Vacationing with food allergic kids can be challenging; at times, daunting. However, can you imagine going without them?  Trusting others to make sure they don't eat something they
shouldn't?  Who will pack their lunches correctly?  Will they know where to go to get your child's favorite waffles?  Who, besides you, knows where to go in case of an emergency? 

Unimaginable.  ALMOST... but not impossible! 

Having just returned from a week long getaway WITHOUT our food allergic kids, we realized that with the right resources, there ARE others who can successfully take care of our children.  After rummaging through the very large packet of information I left for my mother-in-law, here are the resources shefound the most helpful.  
 

OUR TOP 4 FOOD ALLERGY RESOURCES CHECKLIST

1.   EMERGENCY/FOOD ALLERGY ACTION PLAN

     -  Numbers for;  Doctors, Allergist, Hospital, Neighbors
        Close Friends.
     -  Map Outlining local streets; mark where the important 
        places are located.  
     -  Copy of Food Allergy Action Plan with food allergies clearly noted. Also, mark what reactions to  watch for, particularly if you manage anaphylactic and non-anaphylactic reactions.    

   2.  SAFE FOOD LIST
A  listing of foods your child can safely consume.  Include specific brand names of snacks/
snack bars, candies, cereals, and pre-packaged products they eat.  We include fruits and vegetables, particularly those which may not be as common in other households such as edamame and bokchoy 

  3. SAFE PLACES TO EAT     
Favorite Restaurants and Places you frequent.  Include specifics on what is a safe, ie, they can have the hamburgers; you can order with the bun but kids won't eat it, no cheese and nothing on them.  Even better, bring your own buns, such as Rudi's Hamburger Buns. Sorbets; the soft option from the machine and the 'psychedelic sorbet' in the container.  

  4.  SAFE FOOD CABINET
An allergy friendly cabinet or pantry shelf.  Probably one of the easiest ways to put your caretakers and your children at ease with you gone.  Load up this designated area with your allergy~friendly snacks!    

So, get out there and start planning your own getaway, even if just for a night or two! 

Daniella Knell, is the owner of Smart Allergy~Friendly Education, S.A.F.E.  As a mom of 2 having 6 of the top 8 food allergens, she is actively involved in raising allergy awareness within
her community.  As an allergy awareness educator and consultant, you can also find her   
presenting in local schools and hospitals, blogging and offering one-on-one consulting.
Looking for allergy-friendly ideas for your household?  
Check out our ideas on http://www.smartallergy.blogspot.com/, Facebook,  Linked In or Twitter


    
    
                                 

March has been a difficult month for the food allergy community.  At the beginning of the month, we found out that on February 20th a bright and beautiful Michigan native at the age of 27 suffered a severe reaction to a peanut allergy while visiting Las Vegas.  Chantel Giacalone is currently in a coma in a Las Vegas hospital. Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family.  Soon after, we learned the heart breaking news of 19 year old Cameron Groezinger Fitzpatrick and shortly after we heard about the shocking and mysterious loss of 12 year old Maia Santarelli-Gallo.  We will never know what these families are truly feeling, but for most of us these stories are our worst fears.  This is something that none of us should ever have to go through and hopefully never will.  But these stories are also lessons and if we turn a blind eye then they will never end.   

When we hear these stories, it is perfectly normal for all of us to have a level of sadness, fear and anxiety, but if these feelings are consuming you and your family's life then it is time to take a break.  We all need to take care of ourselves first and foremost, otherwise you won't be able to take care of the ones that you love.  We want to be our child's protector, but we can't do that if we are falling apart.

I recently attended the FACES of Michigan meeting and the topic was anxiety and allergies.  Dr. K.C. Lazzara who is a licensed psychologist was our guest speaker.  He gave us some great tips and also an opportunity to look deep within ourselves and find ways to improve how we handle our fears and our children's food allergies.  One tip was limiting your displays of distress around your children.  We shouldn't introduce our worries into the food allergy mix.  He stated that a mother's mood sets the tone for the entire house.  All of us laughed in the room because we all know that this is so true. So if we are feeling scared and anxious then everyone within our four walls will also feel the same way.  Dr. Lazzara also stated that one of the biggest factors that effects anxiety is lack of sleep and I am sure we all can use some extra Zzzzzz's. 

If you are ever having an overwhelming sense of fear and anxiety, you may benefit from speaking to a professional.  Never ever feel ashamed or embarrassed for wanting to better yourself.  There are so many great resources out there for us.  One of those is Food Allergy Coach.  I am sure you are very familiar with the blogs and facebook pages of  Sloane MIller and Gina Clowes, but you may not  know that they are food allergy coaches and consultants. If you are interested in finding a Food Allergy Coach, click here.

I have listed some other resources that may be helpful:

Tasterie is offering No Nuts Moms Group Members 50 percent off of their first Tasterie Box.  In order to take advantage of this great offer, enter coupon code nonuts50 at checkout. 

Tasterie delivers healthy, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free and other allergy-free food and snacks to your doorstep every month.               

Tasterie offers two different box options. The first option is the Signature Box. This Box is $20.00 and includes foods and snacks with full size meal replacements, power snacks, sample treats and a dessert.  It also includes recipes and health tips.

The second option is the Snack Box.  This box is $15.00 and includes grab and go snack options that are easy to  take on trips, vacations or to help pack a healthy lunch. 

To learn more about Tasterie and to place your order, please go to their website.

Peanut Free Zone is offering No Nuts Moms Group Members 10 percent off all of their products.  Simply enter coupon code NNMG at checkout to receive this special offer.

Peanut Free Zone has products, information and resources to help increase the safety and awareness of peanut allergies and all food allergies.  They have signs, chef cards, tattoos, stickers, lunch bags and thank you cards. 

Go to their website and order now. 

For the seventh consecutive year, the Reading Fightin Phils will host a Food Allergy Awareness Peanut Free Game in 2013. The Food Allergy Awareness Peanut Free Game is scheduled to be held on Thursday, August 22nd at 7:05 PM. 

There will be a designated section behind home plate in Red Section 5 that will be cleaned of peanut residue with a special cleaning agent before the game. There will be Fightin Phils staff in the area to ensure that customers with the allergies sit in the specific section. Peanut items will not be sold at the ballpark on this night. The special promotion will be an exciting post-game fireworks display. 

To ensure seats in the designated areas, call and reserve your tickets today! Tickets start as low as $8 per ticket for groups of 20 or  more and $9 for individual tickets. For more information regarding Food Allergy Awareness Peanut Free Night, contact Tim McGee at 610-375-8469 EXT. 244.