn’t like fruit rolls.
Nothing wrong at all. I just don’t like the idea of a busybody trying to shame other parents into not giving out candy. If that parent is so concerned, they ought to comb through their child’s candy, remove the offending items and replace them with goods considered OK. I’m not keen on those who try to make the rest of the world conform to their idea of utopia.
One of my sons was diabetic and the other asked to eat the same diet–out of love.
❤
At Halloween, I would go around to the near neighbors beforehand and distribute special sugar-free treats. Then, my boys would do their trick-or-treating early and happily, receiving their treats just like any other kid, never knowing Mom had seeded the supply chain with sugar-safe sweets.
That poster-parent IS a ninny.
Wow – that’s something you don’t often see among siblings. Well done, mom.
Thank you, but only some credit to me–much to him. He was born amazingly sweet like that and maintained it in the face of much difficulty in his life. I really need to blog about my children at some point.
Sounds like it would be a wonderful blog. I look forward to reading it some day.
Thank you.