Generation GF Phoenix

🎃 Navigating a Gluten-Free Halloween Doesn’t Have to Be Spooky! 👻

Halloween is right around the corner — and for first-time Celiac parents, it can feel a little scarier than usual. 🍬
You might be wondering:
💭 What candy is safe?
💭 How do I keep my child included?
💭 Can we still make it magical?

The answer is a big YES — with a little planning and creativity, your gluten-free kiddo can enjoy a fun (and safe!) Halloween experience! 🧡

Here are some tried-and-true ideas from our family:

🎨 Spot the Teal Pumpkins!
Homes with teal pumpkins on their porch are part of the Teal Pumpkin Project, which means they offer allergy-friendly goodies like stickers, small toys, or top allergen–free treats. Keep an eye out — those teal pumpkins are your new best friend!

🍭 Candy Trading 101
If you have kids who aren’t gluten-free, let them sort and trade candy with their GF sibling. This was a favorite in our house — and wow, do those negotiation skills come out! (Mini “Candy Exchange Market” for the win! 😂)

💬 Empower Your Kids to Speak Up
Encourage your child to proudly explain they’re gluten-free and ask if they can pick their candy. We’ve done this for years and have always had kind, understanding responses — most people are happy to help!

🏠 Create Your Own Safe Candy Exchange
Keep a stash of safe, gluten-free treats or fun prizes at home and let your child trade in their haul for those. You can even donate the leftover candy to organizations that send it to troops — spreading kindness and keeping things safe.

✨ Bonus Tip:
Print a list of GF-safe candies (or check with trusted Celiac foundations for updated lists) before trick-or-treating night. It takes the guesswork out and helps you relax and enjoy the fun!

With a little prep, Halloween can still be filled with giggles, costumes, and sweet memories — no gluten required. 💚

What are some things you have done to make your GF Kiddo safe during trick or treating?

List of Gluten Free safe candy

https://celiac.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Halloween-Candy-List.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawNfVplleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFlRDRaOURpREhMMG9UVTJEAR5WfSHI6uRYLQUXtRYOkFuT9qFPABhfqXqPH6fDU-qTBhvrQfdA1frUPDlHEg_aem_HY3JfOSR0GAjldB1UDYEfg

Sign up to join us at the 5th annual AZ Celiac 5K on Sunday, November 2nd at 2pm at Chaparral Park - 5401 N. Hayden Road in Scottsdale at the Central Ramada. This year, we are encouraging attendees to come dressed in Halloween costumes since it's Halloween weekend!

RSVP: bit.ly/2025Celiac5K

To officially register on the Celiac Disease Foundation website, which includes a Turkey Trot 5K T-shirt, and/or make a donation, please visit:

bit.ly/DonateCeliac5K

Raise awareness and have fun! Together, we'll go the distance for a cure! Hope to see you there!

✨ Gluten-Free Eats in Austin, TX 🇺🇸🍴

Emma and I spent the 4th of July weekend in Austin, TX and made it our mission to check out some of the city’s gluten-free friendly spots—here’s a quick recap!

🌮 De Nada Cantina – Super cute vibe with tasty tacos, but definitely make a reservation before you go! It was packed when we arrived.
👉 https://denadacantina.com

🥗 Picnik – We stopped here for lunch and loved it! Great GF options and a bright, fresh menu.
👉 https://www.picnikrestaurants.com

🍕 Via 313 – Emma’s longtime favorite and now I know why! They offer gluten-free deep dish pizza (yes, really!) and take cross-contamination seriously. So good—just wish I remembered to take more pics than our appetizer. 😅
👉 https://www.via313.com

Have any Austin GF recs we should try next time? Drop them below! 💬⬇️

May is Celiac Awareness Month- a time to shine a light on the serious autoimmune disorder that affects 1 in 100 people worldwide. Let's raise awareness, support those living gluten-free, and advocate for better diagnosis and education.