Does Your Child Have Food Allergies?

How do you navigate the challenges that come with newly diagnosed food allergies in children? Should you empty your house of all trigger foods? How do manage events and celebrations your child attends? How do you educate others when there are so many assumptions and misconceptions regarding food allergies? What do you do if your child has a reaction? Let me tell you, it's not always easy. However, your perspective can change everything.

When my husband and I first found out our son had a food allergy, family and friends seemed grieved at the situation. If you think about it, food is a huge part of our culture. Not only do we need it to survive, but it brings people together. I am sure you could conjure up some pleasurable memories involving gramma's cooking, right? So, when family and friends found out my little guy wouldn't experience the warmth of a cheesy homemade casserole or the sticky fingers of the childhood favorite peanut butter and jelly sandwich, they were sorely disappointed—especially the grandparents. We know grandparents love to spoil their grandchildren with food! It took a while for them to understand how these dietary restrictions could have a positive impact in his life.

I saw these challenges as a blessing, not a curse. Why? Well, I realized that the food he is allergic to are not absolutely vital to the human body. He can be perfectly healthy (maybe even heathier) by abstaining from dairy, eggs, and nuts. I must now find more creative ways to feed my son, which gives me new cooking experiments. This new learning curve has been educational for our whole family. I try to think of more recipes that involve fruits, veggies, and meats. As an FA (food allergy) mom, you learn how to become a superwoman at reading nutrition labels in about two nanoseconds. You start to discover which brands you can trust more than others. You become proficient at planning and always have back up food available no matter where you are. You develop cat-like reflexes when you see a child covered in mac n cheese reaching for your child. These skills are not acquired overnight, but they will come. If you are new to parenting an FA child, I encourage you to be patient. Breathe mama. Breathe papa.

There are no set rules when implementing this new way of eating in your household. Some families allow the allergic foods in the house under close monitoring and supervision. Other families find it easier to alter everyone's diet for the sake of the child and eliminate all trigger foods completely from the cupboards. It really depends on the severity of your child's reactions and your personal choices. Many times, it is easier to avoid the given food altogether. There are bountiful resources available to help parents as they navigate the un-treaded waters of food allergies. There are websites with information like THIS ONE, organizations to volunteer with like Kids with Food Allergies, products to help increase awareness, like where I bought a useful food allergy awareness bracelet, and research studies for families to become involved with like the ones with the Food Allergy Research Alliance.

As your child grows, you will find yourself with new difficulties to overcome such as play dates, sleepovers, babysitters, day cares, schools, and extracurricular activities. However, it is important to keep your child involved and not shelter them from the reality of their lifestyle. As they get older, they will need to learn the skills to handle their own situations and make the right choices. Remember to take the time to explain the importance of their food choices and teach them how to find resources when they have questions of their own regarding their health. Despite the adversity they may face in their journey, help them to remember that they can live a fully functional and fulfilling life regardless of their diet.

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