When my daughter’s friend Nathaniel asked for a snack at my house I kind of panicked. I remembered that he has food allergies — specifically to peanuts, tree nuts and eggs. You may think that, as a registered dietitian, I’d be immune to the initial freak out; but because I know that food allergies can lead to life-threatening reactions, I take them very seriously.
After I checked the label twice to make sure it contained no peanuts or eggs, I offered crackers along with some raspberries. He was happy that I had food to offer him but was also a little nervous since it was the first time he’d snacked at our home. I told him that I’d double-checked the label and would be glad to text his mom if it made him feel better.
Something as seemingly simple as a snack can cause children, parents and caregivers a tremendous amount of stress and anxiety. And for good reason.
[See: The 5 Latest Poison Control Threats Kids Face.]
Research estimates that nearly 5.9 million children have food allergies — that’s approximately 1 in 13 kids, or about two kids in every classroom. The most common food allergies in the United States involve milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish and crustacean shellfish. Other types of food allergies are also on the rise. So whether you’re a parent of a child with food allergies or not, we must all take it very seriously to keep kids safe. To make it a little less stressful for all of us, I reached out to parents of children with food allergies for some helpful tips and reminders.
Communicate and Make No Assumptions
Nathaniel’s mom, Marsha Endre, says “having a child with food allergies is very stressful for the whole family.” She says that when her son visits another child’s home, it’s very important to her that adults keep the lines of communication open and are thoughtful about foods served. Whether she’s giving a list of foods he can eat, or the parents are texting her with a question, open communication reduces her worry, and most importantly, keeps Nathaniel safe.
Blair Mize, a registered dietitian and mom to two children with multiple food allergies, recommends that parents and caregivers always ask questions. She notes the importance of labeling and says to “always read labels — every ingredient, every time, as manufacturers may change the ingredients at any time without notice.”
Mize tells parents and caregivers of children with food allergies to never take a chance or make an assumption that a food is safe. She suggests that if you don’t feel comfortable reading nutrition labels, provide only the foods that have been approved by a parent or guardian. This can take the pressure off a parent who isn’t familiar or comfortable with nutrition labeling while giving parents like Mize and Endre more peace of mind.
Empathize More, Exclude Less
“My son is almost 9, and he has become more sensitive to being excluded as he has gotten older,” says mom and food allergy awareness advocate Sarah Fowler.
Most of us don’t know what having a food allergy feels like, but I’m betting we’ve all experienced what it feels like to be left out and afraid. Living with food allergies comes with struggles like relying on another person to tell you food is safe, fear around food, and being excluded from lunch tables, birthday parties and church functions. While parents are used to providing alternatives for their children with food allergies, sometimes little tweaks to the menu can help them feel included and a little more “normal.”
[See: The 11 Most Dangerous Places in Your Home for Babies and Small Kids.]
To those of us without food allergies, we feel that we’re keeping a child safe by excluding them, and we are, but we’re also contributing to their feelings of isolation. We can do better together. If parents with children who have food allergies are told in advance of a food-related celebration, they can plan to have a similar and safe food available so their child can be included. Mize says it’s heartbreaking when her son comes home from school and tells her he was left out of a birthday celebration because of his food allergy. For this reason, many parents of children with food allergies keep an assortment of safe foods at school in case there’s a food-related celebration.
It’s not just empathy for children with food allergies that’s important, either. Parents need it as well. All of the parents I spoke to had similar experiences where others got frustrated with them for calling ahead to a restaurant to ensure the ingredients would be safe for their children. By calling ahead, both parents and children can have a more normal social and eating experience while staying safe. When made to feel like they’re burdening others by taking precautions to avoid a life-threatening reaction, whole families can feel isolated.
Take It Seriously
Fowler says that it’s a dangerous assumption, or misconception, that a food allergy reaction results in a tummy ache or rash. While those are common symptoms of food allergies, reactions don’t always stop there. Any food allergy exposure can lead to anaphylaxis, which can lead to death.
Fowler says her son’s anaphylactic reaction to a peanut began seconds after he put the peanut in his mouth. He did not even swallow it. Even just residue from an allergen can cause a reaction. This is why a bowl of mixed nuts or shrimp cocktail at a party can be dangerous even if a person with an allergy avoids the food. One handshake, hug from a friend or kiss from grandma could be life-threatening.
In our country of food abundance, I’m positive we can find safe ways to include everyone. If you’re wondering how you can better support those with food allergies, check out resources like FoodAllergy.org, and ask the individual or parent of a child with a food allergy.
[See: 10 Concerns Parents Have About Their Kids’ Health.]
By listening to ways we can support families dealing with food allergies, we may be able to help them feel included, a little better understood and a lot safer.
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What All Parents Need to Know About Food Allergies originally appeared on usnews.com
