How to Prevent Food Allergies in Children

These days, it seems like almost all kids have some kind of food allergy. I remember when my eldest son was in grade school – I never had to worry about what food I put in his lunchbox. But now, food allergies in children are in rise and it is becoming more and more common to see signs reading, “no peanut zone” outside of a classroom.

With nearly 6 million or 8% of children possessing food allergies, and young children affected most by them, there has been an 18% increase in the number of food allergies since 1997. Furthermore, eight foods account for 90% of all food-allergic reactions: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (e.g., walnuts, almonds, cashews, pistachios, pecans), wheat, soy, fish, and shellfish.

But why do so many kids have food allergies now as opposed to not as many just years ago? Food allergies can be completely life consuming, so this is an important question to ponder when it comes to child safety. I know a child who, since the age of six months, has not been able to eat any product that comes from a cow because of an allergy. This means she cannot have any dairy or meat, and in addition cannot have any foods that have had any cross contamination with any of these products –causing her to not even be able to use a plate that has ever had one of these products on it. This allergy has proven to be extremely limiting for her and will be her entire life.

Many theories suggest that not exposing our kids to allergens, such as nuts, in order to prevent allergies is actually counteractive. Some doctors suggest that we should begin exposing them to foods that are commonly associated with allergies at a young age.

Thus, it is important to actively pursue the act of preventing food allergies within our children. Here are some helpful hints of how to do so:

· Exclusively breastfeeding infants for at least their first six months of life, followed by a slow introduction to solid foods starting at 4-6 months along with continued breastfeeding for twelve plus months

· Introduce single-ingredient solid foods to infants one at a time, with a good amount of days in between new additions to ensure that if an allergic reaction does occur, you are able to correctly identify the cause

· Keep a food diary for your child to know exactly what he or she is consuming at all times

Of course, if your child does experience an allergic reaction, be sure to seek medical attention right away for them. Examples of allergic reaction symptoms are:

· Itchy skin, rash, or hives

· Tingly mouth

· Vomiting

· Stomach pain

· Diarrhea after eating

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