Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Here’s a reader that writes, are there any special dietary considerations that need to
be followed if my child has significant food allergies and in this example, the reader
writes, peanuts and dairy for instance.
Well it’s a good question. Unfortunately, food allergies are increasing particularly
of substances like peanuts, in particular and shellfish at a fairly significant rate
in the United States among children. And some of those allergies can be quite serious so,
you know, my first, before talking about the dietary considerations is to make sure that
any parent who notices and significant allergic symptoms in their child after eating a particular
food like excessive vomiting, hives, wheezing, unconsciousness, swelling about the face,
etc., needs to see their physician if that occurs acutely and causes you child to be
in distress needs to go directly to the emergency room.
But if this is something, you’ve noticed hives, etc. after feeding a child something
you do need to discuss it with your physician.
In terms of managing a diet that has, that a child has that has a significant allergy
like that, you know, my first recommendation to you and I’m sure it’s something your
pediatrician will talk with you about as well is to really be a peruser of labels of ingredients
on everything your child consumes, particularly if it’s something like peanuts because peanuts
are ubiquitous as a protein source in many types of foods whether they’re energy bars
or cookies or drinks and the first concern of a parent with a significant allergy in
a child is to really be very, very meticulous about label reading and also in restaurants
in terms of asking about how a food is prepared, if a child has a milk allergy what’s in
it. Look for foods like whey and casein which are both components of milk.
But in general, in terms of the diet a child that has significant food allergies besides
avoiding that food is if the child had been depending on that particular food before becoming
allergic, as say for peanuts, a significant protein source, you just need to make sure
the child is consuming some other type of protein source that doesn’t include that
particular food like if they have a peanut allergy and they can no longer consume peanuts,
then you‘d want to make sure that they got protein by meats or cheeses or rice and beans
as a complete protein source.
So, but be sure to discuss any allergic concerns you have in your child with your pediatrician
and thank you for asking such an important question.