The Parent's Guide to Food Allergies is a comprehensive resource for parents of children with food allergies, written in accordance with the guidelines of the The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network. There are individual chapters devoted to dealing with allergies to: milk; eggs; wheat; peanuts; tree nuts and seeds; soybean; fish and shellfish; and unusual allergens. Charts, alerts, and anecdotes are sprinkled throughout. For example, in the tree nut section, here's one tidbit that is offered:
"Coffee Alert! While few of us make a regular practice of giving young children sips of coffee, some kids do seem to relish the taste of it. If you enjoy coffee from gourmet coffee shops, bear in mind that your coffee may have been brewed in a carafe that just contained a nut-roast coffee. Enough cross-contamination can occur in these cases to cause a serious reaction."
In other chapters in Part I (Eating), the author discusses anaphylaxis, food families, hidden allergens, and food additives. Chapter 16 offers a variety of recipes such as "Fruity Oatmeal Bars" and "Wacky Cake". Skipping ahead a moment, Part III (entitled Itching, Sneezing, and Wheezing), deals with asthma, atopic dermatitis, and airborne allergens.
It is Part II, "Coping", that sets this book apart from other fine allergy guides for parents. The section begins with chapters on ordinary coping topics, such as organizing your kitchen, handling holidays, and traveling. The book goes beyond that, though, to tackle school concerns (pre-school, elementary, etc.); the allergic child's emotional well-being; and several chapters on the emotional health of the rest of the family, particularly the parents. :-) Parents whose children suffer from serious, or even possibly life-threatening allergies, are under an enormous amount of stress at times. Along with that, they may also have feelings of anger, guilt, or even depression. Also, in dealing with severe allergies, parents may have to broaden their emotional range to handle new tasks. For example, someone who is normally very laid-back must now read every label AND follow that up with calls to manufacturers. The author does an excellent job of addressing all these issues.
I highly recommend The Parent's Guide to Food Allergies. It is available from online booksellers. For more information, you may also visit the publisher's website. http://www.henryholt.com/2001w-owl/fooda...
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