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Hosting Hypoallergenic Playdates
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"I can't have that," said Jackson's friend shyly. "I'm allergic to wheat."
I hastily withdrew the cookie I'd just offered, grateful the boy was old enough to articulate that he had a food allergy.
"How about a popsicle instead?" I asked. "First, I'll call your mom to make sure those are okay for you to have."
He nodded enthusiastically. Snack crisis averted.
Usually when one of my boys' friends visits for the first time, I ask his or her parents if the child has any health conditions or nutritional needs I should know about. But this child was a neighbor we see often, and I simply hadn't heard the scoop over the garden fence yet.
"I can't have root beer, either," he said. "My mom says there's wheat in that, too."
"That's good to know," I said, thankful for the intel while also breathing a sigh of relief that soda is a parties-only beverage at our house.
"What happens if you eat wheat?" asked Jackson.
We both looked at his friend, who shrugged (ah, boys) and said his stomach got upset, and sometimes his throat got itchy and puffy.
After Jackson's friend left, we looked online at www.mayoclinic.com and www.foodallergyinitiative.com for information about wheat allergies. We learned that wheat appears in many foods that you wouldn't think to check, like some brands of ice cream and hot dogs. We also learned to be food label detectives, searching for code words that indicate the presence of wheat, like "gluten," a wheat protein.
Jackson took note of common wheat-free snacks, like fresh fruits and vegetables, and asked if we could make sure to have those on hand for his friend's next visit.
"Of course, buddy," I said. "You're a good friend to think of that."
"Well, I don't want his head get all puffy and explode!" said Jackson.
"Yes, we don't want that," I said, trying for my best mom poker face.
We also found another site (www.glutenfreemall.com) that sells fun, wheat-free snacks.
Here are some tips for hosting an allergy-safe playdate or party:
Member Comments On…
Hosting Hypoallergenic Playdates
Some common symptoms of food allergies/intolerances include:
Rashes or eczema, especially on the face
Diaper Rash
Hives
Runny nose, watery eyes, or sneezing
Diarrhea, gas, or vomiting
Irritability
Temperament changes
Puffy eyes
Nasal congestion
One way to prevent food allergies is not to introduce commonly-known allergenic foods until later in your baby's life, at 1, 2 or even 3 years old. This approach is referred to as "delayed introduction." The foods that children react to are those foods they eat often. The most common food allergens that cause problems in children are eggs, milk, peanuts, soy and wheat. A more complete list includes:
Artificial colors and preservatives
Berries
Chocolate
Citrus Fruits
Cow's milk
Eggs
Fish and shellfish
Nuts
Peanuts
Soy
Tomatoes
Wheat
Yeast
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I think it's important to note that Play Doh also contains wheat. It's not just food items you need to be careful about!
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My daughter has a severe peanut and tree nut allergy. I would never drop her off for a play-date without talking to the parent ahead of time. I have also taught my daughter to be responsible about her allergy. She is not allowed to eat any snacks unless an adult can read the ingredient label. We have found that educating her classmates, friends and even our relatives is the best way to avoid any problems. As to the parent who commented about parents of children with allergies "forcing the issue" onto others...I can only say yes! I would rather be forceful and teach others about the seriousness of the allergy than have my child have an allergic reaction and end up in the hospital or worse!
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This is a big topic these days. I have food allergies so I get the seriousness of the issue. BUT, as a parent who voluneers during many of our childrens extra curriculars, I've experienced too many times, parents w/ allergy child. that force the problem on the volunteers and/or the other children participants. For instance 1 of our sons has to eat nuts, especially if he is burning a ton of calories, but another boy is aller.to nuts, should my sons health be compromised to accomodate another child? Where should the line be drawn?
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As a mom to a 8 yr. old with multiple life threatening food allergies I would never drop off my child for a playdate without handing the adult in charge his Epi-pen and also sending his own "safe" snacks. Food allergies are complex, and things like contamination is a big problem- did the mom in this story wash the wheat (from the cookie) from her hands before touching the popsicle, and did her child still have cookies- and then wash up afterwards. This article is a nice introduction to food allergies, but it glosses over much that is important information- for a better look at food allergies please check out FAAN's website at www.foodallergy.org
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