If You Have Food Allergies Say This!

Be BOLD like a cicada-pipe the heck up!  ~Maureen Connolly

I love this quote about speaking up- and when you have food allergies you have to learn to speak up.  Speaking up is one of the best tools you have to keep yourself or your kiddo safe.  I learned very early in our food allergy journey that advocating for yourself is so important. Even when it might seem scary or even intimidating, speaking up will help to keep you safe and thrive on with food allergies!

If you have food allergies here are four things you should be saying:

"I have food allergies"
If people don't know that you are managing food allergies they may inadvertently put you at risk.  I have found that most people are willing to help or make accommodations if you let them know, but people sometimes just don't know what they don't know.  Sharing your food allergies and stay safe strategies with an attitude of cooperation and collaboration will keep people aware and ultimately keep you safe. 

"Can I read the label?"
Label reading is critical- if you have food allergies you need to be reading labels.  ALL.THE.TIME.  Don't be afraid to ask to see a package or label so you can verify if it is safe.  If there is no label or you are unable to verify ingredients or processing (if you manage for that too) skip it!  When in doubt go without!  And, check out one of my #thriveonthursday posts about label reading here.  

"Do I/we have my epis?"
Wherever you go, whatever you do, you should have your epis with you!  How many?  Two, yes two.  They send them as a 2-pack for a reason because you should always have two with you at all times.  Develop a strategy for you or your family to always remember your medicine.  We have opted to hang a hook by our door.  My daughter's epis hang there all of the time.  As soon as we enter the house they go on the hook, and when we leave we have to walk by them so is a reminder to grab them as we head out of the house.  And, we always know where they are when we are in the house because they are always on the hook. 

"I can!"
When you have food allergies it can be easy to focus on the things that you can't have or can't do.  But, the reality is you can eat and do so much!  Even if your list of allergens exceeds 15 there are still hundreds of other foods you CAN have.  Make an "I can eat" list and refer to it often, especially when you feel like you are getting in a rut and eating the same things over and over.  Apply "I can" to activities too.  Yes parties, social activities like dining out, and travel can present some challenges but it is possible with a little advanced planning, prep and creativity to do all of those things.  Check out my blog post about dining out for one strategy to turn eating out into an "I Can" activity. 

So, friends, speak up and Thrive On!

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Need help living your best life with food allergies?  I can help you Thrive On! 
Learn more about me and my company, Thrive On Consulting, which provides food allergy coaching and training.  You can also follow me on Facebook for tips to Thrive On with food allergies.


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Check out #thriveonthursday - Every Thursday check out my Facebook page where I share a tip for thriving on with food allergies!

Summer Camp with Food Allergies- The First Step to Keep it Safe

That crazy leprechaun just paid us a visit, which is my sign to start thinking summer camps.  I don't know if where you live is like here, but summer camps book up and they book up quickly!  My girls have a few on their short-list and we need to move as fast as that leprechaun to secure our spots.  And, with food allergies it is even more important that I am researching and planning our summer camps early to ensure we not only have a fun, but safe summer.

I am sure some of you are ready to click on to the next screen thinking my kid has food allergies, there is no way I would send them to a camp.  But hang tight, before you leave, know that I was that mom a few years ago.  The thought of sending my food allergic daughter to camp was so stressful I would break out into a sweat just thinking about it!  But, as with all hurdles we have faced with food allergies, I knew there had to be a way to give her that fun summer camp experience but still keep her safe...and me sane.  Yes it takes a little more work....but it is worth it.  Your kiddo gets to have fun and you may just get a much needed break or coverage for all of those long summer hours!

Now is the time to start doing your research.  Yes, this takes time but your research will yield a list of camps that might work for your family.

Start the Conversation
Start by talking to your child about the camps they are interested in.  You may find they have interests or concerns that you did not anticipate.  A few years ago some of my daughter's friends attended an over night camp for the first time.  She had no interest in even going to an overnight camp so that answered all of my questions....moving on to the next camp.

Once you know their interests let them know you need to do some research into available camps.  It may be a good idea to find a few camps in their interest area (for example if basketball is their thing, find a few camp options that way if one proves unsafe you will still have another option to explore).

If you live in the Louisville area, check out the awesome list of summer camps by Louisville Family Fun to start your research.  Other cities have similar lists that you can reference to start to review camp options and talk to your kiddos about their interests.

And, did you know? There are a number of camps across the US that cater to food allergic campers- talk about knowing how to deal with food allergies at camp!!  Camp TAG hosted by FAACT is one great option for a food allergy focussed camp, and you can also check out this great list by FARE of other food allergy friendly camps.

Get In Touch
Once you have your short list of camps, websites are a great place to start.  Some camps have FAQs or even pages dedicated to the topic of food allergies and how they are handled at camp.  In fact, these are camps you probably want to keep on your short list.  But, the research doesn't end there.  Once you have an idea of the camps your kiddo is interested in it is time to get on the phone....yes call someone.  Don't email, don't text...call.  Why?  Because you can tell a lot about a camp by the way their staff answers your questions.  You will be able to tell if they get it, if they have had experience dealing with food allergic campers, and if they are together enough to get you the answers that you need.

Some questions to consider asking:

• How do you manage food allergies at camp?
• What are your food allergy policies?
• Have you had food allergic campers in the past?  If so, what allergens did they manage?
• Have you ever had a food allergy reaction at camp?  
• What are your policies for brining food to camp?  
• Is your staff trained in food allergy management and emergency response?
• Do you have a nurse on the camp staff?  If so, is he/she onsite the entire camp?
• Are staff trained to administer epinephrine? If so, which staff members are trained?  
• Are you open to partnering with food allergic families to keep camp safe?  
• Would you be willing to connect me to other food allergy families that have been to your camp so I could discuss their experience?

Depending on how old your child is, involve them in this research.  Remember- some day they will be the ones that need to self-manage so at every turn (as age appropriate) help them develop those skills.

Make the Decision

After you have called the camps and had the conversations it should become apparent which camps may be an option for you.  Unfortunately, there will be some you take off the list, but at the end of the day that really is OK.  While it might be hard to have a conversation with your child about not attending a camp, the alternative is sending them into an unsafe situation- and no parent wants that!  

Depending on how old your child is, talk to them about what you found out and which camps fit not only their interests, but will keep food allergy safety a priority.  Together you can make decisions about where summer fun will also be safe fun!  

More To Come

Making the decision about which camp to attend is a huge one, but the work is not done.  Once you send in that check and sign those forms it is time to start planning how you will keep camp safe (even if they have great policies in place).  Stay tuned for more on that topic in a future blog....for now happy camp researching!  Thrive On!

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Need help living your best life with food allergies?  I can help you Thrive On! 
Learn more about me and my company, Thrive On Consulting, which provides food allergy coaching and training.  You can also follow me on Facebook for tips to Thrive On with food allergies.

Product Disclaimer:
Thrive On Consulting was not paid to promote these products or places.  Products mentioned here are provided as ideas and suggestions to help you Thrive On with food allergies.

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Check out #thriveonthursday - Every Thursday check out my Facebook page where I share a tip for thriving on with food allergies!

What Every Food Allergy Kiddo Needs to Know

What is your food allergy parenting style?  Some of us are pretty intense (myself included!!) taking a very watchful and hands-on approach to managing life with food allergies, while others are a little more laid-back.  From the clients I work with, to the Facebook groups I participate in as a food allergy mom,  I have seen it all from super conservative to extremely hands-off.  There is no right answer, and while it may be hard to grasp the "other way" the reality is we all need to find an approach to safely manage food allergies that works for us, and for our families.  And, this approach may ebb and flow depending on the season of food allergies you are in.  For me, I will always be Type A, about everything, but as we have grown into our food allergies over the last decade I have adjusted my intensity (although some would laugh at that statement!).

Your approach has to work for you, and others may not understand the how or the why behind your actions, but as long as you are working to keep your child safe and help them move closer to being able to manage their own allergies you are on the right track!

How you do it may differ from how I do it, but here is my list of the key things we need to be teaching our food allergy kiddos so one day they will be able to successfully self-manage their food allergies.  After you read my list, comment below if you have others you would add.

Epi Etiquette
Simply stated- take it everywhere you go, keep it on you, and keep it temperature controlled.  So many tragic food allergy stories start with the fact the the person did not have their epinephrine with them.

Label Reading 
Make sure they know how to read a label, how their allergens may appear on the label- which may be different if you are managing a non-top 8 allergen, and any other names their allergen may appear as on labels, for example botanical names.

It's Not Just the Food
Highlight non-food risks and places where their allergens could be found, for example in personal care products or pet foods.

Be Your Own Advocate
Help them develop the skills they need to be able to advocate for themselves.  Food allergy parents do a lot of the behind scenes work, but as they get older involve them in the meetings and conversations that you have so they can see how to structure a conversation about keeping it safe.

Cooking School
If you have food allergies there is some level of cooking you will need to do to keep it safe, so be sure your kiddo has some basic cooking skills in their back pocket.  We don't need to raise gourmet cooks, but a few basic skills will go along way to boosting their confidence and making sure they can cook for themselves when you are no longer there to prepare all those safe meals.  Check out my previous blog post with advice from Chef Laura Holland about getting your kids in the kitchen for some great ideas on inspiring your little chef.

Attitude is Everything
It has been proven time and time again that your attitude will shape your experience. While food allergies can be scary and limiting, help your kiddo find the joy in their situation and model positive behaviors while managing their food allergies.  For example, approach conversations about keeping it safe with a collaborative mindset and make the best of situations even if it is not exactly how you would want it.  If you missed my blog post a few weeks ago about food allergy silver linings give it a read and see if you can relate or get some additional perspective to shape your attitude about food allergies.

What else would you add to the list?

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Need help living your best life with food allergies?  I can help you Thrive On! 
Learn more about me and my company, Thrive On Consulting, which provides food allergy coaching and training.  You can also follow me on Facebook for tips to Thrive On with food allergies.

Check out #thriveonthursday - Every Thursday check out my Facebook page -I share a tip for thriving on with food allergies!

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Should I Stay or Should I Go?? A famous line from a song by The Clash (cue the fun music) and the question I found myself asking over and over again as my daughter with food allergies got older.  Parties, when she was little, were hard for all the normal reasons when you have food allergies (cakes full of allergens, hosts who may not be familiar with food allergy management, party favor bags full of unsafe candy…the list goes on), but there was one component that was easier when she was little…the moms stayed.  I was there to monitor what was going on, to help her navigate the food table, and get her that safe cupcake at just the right moment.  I blended right in with the gaggle of moms who were there happily chatting and eating delicious looking bakery cake.  

But, as she got older, fewer and fewer moms hung around for the parties until one day I realized I was the only crazy food allergy mom left hanging out at parties.  I wasn’t ready to turn her loose in food filled parties, but at some point we talked and she told me that she wanted me to go.  She wanted to be there with her friends- without her mom, like her other friends.

It has been one of the many transitions we have made on this food allergy journey.  But, one that we needed to make because, after all, my job is to equip her to manage her own allergies some day and attending parties on her own is a part of that process.  That said, it took a lot for me to drop her off at that first party.  And truth be told, the first few parties I “dropped” her off at I just sat outside in my car counting the minutes until I had her back in the car.

I still take steps to keep her safe including talking with the party host in advance about the menu and what foods she will be able to eat or not eat, and then talking with my daughter about them.  We also always make sure that the host is trained on how to administer her Auvi-q. I still walk her into parties and together we look at the food and talk specifically about what she can and cannot have…and of course her individual cupcake carrier is still getting some miles on it as we transport her safe cupcake to parties.  Unfortunately, there have been a few times that we made the difficult decision to not go to a party because it was just not going to be a safe situation, but these days I generally join the moms who run to Target and the grocery store during the party. 

This was before she flew solo at parties, but we are always prepared for parties with a safe cupcake and snacks! 

One of the most important conversations I have had with her about parties, besides what to do if she is not feeling well at a party, has been about how we think about parties. Our mantra has always been “At parties we focus on family, fun and friends, not food”. We talk about how we can enjoy the party even if we can’t enjoy all of the food.  I don’t know for certain, but I think this has helped her to think about parties in the context of people and activities rather than the food that often takes center stage at parties.

Parties can be stressful, but they are a huge part of being a kid.  Finding the right approach for your family will be important….should you stay or should you go?  That is up to you and each party will be different- sometimes you will stay, sometime you will go…but at the end of the day hopefully you will find a way to focus on family, friends and fun, not the food and Thrive On! 

For more tips on managing parties with food allergies check out the blog post I wrote for FAACT, Celebrating Safely.

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Need help living your best life with food allergies?  I can help you Thrive On! 
Learn more about me and my company, Thrive On Consulting, which provides food allergy coaching and training.  You can also follow me on Facebook for tips to Thrive On with food allergies.

My Food Allergy Silver Linings

I have been reading a lot about gratitude lately and how good it is for your mental state. Gratitude puts you in the state of mind to appreciate what you have, and feeling thankful leads to more positive feelings…which all sounds great.  But, can you really be grateful for food allergies?  I mean let’s be honest, there have been multiple days that food allergies have brought me to my knees- when I had to pull off the highway when my daughter was having a reaction and I had to rush her to the closest hospital, when she came home in kindergarten in tears because she had to sit alone at the peanut free table, when I had to tell her no to a fun social event with all of her friends because it was just not a safe situation for her- yep, those were pretty terrible days.  If I could, I would give anything to take her allergies away.

But, when I stop and reflect on this food allergy life that we live there are things to be grateful for despite the intensity with which we live everyday to keep her safe.  When the day-to-day stress of food allergy management starts to bring me down, I try to think about these things, my silver linings to our food allergy life.

Healthy Eating 
I cook a lot and I buy a lot of fresh ingredients that have one or only a few ingredients.  I’d like to think that I would still cook this way if we didn’t have food allergies, but I know the lure of the drive-thru and packaged convenience foods would be too strong on busy nights and weeks with hectic schedules.  Because of our food allergies, we cook almost every night (and my daughter is becoming a pretty good cook herself!), we keep ingredients simple- and our entire family is healthier for it.

Developing the Ability to Really Talk to My Daughter
Food allergies force you to be aware and vigilant and our sweet little babies learn at a very young age how to tell people about their allergens, ask about ingredients, and advocate for themselves.  This doesn’t happen on its own, it happens because of the many conversations we have with our kids.  I feel like my daughter has learned, very early on, that I am her champion and her sounding board.  She and I have been able to work together to solve her food allergy issues and I am hopeful that as we head into the waters of the tween and teen years she will know that she can count on me for not just food allergy support, but for anything she needs.  Food allergies have forced us into hard conversations and the need to come up with creative solutions- we are a team and for that I am grateful.

Friendships That Sustain Me in Tough Times
I am so grateful for the friends we have the truly get our food allergy life.  Even if they don’t fully get it, because they don’t walk in our food allergy shoes every day, they make every attempt to understand it and support us.  Friends who call to check ingredients, who keep it safe so no one is excluded, who check in on me to see how I am doing.  When I am feeling drained and exhausted from the ongoing slog of daily food allergy management a simple act from a friend can bring me to tears of gratitude.

Finding the Courage to Do the Things I Need to Do
More than a few times I have had that awful pit in my stomach in anticipation of what I was about to do…make that request, ask for something to be changed, say no…all to keep things safe.  I am not generally a shy person, but food allergies have given me tremendous courage to use my voice and say what I need to say.  With a shaky voice and sweaty hands, I have done it! I have had the hard conversations, made the difficult requests and I have done it because there is no other option- her safety is the most important thing.  I am grateful for the courage I have mustered to do the things I need to do.

Will I say that I am grateful for food allergies?  Never. But what I can say is that I am grateful for some of the dimensions food allergies have added to our lives.  What are your food allergy silver linings?



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Need help living your best life with food allergies?  I can help you Thrive On! 
Learn more about me and my company, Thrive On Consulting, which provides food allergy coaching and training.  You can also follow me on Facebook for tips to Thrive On with food allergies.

Food Allergy Fun on Chinese New Year

Before kids and before food allergies, celebrating holidays like the Chinese New Year were an excuse to head out to a fun restaurant for the night- yummy food and drinks, yes please!  Once kids entered the scene, it seemed these holidays also presented an opportunity for my kids to learn about different cultures and foods.  But with food allergies, heading out the local Chinese restaurant on the New Year just wasn't an option.

So, what is a food allergy mom to do?  Get creative and bring the celebration to life at home!  I want my kids to know that even with food restrictions we can still celebrate and learn about other cultures even if we aren't able to go out to eat or make all of the traditional dishes.  I have said it before, and I will say it again, I am not a Pinterest mom....but with a few quick internet searches and some basic decorating you can have a fun Chinese New Year celebration at home!

Decorate your table to spark interest and up the fun factor:  
For our Chinese New Year meals, I use red placemats (I bought a pack of paper placemats at Walmart about 4 years ago and am still using them each year).  I also set our our chopsticks.  When my kids were really little we let them use forks (back then even eating properly with a fork was a challenge!) but as they have gotten older it so fun to see everyone try to eat their meal with chopsticks.

I also find out what animal is representing the New Year and incorporate that into our table decorations- silly things like finding stickers of the animal to put on the corner of the placemats or digging through our toy bin and find small plastic animals to place on the table.  This coming year is the Year of the Pig...what do you have in your house that can be used to decorate your table?

A few of our tables from past Chinese New Year celebrations!

Some other fun non-food ideas:
Print out a translation of everyone's name in Chinese to use as place cards for the table.  There are a ton of translation websites that allow you to type in your name and it will give your name in Chinese.

For older kids, read through your predictions for the new year. Click here for a link to a page with this coming year's predictions.

For younger kids, print out coloring sheets or do simple crafts (that may be to be used as table decorations).  Click here for a link to some awesome and simple ideas.  One year, I printed a coloring sheet and we let the kids decorate the table- so fun to see their "design".

Food is there, but not the focus:
For our celebration, I focus more on the non-food aspects, although I do try to make foods that are tied to the Asian culture.  One of my favorite go-to resources for nut-free Asian fare is Nut Free Wok- she has so many great recipe options.  Check her out to get inspiration for your Chinese New Year meal.

So get ready, Chinese New Year is February 5th.  Our mantra to celebrate safely is that we focus on family, friends and fun, not food.  This Chinese New Year will be no exception...I have already dug out my trusty red placemats and chopsticks.  What will you do to show your kids that celebrating can be about so much more than the food?


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Need help living your best life with food allergies?
I can help you Thrive On!

Learn more about me and my company, Thrive On Consulting, which provides food allergy coaching and training.  You can also follow me on Facebook for tips to Thrive On with food allergies.

Allergy Friendly Super Bowl Sunday Party Foods

Who is getting ready for Super Bowl Sunday?  Allergy friendly party foods are a must to keep it safe!!  To help you thrive on this Super Bowl Sunday I have compiled a few tasty allergy friendly recipes from some of my favorite bloggers and food allergy publications to give you some inspiration for your game day spread!  


Banana Guacamole from Me- Thrive On Consulting  

Pizza Casserole from Vegetarian Mama

Cranberry Glazed Chicken and Quinoa Meatballs from Allergic Living

Baked Zucchini Fries from Gluten Free and More

Chocolate Raspberry Cookie Dough Truffles from Petite Allergy Treats

Have other favorite allergy friendly game day snacks and treats that you are planning to make? Share them in the comments below...and enjoy the game!

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Need help living your best life with food allergies?  
I can help you Thrive On! 

Learn more about me and my company, Thrive On Consulting, which provides food allergy coaching and training.  You can also follow me on Facebook for tips to Thrive On with food allergies.

Dining Out With Food Allergies- The One Thing You Need

Going out to eat and food allergies can be tricky combination.  For us, the decision to trust others with our food prep has been one we take very seriously.  There are so many questions that arise when we relinquish control of our food prep….

• Will the restaurant take our food allergies seriously?

• Will our allergies be communicated clearly to the kitchen staff? (think the game of telephone...we all know how that ends!!)

• Will the kitchen staff take the proper steps to ensure there is no cross-contact? (do they even understand the concept of cross-contact?!)

The key to all of these is clear communication with the restaurant.  We take lots of steps to ensure safety and communicate our allergens to a restaurant, but my number one tip for dining safely with food allergies is to have a chef card to communicate your allergies.

What is a Chef Card? Chef cards are small business card sized documents that list your allergens. You should present these to servers, managers or chefs.  This ensures that the entire restaurant team is on the same page (literally!) about your allergens.  

When we do dine out, restaurant staff are always so appreciative of the fact that we provide the card- and it gives us some piece of mind knowing there will be no question about the foods we need to avoid.  

Thrive On! And.....always be sure to take your epi with you....so technically you need 2 things :)

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If you want to get a custom designed chef cards reach out!  I design custom cards with allergens, contact information and stay safe directives for kitchen staff.  

Heading out now to a restaurant and need a card ASAP? You can use the generic template below.

No matter if you work with me to design your cards, or download the version below, be sure you never dine out without a chef card! 

Generic Chef Card Template from FARE

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Need help living your best life with food allergies?  
I can help you Thrive On! 

Learn more about me and my company, Thrive On Consulting, which provides food allergy coaching and training.  You can also follow me on Facebook for tips to Thrive On with food allergies.

Feeling Stressed about Back to School and Food Allergies? Try This!

My kids are staying up too late, sun kissed and loving life as our summer days roll on.  But, I know it’s coming, soon it will be back to school.  Part of me craves the routine and structure our school days bring, but part of me is already feeling very anxious about the new year because, well, food allergies add an insane wrinkle to the start of a school year- new teachers, new classrooms, new friends…will they get it?  I can easily start to spiral into a swirl of negative thoughts about the upcoming year which can lead to me being all stressed out and not able to focus on what is front of me- the fun of summer.  But, I have found a simple solution for managing this stress!

I have recently started listening to a number of wellness focused podcasts, part of an effort to help with my own stress management, about food allergies and life in general.  I had to share a strategy I recently picked up that is intended for mindfulness and to help refocus your attention so negative thoughts don’t take over.  I was at the gym as I listened to the podcast so I didn’t have a pen to write down the author of the blog that was being narrated (more on this great podcast soon) but the idea is so simple and genius and I think can help us all out as we navigate the stressful waters of back to school with food allergies. 

The concept is this- get a bracelet, any bracelet.  It could even be a hair tie or rubber band if that is all you can grab.  Put it in your wrist.  When you feel yourself starting to stress out about back to school, you know the worry, the what ifs- mindfully take the bracelet and switch it to your other wrist.  As you switch the bracelet, think of the things you are doing to keep your child safe- the meetings you will have with staff, the gear you will send to school, the confidence you are building in your child that will allow him to advocate for himself.  As you switch your bracelet and your thoughts, you regain control and start to think about the positive steps you are taking to keep your child safe rather than letting the what ifs get you down. 

There may be days you switch that bracelet multiple times, especially on days when bad food allergy news fills your Facebook feed or a back to school night looms, but you can control your thoughts and the simple mindful act of switching your bracelet can help put you in a better place to not only manage some of the inevitable food allergy stress that comes with a new school year, but allowing you to stay focused on the summer fun at hand and not the what ifs of the Fall. 

I am wearing my bracelet now – it felt strange at first, but I am finding it really does help me re-center and stop thoughts that would otherwise spiral out of control.  Some days I switch it a lot, others the bracelet just fades into my look and no one really knows the purpose it serves.  But, it is a constant reminder to me that we can thrive on with food allergies!

I encourage you to try it out too and share your experience!  Does it work for you?  We would love to hear! 

And, let me tell you about this awesome podcast.  I posted yesterday on my Facebook page about it- Optimal Daily Living. Each and every day, Justin, the host of the podcast, reads from the best blogs and books all focused on mindfulness, minimalism and living your most optimal life.  I have found so many amazing strategies for managing stress, focusing on what is important and reframing my view of life and managing food allergies.  I encourage everyone to check it out! 

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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.