Thriving with Food Allergies

Last month, Chicago was the host city for the first ever THRIVE Allergy Expo at the McCormick Place the weekend of April 18-19, 2009. THRIVE’S mission is to bring together people with life threatening food allergies, environmental allergies, gluten intolerance and Celiac disease and provide one place to come together, become informed, live better and thrive! THRIVE is the only allergy and gluten free expo in North America, but similar shows have taken place in Europe. The expo was focused on the education and simplification of lives affected by food allergies through product sampling, seminars, expert panels and cooking classes.

My dairy, egg, tree nut and peanut free bakery Sweet Alexis attended the two day expo. We provided samples and information regarding our products and were able to meet hundreds of families across the region suffering from life threatening food allergies. In addition, THRIVE invited me to sit on their national advisory board to provide them with insight and expert knowledge of the everyday accounts of living and raising children with multiple food allergies. This is an incredible honor as I am able to share information on how we are raising happy and well adjusted children with the help of community and school support and offer this as hope to other families struggling with this issue.

In addition, I was asked to sit on MedicAlert’s panel of experts comprised of MedicAlert members and professionals. Here we shared stories and personal experiences on how life threatening food allergies has affected our lives and the crucial lifesaving service MedicAlert provides to us. As a member and supporter of MedicAlert, it is part of my mission that anyone with a hidden disability utilizing this amazing service.

As a MedicAlert member, first responders are able to call a 24 hour hotline to be provided with all the critical information pertaining to one’s hidden disability. If you are in an accident and not able to respond to questions, the information provided can be the difference between life and death. In addition, MedicAlert will notify a designated family member if an accident has occurred. This type of security has offered Alexis a priceless sense of independence and freedom.

Other companies in attendance included Angel Service Dogs represented by Riley and her dog Rocco. Riley suffers from life threatening peanut allergies and her dog Rocco is trained to alert if any peanuts are in her presence. Also there was Peanut Free Planet which is an online store of all things allergen free. This is excellent for the consumer as one can purchase products from various companies such as ours and Vermont Nut free Chocolates, for example, with one shipping charge.

In addition were two of the nation’s first “brick and mortar” allergy free shops, Free From in Chicago and Allergy Free Shop in Miami. Both stores provide not only allergen free foods, but apparel, bath and body items, household items and all things necessary for the allergen and gluten free communities.

Next year, THRIVE plans to be in Atlanta, Georgia and Denver, Colorado. For more information you can go online to the THRIVE website at www.thriveallergyexpo.com or to www.sweetalexis.com. Together we can provide awareness, simplify our lives, be happy, well adjusted and thrive!