Teal Pumpkin Project

If you don’t live with allergies every day, it is hard to imagine that something as miniscule as a sliver of a peanut can produce severe and even life-threatening reactions in those not immune. For those who do, vigilance is a necessary fact of life when it comes to the foods they not only eat, but those they touch.
For children with food allergies, it is up to their parents and other adults in their lives to provide that layer of protection. If they don’t, the consequences could be dire.
For one local couple and their 10-year-old son, holidays are especially challenging. That’s why they hope to raise awareness about food allergies by supporting the “Teal Pumpkin Project,” an initiative that encourages attention to the subject and promotes inclusion of all trick-or-treaters throughout the Halloween season.
Natasha and Lee Canter have managed their son Nate’s food allergies since he was a toddler. In the years since, the couple has made their home a safe place for their son. If Nate can’t eat it, they don’t either. Neither does their younger son, Micah, who doesn’t suffer from food allergies.
“Nate was diagnosed with life-threatening peanut and severe tree nut allergies at two-years-old. Our lives changed from that moment. We decided our home would always be a safe haven for him, free of his allergens. Even the smallest trace could be a problem. He is now 10-years-old and thriving,” Natasha said.
Natasha said she and her husband first began noticing something different when Nate was about nine-months-old. He’d put a tiny piece of a peanut in his mouth and became violently ill for about an hour. Then, at around two, Nate became ill while Natasha was making peanut butter cookies.
“He got sick from just being around them,” Natasha recalled.
The Canters took Nate to be tested for allergies. A skin test revealed more than 40 allergens to which he was susceptible.
“He reacted to everything, plus he was diagnosed with asthma. We had food allergies and environmental allergies,” she said.
Ten years ago, food allergies weren’t as prevalent as they appear to be today, so there wasn’t a lot of information. Most of what the Canters have learned has come from their own research. Today, they carefully read labels on foods, which Natasha said can be misleading if one isn’t familiar with how food labeling works.
She explained about voluntarily disclosure and that while manufacturers are required to disclose a product’s ingredients, they don’t have to reveal if it was made on equipment with something else that might illicit a reaction – such as peanuts.
Needless to say, Natasha takes the warning “may contain” to heart. If those words are present, the Canters won’t be purchasing that particular item.
Because the family is so vigilant, Nate hasn’t had a reaction to peanuts since he was two. He did, however, develop a rash from drinking hot chocolate that was made at a plant where other tree plant products may have been produced.
While every reaction isn’t life threatening, Nate carries an epi-pen with him just in case, Natasha said.
Boys being boys, both Nate and Micah are eagerly looking forward to dressing up for Halloween; however, there will be a teal pumpkin on the Canter’s front porch promoting the Teal Pumpkin Project to raise awareness about the issue of food allergies during the holidays.
“Holidays can be challenging with the emphasis on food. Halloween is scary for him, not because of the ghosts and goblins, but because of the candy. He loves to dress up for trick-or-treating, but 95 percent of what he brings home he cannot eat. That’s tough for a child,” Natasha said. “The Teal Pumpkin Project is a wonderful campaign. It offers inclusion for all children with allergies or dietary needs such as diabetes or celiac disease. We hope to see some teal pumpkins on doorsteps this year, indicating they have safe non-food treats to share. We will be handing out both nut-free candies and non-food treats at our home.”
Don’t let the Canters be the only family in Kernersville sporting a teal pumpkin on their front porch. Paint one yourself and show your support for children with food allergies by providing non-food trick-or-treat items. Nate, for one, will be appreciative.