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In the last few weeks, the hurricane disaster has affected millions of people including hundreds of thousands of food allergic people. Today, Sue and Caroline Moassessi – The Grateful Foodie – share several ways you can help those impacted by Hurricane's Harvey and Irma. Having both endured several disasters including wildfires, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, and blizzards, the ladies offer many tips to help prepare oneself and one's food allergy family for disaster. Disaster Preparedness with Food Allergies Basic Emergency supply list is on the Allergic Living Magazine's Website:  Emergency Planning with Asthma, Allergies, and Celiac The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has free downloadable Family Emergency Kit Checklist The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Natural Disasters and Severe Weather link offers information regarding earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, wildfires. For example, the Hurricane tab, explains what to know and do before a hurricane and after a hurricane including resource links. Accuweather App Storm App Help food allergy families impacted by Hurricane Harvey Houston Food Bank – Need monetary donations. Gulf Coast Community Service Association (Houston) – They have an ongoing special diet section of their food pantry San Antonio Food Bank – Add “Food Allergy Friendly Food” to the Notes section on the donation page. Food Bank of the Golden Crescent  (Victoria, Texas) Feeding Texas – Need monetary Donations. Southeast Texas Food Bank (Port Arthur, Tx and Beaumont, Tx) Texas Diaper Bank – 100% of donations going to disaster relief for coastal Texas Second Harvest Food Bank – (South Lousiana) Help food allergy families impacted by Hurricane Irma Second Harvest of Central Florida – (Orlando, Florida) Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida – (Fort Myers, Florida) Treasure Coast Food Bank – (Fort Pierce, Florida) Middle Georgia Community Food Bank – (Macon, Georgia) Second Harvest of South Georgia – (Valdosta, Georgia) Golden Harvest Food Bank – (Augusta, Georgia) Feeding Florida List of Food Pantries in Jacksonville, Florida List of Food Pantries in Miami, Florida Additional Organizations Food Equality Initiative, Inc  Supports low-income food allergy and Celiac communities by providing safe, healthy gluten free and allergy friendly food, nutrition education and advocacy. Direct Relief USA offers prescription drugs and other medical supplies to those who need it in emergency situations and works with clinics and primary care doctors to ensure that people can get what they need when they need it. They’re accepting financial contributions. The post Hurricane Assistance for Food Allergy Families and Disaster Preparedness appeared first on Parenting Food Allergies.

It is back to school time! For parents of food allergic kids, it is often a scary time. One of the best ways to help alleviate that fear is to obtain a Section 504 Plan for your child. On this episode of the Parenting Food Allergies Podcast, Sue and guest Amelia Smith Murphree, in-house counsel for Food Allergy Anaphylaxis Connection Team (FAACT) and civil rights advocacy consultant, dig deep into what 504 Plans are and why they might be right for your food allergy child. The ladies discuss, among other things, how to obtain a 504 Plan and what to expect during a 504 Plan meeting. Questions answered during this episode: What is a 504 Plan? What isn't a 504 Plan? How is a 504 different than an Individualized Education Plan (IEP)? Why are 504's important? How do I go about getting a 504 Plan for my child? What should I expect during a 504 Plan meeting? What is my responsibility in the 504 process? What kind of follow up do I need to do once one is in place? Are 504 meetings necessary in subsequent years? Why is attitude important when navigating a 504? The school is resisting a 504 Plan, now what? The FAACT website has a robust section on Civil Rights Advocacy which includes a Section 504 Plan Overview and Section 504 Plan Downloads. Be sure to check it out! About Amelia Smith Murphree Amelia, a native of Tupelo, Mississippi, practices law in a variety of areas in her home state of Mississippi. Amelia received her B.A. in English from Mississippi University for Women and her Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi, where she concentrated on civil rights and employment discrimination. Amelia Smith Murphree After her son, Robert was diagnosed with food allergies, Amelia founded Food Allergic Children’s Education in Tupelo (“FACE IT”), the only support and education organization for families with food allergies in Mississippi at the time. Once she learned about the challenges students and families with food allergies face in childcare centers and schools, Amelia developed an interest in special education law. She is a 2012 graduate of William & Mary School of Law’s Institute of Special Education Advocacy. Amelia is admitted to the Bars of the State of Mississippi, the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. She is a member of the Mississippi Bar Association, Lee County Bar Association, and Lee County Young Lawyers Association. Amelia was the original Vice President of Civil Rights Advocacy and In-House Counsel for The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Connection Team (“FAACT”). In addition to maintaining her private law practice in Mississippi, she currently serves as an in-house counsel for FAACT and continues to consult on issues regarding Civil Rights Advocacy. Amelia remains dedicated to advocating for food-allergic individuals’ rights to safely and equally participate in activities alongside their non-allergic peers. The Legal Stuff The information contained on this website/in this podcast is intended for general, educational purposes. The reliance on any information on this website/in this podcast is solely at the risk of the user of this website/podcast. The authors of the content of this website/podcast assume no responsibility for and expressly disclaim any responsibility for damages to persons or property arising from the use of any information provided by this website/podcast. The information on this website/in this podcast does not constitute legal advice and is not intended to substitute for obtaining advice from a duly licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. The information provided here is general in nature. The law is constantly changing. Laws vary by jurisdiction and the policies of agencies vary by state and local entities. If you have a specific legal question, you should seek the counsel of a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. The information on this website/in this podcast does not constitute medical advice and is not intended to substitute for the advise of a licensed physician or to replace the patient-physician relationship. Always discuss individual health questions and medical issues with a qualified personal physician. The post Section 504 Plans and School-Aged Food Allergic Children appeared first on Parenting Food Allergies.

Role models are important for all young people. When those influencers happen to be a food allergic young adult and her college bestie, then exciting things happen for the food allergy community. Today, Sue welcomes role models Amanda Orlando and Joella Almeida onto the show to share their friendship journey and give details about their stylish lifestyle website Everyday Allergen-Free. The website, created to inspire confidence in adults and teens dealing with the invisible disability of food allergies, deftly covers a wide array of youth centered topics such as food, dating, fashion, anxiety, bullying and the quest to being cool.  The site is also a fabulous resource for parents and caregivers to gain insight into the current or future lives of their food allergic kids. Topics Discussed Amanda's experience of moving past a life threatening reaction as a young adult. Joelle's role as a supportive food allergy friend. The controversial George Lopez food allergy comedy skit and how it impacts those allergic as well as the entire food allergy community. How focusing on the positive lead to the creation of Everyday Allergen-Free. Why their website targets young adults and teens. What parents can gain from reading Everyday Allergen-Free. Topics covered on the site. How readers/followers can get involved with Everyday Allergen-Free Everyday Allergen-Free Articles Where My Allergy Anxiety Stands Right Now YOLO So Carry Your Epi Pen How To Attend Your BF/GF's Family Party Without Freaking Out It's Super Awkward To Turn Down a Kiss Did You Brush? Let's Get Real About Kissing and Food Allergies For a Minute Reaction PTSD and The Coping Strategies I Really Use This Badass Teen Is Educating Youth About Anaphylaxis Natural, Top 8-Free Winter Skin Care Remedies About Amanda Orlando and Joella Almeida Founded June 31, 2016. Everyday Allergen-Free is a lifestyle site for adults and teens dealing with food allergies. We aim to inspire confidence in people living with this invisible disability. Jo and Mandy met at university, in Toronto, where they were placed together as roommates in residence. They were fast friends from day one. Mandy is allergic to peanuts, nuts, dairy, and legumes. Jo has no allergies (except the seasonal kind) but takes great care to ensure her friend is always safe and included. In 2015, after nearly 12 years reaction-free, Amanda suffered an anaphylactic reaction due to improperly labeled bread that contained casein. Her relationship with food was forever changed. Having a reaction as an adult had vastly different effects on her than having one as a child. Suddenly she was riddled with anxiety and had strong distrust for food which disrupted her formerly healthy eating habits. She leaned on friends like Jo to help her get back to “normal”. But she wanted something more, a resource or community to read about what allergic people her age were experiencing and feeling. How do you manage your allergies on a business trip? How does it affect social situations? When she couldn't find the community she needed, she decided to start writing about her own experiences. Fast forward a year later, when she and Jo decided that they could make a difference together. They formed EAF, a lifestyle site for teens and adults with food allergies. No topic is off limits, and outside allergy writers are welcome. From dating, work life, and bullying, to recipes, nutrition, beauty products, and entertaining, they cover it all. The post Meet the young creators of Everyday Allergen-Free lifestyle site appeared first on Parenting Food Allergies.

Imagine having a dog who could sniff out minute amounts of allergens in your child's everyday life? Ciara Gavin, a former Air Force K-9 Handler and founder of Allergen Detection Service Dogs, has been training dogs to do just that for nearly a decade. Today Ciara joins Sue to discuss food allergen detection dogs and what goes into training and owning one of these special canines. She also speaks with a family who received a dog to detect gluten for their four-year-old son. Food Allergen Detection Service Dogs FAQ's Discussed What is the purpose of a food allergy service dog? How does one train to become a service dog trainer? What should buyers look for when picking out a service dog trainer? What allergens are dog's trained to detect? Can dogs be trained for more than one? What amount of allergen is a dog able to detect? What kind of dogs are trained for detection? How are dogs chosen, what makes them different? What is the training process? How long does it take to train an allergy detecting service dog? Do families pick the service dog? Can families have other dogs or animals? What is the youngest suggested age for a service dog owner? t Where can service dogs go? Do schools allow service dogs? Does insurance cover service dogs? How much do service dogs cost? Are they tax-deductible? How do people find out more about your service? About Ciara Ciara Gavin and service dog Hawkeye with his new family. Ciara Gavin is the founder of Allergen Detection Service Dogs, a Colorado Springs company that has trained dogs to alert to allergens in the environment since 2009. In this emergent field, she has trained many of the estimated 150 allergen detection dogs in use nationwide, and is currently working with a local school district to implement the first school-wide peanut/tree nut allergen checks of classrooms. Ciara holds a degree in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and finds that dog training blends the application of psychological learning theories with real life application in fascinating ways. She is a former Air Force K-9 Handler who served both overseas and stateside at the U.S. Air Force Academy. She now lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado with her husband, four children and a farm full of crazy, wonderful animals. The post Food Allergy Fido: Food Allergen Service Dogs appeared first on Parenting Food Allergies.

Food allergy related tragedies have dominated the news and social media these last few weeks. On this episode, Sue and Caroline Moassessi openly discussion how these losses have impacted their lives and how they've learned to manage their fears while continuing to follow these important stories. They share why they deeply respect the grieving families for courageously sharing their tragedy. The friends also tell how these losses have become teachable moments in their households. Grab a tissue because this discussion is heavy. Past Episodes with The Grateful Foodie – Caroline Moassessi Hey Mabel, how do I read a food allergy label? Food Allergy Bullying – What Parents Can Do 2016 Holiday Gift Guide for Food Allergy Kids with Caroline Moassessi The post Food Allergy Tragedies: Two moms deal with emotions while learning from and honoring those lost to fatal anaphylaxis appeared first on Parenting Food Allergies.

Having a child with a chronic condition such as food allergies can create lots of strain in a home. Many of us are fortunate to share the responsibility with a partner but keeping one's relationship strong takes work. Lots of work! Today, Sue and her husband Kevin discuss eight core things they've done to maintain a healthy relationship while dealing with not only two food allergy kids but many additional relationship strains including cancer. 8 Ways to Maintain a Healthy Relationship While Raising Chronically Ill Children Communicate Give each other a break Know when to step in and do it Meeting spouse where they are in the journey Allowed the other to have a down moment Trust one another Make time for each other Have fun! Want to find out what Sue and Kevin's older kids feel about growing up in a food allergy household? Listen Here. Additional Relationship Resources Save Your Marriage from Food Allergy Stress (Allergic Living, April 2014) How Food Allergies Affect a Marriage (and What You Can Do About It) (Reboot this Marriage) The post Love & Marriage: 8 Ways to Maintain a Strong Relationship while Raising Food Allergy Kids appeared first on Parenting Food Allergies.

Celiac disease and food allergies are often confused, but they are very different. Today, Harvard's pediatric gastroenterologist, Dr. Dascha Weir joins the show to explain the difference between celiac disease, gluten intolerance, gluten sensitivity, and wheat allergy. Dr. Weir also answers many questions regarding common symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, research of celiac disease. Questions include: What is the difference between celiac disease, gluten intolerance, gluten sensitivity and a wheat allergy? What are signs and symptoms that parents should look for if they feel their child might have celiac? Are there hallmarks to the disease? What age does the disease commonly manifest itself? How is it diagnosed? Once diagnosed, how is the disease managed? Do children/adults ever outgrow celiac? What are the long-term consequences of untreated celiac? Does celiac run in families? Is celiac happening more or is it being diagnosed more? What research is happening to address treatment and cure? Celiac Disease Resources Celiac disease: 5 things parents need to know (Boston Children's Hospital) Celiac Disease Program & Support Group  (Celiac Kids Connection) Celiac Disease Symptoms in Children (Beyond Celiac) Celiac Disease in Children (Celiac Disease Foundation) About Dr. Weir Dascha C. Weir is a board certified pediatric gastroenterologist with expertise in Celiac Disease in children. She is the associate director of the Celiac Disease Program at Boston Children's Hospital and serves as the medical advisor of Celiac Kids Connection, a celiac support group for children with celiac disease and their families. She is also on the executive committee of the Harvard Medical School Celiac Research Program. Originally a Boston area native, she graduated from Case Western School of Medicine in 2000. She returned to Boston and completed her training in Pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital and Boston Medical Center. After finishing her pediatric gastroenterology fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital, she joined the Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition there and is involved both in clinical care and celiac related clinical research. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and settling into a good book. Contact Dr. Weir or the Boston Children's Hospital Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition.   The post Celiac Disease and Food Allergies, What’s the difference? appeared first on Parenting Food Allergies.

Reading food allergy labels is not only important, it is vital to living safely with food allergies. But sometimes consumers need to do more than just read the label. Today Sue and guest Caroline Moassessi, Grateful Foodie blogger and Allergic Living product editor, discuss how to accurately understand food labels and how to contact a manufacturer to get the information you need to make an informed food choice decision. They also give personal stories and helpful hints to help protect your food allergy child. Additional questions the ladies address are: 1) What do I need to know about label reading? 2) What do different phrases on labels mean? (i.e. manufactured on a machine, made in a facility) 3) How do I call a manufacturer? 4) Should I call a manufacturer or reference the website for the best information? 5) How do I keep ahead of recalls? 6) What if a label is incorrect? 7) What if my child has a reaction to a food and I feel the product is mislabeled? 8) What is SmartLabel and why do I need to know about it? Helpful Resources How to read a label for food allergy Kids with Food Allergies (KFA) Food Labels Explained Food Allergy Reseach & Education (FARE) Food Allergy Labeling Law Food Allergen Label & Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) How to Read a Label When You Have Food Allergies Allergic Living Magazine Recall Lists FDA Recalls This list provides information gathered from press releases and other public notices about certain recalls of Food & Drug Administration-regulated products. Not all recalls have press releases or are posted on this list. USDA Recalls The United States Department of Agriculture page contains summary data on ACTIVE recall cases involving Food Safety and Inspection Services regulated food products FARE Allergy Alert The Food Allergy Research & Education's Allergy Alerts include food recalls involving only the FDA-defined top 8 food allergens (milk, egg, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, peanuts, and tree nuts), as issued by the FDA, the USDA, or the manufacturer. FAACT The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team alerts provide information gathered from public notices and press releases about food allergen-related recalls of FDA-regulated products. SnackSafely The Snack Guild is an up to date catalog of allergy-friendly foods used by thousands of schools and tens of thousands of parents nationwide to help keep allergens out of the classroom and the home. All are peanut and tree nut free with many free of the Top 8 allergens. SmartLabel An app that provides easy and instantaneous access to detailed information about thousands of food, beverage, personal care, household and pet care products. Meet Caroline Moassessi I’m Caroline. I am a wife and the mother of two food allergic (peanut, tree nut, sesame, and flaxseed) and asthmatic children. I’m a passionate advocate for all things food allergy and asthma and lung health. I never trust the first thing I hear and must research everything. I love people and laugh quite a bit. I sometimes talk too much. I bake better than I cook. I love a good garage sale. I can dig in my heels when necessary. I work hard at trying to find a balance for my busy life. I’m crazy for funky jewelry, art, and books. The post Hey Mabel, how do I read a food allergy label? appeared first on Parenting Food Allergies.

Traveling the world with food allergies presents itself with a whole set of challenges. But seeing the Grand Canyon, Leaning Tower of Pisa or the Arc de Triomphe is not only possible; it can be easier than you think. All it takes is a well-crafted plan. Sue recently returned from an extended trip abroad. With thoughts of travel still in her head, she welcomes food allergy advocate and expert traveler Kyle Dine to the show. Together the duo layout several steps to successful travel both domestically and internationally. They share their own food allergy traveling experience and also cover the following travel related topics. What to do before you leave on vacation How to deal with airlines Working around language barriers in other countries Eating in restaurants Shopping for food in foreign lands Going to all-inclusives including resorts and cruises About Kyle Dine Kyle Dine is a trusted food allergy educator and musician who performs engaging allergy awareness assemblies in elementary schools across North America. Along with his crowdfunded “Kyle Dine & Friends” DVD, his two CDs contain empowering and educational messages for children with food allergies. He has multiple food allergies to peanut, tree nut, egg, seafood, and mustard. Kyle has been working with Food Allergy Canada (formerly Anaphylaxis Canada) since 2008 creating resources for their youth program and managing their social media. He is also the founder and owner of www.allergytranslation.com – a website that provides translation cards for allergic travelers in 43 different languages. He is a co-founder of the upcoming travel resource website at www.allergytravels.com. The post Vacation all I ever wanted: Food Allergy Travel Tips appeared first on Parenting Food Allergies.

Summer camp is often the first time a food allergy child is away from home. The prospect of being separated and having a stranger prepare food causes much anxiety for food allergy families. These fears can be eased by carefully selecting a food allergy friendly camp. This week Sue Lein, the owner of the fabulous food allergy friendly Camp Emerson shares useful tips on picking a safe camp for your child. The ladies discuss several simple but key questions that parents can ask camps while making a decision. They also review valuable information on pre-camp preparation to facilitate a positive and safe camping experience. “Guest Sue” adds valuable insight into the workings of a food allergy friendly camp  while “Host Sue” shares her own experiences of sending her food allergy children away to camp. Sue Lein – Camp Emerson Additional Resources: Managing Food Allergies at Summer Camp (FARE) Food Allergy Friendly Camps (FARE) Camp TAG – The Allergy Gang (FAACT) Advice on Attending Summer Camp (Allergic Living Magazine 2016) Food allergies shouldn't keep your child away from summer camp. Camp can be a building block for your child to gain independence and learn new life skills. Do your research and find the best fit for you and your family. It is worth the effort! The post Picking a Food Allergy Friendly Summer Camp – YIKES! appeared first on Parenting Food Allergies.