If your child or a child you know has food allergies, it can be difficult to pack a nutritious, allergen-free lunch daily.
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America about 20 million people in the U.S. have food allergies and about 4 million U.S. children have food allergies. Most food allergy reactions stem from nine foods.
Most common food allergens:
- Milk
- Soy
- Eggs
- Wheat
- Peanuts
- Tree nuts
- Sesame
- Fish
- Shellfish
Milk is the most common allergen for children. Egg and peanut are the next most common.
What To Consider
Allergic conditions are one of the most common health issues affecting children in the U.S. So, there are some points to consider when shopping for lunch options at Lifesource Natural Foods.
Tips for managing allergies at school:
- Understand ingredient labels and help your child to learn as well. This will help you identify allergens in packaged foods. It’s important to know what’s in your child’s food and to be able to let others know as well. The FDA requires all food labels to include the top eight most common allergens plainly, so it’s easy to identify. However, it’s still important to check ingredients every time in case a recipe that was once allergy-friendly has since changed.
- Help your child understand what they’re allergic to. This will help them identify foods that could cause an allergic reaction. It is also helpful to teach them how to ask questions to other adults and to explain their allergy. Foodallergy.org has helpful tips for teaching a child how to identify “safe” foods versus “unsafe” foods.
- Think of allergies as an opportunity to explore new foods. It can be more fun for a child to focus on what they can have, as opposed to what they can’t. It’s also important for maintaining optimal nutrition to include a wide variety of food groups in their meals.
- Wash hands while prepping lunches to promote overall food safety habits and avoid cross-contamination.
A quick Google search for “allergen-free school lunches” can yield allergen-free meals results and tips. Children’s Health has a free, downloadable guide for allergen-free meal ideas. It’s important to thoroughly research allergens to ensure meal ideas are compliant for your child. A doctor can also assist you with understanding safe allergy-free options.
For questions about allergens or to schedule an allergy test, contact Willamette ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery.
“Have always found the staff and doctors here to be helpful. This was my first visit with Dr. Prze after Dr. Allan retired, and he was very friendly, enthusiastic, and thorough. It was obvious he had read my chart carefully before my checkup.”