If ANY child who is allergic to peanuts or tree nuts eats even a small amount of those allergens, they could have an anaphylactic reaction.  EVERY child who suffers from this condition is susceptible to a deadly reaction.  There is no such thing as being a little allergic.  However, there are easy strategies to keep these kids physically and mentally safe.

In the Classroom:

If children bring peanut butter or food that has blatant nuts, they should sit at the Nut Table.  Studies have shown that when you make kids who are allergic to nuts sit alone ( i.e. the Nut Free Table), they feel bullied, out casted, ostracized…DIFFERENT.  They already live with the fact they are “different”, but making them sit alone adds salt to the wound.  When a child brings nut products to school it is by choice.  When a child comes to school with nut allergies, it is not by choice.  Most kids without allergies develop sympathy for those who cannot safely eat what they can.  Children want to sit with their friends.   They do not want to feel left out.  If you create a nut table and a safe table, most kids will be able to sit at the safe table.   My experience has been that most kids will decide to bring safe food to school , so they can sit with their friends with nut allergies.  Most children will remind their parents not to send nut products, so they can sit with their friends who cannot safely eat nuts.

A few wonderful books for teachers and students are:

Chad the Allergic Chipmunk: A Children’s Story of Nut Allergies

Allie the Allergic Elephant: A Children’s Story of Peanut Allergies

There are dozens of NUT FREE treats and alternatives to send to school:

Instead of Peanut Butter 2 Excellent/healthy alternatives are Soy Nut Butter (IM Healthy) Sunflower Butter (Sun Butter)

Treasure Mills Allergen Sensitive Snacks makes school safe treats such as brownies, chocolate chip treats, oatmeal raisin cookies, etc… ( sold at whole foods)

Divvies (on line)  makes delicious treats for school

Vermont Nut Free (on line) amazing candies, treats, etc…

Dr. Lucy’s (on line) wonderful desserts

Enjoy Life (on line) yummy treats and snacks

Entenmanns makes several nut free deserts (BE SURE to read ingredient label…not every item from them is safe!)

Many popsicles and water ices are safe (must read labels)

Obviously, when reading an ingredient label you want to make sure that there are not any nuts  . However,   just as important is to make sure the product was not manufactured in the same facility where nuts are present.  This cautionary statement will most likely appear, under the ingredient label.  But it  can sometimes be found next to or even on another side of the product.  This is the companies way of telling the consumer there could easily be nuts mixed in with this otherwise safe product.   Stay away from these products!

In Your Home:

 If you are having a child over with nut allergies, it is simple to keep him safe.  It is absolutely fine to have nuts and peanut butter in your home.   Please just put them out of reach.  If you have prepared peanut butter sandwiches, as long as it is not on any surfaces, no need to wipe up. If possible, be sure to have the parent of the play date read labels.  If not, keep it simple. The child can safely eat fruit, vegetables, cheese, yogurt,  MOST Mac and Chesses, MOST pizza snacks, ….just carefully read labels and look for cautionary statements regarding the facility the product was made in.  Make sure the parent leaves 2 epipens and they train you how to use one in case.   

As a parent of a child with food allergies, I am grateful for all other parents who try to keep my child safe and happy.  I am also grateful for the parents who try to keep my child from feeling left out!

Lori Aronsky www.foodallergyally.com