It seems that food allergies are everywhere these days. More than 12 million Americans have food allergies, including 4.7 percent of children under age 5. The good news is that there are excellent resources online, plus products and strategies to help parents and kids get by.
Best All-Around Sites for Info
and Resources
Make sure you're up to speed on the latest allergy findings, product recalls, and advocacy issues.
• Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network: The go-to guide for the latest info on food allergies. Sign up for allergy alerts so you know when a product has been recalled, and check out recipes and products, which include children's books, cookbooks, epinephrine auto-injector carriers, and more.
• Food Allergy Initiative: Tons of tips on how to manage food allergies at home, in school, and at camp. It also offers strategies for eating out and traveling, as well as genius restaurant cards that explain a specific allergy and who to call in an emergency—in different languages.
• Kids with Food Allergies: Find an allergy buyer's guide, links to allergy articles and research, support forums, and more.
• Food Allergy Website Just for Kids: Part of the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network this site for kids has allergy-related projects, coloring pages, and activities.
• Beyond a Peanut: Created by a mother whose child has allergies, this site sells allergy flashcards with simple explanations and images—perfect for bringing grandparents, caregivers, and friends up to speed on food allergies.
• Allergy Haven: Listings of recommended allergy-related books.
Allergy-Related Products and Accessories
Kids with allergies need to carry their medication at all times, but let's give them something cooler than a plastic baggie:
• Take in Case: Invented by a mom, this new carrier straps onto your (or an older child's) leg, so you can forgo the bag altogether.
• KozyEpi: Find a fun selection of cute, whimsical pouches for one or two EpiPens.
• Allergypack: This site carries cool, rugged carriers.
• Epi-Access International: Buy a carrier with space for one inhaler plus a photo and emergency-contact information.
• Medicine Bags: If you're carrying more than just epinephrine, then opt for either a bright red medicine bag that holds a lot and stands out in your bag, or choose the heavy-duty, clear nylon medicine bags—sort of a fancy resealable baggie that comes with an emergency card.
• Lunch bags: If your child brings lunch or snacks to school or day camp, try these red cooler bags, which can be customized with your child's name and allergy.
• Allergy stickers: Avoid the risk of having someone feed your child the wrong food with pantry stickers that clearly indicate which food is safe and which is off-limits. You can also get allergy alert stickers that indicate your child's specific allergies.
Allergy Bracelets and IDs
When you're away from your child, a medical bracelet ensures that a caregiver, teacher, or friend's parent has easy access to emergency information.
• Lauren's Hope: Choose from a large selection of tasteful "medical jewelry," including sports bracelets on subtle black bands and color-changing mood beads with Swarovski crystals.
• Well Alarm: Make the allergy obvious with a bracelet or necklace that features either a peanut, a bee, or a shellfish charm, or customize a dog-tag necklace with your information.
• STAT Kids: Check out the bright red silicone wristbands with eye-catching white lettering identifying your child's food allergy, in sizes to fit toddlers through teens. You can choose from a variety of food allergies or pick one that says "multiple food allergies."
Safe Desserts
Kids with allergies love sweets too! Now, they can have their pick of healthy, allergy-safe cookies, candy, and chocolates.
• Divvies: Pick up homemade cookies and cupcakes, as well as a wide selection of chocolate bars, chocolate chips, jelly beans, and popcorn. Great for gifts.
• Home Free: Started by a mom, Home Free sells cookies and coffee cake that do not contain peanuts, tree nuts, and dairy—and all are made in a dedicated facility.
• Vermont Nut Free Chocolate Company: This site is a savior for chocoholic tots with allergies. Load up on chocolate bugs, snowflakes, flowers, and footballs—as well as chocolate lollipops and the most amazing dark-, white-, and milk-chocolate pretzels.
