Coffee Cup Chats: Nut Allergies

peanutsI love peanut butter. Trail mix is my favorite snack. I add nuts to salads, pastas, and baked goods constantly. We are a nut loving family and this powerful protein is practically its own food group in our household. However, there is one thing that makes us go cold turkey on the tree nuts and it is hearing that someone we know is allergic to them. I am lucky to have three kids that can eat PB&J whenever they want. However, I know a few families that do not have this type of luxury. Hearing their stories and listening to the constant worry that surrounds their everyday life has made me take notice and get a lot more empathetic to their struggles.

grace denning picture
Grace at a playground.

I know a seven-year-old named Grace, who has an anaphylaxis allergy to peanuts and tree nuts. Her mother explained that this is a life-threatening condition. She told me: We don’t avoid nuts because they make her feel bad – it’s because they literally could kill her. Grace has had two major scares in connection with her allergy, and one time it came from skin contact alone, not ingestion.

Grace’s family and others in this situation do more than fret, they borderline agonize over keeping their child safe. To quote Grace’s mom again: We worry all the time. All. The. Time. Imagine routinely having to re-think what should be a normal activity. Every time you were brave enough to go out to eat, you would be required to locate a restaurant that was accommodating, speak with the kitchen staff, and wipe down tables and chairs as a precaution. I can barely do half these steps at home, let alone somewhere that requires you to pay for the food service.

What about flying with a nut allergy? Well it is an option, but it takes a lot of preparation and precaution. Even with strong due diligence, a person in this situation can never truly relax. My friend says they have had good success with Delta because they allow them to pre-board. This airline will also make an announcement over the loudspeaker and is very good about sanitizing. But still, you can’t let your guard down and must always carry an EpiPen. Think about all of the headaches parents go through when it comes to taking kids on an airplane…and then upgrade that headache to a migraine if you are flying with a food allergy. I think it would be so difficult to be on constant guard in everyday life, but even worse while catching a flight for vacation because you are also dealing with issues of: squirmy children that don’t want to sit in their seats, potential airport delays, and the possibility of being surrounded by grouchy travelers waiting impatiently to board.

Grace and her sister participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project for children with allergies.
Grace and her sister participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project for children with allergies.

If my child had a severe nut allergy, I would be tempted to lock them up at home so they would always be safe. However, that is not realistic. Grace (who I have already mentioned in this post) may be allergic to nuts, but she is also an active second-grader. She enjoys soccer and is a sweetheart with a wonderful smile. Grace is healthy, and only three weeks younger then my oldest daughter. Her allergy is a struggle, but thanks to a strong family and caring community, she is not defined by it.

I am very proud of the fact that my child’s elementary school is 100% peanut/nut free. Administrators and teachers work diligently to keep the building safe for every single student and inclusive to all of the kids. We get lists of safe foods and constant email reminders to check labels. Basically, our school clearly spells out the specific steps parents need to take if we want to send treats to the classroom. There are plenty of nut-free snack options, such as: fresh fruits and vegetables, Pepperidge Farms Cheddar Goldfish, GoGo Squeeze Applesauce, Doritos, Cheez-It Crackers, Dum-Dum Suckers, Oreos Chocolate fruit snackSandwich Cookie, Kraft String Cheese, Florida Natural Fruit Snacks, Plain Chocolate Hershey Bars, Skinny Pop Popcorn…and the list goes on and on and on from there. However, even with all of the help, guidance, and foresight, I still occasionally hear a grumble or a sigh.go go squeeze

I once overheard a group of adults (not from my school district), at an extra-curricular activity discussing the topic of food allergies. Some of them were complaining about how unfair it was to make a school be 100% nut free for just a few kids. I was not a part of the conversation and I was sure I misheard these people, because in my head I was running through a very confrontational dialogue. How could they not want to accommodate kids allergic to tree nuts? And by accommodate, I mean leave the Nutella at home and read ingredient lists for good snack options. It really is simple, just check labels and send safe cold lunches (or be lazy like me and mandate that your kids can only eat hot lunch because moms are not short-order cooks).

I try very hard to never take for granted the fact that my family can eat anything and everything. Fortunately I don’t have to worry that my child may be sent to an ER after accidentally ingesting a pasta sauce with grounded up cashews or a candy bar with hidden hazelnuts. That type of worry would be haunting. I stress enough about my kids crossing the street without looking or riding bikes without helmets. It would be incredibly hard to handle all of the everyday parental concerns coupled with having to examine food ingredients on a constant basis.nuts assortment

Children with nut allergies want to be included just like everyone else. My friend on the West Coast goes to a great charter school. The only complaint I have ever heard her utter is that they are not peanut free. They have students with food allergies, and the school provides them with an “allergy table” at lunch. When I heard this, my eyes got watery. Seriously, if you have an allergy you have to sit in one certain spot and can’t be by your friends? Even worse you are seated at the “sick table” because some little kids don’t really understand allergies or the polite way to label things. My friend does an unbelievable job of educating her daughter, and goes to great lengths to explain that the allergy area is not a “sick table”. My friend also thinks it’s very important to explain that food allergies are a growing concern for some, but in no way an illness or inferiority. (Well done friend…that is why we get along in life!)

Contrary to popular belief, the vast majority of people suffering from tree nut allergies do not outgrow them. Therefore it is nice to see more schools, clubs, churches, and public places going nut free. It is also important to keep in mind that while parents are struggling to keep their allergy ridden children safeguarded, those kids are also struggling. At a very young age they must be mindful to keep safe snacks on hand and sanitize their surroundings. As they grow older, they need to counteract bullying and find healthy atmospheres. If you thankfully took six minutes to read this blog post, take another five minutes to click on the link and read this tearjerker article by Zac Chelini. He is a young man that has suffered a lot due to his peanut allergy, but also found relief through helping others and attending Gonzagano peanuts University. (*This college goes to great lengths to accommodate students with severe food allergies…Go Bulldogs!)

I will get off my soapbox now, but seriously the struggle is very real for parents and children when it comes to food allergies. My family does not personally suffer from it, but we do see how it affects others. We can help by listening to their concerns and following some simple instructions. Hmmm…listening and following directions, it sounds like something every parent says and would be glad to do. Plus it will open your eyes and taste-buds to new snack options…my latest nut free munchie must-have is: Enjoy Life Mountain Mambo Nut Free Trail Mix.

fruit bowlDo you know of a great snack option not mentioned in this article? Tell us what it is by leaving a post on our Facebook Page or a comment on our website. You can also send an email to: kelly@familyfootnote.com

14 thoughts on “Coffee Cup Chats: Nut Allergies

  • April 13, 2016 at 2:45 am
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    As a Mom of two boys with severe, life-threatening peanut allergies I cannot thank you enough for this post! I had tears in my eyes that someone without a food allergic child actually gets it!!! Our oldest child started Kindergarten this year and his school is not nut free. Every school party gives me anxiety as I fear another parent will not read a label and bring something into the classroom that is not safe.
    We have found so many yummy snacks that are nut free – we love Charleston Chews because they say right on the package that they are peanut and tree nut free! We also like Nutri Grain bars and Scooby-Doo Graham Cracker Sticks as well as Annie’s bunny fruit snacks!
    Thank you again for your understanding and advocacy for children with food allergies!

    Reply
    • April 13, 2016 at 3:08 am
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      Michelle- I am constantly in awe of the parents dealing with food allergic children, you all are parenting warriors! Thank you for the kind words and also for giving us some more great snack options.

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    • April 13, 2016 at 10:27 am
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      Thank you, Michelle. When I read Kelly’s article, your awesome kiddos popped in my head. Thank you for adding to our list of options for snacks!

      Reply
  • April 13, 2016 at 3:20 pm
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    It warmed my heart to read this!!! So many friends and family members don’t understand how difficult it is to live with and protect a tree-nut child. God Bless you!!!! My 10 year old grandson found out at the age of 2 he was deathly allergic to tree nuts and artificial food dyes. Four years ago, we found a nutritional program that offers tree-nut free protein shakes and it has been a lifesaver for us. We always have a packet of shake mix and water on hand. Perfect for theme parks, ball fields, etc. Needless to say, it has changed our lives and the way we view others with food allergies. Thank you for understanding. <3

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    • April 13, 2016 at 5:41 pm
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      Kathy-Thanks for reading. What is the name of the tree-nut free shake? That is a great one to share with parents of food allergic kiddos.

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  • April 13, 2016 at 4:10 pm
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    Thanks for this awesome article! It is heart warming to hear from parents that want to help keep those with food allergies safe. One other point I would add is that many children also have life-threatening allergies to other foods like dairy, wheat, and eggs. My 2 year-old son has multiple food allergies including nuts, dairy, and weird foods like banana. I say this because I never knew this until my son developed food allergies as a baby, and it really helps if other parents can think about wiping hands at story hour, the playground and other places young kids are because a safe snack for some like goldfish, could kill another child like mine.

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    • April 13, 2016 at 5:41 pm
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      Great points Amy and Thank you so much for reading and leaving a reply!

      Reply
  • April 14, 2016 at 3:51 am
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    Thank you for writing this from a different perspective. My youngest son has multiple food allergies and we are just at the beginning of our journey. South Africa is still working at setting up policies for schools health and labelling to name a few. So it is really refreshing to hear what is happening elsewhere.

    Thank you again

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    • April 14, 2016 at 1:37 pm
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      You are welcome Lauri-Ann and thanks for reading!

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  • May 3, 2016 at 2:13 am
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    Wow! Great article. None of my kiddos have food allergies but we attend a food allergy aware school with signs posted as you enter the building. My first graders know to wash their hands and faces before school so they don’t cause any harm to their friends. My cousin also has two of her three boys with several food allergies and I’m in awe at the lengths she goes to just to attend a family holiday. More people need to understand how little they have to do to help others with food allergies! What would you do for your own child? Read the labels! Talk about it! Read articles like this!!!

    Reply
    • May 3, 2016 at 12:55 pm
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      This comment just made my heart happy as a mom to a toddler with allergies. Thanks, Julie. Love that your children wash their hands before school. Such a simple thing can really make a difference in keeping kids safe.

      Reply
    • May 4, 2016 at 1:29 am
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      Julie- Great pointers and awesome work as a caring mother! I saw that Food Allergy Awareness Week will be held on May 8-14, 2016 for this year.

      Reply
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  • August 2, 2017 at 1:31 pm
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    Thank you for writing this article. I am a mom of two allergic children. It’s rare that someone who does not deal with food allergies understands them the way you seem too. Thank you! We do everything in our power to keep our children safe but our biggest challenge is making others aware of the seriousness of food allergies. Your article touched my heart and sure started my day out right. Thanks again!

    Reply

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