As you’re well aware, life is full of changes. Sometimes, the changes occur when you least expect them, and you end up with your routines being thrown out of whack. That’s how it often is when new chapters are opened up in your life. You might get caught by surprise and immediately get flustered because you’ve never dealt with being in that situation before. It’s easy to lose composure when you’re going through something novel to you, especially when that “something” involves the safety of a loved one. A food allergy diagnosis can undoubtedly make you feel like you’ve lost control of your life ..read more

From Guest Blogger AllerCuisine Going to college and moving away from home is a much-anticipated milestone for many young adults.  However, this transition can be particularly stressful for those with food allergies.  Likely the first extended period without direct parental supervision, they are in a position in which they must be fully responsible for managing their food allergy.   In addition to managing the typical college concerns such as developing strong study habits, meeting deadlines, and balancing work, school, and social lives, students with food allergies need to reme ..read more

The school is finally reopening with some in-person teaching for all children from kindergarten to grade 8.  This can be an exciting and stressful time for both children and parents. This year brings a new challenge: schools will have new rules with enhanced health and safety protocols. If you have a child with food allergies, you have one more big challenge: you need to keep your child safe. Here are some tips to consider: How to keep your child with food allergies safe at school: Make sure your child knows the basics. Wash the hands well  before and after eating. Only eating food ..read more

Hello, Food Allergy Dads!  When my wife, the founder of the Food Allergy Institute, asked me to write about what it was like to be an allergy dad, I thought, what in the world would I talk about? Then I thought it might be worthwhile to share some of my experiences or, dare I say, “feelings” when our allergy warrior has an allergic reaction or, to a less dramatic extent, only prefers to tell his mom when he is not feeling well.  This may be because your spouse handles most medical appointments or because she runs a successful company specializing in teaching people and companies how ..read more

We can all agree that 2020 has been a new kind of hell and full of stress. So this will not be a blog telling you all of the ways you can make yourself over to make a new version of yourself in 2021! The Annual Stress in America survey, conducted by the American Psychological Association, shows it is not just you as a country; we are all under a profound level of stress. If you are a parent, the level of stress is even higher than those without children.  What began as a medical crisis has turned into a severe and long term mental health crisis that will have long-lasting effects. I am gu ..read more

It’s been a about nine months since we have been living in the pandemic of COVID-19, and until now, we are not sure of exactly when the vaccines will be coming and what our new normal will look like in the coming months. As you probably already know the pandemic already had a negative impact on many people, physically, emotionally, and financially. A substantial rise in depression, anxiety, and stress is being seen since the beginning of Covid. This time can be more challenging for households dealing with food allergies as they are already under that food allergy anxiety. How is Covid Impactin ..read more

If you’re like my family, you’re probably wondering what the holidays will look like in 2020. Celebrating Thanksgiving during the pandemic is already a challenge–and that’s before you factor in raising children with food allergies! I’ve said it before, but Thanksgiving is not all about the food. In a year where many long-standing holiday traditions are either going to be tough or impossible to hold onto, it’s more important than ever that we remember this. My goal is to help families come up with safe strategies for the “new normal.” Embrace New Traditions Some people (including my husband and ..read more

Spooky season is in full swing as kids are gearing up for Halloween.  Ghouls and goblins may be scary, but there is nothing more frightening than an allergic reaction!  While most kids are overjoyed to go door-to-door stuffing their bags with candy, traditional Halloween treats aren’t always safe for children with life-threatening food allergies.  Many Halloween candies contain common allergens such as nuts, milk, egg, soy, and wheat.  The sight of a teal pumpkin on a neighbors doorstep can put a child with food allergies at ease.  A house participating in the teal pum ..read more

Food allergy anxiety is something that teachers, as well as food allergic students and their families, need to address when planning safe and inclusive activities. It has been a busy couple of weeks with standardized testing, so I wanted to do something special for my class kids.  What better way to let loose and blow off some steam than to celebrate with a party?!  There wasn’t any room in the budget for the party, but the kids worked so hard, and I wanted to reward them. So I paid out-of-pocket for some of the party expenses.  Between the never-ending stack of papers to grade ..read more

As a parent of a child with food allergies, it feels as if stress and anxiety come with the territory.   Living with the constant threat to your child’s life can feel downright debilitating at times.  Despite our relentless persistence to carry the burden on our own, the effect a food allergy diagnosis has on our child is simply unavoidable.  So what is it like to be a child living with a food allergy at school?  Earlier this month, I shared a frightening story about my son’s allergic reaction at school, and now I’d like to share what that experience was like for him.  ..read more