By Jodi Helmer

We look forward to it from the moment summer turns to fall. There are weeks of anticipation. "What are you going to be this year?" you ask your child, and the possibilities get bandied about. But Halloween, or All Hollows Eve is not always so simple.

In fact, if your kid has food allergies, this beloved holiday can be a literal "Fright Night." For those with severe food allergies, trick-or-treating is like navigating a mine field, particularly if your child has anaphylaxis (a life threatening allergic reaction). For some kids, just one bite of a candy containing only trace amounts of an allergen such as peanuts, tree nuts (walnuts, cashews, etc.), or dairy can cause an anaphylactic response. Other common allergenic ingredients often avoided on Halloween are eggs (think marshmallow filling), wheat (often in licorice, believe it or not), and soy (very often in chocolate). But there are ways to get through Halloween safely, healthily, and still have tons of fun.

Allergen-free Halloween Treats: Chocolate Sunflower Butter Cups, and Old-Fashioned Popcorn Balls

The following recipes are great allergen-free treats for Halloween. Not only are they dairy-free, soy-free, egg-free, peanut-free, tree nut-free, wheat-free, gluten-free (and of course shellfish-free and fish-free!), but they are also made without high fructose corn syrup or artificial flavors or colors, making them healthy whole foods options for this holiday season.

Chocolate Sunflower Butter Cups

These are as easy to make as it gets. I make them with my 5 year old food allergic son Lennon, who likes the process as much as the product.