Helping You Keep Halloween Safe and Fun!

It’s Fall! A magical season in my book, when the weather becomes cooler and jeans and boots make a comeback.  But, if you have food allergies it also marks the beginning of the very food focused holiday season, kicked off by Halloween – which can be one scary night if you have food allergies. 

Thrive On Consulting has teamed up with The Switch Witch and Kiss Freely to make sure your Halloween is merry and bright, not a fright.  Check out our stay safe tips and insight into how our families manage Halloween to get started on planning for a safe and fun holiday. 

In addition to these great tips, you can also check out our Stay Safe Halloween Webinar where you can hear directly from us on ways to stay safe this Halloween.  Our webinar walks you through key things you need to do before, during, and after Halloween to have a safe and fun holiday. 

Tips from Audrey, The Switch Witch

Like many families, we have some severe food allergies. We need to prepare and combat this situation from many angles.

First, we always have costumes with gloves (think darth vader or princess) to protect against touching contaminated candy with allergens (like peanuts). If the gloves are thin cotton, we just slip a latex glove on underneath.

Second, we have a hard and fast rules on Halloween that all candy must go in the bucket and get inspected at home. The advent of the Teal Pumpkin means that lots of homes in our neighborhood also have non-food treats! These are our favorites! Depending on the severity of your food allergies, you can keep the candy that works for you.

We also have a Switch Witch in our house during the month of October and she helps oversee good behavior with the kids and on Halloween night, our kids keep a few pieces of "approved" candy and the rest goes to their Switch Witch. She ‘Switchcrafts’ the candy for toys on Halloween night. Everyone wins!

Tips from Jennifer, Kiss Freely

Have a plan!  Help your child (or yourself!) identify what the fears or concerns are around that specific activity. For Halloween, our family worries a lot about cross contamination.  For example, our plan involves carrying safe foods separately and choosing costumes with gloves. Talk about your plan with your child and emphasize how these actions help to keep him or her safe.   This helps reduce the fearful fantasies that can arise around the unknown.

Tips from Me, Thrive On Consulting

Every family managing food allergies needs to choose how they want to celebrate Halloween.  It will differ for every family and there is no “right” answer.  In fact, our “right” as a family has changed as our girls have gotten older.  We have done everything from trick or treat at a small number of houses who know our allergens and have safe treats waiting for us, to expanding our trick or treating circle and establishing strict rules about how the night will go. Whatever option you decide for your family, be certain to talk as a family well before the holiday about how you will celebrate.

Currently, we go trick or treating with our neighborhood friends, but we discuss all of our rules- including no eating candy while out and saying “no thank you” if the only candy being offered has our allergens.  It is critical to set your rules, discuss them, and reinforce them well before the holiday.  Trying to outline rules in the midst of pre-Halloween costume prep and excitement will result in no one paying attention and a lot of stress as you head out the door.  Create a plan, communicate that plan well in advance of any Halloween event, and always reinforce a non-food focus.  The mantra in our house is “we focus on family, friends and fun- not food”.

Need more great tips for keeping Halloween safe? 

Don’t forget to check out our webinar for additional information, tips and strategies for keeping Halloween safe and fun.  

And, be sure to follow all of us on social media during the holiday season for even more great info on managing the holidays with food allergies!  You can find us here:

The Switch Witch            Kiss Freely         Thrive On Consulting
Facebook                          Facebook             Facebook
Twitter                               Twitter                  Twitter

Happy Halloween!

Back to school means back to the cafeteria for lunch, and if you have a child with food allergies this is undoubtedly one of the most stressful parts of going back to school.  When my cell phone rings near my daughter’s lunch hour, I always have a little pang of anxiety as I check my caller ID. 

We have elected to have my daughter eat at the peanut free table for yet another year, a personal choice for our family, and have a plan in place with her teacher and the cafeteria team to manage her allergies at this critical school day period.  No matter where you choose to have your child sit, having a plan in place with the food service team is essential. 

To help with that plan, I talked to Lisa Musician, owner of Food Allergy Dietician, and author of the new book, Parenting a Positive Reaction.  In her book, she discusses multiple strategies for thriving on at school and keeping your child safe and included. 

Here is her great advice on keeping lunchtime safe and inclusive:

1. Before you meet with the school to create your child’s plan, talk to your child to get a feel for where he or she would like to eat lunch. Perhaps your child is uncomfortable eating in a large area, such as the cafeteria, and would prefer to eat with a teacher.
2. Next, meet with the school foodservice director and work with the school cafeteria staff to ensure that your child receives safe meals if you decide to have your child eat school lunches. The food service staff and lunch monitors play an important role on the food allergy management team and should attend all meetings on the topic. If attendance is not possible, a separate meeting should be scheduled to review the plan.
3. Introduce your child to the head kitchen supervisor or director and create a system in which your child will be identified.  Some schools require these students to name themselves to lunch staff or have lunch tickets that are coded as a way of notifying the staff that they have a food allergy.

   Consider the following ideas for lunch when creating a plan:

• Seating: Discuss the possibility of designated tables in the cafeteria for students with dietary restrictions. Your child may feel more comfortable eating in a classroom with a teacher, in the nurse’s office, or in the principal’s office. Assess your child’s needs and review the options that are best for your child. Discuss all the possibilities with your child so he or she feels vested in the process.
• Lunch buddies (sign-up sheet): If it is important for your child not to eat alone, perhaps a sign-up sheet could be posted in the cafeteria or classroom to have other students eat at a designated table with the requirement that all lunches be free of the requested allergens. 
• Hand washing policy: Washing hands before and after eating is good hygiene and helps to reduce the risk of a possible reaction from outside sources.

Such great advice!  Personally, we have implemented the buddy system with my daughter.  We met with her teacher at the beginning of the year to talk about how important it is that my daughter has a friend join her at the peanut free table each day.  Through partnership with her teacher, my daughter identifies a friend with a safe lunch each morning and that person joins her later that day for lunch.  Much to my surprise, sitting at the peanut free table with my daughter has become a “hot ticket” and she usually has more than one friend asking to sit with her- makes a food allergy mama’s heart smile!

Take the time now, if you haven’t already, to reach out to your teacher and food service team to ensure you have a plan in place to help your child Thrive On and enjoy their lunch, in whatever way keeps them safe and makes them feel included.

Thrive On!


Get the book and learn more about Lisa:
Get more great school safe strategies from Lisa!  You can purchase her book on Amazon.  You can also learn more about Lisa by visiting her website or following her on Facebook and Twitter.

Thrive On with Food Allergies:
Learn more about Tami and her company, Thrive On Consulting, which provides food allergy coaching and training.  You can also follow her on Facebook for tips to Thrive On with food allergies.

Product Disclaimer:

Thrive On Consulting was not paid to promote this product.  Products mentioned here are provided as ideas and suggestions to help you Thrive On with food allergies.

Food Allergy Anxiety and School: Tips to Thrive On

The new school year is upon us and for families with food allergies this can be an especially stressful time as we work to once again educate teachers, administrators and school staff about how to keep our children safe.  For me personally, this is one of the worst times of the year as I worry about how things will be managed. I can feel my anxiety rise as we get closer to the start of school.  I try to actively manage my anxiety so that my daughter enters school excited and feeling safe, but this is no easy task!

We are still early in our school years, but I know that managing food allergy anxiety- at this time of year and throughout the year- will be critical for our family to Thrive On with food allergies. 

To get some answers on managing food allergy anxiety I interviewed Dr. Jeanne Herzog of Summit Psychology Clinic.  Dr. Herzog is one of only a few psychologists nationwide who specializes in food allergy anxiety management.  She has worked with numerous patients with food allergies, presented on food allergy anxiety at the national level and was a featured webinar presenter on this topic for FARE.   She will also be speaking at the FARE Teen Summit later this year.

Dr. Herzog shares some wonderful insight into how to recognize and manage food allergy related anxiety for both parents and children, as well we strategies to discuss with your school to assist in managing anxiety.  I hope that you will learn as much as I did from Dr. Herzog!

What are signs that your child might be experiencing food allergy related anxiety at school?

Kids and teens with food allergy related anxiety can express it in obvious ways or in more discreet ways.

Obvious ways:

• Talking often about their worries
•  Asking often about safe foods and safety precautions
• Appearing scared or saying they're scared to go to school
• Calling home often from school with worries about their food allergies
• Crying, isolating, refusing to eat at school 

Less obvious ways:

• Increased complaints of stomach aches, headaches, other illnesses
• Excuses to isolate or choosing not to participate in school functions
• Unexplained academic or homework issues
• Peer relationships seem to change
• Moodiness, including sadness, anger, easily frustrated
• Change in eating habits, controlling behaviors

What can you do before school starts to alleviate some food allergy anxiety for your child?

If your child is attending the same school as the year before, the level of anxiety is likely to be lower, especially if the child felt safe last year.  However, even a new classroom or teacher or new classmates can increase that anxiety.  Summer is a time when a child may find comfort in being able to rely on parents to keep them safe.  It is best to, again, prepare a child to be an advocate for their own safety (age related) during school hours, when parents are not there, by rehearsing the emergency care plan and the plans provided for them at school.  It may help to meet with the new teacher in the new classroom and go over the emergency care plan and accommodations prior to school starting. 

If your child is attending a new school (moving, transitioning to middle school or high school, etc.) the change can be anxiety-provoking for both child and parent.  Parent and child should prepare together by making arrangements with the school regarding safety, the emergency care plan and any accommodations required. If there is any way to find out if any other child entering the school also has food allergies, this can reduce anxiety as there is truth to "safety in numbers." 

Kids (and parents) feel less anxious when they know that people care.  When those around them know and care about the dangers and follow rules to make the school safe, children living with food allergies feel safe, calm and more confident in their ability to keep themselves safe.  This also connects them to the school in a positive way, which contributes to a child's academic achievement and self-esteem. 

Any preparation that widens the circle of people in your child's life who care will be helpful in reducing anxiety.  

Is there anything in particular you should communicate to school staff regarding food allergy anxiety so they can assist in managing it throughout the year?

Much is communicated about physical health and safety, which is primary, but often little is talked about regarding how the food allergy makes a child "feel" emotionally, especially in terms of keeping safe at school.  I think administrators and teachers (as well as parents of kids without food allergies) are starting to do a good job in some schools to show that they take food allergy safety seriously and that they care.  But, many are unaware of how anxiety plays a part in the life of a child with food allergies (and the parents). 

If your child tends to be anxious about food allergies, it's best to share this with appropriate school staff so that they can watch for signs and together you can come up with strategies that can help your child.  School staff should be taught that each child with food allergies utilizes a small amount of anxiety in order to be diligent and cautious.  And, it is common for some children to become even more anxious when they cannot control the environment with diligence - for instance when others around them are eating food containing their allergen.  Children also commonly feel anxiety about how living with a food allergy affects their social world.  Sometimes they worry about being "left out." 

As a parent, what strategies can be employed to help manage our own anxiety around sending our child to school with a food allergy?

Managing anxiety so that parents and children continue to be diligent and cautious, but still allow themselves to enjoy life and relax, is crucial.  A parent who does a good job of managing anxiety in themselves sets a good example for the child.  There are many ways to manage anxiety.

Having a plan to manage anxiety is critical.  This should include accepting the challenge bravely and proactively working to educate your child and those who care for your child.  However, it is also critical to maintain balance and find identity outside of your life with food allergies.  It is also important to adopt strategies to allow you to calm your mind and your body when anxiety occurs.  Some examples include:

• Think about what you CAN do, instead of what you CAN'T do.
• Since anxiety is about fear of loss of control, rehearse the things over which you DO have control.
• Rehearse the things that are consistent and predictable in your environment.
• Remind yourself that every day we are working on normalizing an environment for those with food allergies.
• Name the people who "understand" and care about your allergy.
• Calm your body using: gentle touch, relaxation exercises, belly breathing (sit or lie comfortably, relax your shoulders and chest, inhale to the bottom of your lungs, which causes your diaphragm to push your belly out, exhale while pulling your belly back in, breathe slowly for 1-3 minutes while focusing  on each breath sound.)
• Get your body moving with a walk, activities, play and sports.
• Play, play, play!
• Ask for a hug from someone you trust.

When should you seek professional help for food allergy anxiety?

When your anxiety or your child's anxiety seems to be affecting physical health or is seriously interfering with functioning or happiness please seek professional help.  One can also seek the help of a professional before anxiety increases so that a child or parent can get coaching on how to manage emotions and situations as they arise. 

When you and your child have a relationship with a therapist who understands the possible anxiety and stressors of living with food allergies, that therapist can become a great resource for managing the emotions related to the various transitions in a child's life - school, friends, dating, adulthood, etc. 

Click here to learn more about Dr. Herzog.

Click here to view the FARE webinar featuring Dr. Herzog for more great information on managing food allergy anxiety.

If you find this post helpful learn more about Tami and her company, Thrive On Consulting, which helps families and individuals managing food allergies, and follow her on Facebook and Twitter

Sitting by the Pool, Planning for School- Making Back to School with Food Allergies Easier

It is summer- time to relax, slow your roll and enjoy.  We are embracing our laid back schedule, days at the pool, and grilling out with friends and family.  The lazy days of summer are a welcome change after our hectic school year.  And, I am not going to lie, I love that my sweet girl is home with me for lunch- less worrying for me about cross-contact in the cafeteria!  But, before we know it, it will be time once again to head back to school.  While we should all enjoy this lovely break called summer it is important to stay on the ball with some food allergy related items so that when the school bells start ringing we are all prepared for a safe year.

My Thrive On 3 this week- three things to do now to be prepared for attending school this Fall with food allergies.

Doctor’s Directives

Schedule your appointment now with your allergist to ensure you have any needed paperwork completed for the school, as well as to update your emergency action plan.  If you have a food allergy you need to have a board certified allergist helping you to map out how to respond in an emergency situation.  FARE offers a great emergency action plan that you can download and have your doctor complete.

Your emergency action plan will become a critical component of the paperwork you share with your school to ensure any emergency situation is managed effectively.  Don’t wait until the last few weeks of summer when appointments may be hard to come by.  Call now and schedule your appointment so you know you will have your paperwork and plan ready to go. 

Also, be sure to check the expiration dates on your EpiPens® to be sure you have current medications ready for back to school.

Gear Up

One thing I have learned through our food allergy journey is that we need stuff- we need a great lunch box, we need carriers for our medicines, we need ID tags for personal items.  I have also learned that this stuff can add up!  Start now by making a list of the items you will need for school and begin to research and purchase those items throughout the summer.  Getting your head around what you need now can help to alleviate some stress because you will feel prepared when the back to school rush starts, and you can also spread out the expense by purchasing items over the course of the summer rather than getting everything at one time. 

You will decide what works best for your family and what you want to have as a part of your food allergy protection toolbox but here are a few suggestions:

•    Quality Lunch Box with Reusable Containers- you are going to pack lunch A LOT so a good lunchbox is worth the investment.  We love the Bentology boxes.  Another great trick for a reusable lunch item- buy a 5 pack of baby wash cloths (in plain colors or a not so baby-ish print) to use as re-useable napkins all year long.

•    Medicine Carriers and Medical ID Tags- check out AllerMates and AllergyApparel for great options. For carriers think about features like straps or hooks for ease of carry.

•    Table Covers for Lunch- we eat out of our lunch box, but check out Wrap-N-Mat for an option.

•    ID Bracelets- we love I.C.O.E. Bracelets which are completely customizable. 

•    Water Bottle- we always opt for one that the straw is completely covered when closed to prevent it from coming in contact with anything else.  Our Thermos brand bottle has held up for two years of everyday use and is still going strong.

•    Wipes- I am always donating wipes for school events and field trips and I also stock my daughter’s backpack and activity bags with individual wipe packets so I stock up when I catch them on sale through the summer.

•    Cupcake Carrier- if your school allows treats to be sent in for parties or birthdays you may find that you are sending in safe treats rather frequently.  An individual cupcake carrier makes it easy to transport your safe cupcakes into school.  Amazon has a few different options- both reusable and disposable- just search individual cupcake carrier.

•    Wine- just kidding, kind of!

Early Education

Start making plans and appointments now to communicate with your school staff about your needs for the year.  This could include conversations with your teacher/teachers, cafeteria staff, school nurse, the 504 coordinator, coaches, or after school activity coordinators.  Begin to map out what you need and want to share with your school personnel and prepare any required documentation.  Also, be prepared to share your emergency action plan and any other critical information you want to communicate to staff.  I highly recommend meeting staff in person and following up in writing after the meeting to restate agreements and to have a record of your conversation.

Summer is also a great time to start to teach your child age-appropriate self advocacy skills.  For older kids, this might mean role-playing situations that might arise such as being offered food at school or helping them determine responses to bullying behavior.  It is also a great time to have them practice self-carrying their EpiPen® while they are with you if they will be making the transition to carrying it in the upcoming school year.  For younger children, it might mean helping them to identify their allergens.  We made our house a safe bubble, but realized when our daughter went to Kindergarten she might not recognize some of the foods that could present a danger to her.  I made flash cards of foods containing her allergens and every so often we flipped through them.  By the time school started she could recognize her allergens in various forms.  For younger kids, another great idea is to have them eat out of their lunch box at home a few times to get used to opening and closing containers and using table covers. 

Ready for that wine?  It seems like a lot to do, but if you start now and spread out all of this food allergy prep work over the summer you will feel in control and ready to go when that school bell beckons.

Thrive On!

Product Disclaimer:

Thrive On Consulting does not sponsor or endorse the products listed.  Nor has Thrive On Consulting been paid to include these products.  Products mentioned here are provided as ideas and suggestions to help you Thrive On with food allergies.

If you find this post helpful learn more about Tami and her company, Thrive On Consulting, which helps families and individuals managing food allergies, and follow her on Facebook and Twitter