Page 8 - TR What Women Want August 2016

8SS • What Women Want • An Advertising Supplement to the Three Rivers Edition • Sunday, August 14, 2016
Food or FOE? Many meals harbor hidden hazards for those with allergies
BY SARAH DECLERK SPECIAL SECTIONS WRITER
One woman’s lunch can be another’s poison. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Ad- ministration’s “Prevalence of self-reported food allergy in U.S. adults: 2001, 2006 and 2010,” 6.5 percent of U.S. adults reported having a doctor-diagnosed food allergy in 2010.
According to an article in American Family Physician titled “Summary of the NIAID (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)-Sponsored Food Allergy Guidelines,” a food allergy is a health problem caused by an immune re- sponse that occurs predictably when an individual is exposed to a certain food.
Some of the most common allergy-causing foods are milk, eggs, peanuts, seafood and tree nuts, said Randall Hunt, M.D., and Nicole Lawson, M.D., with the White River Health Sys- tem. However, more than 170 other foods have been known to cause allergic reactions, they added.
Food allergies can begin at any stage of life, the article states. Although most children who are allergic to milk and eggs will outgrow the allergies by the time they reach ado- lescence, most people do not outgrow peanut and tree-nut allergies, article states. Food allergies that begin in adulthood are likely to persist throughout the individual’s life, the article adds.
Allergic reactions run the gamut from mild to severe, but the most dangerous is anaphylaxis. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, symptoms include trouble breathing, throat tightness and low blood pressure. The life-threatening reaction requires an epinephrine injection, often via an EpiPen, and a visit to the emergency room, the academy states.
Other symptoms can include dizziness, fainting, hives, eczema, nausea and diarrhea, the American Family Physician article states. Such symptoms may occur minutes to hours after eating the allergy-causing food, the article adds.
If women think they or their children may have a food allergy, they can visit a physician for a food challenge, during which the people suspected of having the allergy consume the food while under medical supervision, the doctors said.
Individuals who have been diagnosed with a food allergy should eliminate allergy-causing foods from their diets, the doctors added. To avoid allergy-causing foods, women should tell their servers about any allergies when dining out and should be sure to read all food labels while grocery shopping.
“Read labels to avoid the known allergens,” Hunt said. “Be aware of possible symptoms, and seek professional care if anaphylaxis or [hives] occur.”
After being diagnosed with food allergies, patients may be prescribed an EpiPen, which they need to carry with them in case they accidentally consume an allergen, the article states. The device allows patients to inject themselves with epinephrine, which will slow their allergy symptoms while they travel to the emergency room, according to the article.
Mothers of children with food allergies may face chal- lenges during school or visits to friends’ houses, when moms cannot control their children’s diets. Mothers can talk to school staff about their children’s allergies, symptoms and treatment plans.
Although it is not always necessary to pack lunch for a child who has food allergies, a mother may check daily school-lunch menus to see if the school plans to serve a food that causes allergies for her child.
When children are visiting friends’ houses, mothers can inform other parents about their children’s allergies. Parents can also educate their children about their allergies and teach children to ask an adult whether a certain food is safe for them to eat.
If a mother is hosting a child with a food allergy, she can show courtesy by providing alternative snacks for that child. For example, if a child with a gluten allergy is attending a birthday party, a thoughtful host mother may provide a gluten-free cupcake for that child.
Most food allergies are caused by eggs, cow’s milk, peanuts, tree nuts or seafood.
Out of the LUNCH BOX BY SARAH DECLERK
SPECIAL SECTIONS WRITER
Planning meals to pack in a child’s lunchbox can be a struggle for any mother, but parents of children with food allergies face the additional challenge of determining what to pack when traditional favorites such as peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches or fish sticks are off the table. The following lunchbox ideas can provide inspi- ration to parents of children both with and without food allergies.
RICE DISHES
For children with wheat allergies, rice dishes provide all the ver- satility of a sandwich because they can include almost any topping. Depending on a child’s preferences and dietary restrictions, parents can pack a healthy main course of jambalaya, stir-fry, or red beans and rice. Many rice dishes can be prepared in bulk ahead of time and frozen.
ALTERNATIVE BREADS
There is no need to nix sandwiches if a child has a wheat allergy because many wheat-free breads are available. Many health-food or specialty stores carry ready-made bread that uses rice, corn or tapioca flour as a main ingredient. Enterprising parents can also purchase wheat-free flour and make their own bread at home.
BLACK-BEAN VEGGIE WRAPS
Veggie wraps pack well, stay fresh until lunch, and can be mod- ified to include only ingredients that are safe for a child to eat. To create a great wrap, spread mashed black beans, refried beans or hummus across a soft flour tortilla, add desired vegetables; then roll up the wrap. A small amount of spread can be used to fasten the tortilla edge if needed.
PINWHEELS
This popular appetizer also packs well for lunch. Most recipes begin with a cream-cheese spread, but vegan alternatives are avail- able for children with dairy allergies. After adding the spread to a tortilla, parents can roll up a variety of ingredients, including deli meat, cheese, sliced vegetables and salad greens.
Packing a lunch for a child who has food allergies can be a challenge, but with a little inspiration, parents may find that plenty of healthy options are available.