Let When Your Child Has Food Allergies be your guide to keeping your child safe—and your sanity intact.
All the answers parents need. Keeping kids safe takes vigilance, but when your child has food allergies, the challenge is greater and you worry that much more. As a food-allergy mom (and someone seriously allergic herself), author Mireille Schwartz has been through it all. Now, in this clear, reassuring guide, she helps you get a handle on food allergies, establish new routines, and restore peace to family life.
In this invaluable guide, you'll learn to:
- Spot the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction
- Navigate testing and diagnosis
- Decipher ingredient labels, keeping an eye out for "hidden" allergens
- Allergy-proof your whole home-not just the kitchen
- Create an emergency kit and an allergy action plan
- Make school a safe and enjoyable environment
- Find lunchbox substitutions your kid will like
- Deal with restaurants, playdates, birthday parties, holidays, and other group celebrations
- Plan for safe travels- from summer camp to family getaways
From protecting your child to teaching them to take care of themselves, When Your Child Has Food Allergies covers it all so your life can get back to normal.
Peanuts on the playground. Shellfish in the soup. Dairy, egg, and wheat flour in every label you read. With a food-allergic child, the world is a minefield. Let When Your Child Has Food Allergies be your guide to keeping your child safe--and your sanity intact. In this book, author Mireille Schwartz shares her invaluable frontline expertise and personal experience caring for her daughter and herself--as both suffer from anaphylactic food allergies. Schwartz's unprecedented guide delves deeply into the personal, psychological, and practical aspects of dealing with serious food allergies. It's loaded with tested tips for: Getting your child diagnosed - Allergy-proofing your kitchen and house - Surviving school - Balancing fun and protection at parties - Navigating common social situations - Gaining support from friends - Traveling safely - And more. Like a big sister full of tough love, Schwartz will inspire you with confidence and hope when the going gets rough. Her words offer the moral support of someone who's been there, is on your side, and will help you fight to protect your child. And like a thoughtful therapist, she helps you problem-solve your way through a world of tricky situations --from daycare to friends' homes, restaurants, tee-ball games, and more--using directness and diplomacy. Through this book, you'll gain the knowledge and know-how you need to do right by your child. Schwartz shares how she and others dealt with the same challenges you face, the words they used, and the ways they overcame people's ignorance and insensitivity. She shows you how to be the protective parent you aspire to be--compassionate and in control. With Mireille Schwartz's help and support, you can embrace life with your child's serious allergies rather than fearing every move you make. Mireille Schwartz is founder and CEO of the San Francisco-based Bay Area Allergy Advisory Board, a member of the Community Engagement Council for Food Allergy Research and Education, and a former executive board member of the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network. Schwartz has been profiled in The Huffington Post and is an expert contributor to CNN Health, Yahoo! News, NPR-affiliate KQED, and ABC7 News, and a columnist for Allergic Living.
