Have you experienced problems with people who do not fully understand what it means to have a food allergy? From the waiters at your favorite restaurant to a schoolmate on the playground, those who do not understand the severity of food allergies could unknowingly put your food allergic child in harm’s way.

A report published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology shows that food allergy knowledge in the general public is poor, especially when it comes to knowing the difference between food allergy and food intolerance.

One of the most alarming misconceptions highlighted by the report is that “almost half of participants erroneously believed that a cure exists for food allergy, and more than two thirds stated that a daily medicine could be taken to prevent a food allergy reaction. They also tended to overlook the necessity of strict allergen avoidance: more than 40 percent of participants indicated that other means exist to prevent life-threatening reactions.”

Unfortunately, it is up to the food allergy community to raise awareness and educate others about the severity of the condition. Here are a few tips to help you inform others about your little one’s food allergies. The more people know about food allergies, the more likely they are to be vigilant about helping your child avoid potential allergens.

• Schedule a meeting with your child’s teachers and caretakers to go over the basics and put a plan into place to help avoid an emergency.
• Ask teachers and students to participate in the “Be a PAL” Program, which teaches five simple steps kids can take to keep their classmates safe.
• When you dine out, bring “chef cards” with you to alert the wait staff and those in the kitchen of your child’s allergies.
• Remind people that a food allergy is different from food intolerance, which does not involve the immune system and is typically not life threatening like a food allergy.

Have you had experiences with the general public not understanding the severity of your child’s allergy? I encourage you to help support other food allergy families by sharing some of your stories here and telling us how you handled the situation and any additional recommendations you may have.

-Christine

Neocate is now on Facebook!

Although summer seems to have only started, back-to-school is really only just around the corner. To help you plan for success this fall, Ruth of http://www.bestallergysites.com/ and Jennifer B of http://www.foodallergybuzz.com/ are hosting a Back to School Twitter Party! If you participated in their Food Allergy Awareness Week Twitter Party in May you know this is a great way to connect with others in the food allergy awareness community.

The party will take place on Thursday, July 23rd from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at summize.com or tweetgrid.com. The hashtag for the party is #foodallergy.

The party promises to be as fun and informative as the last, with more door prizes, fun trivia, and sharing of tips and expertise. The discussion will be focused on what it’s like managing food allergies in school and during the school year. For more information, and to RSVP, be sure to check out the event invitation here. Also, for those who aren’t seasoned twitter partiers, be sure to stay tuned to Food Allergy Buzz for a Twitter Party tutorial coming a couple of weeks before the event.

Hope to see you all there!

-Nita

Neocate is now on Facebook!

Hello!

My name is Christine Graham-Garo, and I am the newest addition to the Baby Health blog. I’m a nutrition specialist and I work with Sarah and Steven here at Nutricia North America.

A little about me – I grew up in Miami and received my Bachelor of Science degree in dietetics and nutrition from Florida International University. Since then, I’ve worked in hospitals in Florida and in North Dakota (hubby was stationed there for the military). Just recently, the hubs and I settled into a cozy little place in Northern Virginia and I joined the nutrition team at Nutricia North America.

I am very excited to begin this blogging adventure and the time couldn’t be better – starting something new as summer winds down always makes me think of the excitement of back-to-school when I was growing up.

I know it’s hard to believe it’s that time of the year again, but traffic is beginning to pick up and the big yellow buses will soon fill the streets. It’s a busy time for any parent, but when your child has allergies, it can be more stressful than most. Anything from craft projects to birthday parties may cause concern!

Here are a few suggestions to help your child start the school year off right and to ease your mind as an allergy parent!

• Meet the Teacher
  Meet with your child’s teacher before the beginning of every school year – especially if he or she is new, but don’t forget the familiar faces as they’ll likely benefit from a refresher on your child’s condition. Make sure the teacher understands the condition and emergency procedures and ask about any activities or lessons he or she has planned that involve food. Offer to help find alternatives that everyone can enjoy (i.e. plastic beads instead of candies for counting exercises).
• Plan Ahead for Lunch
  If your child relies on formula like Neocate, make arrangements with the school to allow him or her to either spend lunchtime doing a quiet activity with the school nurse or secretary, or to bring a coloring/activity book in the lunchroom in place of food. If your little one is allergic to peanuts, talk to the school about a peanut-free lunch table.
• Talk to the other Parents
  Developing a good relationship with the other parents – especially those who help out around school – will go a long way. Explain your child’s condition and ask them to notify you when they bring in birthday treats so you can provide an allergen-free treat for your child or, if your child is on formula, a non-food treat like stickers or something to color.
• Introduce Yourself to the 504 Plan
  Section 504 of the Americans with Disabilities Act ensures that children with special needs get a level playing field from government services like public school. Depending on the details of your child’s food allergy, he or she may qualify for a 504 plan for the school to follow. Check out this entry at Allergy Moms for more.

Along these lines, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology has created a wonderful back-to-school checklist. Click here to see the checklist as well as to download a sample food allergy action plan. The checklists are divided up into three sections: asthma, allergens at school and food allergies at school. This is very helpful for those children with one or multiple allergies.

If you have any questions about me or about going back to school with food allergies, feel free to comment below or email me at babyhealthblog@ecius.net. I’m looking forward to a new year of blogging!

- Christine