Food Allergy: Resources for a New Diagnosis

A new diagnosis, epinephrine and a list of foods to avoid…

Now what?

A new diagnosis of food allergies is a life-changing event.  While your doctor or allergist might stress the importance of avoiding trigger foods, recognizing reactions and administering medication, no one prepares you to adjust your lifestyle to meet the demands of this new diagnosis.

You Are Not Alone

Public education and awareness surrounding food allergies are increasing as the condition becomes more and more prevalent in the United States and worldwide.  Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) states that 15 million Americans are affected with food allergies, with 1 in 13 children under 18 years of age suffering from at least one food allergy.  Researchers estimate the cost of children’s food allergies in the United States as $25 billion per year (FARE, 2015).

More and more people are understanding the dangers of food allergy, which occurs when the body recognizes food protein as an invader and launches an inflammatory attack against it.  As understanding grows surrounding the seriousness of anaphylaxis, few people truly grasp the broad effects that a food allergy diagnosis can have on a family.

Daily Challenges

A few daily concerns for the food-allergic family include:

• Grocery shopping
• Reading labels
• Finding recipes
• Making ingredient substitutions
• Learning the various ingredient names of allergens
• Avoiding cross-contamination

At Thrive Inside Nutrition, I take the panic out of new diagnoses by providing the basic nutritional knowledge you need to confidently select and prepare food for your growing child while keeping allergens, safety and nutritional requirements in mind.

As a parent who has been in your shoes, I blend my expertise with compassion and practicality to help your family feel empowered once again. Let’s start with some allergy-friendly resources that are absolute life-savers when you’re faced with a new diagnosis.

References:

FARE (2015). Facts and Statistics. [web page]. Retrieved from https://www.foodallergy.org/facts-and-stats