Navigating Food Allergies During Halloween Is Less Frightening With These Safety Tips
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Spooky season can become truly scary if the candy kids bring home contains unknown allergies. These expert tips can help to keep the season sweet.
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Trick-or-treating is a staple of the Halloween season for many families, but for those households navigating childhood food allergies, this time of year can be especially difficult. Parents of children with allergies often have to take on extra layers of planning as they strategize replacement foods, safety protocols, educating relatives and other caregivers about the importance of food safety, and emergency measures if accidental exposures occur. Thankfully, with increased awareness of the effects of food allergens, there are more and more strategies parents can implement to ensure their children can participate and share in the joys of the holiday season with their peers. A Rise in AnaphylaxisAccording to the National Health Service (NHS), reactions to food allergies can include a range of symptoms, from hives and coughing to stomach pain and dizziness. Unfortunately, even accidental exposures and undiagnosed allergies can lead to severe reactions, especially around the holidays. A Canadian study investigating the risks of nut-related anaphylaxis around holidays found an 85% increase in peanut-triggered anaphylaxis on Halloween. These numbers are especially troubling even in the United States where more than 30,000 children visit emergency departments every year due to symptoms relating to anaphylaxis. Shauna McQueen, MS RD is the founder of MenuMinders and navigated childhood food allergies. She says that even without the risk of anaphylaxis, navigating holidays like Halloween can be tricky for children. “It can be ostracizing,” she says. “Aside from the physical risks that children may be navigating, there's a whole emotional component that they may experience as well, in terms of not being able to share in the holiday as some of their friends might be able to.”According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), food allergies affect an estimated 8% of children in the United States. While not every exposure will lead to life-threatening symptoms known as anaphylaxis, the CDC notes that nearly 40% of children with food allergies have been treated at an emergency department. Anuja Khettry, MD, who works as a pediatrician in Boston, Massachusetts, says that the best way parents can make Halloween a safe and enjoyable time is simply by communicating. Here are some of Dr. Khettry’s favorite strategies for navigating spooky season.How To Navigate Allergies Safely While Trick-Or-TreatingTalk to Your KiddosFor children of all ages, Dr. Khettry recommends sitting down and having a conversation about what the plan will be for Halloween festivities. You can even loop in other families nearby, especially if you know your child will be visiting their homes.“I think the most important thing is communication, both with your child, and the families in your neighborhood,” she says. McQueen notes that tailoring these conversations to the age of your child can be especially helpful, as older children might be able to have more agency around holidays than their younger peers. “Some children will be old enough to know which items might be safe for them, but little ones will need more oversight into what they might be picking up,” she says.Bring in the TeachersFor children who attend school or other group learning environments, it can be helpful to address allergy strategies with teachers and school staff who may participate in and/or coordinate holiday festivities. While many children with food allergies already have an Individualized Healthcare Plan (ICHP) or 504 plan in place to handle everyday exposures to allergens, Dr. Khettry suggests talking with your child’s teachers to find ways they can participate in group celebrations to ensure the holiday feels inclusive. This could mean having a selection of allergy-friendly foods at classroom parties, or even non-food activities or treats available. Map Out a Route in AdvanceAnother way parents can plan for trick-or-treating fun is to carefully consider the houses they visit. “It may make sense to map out a route in your neighborhood of houses that you know will offer safe treats,” Dr. Khettry suggests. “This could involve discussing with your neighbors in advance so that the child with allergies could be offered a toy/non-food item that was kept separately, or even allergy friendly (approved by you) treat.” For parents who might be hesitant to approach neighbors or who may feel uncomfortable broaching this topic, Dr. Khettry recommended visiting The Teal Pumpkin Project, an initiative of the Food Allergy and Resource Education organization that works to create an inclusive and safe environment for children participating in Halloween festivities by encouraging families to place a teal colored pumpkin on their front porch to indicate they’re an allergy-friendly stop. The project even encourages families to list their address and add it to the interactive map on their website which McQueen says can be an invaluable resource for planning your trick-or-treating route. “You can scope out your neighborhood beforehand to get a sense of the number of homes participating,” McQueen says.Check Out Community Trunk-or-TreatsIf door-to-door trick-or-treating isn’t an option for your family this year, another way to participate in Halloween festivities can be to check out a local “trunk-or-treat.” If your community doesn’t currently offer this option, this could be the year you and your family get one going!“Communities can set up trunk-or-treat events that could be allergy friendly, again offering separated allergy-friendly treats, or non-food items such as toys, pencils, etc.,” Dr. Khettry says. Of course, parents are always encouraged to inspect even non-food items before giving them to their children to ensure they aren’t choking hazards. The Teal Pumpkin Project even has a list of fun non-food alternatives that could be shared during trunk-or-treat or trick-or-treat events like vampire fangs, coloring pages, glow sticks, and more!Have a Plan in Place for Accidental ExposuresEven with the best-laid plans, Dr. Khettry says it’s best to be prepared for accidental exposures during Halloween. “It's important for your child to understand that candy should not be consumed while trick-or-treating so that no potential allergens are ingested without their parent realizing it,” she says. “[And] it’s always a good idea to bring the Epipen along while trick-or-treating if you have one prescribed, just in case!”Consider TradesTrick-or-treating at “safe” houses that only hand out allergy-friendly treats isn’t always an option, so in that case, Dr. Khettry suggests setting up a “trade-in” system with your child in advance. That way if they collect non-approved candy on their trick-or-treating route, there’s an agreed-upon system set up to ensure that it’s still a fun experience for them.“This could be discussed with your child beforehand as well, so they know that there are safe goodies waiting for them,” she says. Don’t Rely on Labels While many manufacturers today have started to label items that are produced in facilities with common allergens, Dr. Khettry reminds parents that unless they know for sure a food is safe, relying on packaging and labels isn’t a failsafe. “The labels ‘allergen free’ or ‘allergen friendly’ on candy/treats can be tricky,” she says. “They identify foods that are made avoiding the top nine allergens, however, some children have reactions to things other than those. So while for many children these could be safe, it's important that parents do pay attention to the ingredients of these as well based on their child's allergens.”McQueen notes that there are a wide variety of certified allergen-free treats available for families looking for an extra element of safety on Halloween like YumEarth, NoWhey Chocolate, and Made Good granola bars. Ultimately, it’s always better to be safe than sorry, so if there’s any doubt, add it to the trade-in pile, and continue on with the spooky fun!TakeawayWith all of the resources available for parents, caretakers, and other family members participating in the Halloween season, being mindful of the many opportunities that exist to create an inclusive and welcoming holiday experience for all children can be less of a trick and more of a treat—for everyone involved. Even the simple act of offering a handful of allergy-friendly treats or food alternative options could do a lot to bring joy to children who navigate these health issues every day. “If you have the means to offer a few allergen-friendly options, know that it may do more than help a child avoid a reaction,” McQueen says. “You're also helping them to feel truly included which may mean more to them than you know.” For more Parents news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Parents.
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