One in every 13 children heading to school is suffering from severe food allergies. Depending upon the strength of the class, let’s say two students per classroom, fifteen percent of the total population suffers from food allergies at school.
If you think that these potential and severe allergies are getting more prevalent nowadays than some years back, than you are right. According to a study of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention done in 2013, there has been an increase of about 50 percent children getting infected by the food allergies as compared to a research done in 2011.
While most of the children bring the food from the house and are made to eat in the “safe zone area” where allergic people are not allowed to come, this measure has not even been the right solution as for now as the children suffer from allergies more in the classroom than at cafeterias.
So what is a parent supposed to do in this case? Here are some measures that every parent should take if their child is suffering from food allergies.
Step 1. Know the Support Team of your Child
“Awareness allows us get outside of our mind and observe it in action” – Dan Brule.
Till the time you do not make the people in your surroundings aware about the allergy, they will always believe in the silly myths.
Introduce you and your child to everyone you meet in your daily life, like the adults he or she meets everyday, the teachers, coaches, trainers, drivers, administrators or the cafeteria managers. Talk to them and clear all the misconceptions they have regarding food allergies. Provide them the relevant information about your child, and ask them to support your child.
Step 2. Volunteer
The classroom parent of your child organizes all the field trips and parties that involve the distribution of food. It is important that you contact your child’s classroom parent frequently and get involved with them. It will be beneficial if you become a member and volunteer for all the organizing of the trips and classroom activities. If due to any reason you are not able to attend those activities, as a friend of your’s or a family member who is comfortable in doing that for you.
Step 3. Involve Your Child
Go through the books that focus on hygiene. Watch training videos about hygiene with them. Make songs with your child when you wash hands or take them for a bath. This way they get interested in doing them frequently. Make them aware of reading the labels mentioned on the food or beverages. Make them aware to avoid them to buy food products that do not have a label on them. Tell them not to share their food with anyone around. This way they can prevent their child from getting affected by food allergies.
Step 4. Prepare Healthy Lunches
Food is an object of fear in the families that are prone to food allergies. Treat allergies by teaching your child about proper and safe eating habits. Read inspirational blogs and cookbooks that are allergy-friendly and involve your child into it. Ask your child to accompany you while you prepare and cook food for them. This way that may learn proper habits.
Anybody can get affected by food allergies, but there is nothing that you can’t cure. Opt for good food habits and assure to clean all the fruits and vegetable you intake in your diet.
