GOBBLE, GOBBLE: Even a Kid with Food Allergies Can Enjoy Thanksgiving
As we move closer to the holiday season, we’re beginning to look forward to winding down, spending quality time with our loved ones and, of course, doing lots of EATING. Who doesn’t anticipate Thanksgiving Day dinner?! The turkey and dressing, mashed potatoes, mac ‘n cheese, dumplings, pumpkin pie… We could go on and on….but as anyone reading this may know, many are creators of common food allergies. Argh!
For parents of kids with food allergies, Thanksgiving and the holiday season can mean just as much anxiety as excitement. No kid wants to feel deprived. You know every kid wants to be just like all the others—so how do both kids and parents practice allergy awareness without singling anyone out?
Holiday Safety Tips for Kids with Food Allergies
Allergy awareness is just what it sounds like. Make sure your kid with food allergies, you, and any friends or family hosting are reminded ahead of time to provide some safe foods. It’s not easy, we know, to keep control of all the food served, but we have some tips so your kid with food allergies can safely gobble his or her way through Thanksgiving.
To be mindful you should:
- Read labels.
- Avoid cross contamination.
- Play host. Sure, it’s a lot of effort, but when you’re the host, that’s the absolute safest way to practice allergy awareness! Make everyone feel part of it by sharing your menu in advance, so that others have the opportunity to bring and enjoy their favorite dishes.
- BYO…P. If you aren’t hosting, your child will encounter a lot of unknowns… You can be allergy aware by Bringing Your Own Plate from home, piled full of safe foods your kid loves.
- Skip the holiday feast. Just have your own meal at home, and time it to coincide with the family feast. Then head over afterwards to get in some quality visiting time. That is, if everyone’s not already in a turkey coma…)
We all know this is a food-laden time of year, so it’s important that we up our allergy awareness game over the next couple of months, to include:
- Reminding children to wash their hands and faces after eating to avoid sharing allergens with your child.
- Making sure your kid with a food allergy wears alert jewelry, like an AllerMates Allergy Bracelet to remind others of their allergy.
- Having rescue medications with your child at all times, such as epinephrine auto-injectors, Benadryl and an asthma inhaler if necessary.
- Erring on the side of caution and keeping your child away from a food if you’re not familiar enough with it to know it’s safe.
