Because the school year is getting back under way, I want to dedicate today's post to the importance of being aware of kids with food allergies.
As with many things, you may not give food allergies much thought until you or someone you care about is affected by them. I know I didn't think much about them until my daughter had her first allergic reaction before she was diagnosed with severe nut allergies, and it was quite scary. Thankfully, it did not affect her breathing (although I have seen that as well) but she was covered in hives and her face swelled up until I could hardly see her eyes. I had Benadryl in the medicine cabinet and soon after I gave it to her and contacted her doctor, the hives and swelling began to subside. I do not wish to alarm anyone, but rather to educate. Although the subject of food allergies can be complicating, I would like to mention a few easy ways to help make the classroom a safe environment for the kids who have them.
Ideally, the teacher is informed of any students with food allergies in their class, and makes sure all the parents are informed as well. However, that is not always the case, because sometimes a teacher has not been made aware of a student's allergies. Therefore, I think the easiest way to avoid risking any problems is to simply avoid certain allergens, such as both peanuts and tree nuts, altogether when bringing snacks, food, desserts, etc., into the classroom. This includes snacks teachers keep on hand to give out daily, and food that is brought in for parties or other occasions during the year. Some kids can have a reaction simply by coming into contact with a surface where nuts have been. So, if nuts are not in the room at all, there is much less chance for problems to arise.
Of course, that holds true for any other food a student might be allergic to as well. For example, my daughter also has egg allergies, and while she can eat food with egg baked in, such as cookies or cake, she cannot have certain dressings that contain egg, such as ranch, unless it is fat-free, with no egg ingredients.
So you see, food allergies can be complicating. As parents of children with food allergies, we do our best to ensure our kids are prepared by teaching them to have their Benadryl and Epi-Pens with them at all times, watching and teaching them to watch what they eat, and most important, educating them about their allergies so they can be pro-active in the management of them. But no matter how cautious we may be, we cannot control everything, and it is comforting to know that others are aware and helping us keep our kids safe.
Of course, that holds true for any other food a student might be allergic to as well. For example, my daughter also has egg allergies, and while she can eat food with egg baked in, such as cookies or cake, she cannot have certain dressings that contain egg, such as ranch, unless it is fat-free, with no egg ingredients.
So you see, food allergies can be complicating. As parents of children with food allergies, we do our best to ensure our kids are prepared by teaching them to have their Benadryl and Epi-Pens with them at all times, watching and teaching them to watch what they eat, and most important, educating them about their allergies so they can be pro-active in the management of them. But no matter how cautious we may be, we cannot control everything, and it is comforting to know that others are aware and helping us keep our kids safe.
*According to FAAN, the most common food allergens are milk, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat. If you would like to learn more about food allergies, check out the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) at www.foodallergy.org.
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