I get emails a lot from people who have a child newly diagnosed with food allergies.  It's such an overwhelming and anxiety filled road to navigate and I'm happy to do anything I can do to make that journey feel less isolating for someone else.  Today I'm just offering out a few things that are safe snacks for those with dairy, egg, and peanut allergies. If there is anything you want to know or questions you have or topics you'd like to see me talk about regarding this just comment below or send me an email.  (juliakyleryan@gmail.com)

Plus I added in a picture of my sweet boy because he's way cuter to look at than a list of snack food!

I've been wanting to share my feelings on being a food allergy mom on here for well over a year but I've held back.  Mostly because when I start thinking about it too much my anxiety sky rockets and that's not helpful for anyone, least of which my family.  And I also don't want to give the false impression that my son is an "allergy kid" because he is so much more than that and I don't want that to be what people see first.  This article articulates really well what it's like to have a child who is not defined by his allergy but a motherhood that is.  This is my life.  I urge everyone to read it because I am an advocate for compassion and education.  Nothing more.   This article also gives a good look into an allergic reaction if you're curious.

If you or someone you love suffers from severe food allergies I also urge you to familiarize yourself with the FARE website and facebook page.  It's the best out there.  And please read all labels and do your own research;  I'm not a medical professional or an educator, just a mom.

My favorite lines from the article referenced above:

"a food allergy is a life-threatening condition that causes children to stop. breathing. immediately. It's very real... and it's very scary." 

"We know we're perceived as high-maintenance parents. And we feel badly about that because the level of diligence we're forced to have about the subject of food allergies may not be consistent with the level of diligence our personalities would normally reflect." 

Today my son's teacher is sending home a letter asking his classroom to become allergy friendly for him.  He is anaphylactic to dairy, egg, and peanut.  I'm still not sure how I feel about that.  I asked three times for her not to do that.  I'm not the kind to ever want to impose on others.  I'm not really sure how I feel about food bans in general.  Mostly because I know they don't work.  I've seen firsthand where peanut butter sandwiches were brought out in our nut free school.  Plus nothing in our world is truly safe.  There are sticky grocery carts and monkey bars and escalators and door knobs and elevator buttons in our world.  And they pose an indefinite threat to his breathing.  But I need to teach myself and my son how to navigate that.  He won't be kept in a bubble, now or later in life.  Plus, of all people I really and truly know first hand the struggle to find something to feed your child and asking others to do without something their child likes goes against my nature.  I hope they don't hold it against us.  I'm sure it's hard not to.

I also understand the teacher's need to feel more in control of her classroom and to eliminate as many scenarios for disaster as possible. These kids are three.  I get that because it's the same control I exercise at home.  I live with anxiety every day that I won't be able to spot the signs of my son not breathing or be able to distinguish fast enough an asthma attack from anaphylaxis.  I live with this all day every day and I'm not an expert, how can I pass that burden on to someone else?

One specific thing I get asked is what to feed them.  I've put together a list of all the snacks our Dairy, Egg, and Peanut Allergic son can have.  Please be sure to read all labels as some things change.  His allergies are severe so we have also eliminated anything that is processed on equipment shared with his allergens.  If you've got anything to add, I'd love to know!  I'll update this list as often as I can!

*Ians Frozen Chicken nuggets, fish sticks, and bread crumbs for cooking