https://www.zackysuniverse.com/ https://www.zackysbill.org/ @zackys_universe Meet Zacky and his mom, Priscilla! Zacky and Priscilla are amazing food allergy advocates! Zacky is a caring, Spiderman and dinosaur loving 9-year-old who has multiple food allergies, from nuts to sesame. Like many food allergy kids, Zacky has had a lifetime of hives, eczema and other allergy invoked symptoms. During his 1st grade year, Zacky had is his first anaphylactic reaction that required the administration of epinephrine at school. He hopes to share his story to help create awareness and education about w ..read more

By Melody and Richard Kloepfer In the fall of 2021, our son Garrison started 3rd grade, going to ‘in-person’ classes again, attending a public school for the first time. He has life threatening allergies to dairy and anything bovine related. When we initially went to the public Elementary School open house for kindergarten, our son got hives and his eye swelled from just being at the school with no food out. All he did was touch the crayons on the table and color. After that, we knew Garrison could not attend that school. In addition, we were informed the students had parties in class with ..read more

Grocery shopping with food allergies is expensive! And it can be tricky trying to balance a healthy diet without spending too much on allergen-free foods. We've listed some tips below that can help you keep your grocery bills low: 1️⃣ TRY TO DO A LITTLE MORE HOME COOKING AND BAKING: Products that are “allergen-free” or “free from the top major allergens” can cost an arm and a leg, and there are often things you can make at home for a fraction of the price. 2️⃣ MAKE A MEAL PLAN FOR THE WEEK: By making a meal plan, you can do one-stop grocery shopping for the week. Trying to stick to one grocer ..read more

Don’t let food allergies get in the way of your vacation abroad. Check out these 5 handy tips and tricks! 1️⃣ Download apps that’ll help you research the dining options ahead of time. Diet-specific websites share a lot of information that can be helpful in tackling dietary restrictions when traveling. We love @spokininc! 2️⃣ Always carry photos of the foods you need to avoid. You can show local people pictures of foods you are allergic to that have a cross marked on them. Keep the photos on your phone if it is easy that way. 3️⃣ Laminated (or digital) cards with allergy information in the loca ..read more

By Bella Canestrini @bella_g_canestrini This is going to be raw, unfiltered, and difficult. I’m scared, really, I am. I’m stepping outside of my comfort zone to do this, but if it can help one person not feel alone, it is worth it.  I’m Bella Canestrini, an Ambassador for Red Sneakers for Oakley. I’ve struggled a lot with my peanut allergy, because it’s airborne. Just inhaling peanut particles can send me into anaphylaxis. It isn’t the peanuts, the anaphylaxis, or the asthma that I have that has impacted me. What impacted me most was bullying. That is the worst part about my allergy. A ..read more

When you prepare food for someone with a food allergy, you should keep the following in mind: 1️⃣ Ask your guest (or their parents/caregivers if you are cooking for a child) what they can and cannot eat. 2️⃣ Before you start preparing food, clean all work surfaces and equipment thoroughly using hot, soapy water to remove traces of anything you might have cooked before. 3️⃣ Keep allergens separate from other foods and follow advice for avoiding cross-contact in the kitchen. 4️⃣ Double check ingredients listed on pre-packed foods, e.g., sauces for allergens. 5️⃣ Keep a note of the ingredient ..read more

Partner with Red Sneakers for Oakley and FARE This Holiday Season Raising food allergy awareness and offering the option of non-food trinkets and toys in a separate bowl makes Halloween safer and more inclusive for all trick-or-treaters. The Teal Pumpkin Project is a simple way to make trick-or-treating safer and more inclusive for the one in thirteen children living with food allergies, and many others impacted by intolerances and other conditions. Placing a teal pumpkin on your doorstep signals that, in addition to candy, you offer non-food trinkets and treats that are safe for all ..read more

Halloween Ideas for Non-Food Treats ·      Glow sticks, bracelets, or necklaces   ·      Pencils, pens, crayons or markers   ·      Bubbles   ·      Halloween erasers or pencil toppers   ·      Mini Slinkies   ·      Whistles, kazoos, or noisemakers   ·      Bouncy balls   ·      Finger puppets or novelty toys   ·      Spider rings ..read more

During an emergency, it is not uncommon to completely blank in the moment, so here are a few tips that you can read (and re-read) to make sure you are prepared: ▪️ The moment you see someone displaying symptoms of an allergic reaction, ask if they have an epinephrine auto-injector on them. ▪️ Administer the epinephrine on the outer thigh of the patient. ▪️ Call 911 IMMEDIATELY after administering the epinephrine. ▪️ Make the patient lie on their back with feet elevated. In case they have vomited or are feeling nauseous, gently turn them on their side. ▪️ Cover the individual with a blanket if ..read more

By Rebecca Wachen I’m halfway through overcoming my dairy allergy -- here’s my story. When my mom told me that I got off the waitlist for the Southern California Food Allergy Institute (SCFAI), I was initially hesitant. I had previously been enrolled in a baked milk study, and while I was able to get to the final stage, I continued to have reactions when I had uncooked milk and also developed Eosinophilic Esophagitis. I assumed that enrolling in SCFAI would be much of the same, but after doing more research and reading about its high success levels compared to other desensitization programs, m ..read more