{"id":15285,"date":"2016-09-12T03:37:19","date_gmt":"2016-09-12T07:37:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.achooallergy.com\/blog\/?p=6694"},"modified":"2016-09-12T03:37:19","modified_gmt":"2016-09-12T07:37:19","slug":"back-to-school-how-to-handle-food-allergies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.achooallergy.com\/blog\/back-to-school-how-to-handle-food-allergies\/","title":{"rendered":"Back to School: How to Handle Food Allergies"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Back to School: How to Handle Food Allergies from AchooAllergy.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Food allergies can really throw a kink into your life, no matter how old you are, but for parents whose kids go to school, it can be especially complicated. Fortunately, there are a growing number of resources meant to help you manage your child\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s food allergies and, for those times you can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be there with them, help your children be prepared and take charge of their allergies on their own.<\/p>\n

Your goal is to keep your child safe while enabling them to get as much as possible out of their school experience. There are many ways you can go about achieving this, from having a dialogue with their teachers to creating an environment at home in which they can learn to take steps to manage their own condition.<\/p>\n

The only thing left to do is discuss each of the steps in a little more detail, starting with \u00e2\u20ac\u00a6<\/p>\n

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Talking to the People Who Will Be Working with Your Child<\/strong><\/p>\n

It can be downright scary to send your child off to school when they have a food allergy. However, talking to teachers, helpers, and the school nurse about your child\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s allergy can go a long ways toward keeping your child safe. The key with communication is to discuss your child\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s needs clearly, and to do so as early as possible. Talk to your child\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s teacher, or teacher-to-be, as soon as possible. To plan for a new school year, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s never too early to start the communication process. It may even be a good idea to start during the spring before the upcoming schoolyear.<\/p>\n

One way to communicate is to write the teacher an introduction letter before the school year begins. Things to include in the letter are your child\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s potential allergic reaction and possible food substitutions, and just letting them know that you are always willing to answer any questions regarding your child’s food allergies. If your child\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s allergies are severe, prepare a food allergy and anaphylaxis emergency plan to prepare the teacher and other school personnel in case of a severe reaction.<\/p>\n

The more information you can provide, the better. Be open about the symptoms, including itching, wheezing, swelling, or hives, that your child experiences when having an adverse reaction. Not only does clear communication keep your child safer, it also gives you some peace of mind knowing that you and your child\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s school are on the same page.<\/p>\n

Find Out How Allergy-Friendly Your Child\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s School Is<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many schools are already \u00e2\u20ac\u0153peanut-free zones,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and a good number of districts require their teachers to learn how to use an EpiPen. Find out what type of requirements your particular school has in place and, if they don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have them, find out about what it would take to implement them.<\/p>\n

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Empower Your Child<\/strong><\/p>\n

As important as it is to communicate with the teacher regarding your child\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s allergies, it is at least equally important that you educate your child on their own allergies. Even younger kids can be taught to take action and ask questions before they eat something.<\/p>\n

Ask questions before eating something.<\/strong> Teach your child to ask if food contains dairy, gluten, or whatever the offending ingredient is, before accepting it. Encourage them to ask you these questions as much as possible as well. This is a habit that can begin at home and carry into other parts of your child\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s life. Practice by not placing food in front of them until they ask about the allergens in it. This can be done at home, in restaurants, or anywhere else.<\/p>\n

Teaching your child to read food labels.<\/strong> Another way you can prepare your child to handle their food allergies at school is by teaching them how to read food labels. Part of this has to do with educating them on which specific ingredients are linked to their food allergy. Some ingredients carry more than one name, so it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s important that your child is aware of all of them. In cases when there is no label, your child\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s teacher should be able to help them make food choices that will keep them safe. Kids who are younger or those who don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t quite understand these concepts can also be sent to school with a medical ID bracelet. Of course, maybe the easiest option is simply tell your child not to eat anything that you didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t send with them.<\/p>\n

\"image008\"<\/a>Make your child aware of their own symptoms.<\/strong> Your child\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s teacher and other school staff are not the only ones who need to know how your child reacts when exposed to something they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re allergic to. Your child needs to know, too. While symptoms may vary from reaction to reaction, there are usually some telltale signs that you can teach your child to look for after eating something. Some of these reactions, such as tingling, burning, or itching, are mild. Others, such as swelling, wheezing, or vomiting, are more severe. Since your child is the one who experiences the symptoms, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s crucial that they are aware of what\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s happening sooner rather than later so that they are able to get help as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

Handwashing and using hand wipes.<\/strong> No matter what type of allergy your child has, anyone at any age can learn to and benefit from staying clean.<\/p>\n

Carrying and using an EpiPen.<\/strong> Obviously, this isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t relevant unless your child is old enough to handle this responsibility.<\/p>\n

Telling a trusted adult if they have a reaction.<\/strong> One of the biggest aspects of being empowered is feeling like you can talk to another person about your troubles. Your child having this feeling, despite being away from you when he is at school, will help build a lot of confidence within them that they will be okay.<\/p>\n

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Top Food Substitutions<\/strong><\/p>\n

Living with food allergies, as cumbersome as it can feel, is actually easier than it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s ever been. With a simple substitution, you can feast on something similar, or even better, than the food you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re allergic to.<\/p>\n

Here are some of the best allergy-free substitutions of the bunch.<\/p>\n

\"image012\"<\/a>Dairy-free.<\/strong> Traditional dairy products such as yogurt and cheese are now available in dairy-free versions.<\/a> There are cultured nut-milk based cheeses, and yogurt is a healthy snack that has a dairy-free version widely deemed a worthy alternative. The only drawback to dairy-free yogurt is that many types are made with soy, which is also a common allergen. Even if soy is an issue, there are other plant-milk-based (coconut milk, almond milk, pea protein milk) yogurts that are perfect for packing in the lunchbox of a child who can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t tolerate dairy.<\/p>\n

Gluten-free.<\/strong> As far as snack foods, there is an ever-growing number of them that are gluten-free, dairy-free, and peanut-free. The options are almost unlimited, from crackers, to chips, to bread. So, even if your child has a gluten allergy, it shouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be too difficult to find them something to snack on while they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re at school.<\/p>\n

Nut-free. <\/strong>Sesame seed (tahini), sunflower seed, or pumpkin seed butters are great options for anyone with a peanut allergy. These can be eaten on their own or you can spread them on bread as an alternative to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. For kids with nut allergies who can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t eat peanut butter, sesame, sunflower, or pumpkin seed butter may be the way to allow them to enjoy one of the all-time classic lunch foods.<\/p>\n

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Plan Ahead<\/strong><\/p>\n

Most kids who suffer from food allergies are perfectly content and go to school without a problem every day. However, the safety and happiness they experience wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be possible without consistently planning ahead with their allergies in mind. One of the most important things to do in order for a plan to be effective is by working cohesively with the people at your child\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s school who can help put the plan into play.<\/p>\n

Here are a few ways that you can better implement and stick to the plan you set forth for your child, even during the busy schoolyear.<\/p>\n

Visit your child\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s doctor before the first day of school. This is useful for gathering all of the necessary emergency prescriptions and equipment, such as an EpiPen, and getting the doctor\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s signature on all of the forms related to your child\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s condition.<\/p>\n

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Items to Send to School<\/strong><\/p>\n

When you send your child off to school, there are a number of items you can send with them that will help keep their allergy symptoms at bay. Here are a few of the most practical and effective among them.<\/p>\n

Non-perishable snacks and lunch.<\/em><\/strong> The best thing to send with your child is good, nutritious food that they can actually eat.<\/p>\n

Hand wipes.<\/em><\/strong> Besides the sanitation benefits that hand wipes provide, they also allow your child to clean off should they accidentally come in contact with what they are allergic to.<\/p>\n

Allergy-friendly school supplies.<\/em><\/strong> Yes, some school supplies contain common allergens.<\/a> And even though school supplies aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t directly related to food, there are certain types that are specifically geared toward kids who suffer from allergies.<\/p>\n

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Prevent Your Child from Being Bullied over Their Allergies<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bullying is never a pretty topic to discuss, but we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d be remiss if we avoided it. The ugly truth is that about one-third of kids with allergies are subjected to bullying<\/a> in some form or another. Bullying over food allergies can range from harassment or making fun of a child with allergies to bullies actually chasing after the allergy-sufferer while wielding the food they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re allergic to as a weapon, or even trying to make them eat the food by sneaking some into their lunch. Obviously, this is very dangerous and can even be deadly, depending on the severity of the allergy.<\/p>\n

Ideally, bullying can be confronted before it escalates into a major problem. Sometimes this requires a parent-to-parent discussion that leads to a bully\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s parents dealing with their child in a way that eliminates the problem.<\/p>\n

However, talking to the parents of the bully is not always necessary (or, frankly, even helpful). Other times, explaining to your child\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s peers how dangerous the allergy is can be just the education they need to understand the seriousness of your child\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s situation. If you find your child is in a situation that cannot be handled without taking further measures, take up a discussion with others in the school so they can help manage the situation.<\/p>\n

The best solution of all is to raise awareness about allergies in children when they are young. If your child suffers from food allergies, and they know enough to be able to talk to their peers about it, they are less prone to getting bullied. Even kids without food allergies can benefit by being aware of what allergies are and how dangerous they can be, as it makes them more willing and able to help keep their classmates safe and out of harm\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s way.<\/p>\n

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Don<\/strong>\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t Let Your Child Miss Out<\/strong><\/p>\n

Just because your child has allergies, it doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t mean that they should miss out on class parties and other events. In fact, if they aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t able to enjoy group events, issues such as feeling isolated and being bullied are more likely to rear their ugly heads. By planning ahead and sending your child their own allergy-friendly food option, your child can manage their own allergies without having to forgo a fun time with their classmates.<\/p>\n

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In Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n

Having a food allergy is frustrating and can make your child feel isolated from the other kids at school. The one and only fortunate thing about food allergies running so rampant these days is that there are many ways to alleviate any discomfort or inconvenience these allergies may cause. There is an abundance of dairy-free, gluten-free, and peanut-free snacks. A greater number of kids have food allergies and, thus, can empathize with others who do. There are even allergy-friendly school supplies.<\/p>\n

Going to school is about learning and interacting with your teachers and classmates, and children who suffer from food allergies deserve to get as much as possible out of the experience. By taking a few simple steps, there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s no reason your child or any other can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t look forward to the school year.<\/p>\n

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Back to School: How to Handle Food Allergies from AchooAllergy.com Food allergies can really throw a kink into your life, no matter how old you are, but for parents whose kids go to school, it can be especially complicated. Fortunately,… <\/p>\n