"Toddlers Nutrition Guide: Managing Food Allergies and Healthy Eating Habits"
What is a food allergy?
Food allergies occur when an immune system overreacts to certain proteins found in foods and identifies it as harmful, sometimes with serious and even life-threatening results.
While any food may cause an allergic reaction, 90% of severe food allergies in children are caused by just 6 foods or groups: milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat, soy and tree nuts. Most children outgrow these allergies in early childhood; however, peanut, fish and shellfish allergies often remain permanent as do allergies to vegetables and fruits.
Food allergies typically begin quickly after ingestion, within minutes after being eaten, and can affect multiple organs. To address a severe reaction it’s advised that individuals carry an adrenaline auto-injector as well as calling triple zero (000) immediately for emergency assistance.
Before changing any food in your child’s diet, always consult their physician first. If their allergy is severe, having an emergency kit stocked with adrenaline epinephrine (epinephrine). In general, children with severe allergies benefit from eating a wide variety of food in order to obtain enough essential vitamins and nutrients that support growth. A registered dietitian can assist you in identifying which allergenic items they’re sensitive to while meeting nutritional needs of growing children.
How do I know if my child has a food allergy?
Food allergies are immune system reactions to substances or substances perceived to be dangerous for consumption. Their severity ranges from mild to severe and in some instances life-threatening; children often outgrow some allergies while others remain throughout life.
Allergies typically produce symptoms that resemble bug bites – itchy, raised bumps with pale centers (hives). Allergies may also affect skin, mouth or stomach and those suffering severe allergies may have trouble breathing or swallowing (known as anaphylaxis) which could result in blood pressure drop and subsequent symptoms like racing heartbeat, tight throat or wheezing that lead to shock or even death.
A general practitioner (GP) can administer a skin-prick test to check for allergies in your child, before referring them to an allergy and immunology specialist or dietitian, who will then conduct further tests to identify which foods are safe.
Once food allergies have been identified, children need to avoid all food and cutlery that have come in contact with that food, which may prove challenging and increase the risk of nutritional deficiencies if their child goes through a picky-eating phase or multiple allergies. By law, 10 allergens must be listed on food labels – these include cow’s milk, eggs, wheat, peanuts tree nuts (including almonds and walnuts), soy products, fish shellfish sesame.
How do I navigate food allergies?
As your child develops, teach her how to manage food allergies safely. Practice food preparation skills safely – using separate cooking utensils and areas, cleaning dishes between uses and keeping allergy-friendly foods readily available are all crucial parts of effective management. Assist her in understanding her allergies by explaining their symptoms and significance. Encourage her to read and identify ingredients on food labels of unfamiliar products. Do not rely solely on hand sanitizer as a protection measure against food allergens; teach her to always wash hands before and after eating (even if using hand sanitizer) and to wash toys that come into contact with allergens. Inform all caregivers (including babysitters) of her allergies, how to react in case of an allergic reaction such as administering an epipen, as well as providing them with her food allergy action plan and emergency card.
Remember the difference between food allergies and intolerances: people who are lactose intolerant typically enjoy pizza and ice cream without issue, whereas people with dairy allergies risk allergic reactions like hives and swelling which may even lead to life-threatening anaphylaxis if consumed in large amounts.
Maintain calm and show yourself some kindness. While food allergy management requires high vigilance, mistakes will inevitably happen from time to time. Finding support within a FARE-recognized Food Allergy Support Group can provide invaluable comfort.
What should I do if my child has a food allergy?
Children suffering from food allergies require an emergency plan that includes autoinjectors (EpiPen(r) or Auvi-Q(r), in case they experience an anaphylactic reaction. Consult with a pediatrician or allergist who can identify what foods cause symptoms and devise a customized treatment strategy plan.
Avoiding allergenic food items is key to treating food allergies in children. This means reading and understanding all food labels – even those you’ve served before at home where your child can eat them safely – as ingredients and manufacturing processes may change over time. When dining out, be mindful when reading menus carefully or asking about dishes which could contain potential allergens; legally required by law are 10 common allergens must be listed clearly on food labels.
Some children outgrow their allergies over time, while others require different strategies such as a low-allergen diet to effectively manage them. Pediatricians may suggest gradually introducing peanuts between 4-6 months in infants at high risk, such as those with eczema or egg allergies; however, you will receive advice specific to your child from his or her healthcare provider.
FARE and Twigtale offer online book publishing platforms to make this task easy, enabling parents and guardians to create customized books to teach children about food allergies and the rules they need to abide by in order to remain safe.
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