Kaboutjie SA Mommy Blogs by Lynne Huysamen
You want your child to get all the nutrition they need. However, this can seem difficult if they have food allergies. Finding a way to provide your child with key nutrients when they are allergic to certain foods is understandably challenging.
That’s not to say it has to be. If you have a child with food allergies, keep the following tips in mind. They’ll help you ensure your kid gets essential nutrients while avoiding unsafe foods.
Guard Against Food Allergies
It’s worth noting that there are steps you can take to reduce your child’s odds of developing food allergies in the first place. For instance, during the first six months of your child’s life, exclusively breastfeeding them will reduce their chances of developing an allergy to cow’s milk later on. Additionally, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the American Academy of Pediatrics, you may be able to guard against peanut allergies by serving foods that contain peanuts as early as four months after your child is born. Studies support this claim.
That said, if your child is older, they may have already developed a food allergy. Again, don’t worry. The following points address how you can more effectively manage it.
Be Prepared for Emergencies
Your main goal is to ensure your child isn’t exposed to allergens. However, sometimes they may be. It’s essential that you be prepared when this happens.
Discuss this topic with your kid’s doctor and all other relevant specialists. They’ll let you know what items you should include in your emergency-preparedness kit.
Research Restaurants in Your Area
You might be surprised to learn just how accommodating many restaurants can be when they learn customers have food allergies. Odds are good there are plenty of eateries in your area that serve meals your child can safely eat. There are also likely communities and meet-up groups for parents in your situation. They can help you make a list of restaurants and venues you can bring your child to.
Keep a Stash of Snacks
You don’t want your child having an allergic reaction because they got a craving for a snack and ended up choosing something they shouldn’t eat. Prevent this by keeping all allergens out of reach, and by stocking your pantry with safe snacks. Of course, you should carefully read the ingredients list of all snacks you’re thinking about purchasing.
Cook At Home
It’s a simple tip, but it’s an essential one: cooking more often is key when you have a child with food allergies. When you prep meals yourself, you know they contain nutritious ingredients, and you know they don’t contain anything unsafe.
Parents want the best for their kids. It makes sense that you’d worry about the impact a food allergy will have on your child’s health and life. Luckily, as these tips demonstrate, that impact doesn’t need to be as significant as you might assume.
