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3 Good Things I Hope My Son will Learn from Food Allergies

Team SunButter
One food allergy friendly meal.

By Kathryn Martin

Food Allergy Awareness Week is, of course, a wonderful time to spread awareness and learn more about food allergies. But it’s also a perfect time to look at food allergies a little differently. Why not focus on the positive aspects of food allergies?

As a mom of a 5 year old (“Little Guy”) with allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, egg, milk and fin fish, it’s sometimes difficult to see the positive side of food allergies. But if Little Guy has to deal with food allergies for the rest of his life, then I want him to focus on the GOOD things he can learn from them.

Here are 3 good things I hope my son will learn from food allergies:

1. Knowledge of Food and How to Eat Healthy

Health experts tell you to shop around the perimeter of grocery stores so you can focus on whole, fresh foods and stay away from processed foods. Well, that’s easy for us because most of those processed foods aren’t even safe for Little Guy to eat.

Although food allergies limit what Little Guy eats in many ways, it also helps our family focus on nutrient rich and healthy whole foods. We’ve come to understand more about where our food comes from, who makes it, and how it affects our bodies. We’ve become experts at reading labels and knowing what’s IN our food, not only from a food allergy perspective, but from a health-focused perspective too.

I hope Little Guy not only eats healthy and whole foods, but also relishes in them. I hope he learns to create fun new dishes for his friends and family and enjoys all the wonderful foods he can eat. I truly hope he focuses on the benefits of a healthy diet and practices it in his daily life.

 

Mamacado1

*A few favorite food allergy friendly meals our whole family enjoys

 2. Confidence to Advocate for Himself

Although we’ve been dealing with Little Guy’s food allergies for about 5 years now, I’m still learning. I’m still learning how to speak with other people about food allergies (i.e. – preschool teachers, restaurant staff, etc.) and advocate for Little Guy. Even as somewhat of a “Tiger Mama” who will do anything to keep her children safe, I sometimes feel shy when talking about allergies, asking questions or insisting on too much accommodation. But I’m slowly changing my ways.

I hope to instill a greater sense of confidence in my son than I have even in myself. Confidence to:

  • Speak clearly and positively about food allergies
  • Politely ask to speak with a manager or the chef at a restaurant
  • Ask questions without feeling shy or embarrassed
  • Speak up if he doesn’t feel something is safe
  • Clearly explain his food allergies and educate others in a clear, informative and friendly manner

I hope this confidence carries over into other areas of his life, helping him feel competent, confident and happy with himself, his choices, his path in life and his bright future.

3. Empathy

Even though it hurts my heart to think about it, Little Guy will probably understand feelings of being left out or different. He’s already experienced about one year of preschool, not eating the same food as everyone else.

If you’re a parent of a child with food allergies, I’m sure you know how it goes.

Pizza days on Thursdays? I provide his own safe pizza every week, but it’s still not the same takeout pizza from the big square box that everyone gets.Random cupcake or cookie treats brought in by well-meaning parents? He has his own special treat box, but it’s still not the same as that cool looking cookie ball his classmate brought in the other day.

Mamacado4

*Homemade dairyfree pizza!         

Little Guy doesn’t seem to be bothered by it….yet. Hopefully he will always feel satisfied with his safe replacements! However, he will most likely know feelings of disappointment and maybe even exclusion due to his food allergies.

On the other hand, there may be a silver lining to knowing those feelings and managing them in a healthy way.  These lessons will supply him with a strong dose of empathy, even at an early age. I do want him to have the important ability to understand other people’s emotions, feelings and experiences, to truly be able to put himself in other people’s “shoes.” After all, empathy has been shown to reduce prejudice and racism, reduce bullying, improve marriages, fight inequality and promote heroic acts.** I hope Little Guy can use his experience with food allergies to develop positive strengths and abilities like this to make the world a better place.

If you have a child with a food allergy, what good things do you hope they learn from it? Or what have you learned from your food allergy?

**http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/empathy/definition

Kathryn, creator of the blog Mamacado, is a working mama who loves her family, healthy living, and avocados (of course!)  Check out her blog for great ideas on food, family and fun…with a food allergy twist!

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