A Parent’s Guide to Food Allergies

Below are common allergy symptoms in children. It’s not just foods that can trigger these symptoms. Other triggers include irritants like cigarette smoke and perfume; outdoor conditions such as tree pollen, insect stings, and insect bites; and indoor issues like mold, dust mites, and pet hair or fur.

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A Parent’s Guide To Food Allergies

As parents know, life for a child with food allergies is a life that is constantly on alert. Everywhere – at school, at restaurants, at friends’ homes, even in their own home — children with allergies are constantly being reminded to “Watch out! Be careful!”

There’s certainly good reason for concern. Some food allergies can cause very serious reactions like anaphylaxis. It impairs breathing, causes blood pressure to tumble, and can even send the body into shock. That’s why many children with food allergies are often prescribed epinephrine.

Below are common allergy symptoms in children. It’s not just foods that can trigger these symptoms. Other triggers include irritants like cigarette smoke and perfume; outdoor conditions such as tree pollen, insect stings, and insect bites; and indoor issues like mold, dust mites, and pet hair or fur.

Common Allergy Symptoms In Children

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Skin rashes
  • Skin hives
  • Runny nose
  • Itchy eyes
  • Coughing
  • Sneezing
  • Upset stomach

Common Food Allergies In Children

The two most common food allergies in children are:View Post

  • Peanuts
  • Milk

Other foods that can trigger allergies in kids include:

  • Tree nuts, such as walnuts, cashews, and pecans
  • Eggs
  • Wheat
  • Soy
  • Fish
  • Shellfish, such as shrimp, crab, lobster, and crayfish

“The foods that tend to have the most serious allergic reactions in children are peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish,” says Kimberly Gomer, MS, RD, Director of Nutrition at the Pritikin Longevity Center in Miami, Florida. Since 1975, more than 100,000 worldwide have come to the Center for education in heart-healthy living.

Pritikin Family Health Camps

Every summer since 2002, Pritikin’s faculty has also conducted Pritikin Family Health Camps that teach children healthy habits in food and fitness.

“In our family camps, we often help children with food allergies,” says Pritikin nutritionist Kimberly Gomer. “They enjoy learning about all kinds of foods, incredibly healthy foods, that they can eat and enjoy.”

More Information on Food Allergies and Children

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