#food-allergies

#food-allergies

"Your child's snack of pretzels today did not meet our 4K classroom snack policy. Please make sure to send only fruits, vegetables, meat, cheese or yogurt for their snack. Goldfish, popcorn and pretzels are not allowed for 4K students. If your child was without another snack, they were offered a classroom snack in place of this non-approved snack. Thank you for helping keep our 4K students safe due to severe classroom allergies. If you have any questions, please let me know. Thanks!"

There are myriad reasons to send your kid to school with allergy-friendly snacks. The most obvious one is that your child might have an allergy themselves. But it's also worth thinking about the other kids at the lunch table. Indeed, the USDA estimates that one in every 13 children suffers from food allergies, which is why some schools have gone completely nut-free.

This Peruvian hot spot in Shaw lists multiple gluten-free selections, including ceviches, Parmesan scallops, and chargrilled skewers of salmon belly and filet mignon. It also includes cross-contamination notations for celiac diners. Note that Causa, the fancier downstairs tasting room, doesn't accommodate gluten allergies. Okay, so you won't get a bagel, but this local deli chain will serve any of its excellent breakfast and lunch sandwiches on cheesy yuca bread, which is chewy, dense, and flavorful in its own right.

I never thought I'd become an expert in traveling with food allergies-but dating someone with them changes the way you plan every trip. My boyfriend, Kenny, has severe nut and fish allergies, and watching him navigate airports, restaurants, and hotel buffets has shown me just how much behind-the-scenes preparation goes into every trip. There's no "winging it" when the wrong bite could send you to the ER.

As someone with over 20 food allergies, traveling can be challenging, but I've learned to manage it by pre-translating my allergens and identifying safe staple dishes.

"When I was a kid, food allergies among children weren't as common as they are now. It was embarrassing, but it eventually became part of my identity."

"I knew I was in trouble after one bite. Within seconds there were spots on my lips. Within minutes I was vomiting."

"When sticking to a gluten-free diet, some food items like flavored drinks might contain unexpected gluten due to additives, making ingredient checks essential."