How to L.O.V.E. Your Food Allergy Friends

L

Look to food
allergy families for guidance. 
Most food allergy families are happy to work with you to determine
safe options.  Often, there are simple
alternative ingredients or activities to keep it safe.  Talk to food allergy families- most have
done the research and can make your job easier by providing ideas.

O

Offer non-food
treats. Food and fun often go hand-in-hand, but when you have a food
allergy that food can make it dangerous. Offer non-food treats at events to
keep it safe.  Pinterest is FULL of
easy options that will remove the food, not the fun!

V

Verify ingredients by
reading labels.  The top 8 allergens
(Wheat, Milk, Tree Nuts, Peanuts, Soy, Fish, Shellfish, and Egg) will be
called out in an ingredient list.  For
those that are severely allergic, products processed in the same facility as
their allergens can potentially trigger a reaction.  Taking time to read a label (or show it to
a food allergy family for verification) can prevent unintended exposure to
allergens.

E

Exclude the food,
not the person!  We all know how it
feels to be excluded.  Offer safe foods
or non-food options so that everyone can participate in all the fun, and stay
safe!