Back to School With Food Allergies Means Extra Stress and Preparation

As the summer draws to a close, many of you are busy getting ready for the upcoming school year. You will no doubt be shopping for supplies, clothes, shoes and backpacks to ensure your child has everything he or she needs. But for some, the thought of sending your child back to school can be stressful and downright scary. Like me, these parents will be preparing their child to head to school with potentially life-threatening food allergies.

Along with the typical back-to-school preparations, parents with food-allergic children need to take many additional steps to keep their children safe at school. We're busy filling out medical forms for both the school office and transportation department, setting up meetings with the principal and school nurse, alerting our child's teacher and making sure we have a supply of Benadryl and Epi-Pens.

Food allergies at school can be tricky. Unfortunately, avoiding an allergic reaction is not as simple as just telling your child not to eat particular foods. It means keeping him or her away from the foods that pose a problem, having emergency medications nearby at all times, working closely with the school personnel and educating other parents of the dangers your child faces. This process starts shortly before the beginning of the school year and continues until the last day of school.

The hardest part for me is that many people do not realize the seriousness of food allergies and how reactions can occur. It's always a challenge to explain that my daughter could end up in the hospital or even die if she experiences a severe reaction. And, it's also difficult to make people aware of just how many products are unsafe. Until my daughter was diagnosed with allergies to peanuts and tree nuts, I had no idea how tricky avoiding allergens can be.

The reason? No amount of the allergen is safe. Simply touching a food can cause a reaction, as can cross-contamination, which occurs when a child eats a food that has accidentally come in contact with an allergen. This means that certain foods are off-limits even if they do not actually contain nuts as ingredients. My daughter cannot eat anything that comes from a bakery because nut products are made there and could have come in contact with other baked goods. For her that means no bakery cupcakes, birthday cake, breads, bagels, cookies, etc. Other high-risk products include chocolate, ice cream and candies. You would be surprised how many foods are unsafe! For example, some lollipops contain nut traces, as do plain M&Ms, fruit chews, jelly beans and candy canes. Also some cosmetics, lotions and soaps contain nut or sesame oils.

So how can I possibly send my child to school surrounded by potential allergens? Believe me, it isn't easily. My daughter will eat in the lunchroom for the first time this year, and I am terrified of her being surrounded by peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. But the school does have some precautions in place to help ensure her safety. My daughter's classroom will be totally free of peanuts and tree nuts, and she will sit at separate table designated for nut allergies and hot lunches only. In addition, emergency medications will be kept in the school office, her classroom and her backpack. And, most importantly, my daughter and I have discussed how it's necessary to be extremely careful at school. She knows to always wash her hands before eating, never share food with other kids and avoid putting her fingers in her mouth. She also is very aware of what she is allergic to and knows many products and brands that she must avoid. Although she is only 6-years-old, she is well-educated on the topic of food-allergies.

They always say that education begins at home. For us, this is especially true. As we prepare for another school year, I can only hope and trust that my daughter will not only learn and grow, but also stay safe. After all, that's all every parent wants for their child. Here's to a safe, healthy and happy school year for all!