I personally know how stressful it can be for parents whose children have food Allergies. When my son turned 6 months, we found out that he had allergies to cow milk.. and that was just the start. In the succeeding months and years, he also showed allergic reactions to all milk products, eggs, and nuts. Preparing and planning meals for the family became a complicated issue. Reading labels has become a second nature to me as everything had to be carefully screened for offending ingredients. As years went by, more and more of his meals became out of my control. I had to make specific instructions for his kindergarten, and had to inform our hosts beforehand if we were invited for meals elsewhere. Sometimes, I would simply bring a meal just for him. Needless to say, food allergies can add additional stress to family life.

And according to a survey published recently in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (March 2006), I am not alone. In fact, there are even worse cases, such as parents opting to homeschool their kids or skipping birthday parties and sleepovers because of their allergies. I'm not sure, but I hope my son's allergies will still allow him a semblance of a normal life, even if his eating choices are limited. Or hopefully, before we even reach that bridge, that my son's food sensitivity will be outgrown.

If your children suffer from food allergies, too, check out parent support groups in your area. On the web, The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network is a fountain of information and resources. The page on Schools and Camps should be especially interesting for parents of school-age kids with allergies. The page on Ingredient Notices keeps consumers informed on changes in the formulation of food products. for example, effective this month, Kellog's Kashi™ Peanut Peanut Butter Chewy Granola Bars will contain almonds. Remember, ALWAYS read food labels!