Blog — safety
Cheryl Marks Young
Allergy-Friendly & Allergy-Free Are Different Things (And Only One of Them is Accurate!)
“What can I bake that will be allergy-free so everyone can enjoy it?” Have you heard that question before? The person asking means well. Depending on the context, there may even be a legitimate answer that meets the needs of a very specific group of people. The problem comes when the question is asked in a more general context. Why? Because you’ll be hard pressed to find many foods that are truly and completely allergen free. Wait. What? Let’s back up a moment and revisit a few basic food allergy facts. Top 8 9 Allergens In the United States, the...
Cheryl Marks Young
4 Scrumptious Back-to-School Snacks Your Kids Will Love
The stores are filling up with school supplies. Depending on where you’re reading this, school may already be back in session. Others of you are starting that familiar “how much summer can we squish into these remaining weeks” rush before you to slide back into the schoolyear routine. Whichever camp you’re in, now is the perfect time to stock your pantry and sort out your favorite recipes for lunchboxes and afterschool nibbling. The following list should get your creative cooking juices started. DIY Trail-Mix Sure, trail mix is one of those nightmarish snacks for folks with allergies with it’s traditional...
Cheryl Marks Young
Summer Fun and Food Allergies
Temperatures are rising. The focus is shifting from homework and schoolyear activities to summer camps and get-togethers. There are barbecues and pool parties. There are trips to the beach and the lake. There are outdoor events and amusement parks to visit. Summer is upon us and you’re busy figuring out how to fill (but not overfill) those balmy days. If you’re an allergy parent (or an allergic individual yourself), summer fun, like everything else, has an added set of hurdles for you to clear. Pour yourself a tall glass of something iced and allergy-friendly and let’s walk through a summer...
Cheryl Marks Young
(Safely) Living Life out in the World with Food Allergies
Food allergies are stressful. If your child (or you) lives with allergies, this isn’t a surprising statement. You may, however, find comfort in knowing that you’re not alone in feeling the stress. One study from the University of Maryland found that 41% of parents reported that their child’s food allergies had a “significant impact on their stress levels.” An earlier study out of the UK found that children with peanut allergies had more anxiety and lower quality of life than their peers who had Type 1 diabetes. Other studies point to the impact of allergy-related stress on marriages and work....