Tips For a Safe Halloween with Food Allergies

Here is my recent article for Central Coast Family Newspaper...enjoy!

Halloween is a great time for kids and adults alike. My husband and I dress up every year and the children get a kick out of it! However, as you can imagine, a holiday filled with candy can make the event a bit tricky when dealing with food allergies. How do you allow the kids to enjoy the holiday and keep them safe at the same time? Thanks to my friends in the allergen community, there are many alterative plans to making this a safe and fun Halloween for all. Listed below are a few sites worth checking out.

The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network’s annual Trick-or-Treat for Food Allergy gets the kids involved with the cause. By collecting coins instead of candy, kids raise funds for FAAN’s food allergy education and research programs. Parents can get involved too by taking a collection bag to work, the gym, local stores, etc. Last year, this event raised over $17,000 and every bit helps! To register go to www.foodallery.org/Support/Halloween or call 1-800-929-4040.

Halloween Food Allergy Twitter Party – Join hosts Jennifer B. of Food Allergy Buzz (www.foodallergybuzz.com) and Ruth Smith of Best Allergy Sites (www.bestallergysites.com) on October 2nd, 9:30pm – 10:30pm (EST) for a great discussion from experienced parents on how to make a fun and safe Halloween. These are amazing women that are extremely involved and knowledgeable in the allergen community so I am sure it will be an extremely informative event. Follow the link to http://www.socializr.com/event/foodallergies/halloween and join the fun. All are welcome so if you can’t attend, please encourage a friend or relative. Prizes will also be given at the event so don’t miss out!

Kids with Food Allergies (www.kidswithfoodallergies.org) have numerous tips including an eight page downloadable guide to help families have a safe Halloween both at home and at school. Included are suggested activities, crafts and games that are fun for everyone. My favorite part is the recipes which include a Carmel Apple Dip which can be made virtually allergen free. In addition there is an amazing gluten free pumpkin cookie which I will have to make for my gluten free friends. Yum! KFA is an amazing source for all things food allergic that has helped my family through the years.

Here are some suggestions that we have found to be very successful in our own home:
1. Look for community events at your local church, community center or lodge that promote games, rides, etc.
2. Host a Halloween party such as pumpkin carving contest that would include safe treats and snacks.
3. Candy Swap – Carry safe candy with you to swap immediately or when you get home. Presents such as toys and coins in exchange for the unsafe candy always does well in my home.

With a little bit of planning and creative thinking, Halloween can be a great event for all. As mentioned, my kids love that we dress up – this year fairies for the girls and Star Wars for the boys. Hope you all have a safe and happy Halloween!

Another great Food Allergy Link!

Prior to learning of Alexis' food allergies, I considered myself to be a rather good cook and I loved it. Baking, ironically, not so much. After she was diagnosed, I lost all desire to cook and create recipes. It was as if I was fearful and the fun of creating recipes was taken away from me. I just couldn't imagine that I could create delicious meals without dairy, eggs and nuts.
When Alexis turned three and Ryan was just a year, my mother came across a book that changed our lives...What's To Eat? by Linda Coss. This was the first cookbook that I had ever seen that taught me how to cook without using dairy, eggs, tree nuts or peanuts - and the recipes were delicious! Not only that, included are menus and suggestions to help you in the kitchen when dealing with food allergies. This book literally changed my life and I am so grateful as this book gave me the desire to create again (and look where we are now)!
Linda Coss also has a great website that not only has here amazing cookbooks, general tips and information regarding food allergies, but also a comprehensive list of food allergy sites. For more information go to http://www.foodallergybooks.com/. Thanks Linda, your amazing!!!

New Favorite Added to our Links...

ActiveAide is a manufacturer of Auto Injector Pouches & Epipen Holders and other aides for anaphylaxis sufferers Worldwide and new to our list. There are two things that we particularly like are the pouches that have a hook to attach to the outside of the backpack and the photo ID card.

Alexis is now in 3rd grade and has two medical bags; one large for the classroom that the teacher and other educational staff can access, and one small medical holder that she carries in her lunch bag that contains one Epipen and two individual liquid Benedryl pouches (they are tough to get out of the packaging so I open them ahead of time). The holder she carries now is meant to be placed on her waist but we have found that this gets in they way of her physical activities. The waist carrier would move around and annoy her not to mention look awkward with her clothing.
We plan to order the holder that clips to the backpack and will let you know how we like it.

You can review their site at www.activeaide.com.