How to Host a Food Allergy Friendly Birthday Party

According to Dr. Robert Wood, Director of the Division of Allergy and Immunology at John Hopkins University School of Medicine, research shows that food allergies have doubled in the last ten to twenty years. This means the likelihood of a child with a food allergy attending a birthday party hosted by you is much higher than it used to be.

Though food allergies and reactions are highly individualized, there are a few basic things that can help a host plan a food allergy friendly party.

1. Understand the basics about food allergies.

The foods that most commonly cause allergies are cow's milk (including dairy products), eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (like walnuts or cashews), fish, shellfish, soy and wheat (including wheat gluten).

Although any food allergy can be deadly, peanut and shellfish allergies typically elicit the most violent reactions. For some who are allergic, that can mean immediate vomiting (like my daughter) but for some it can mean an anaphylactic reaction which requires immediate medical treatment.

2. Stick with fruits and vegetables.

Although food allergies to fruits and vegetables do exist, they occur less frequently. By serving snacks that are made of fruits and vegetables, minus any creamy dips, the chances of a party goer being allergic to your menu will be slim.

Other good snack choices include potato chips cooked in vegetable or canola oil, dill and sweet pickles, and sliced deli turkey or ham rolled up for little fingers.

3. Be aware of cross contamination.

If you serve both allergen friendly foods along with foods that are more likely to cause an allergic reaction, be aware of and work to prevent cross contamination.

Cross contamination occurs when enough of the trigger food is present in a typically benign food to cause a reaction for the food allergy sufferer.

Make sure to prepare allergy-friendly and less allergy-friendly foods in separate dishes, and remember to wash your hands when moving from handling one food to another.

Also, be aware of using the same knife or fork for different foods. Place allergy-friendly and less allergy-friendly foods on separate tables, so the differentiation is clear to everyone.

4. Encourage the kids to use a fresh plate for each food trip, or to label their plate with their name.

If the idea of wasting one paper plate after another so kids can use a fresh one hurts your environmental conscience, have kids label their plate with a marker. This will further decrease the likelihood of cross contamination between foods and kids.

5. Ask up front for specific food needs.

Include a request to be notified of specific food needs in the invitation to your child's birthday party. Parents dealing with food allergies will LOVE you for it. This will also give you the opportunity to talk with the parents about who should provide special food, if it is needed.

6. Ask for lists, phone numbers, and instructions.

If tip five turns up specific food needs, ask those parents to include a list of food allergies, possible reactions, and phone numbers where they can be reached during the party.

7. Ask the parent if they'd like to attend the party with their children.

For parents whose child has a food allergy, turning over control of their child's food choices is very difficult. Some parents may feel more comfortable if they can monitor their child for themselves. This will save you time and hassle as well, during the busy party.

8. Relax and enjoy the party!

Whether your child is the one with the allergy, or a child attending your party suffers from food allergies, be sure not to make them the focus of the day. A little awareness and some preparation will go a long way to making your party safe and successful.

Resource/Experience

http://www.qualityhealth.com/psp/content/Why%20Are%20Food%20Allergies%20on%20the%20Rise%3F/path/body/feeds/news_read.jspa?contentId=20778

Mother of a food allergy sufferer allergic to dairy, wheat, soy, eggs, shellfish, and peanuts.