A New Color for Halloween

Each Halloween, we go through the same preparations as most families.  My kids decide that they want to dress up like minions, zombies, trees, or even dishwashers.  We put together costumes and feel great about our creative juices at work.  Even though my children have food allergies, I allow them to trick or treat and accept all that is given to them on Halloween. Once we are home, we go through the treats with our children and teach them about the candy that has ingredients with allergens.  Next, we teach them about other treats that they should avoid.  This includes candies that lack ingredient labels or homemade items.  This process is surprisingly devoid of tears from my children despite that they are left with a fraction of their candy.  It is still scary because their haul includes plenty of treats that are harmful.

In an effort to help make Halloween less scary for children with food allergies, my family is participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project lead by the Food Allergy Research and Awareness (FARE) group.  This is a campaign to help raise awareness of food allergies in our communities and to encourage people to offer non-food treats on Halloween.  Teal is the color for food allergy awareness and by having painted, teal pumpkin on our porch, families will know that we offer non-food treats.

I have a bucket full of non-food treats that includes themed stickers, pencils, rings, and skeletons for Halloween.  Our other bucket will include items that are gluten, peanut, milk, and egg free.

Have fun,be safe, and stop by if you can!  

A Different Look at Travel and Food Allergies

I have shared my insights about traveling with children and food allergies, but I have not yet shared my insights of traveling without my children.  Leaving your children behind in the care of someone else is never easy for a parent, but for a parent of a child with food allergies, it adds another layer of complexity.   Sure, I will worry about if they are polite and good, or if they brush their teeth and comb their hair, or if they show up to soccer in the wrong uniform.  But what if they eat something that makes them sick…really sick.  Oh yeah, that.

Well, I can’t worry about that too much.  If I did, I would never send him to school or let him leave my side.  What I can do is prepare and educate my children and their caregivers. 

Beyond the extra pairs of underwear, toothbrushes, and favorite books, I have packed every imaginable food and medication that my son might need. 

Here is a list:

Extra Epi-Pen:  My husband and I have been limping along with one epi-pen that we swap between the two of us, but this trip highlighted the need for an extra pen.  One for each set of grandparents.

The Med Bag:  Benadryl, children’s pain relievers, allergy medication, asthma inhalers.

Breakfast: Freshly baked allergy friendly, Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins and single serving containers of coconut yogurt.

Lunch:  I didn’t go so far as to make lunches, but I have a care package of lunch items. 

Dinner:  I made reservations for dinner for my husband and I and I also have some easy dinners packed for my son.  Black Bean Soup Kit (boxed black bean soup, can of corn, and a can of black beans) and a Bean Nacho Kit (allergy friendly refried beans, tortilla chips, and dairy free cheese).

Snacks: Lays, Enjoy Life Chocolate Bars, GF pretzels, cookies.

Dairy Free Section:  milk, butter, cheese, and ice cream.

Lunch Box: They will be out and about for soccer and having his food packed in the manner that it is packed for him at school helps to decrease his anxiety. 

Toiletries:  Lotion and shampoo can have food based ingredients, so my son always has a bag of items that are safe for him to use.

I have yet to pack for myself for a trip that I am taking in less than 12 hours, but my children are ready for the long weekend with their grandparents.  Some might say that a weekend away for a married couple is a carefree getaway from the everyday details of family life.  Getting away is all about the details and I know that we will have a wonderful time.  I have my wonderful children and their grandparents to thank for knowing how to make good choices and being prepared to handle any situation.