Ways to Manage Your Child's Food Allergies

 

When you have a child, there are some easy parts and hard parts about parenting

. While it’s fulfilling to watch them learn and grow as they get older, it can also be pretty challenging. Many parents today are facing one particular hurdle with food allergies. It seems like food allergies, ranging from eggs to nuts, has exploded in recent years. At the top of the list, cow’s milk is the most common food allergy in infants and young children. In fact, according to Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), approximately 2.5 percent of children under the age of three are allergic to milk. This milk allergy is typically formed in the first year of life, and happens in children that have high levels of cow’s milk antibodies in their blood. Allergists often rely on these blood tests to determine how likely a child is to outgrow the milk allergy. 

When a child is allergic to dairy, the reaction to milk varies. It can be a mild case of hives or it can be a severe (and potentially life-threatening) anaphylaxis reaction. If your child has a more pronounced dairy allergy, your pediatrician will likely prescribe a non-dairy diet in addition to an epinephrine auto-injector (such as an EpiPen®, Auvi-Q® or Twinject®) that you should carry with you at all times.

Parents often find that they can master the dairy-free lifestyle quite easily after some practice, and seamlessly manage the child’s dairy allergy at home without any issues. However, what happens when you go outside of the home? Does it become difficult to make sure that your child stays safe? It’s easy to feel nervous about this, but take a deep breath. With a few simple strategies, you can manage your child’s dairy allergy effectively and easily!

VEGAN CHEESE ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS AND OTHER IMPORTANT NON-DAIRY FOODS YOU NEED TO KNOW

If your child has a dairy allergy, he/she needs to stay away from all dairy components. Please note that this is very different than lactose intolerance. When a person is lactose intolerant, he/she has trouble processing lactose (a sugar found in dairy products) and can experience some digestive issues like gas, bloating, and/or diarrhea.  While lactose intolerant people can typically consume some dairy products, children with a milk allergy cannot.

Products like vegan cheese alternatives (GO Veggie! produces a completely dairy-free version in its purple packaging do not have any milk ingredients. Luckily, vegan cheese alternatives taste and melt just like the real thing, so you (or your child’s caregiver outside the home) still can make plenty of childhood favorite foods like macaroni and cheese or pizza! If your child has a dairy allergy it may actually be helpful to zero in on some other vegan products in addition to vegan cheeses, because you know there won’t be any dairy component. Of course your child can still have meats and eggs if you’d like, but there are so many great (and delicious) vegan products out there, even child-approved cookies!

Whatever foods you buy, pay close attention to the labels.

  According to the FARE website, the federal Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) requires that all packaged food products sold in the United States must list the word “Milk” on the label if it’s a used ingredient. However, the use of “May Contain” advisory labels is voluntary, and manufacturers often change their ingredient list – so be extra cautious. There are many variations of milk (provided by FARE’s helpful checklist to be aware of, and keep the “hidden sources” of milk (i.e. deli slicers that also touch cheese) in mind, too. If someone else is taking care of your child (whether it’s a grandparent or daycare facility), provide the essential education. Teach them about labels and the best/worst foods they can have; this will ensure your child’s safety even when you are not there.

THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX OF A DAIRY ALLERGY

While a dairy allergy will impact what your child eats, it does not have to change their life! They can still go to play dates, enjoy birthday parties, and spend time with their friends. Be sure to get the scoop on any food items before these events, and pack alternative meal options if it’s required. There are plenty of creative things out there for parents today, too. For example there are mobile applications to scan food labels specifically aimed at food allergies, there are stylish printed allergy cards that you can give to caregivers, and there are even allergy wristbands that kids can wear outside of the home. While it may be challenging to manage a dairy allergy, it certainly doesn’t need to be debilitating or discouraging. There are plenty of wonderful dairy-free recipes out there, and plenty of ways to keep your child safe. Remember, you are doing a great job, and you’ve got this covered!