symptoms of an allergic reaction

life

Please note: this post contains affiliate links. An initial food allergy diagnosis or reaction is incredibly overwhelming. In many ways, we knew it was coming with Ollie but I still remember leaving the allergist feeling deflated and terrified. I was sad and angry. How on earth were we going to keep him safe? What had he done to deserve this? I went through it all. When I was finally able to get myself off from the emotional rollercoaster, I got to work. I’m a list-maker. I made list after list of anything and everything food allergy: websites to check out, things to do, things not

toddler cooking with food allergies

life

Please note: this post contains affiliate links. I know age 2 might seem early, but we’re trying to teach our toddler as much as we possibly can about cooking. Here’s the thing, I’d like to think he’s going to be food allergy-free someday, but that’s likely not going to be the case. So far, results from skin prick testing have indicated increased wheal/flare reactions, he’s failed every baked food challenge we’ve tried, and his list of food allergies keep growing. Almost all safe foods require preparation, so cooking will, by necessity, be a large part of his life. We’ve decided to start cooking with our toddler

A baby excited to celebrate Easter with food allergies

holidays

Please note: this post contains affiliate links. Easter is my favorite holiday. As a child, I woke up earlier for Easter than I did for Christmas. I’m pretty sure the driving force was that my parents hid money in some of my eggs. I was an obsessive saver from a very young age. We then spent the afternoon with my entire family (remember, my mom is one of nine kids), running around a giant church hall. I’m determined to make Ollie just as excited for Easter, with food allergies. what’s in the basket? We’re trying to rid our house of clutter, so I’ve opted for

Best Food Allergy Kid's Books: Wall of kids books in a reading fort

life

Please note: this post contains affiliate links. Reading is a huge part of any child’s life. The list below highlights some of the best food allergy books we own, including my favorite food allergy specific books, as well as others every family should have. To be honest, we don’t actually have that many food allergy books, especially in comparison to the number of books we own in general. This is somewhat purposeful. It is important to have a few books that talk about food allergies, but I don’t want those themed books to take over our reading. Food allergies are a part of everyday life.

reading labels is the only way to know where you'll find allergen surprises

holidays, life

Please note: this post contains affiliate links. Many have asked how to navigate family gatherings with food allergies. My answer? It depends. Here are a number of tips on how I’ve navigated this topic thus far. My conversations with family and comfort level at holidays vary. Either way, my overall approach is the same. It is all about being upfront and fair with your expectations. First, remember that no one owes you anything. It is your responsibility to educate family members about food allergies and what your child needs to be safe. It is the responsibility of your family to in turn respect the safety