Food Allergy Wars

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September 24, 12:05 AM

by Dr. Delia Chiaramonte, Baltimore Health Examiner

 

 

celebrations.  It may seem as though every other kid in your child’s school has a food allergy.

Food allergy, particularly peanut allergy, has been causing tensions on the schoolyard lately.  But it isn’t the students who are tense.  It is the parents.  There is a subterranean battle between parents of food allergic children and parents of peanut-o-philes.  “Why should my child have to give up his favorite food?” some parents ask.  “He won’t eat anything else,” another mother might say in frustration.

Parents of kids who live on peanut butter often feel unfairly restricted when they are told that they cannot send peanut products to school.  They may grumble to other parents, “why should we have to make all the changes?  It’s not my kid who has the problem”

Other parents may wonder if the allergic child’s parents are overreacting, being overly cautious or trying to be controlling.  They often have a say in what food can come into the classroom and what food related activities are allowed.   These mothers, or fathers, often go on school field trips that other parents aren’t allowed to go on in order to keep their allergic child safe.  Some might think that they are stretching the truth in order to get a place on the bus.

Some parents might intentionally choose a playdate with a non-allergic child simply so they don’t’ have to worry about food restrictions or food safety issues.  Others will complain to their friends about the overprotectiveness of an “allergy mom” and criticize her choices.

This is an area that we, parents, could learn along with our children.  Whether you are pro-peanut or anti-peanut, try to have empathy for the other guy.  If your child couldn’t bring his favorite food to school for the whole year, you’d be upset too.  And if your child could die from a small exposure to a substance as ubiquitous as peanut butter, you might find yourself being more controlling than you think.

We are all just doing our best.  Let’s try to support, rather than criticize, each other.

Be well.

Dr. C.
www.insightmedicalconsultants.com

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