Take Food Allergies Seriously
we were hanging out at a park when we received a call— a dinner invitation.
not long ago, I hesitated & often declined to take Emma to anyone’s house because it can be difficult and very awkward on both party’s ends to keep a toddler with multiple food allergies safe…
…but today gave me hope
recently upon seeing Emma have an allergic reaction, her grandparents began to take action in light of her allergies and are learning to take precautionary measure to protect Emma alongside us. it’s making a world of a difference.
today, they thoroughly wiped down their dining table (we use Branch Basics to clean surfaces), agreed to triple wash their kitchenware with emma’s allergen-free *Branch Basics soap + a new sponge, and made her a fresh batch of her favorite Korean soup + an organic veggie platter
it more than warms my heart to be able to sit down and enjoy a meal surrounded by friends/family who are all looking out for my allergy child. I feel like I can breathe.
Me: “this month is Food Allergy awareness month. As grandparents to a child with food allergies what advice would you give someone who doesn’t have allergies?”
Emma’s grandpa: “Take it seriously— people don’t think allergies are a serious issue. They think it’s not a big deal. But it can be life threatening.”
tonight’s dinner conversation naturally led me to:
#foodallergyawareness Tip No. 2
Take food allergies SERIOUSLY— a snack for one kid can be literal poison for another.
in the past, we’ve been dismissed, laughed at, and seen as “difficult”— I get it! no one wants to face the reality that an innocent treat can end my child life, but…
friendly REMINDER:
a person’s allergies aren’t a “diet choice” or a “lifestyle” — our child did not choose to have allergies.
A food allergy is a medical condition. Seriously, it’s not a choice.
Thank you for taking this seriously!
* this referral link gets you $10 off your branch basics order. I get a small referral credit that comes at no additional cost to you.
May is for Food Allergy Awareness AND Mental Health Awareness
May is for food allergy awareness & mental health awareness
food allergy (FA) & mental health— the 2 are deeply connected for us. being a mother to a child with multiple food allergies means anxiety is no stranger to me.
our allergy family origin story
life really did get flipped upside down the day Emma was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. emergency responders hovered over her swollen unrecognizable face & red rash covered body. they told me her breathing was not normal (anaphylaxis) — I had no idea what that meant. all I knew was: we weren’t sure if she was going to make it
she was 7 months old and had consumed less than 1/8 tsp of cashew butter.
as an allergy mum, I have to scrutinize all food items, face/body/hair care products (anything that could come into contact with my child), toys, surfaces and surroundings. even a trace amount of her allergens triggers her immune system.
yes, it’s a huge responsibility on my end, and while i’ve gotten quite good at taking precautionary measures, I am human - I need the support of our community to truly keep Emma safe.
that’s why this month is huge for us. more are willing to listen. more are willing to learn to be aware. Allergy aware.
so THANK YOU to whoever made May “Food Allergy Awareness Month” - I feel like permission has been granted for me to focus on sharing food allergy related tips we’ve acquired on our journey (with less of the usual discomfort that comes with communicating my child’s allergy situation)
#foodallergyawareness Tip No. 1
Have grace for us—
a 2021 survey showed that roughly half of food allergy parents met the clinical cut off for post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSS). parents whose children have needed an epinephrine auto-injector were 7x more likely to experience PTSS
Allergy Family mums/dads need to be taken care of too so we can show up for our children.
Why Bee Pollen
Why we *bee pollen—
I don’t buy my family multi-vitamins because *this is it.
clean. quick. effective. bio-available.
A few weeks ago I shared my toddlers’ choice supplement regimen
I got the following comment:
(it’s a great question so I decided to answer it!)
As nature’s multivitamin, Bee Pollen is naturally packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
More specifically, it provides
• Vitamin C
• Immune support
• Branch chain amino acids (increases endurance so much that it’s taken pre-workout amongst professional athletes)
• SO many minerals (support intestinal flora, the digestive systems, liver and prostate health)
• B vitamins (helps support hormones, detox, skin health, circulation, mood, memory, and energy ⚡️)
• BONUS: it’s naturally gluten free AND contains more protein per weight than any animal source in the world!
I’ve tried several brands of bee pollen that made me think it was supposed to taste like dirt, but each jar of Bee Keepers Naturals Bee Pollen consistently delivers a melt in our mouth delicious experience.
My 3 year old opens the fridge and asks me for it every single day.
How we Bee Pollen
1 tsp every morning— usually we have it straight but sometimes I like to sprinkle it on top of our smoothies!
For me: it helps me regain energy and recover post-workout so I sneak in an extra 1 tsp for myself when emma’s not looking 😋
About Bee Keepers Naturals’ bee pollen
soft, a touch sweet, and so nutrient dense…
we love it so much that I emailed and worked with BKN to get y’all a code so you can give it a try too!
* Code: MUMWITHABUN gets you 20% off site-wide 🙌🏼
Dosage:
Kids 2-12 yrs: start with a few granules and monitor for tolerance. Based on your child's response, you can gradually increase dosage daily to the full dose of 1 tsp per day.
12 yrs-adult: 1-2 tsp daily (preferably in the A.M. as it gives us a kick of energy)