Peanut Free for the Rest of Us

Somewhere, somehow, peanut (nut) allergies have gone through the roof.  For parents or individuals with severe nut allergies, it's a daily concern and a daily part of life.  For the rest of us, we don't think about it until we need to provide food for someone with an allergy... and then we panic.  Or worse yet... we don't care or belittle the situation.  I'm here today to open the doors for conversation, and to open your mind to understanding this growing epidemic.

There was a kids movie recently released - The Nut Job.  While it's a cute animated film, the reality of nut allergies can be deadly.

Whether it's snacks for a playdate or party for kids, or appetizers for an adult party, if you are providing food in the company of those with nut allergies, you should take it seriously, and be concerned and diligent.  It's easy to think these parents are overbearing.  But keep in mind, they aren't dealing with an upset stomach or a rash.  They have witnessed their child go into anaphylaxis and it's a matter of life and death.

We have several family friends who have kids with severe nut allergies.  In the last couple years, I've gone from, "what's the big deal?" to taking the time to learn so that I can be food-inclusive without putting anyone in danger.

Here are 5 tips for you - all of which have been given the nod of approval by two mothers of children with severe and deadly nut allergies.

1.  It's always better and totally ok to ask.  Parents would rather have you ask and do the right thing than guess and inadvertently put their child in danger.  Most parents are very happy to provide their own nut-free snacks or guide you to safe snacks for their child.

2.  Read labels and know what is a concern.  Ask the parents because every child with this kind of allergy is different.  Some kids need to be absent from "manufactured in a plant which processes nuts" (severe) and some kids are fine as long as they are not eating real nuts (mild).

3.  Sterilize.  Clean your surfaces with a paper towel or fresh dish rag (not a used one).  Use utensils that have been through the dishwasher.  Use common sense - you don't want to prepare a nut-free snack after making a PB&J for your own kid.  Reside can be deadly.  When entertaining someone with a severe nut allergy, require everyone who enters your home to immediately wash their hands with soap and water to eliminate any possible residue from their homes.  Sanitizer will not work.

4.  Teach your children about food allergies and being inclusive.  Nut-allergy kids sit at a separate table in the school cafeteria or have to wear special "Nut Allergy" pins at camp.  This is great for making everyone aware of the situation, and helping adults to be careful.  But unfortunately, it opens the door for ridicule from other children.  Teach your child that it's not appropriate to make fun of these kids, and they need to stick up for them if someone else is making fun of them.  Just as we teach our children to dial 911 in case of emergency, teach them about anaphylaxis and how to alert an adult immediately if someone is in distress.  This simple act can save a life.

5.  Respect the parent's wishes.  This isn't about a helicopter mother being overly neurotic and controlling the food her child eats.  It's life and death.  If the parents have rules - follow them and do not deviate.  If the parents refuse to let their child come over to your house - be gracious in understanding.  If your child goes to their house, ensure their rules are followed 100%.

While I'm certainly not the expert on this topic, I wanted to open the door and put it out there so that if you do encounter individuals with nut allergies, you are more comfortable talking about it and asking questions.

For more information:

Kids with Food Allergies - Resources
Food Allergy Research & Education - Living with Food Allergies
Peanut Free Planet


For the entire post, more resources, and nut-free printables, click HERE.

Have you had any exposure or experience with nut allergies?  This seems to be a very controversial topic lately.  Please share in the comments - I would love to hear your experiences.

Love, hugs and No Nuts, All Glory.

Holly