Tips for Educating Children w/ FA (from FWFA.org)

Tips for Educating Children with Food Allergies Teach your child how to read food labels properly for specific food allergens AND remind him/her to read the label EVERYTIME. Cook and bake with your child...make it fun and educational. Explain that many allergens are listed under different names.  Review these 'other names' with your child. (example: peanuts may also be called goober nuts, ground nuts, earth nuts, etc.) Practice with your epinephrine trainer.  When it's age-appropriate, it's very important for your child to practice administering epinephrine with his/her trainer. Keep lines of communication open with your child.  It is crucial for your child to be able to talk about his/her feelings with you. Remind your child to always 'say no' to food that is in question or that does not have a label. Answer any questions your child may have about his/her food allergies.  If you don't know the answer, ask your allergist.  Stay informed and share your education with your child. Stay positive!  Having a positive outlook is extremely important when children are involved.  They are entitled to have hope and happiness regardless of their medical situation.

"Have Kitchen, Will Ski" from Allergic Living

Allergies, Travel: Safe Skiing

Allergy Friendly Recipe's Contest

Hello Everyone,

Win Food and Fame in the First Annual “Allergy Free” Food Recipe Contest!

Do you have that fantastic recipe that your family just RAVES about? Do you think you have what it takes to beat out the competition and win with it? Allergiesandme.com wants to know.

The online store, Allergiesandme.com, is offering three lucky winners the chance to win a shopping spree in their store and, for the lucky First Place Winner, an autographed copy of Kelly Rudnicki’s “Food Allergy Mama’s Baking Book” cookbook. Ms. Rudnicki has just released this fantastic recipe compilation full of great Dairy-free, Egg-free and Nut-free treats for the whole family.

The rules are simple. Submit an allergen-free recipe with one of the top food allergy restrictions and you could win shopping coupons of up to $150! This would help stock your pantry with many of the allergen free foods and mixes offered at www.allergiesandme.com. For more about the contest rules, go to the Allergiesandme.com homepage and follow the Recipe Contest link. This contest ends February 28^th, 2010.

So, warm up your baking pans, put on your lucky apron and share your favorite winning recipe. The Team at Allergiesandme.com wishes all of you good luck and Happy “Allergy Free” Cooking.

 Jamie Stern

 www.AllergiesAndMe.com

  

  813.641.7850

Research Study of a Coping Skills Group for Children with Food Allergy

We are pleased to pass along an announcement from Children's Hospital, Boston
about research on coping skills for children with food allergies.

See description below, including contact information, if you are interested in having your child participate.

Research Study of a Coping Skills Group for Children with Food Allergy

Children's Hospital Boston is conducting a research study to investigate the usefulness of a group program for children with food allergy ages 9 to 12 years and their parents. The group is designed to help children develop coping skills to manage food allergies, as well as manage stress and anxiety that can go along with having food allergies.  We hope that results of the study will help us to improve the services offered to children with food allergies and their families in the future.

If you participate in the study, you and your child will be asked to attend four 90-minute group sessions at Children's Hospital Boston.  Additionally, you and your child will be asked to attend two other study visits at Children's Hospital Boston: the first within two weeks prior to the first group session, and the second about a month after the last group session. During these visits, you will be asked to complete questionnaires about your child's medical history and the impact of food allergy on your and your child's quality of life. Your child will be asked to complete questionnaires about the impact of food allergies on quality of life, attitudes about food allergies, and confidence in completing allergy management tasks.  The study questionnaires will take approximately 45 minutes to complete. There is no cost to participate in the study.  Participating families will receive parking vouchers and gift certificates.

This research is being conducted by Jennifer LeBovidge, Ph.D., Michael Pistiner, M.D., M.M.Sc., and Lynda Schneider, M.D.  If you are interested in participating or have questions, please contact the study coordinator at (617) 355-2195.

News From FAAN

Deadline This Week

Time is running out to submit a nomination for the Mariel C. Furlong Awards for Making a Difference and theGrandparent Awards! All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST Friday, Jan. 15. For the past 13 years, FAAN has honored individuals, schools, and corporations that have gone above and beyond in their efforts to raise awareness or educate others about food allergies and anaphylaxis. Categories include community service (support group and awareness), food industry, health professional, and school (including separate awards for principal, nurse, teacher, and dining services).

And for those grandparents who have done an outstanding job of supporting and advocating for their grandchild, we will once again accept nominations for the second annual Grandparent Awards. To learn more or to make a nomination, visit our website.

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Food Allergy Conferences

Registration is now open for FAAN’s 17^th Annual Food Allergy Conferences, which will be held in Baltimore(March 27), Las Vegas (April 24), Tarrytown, N.Y. (May 8), and Oak Brook, Ill. (May 22). These daylong conferences will feature topics such as the psychological impact of living with food allergies, current food allergy research, managing food allergies while dining at restaurants, keeping children with food allergies safe at school, and Camp TAG, a summer camp for children who have food allergies and their siblings.

The conferences will also feature educational break-out sessions for teens, parents of teens, registered dietitians, school nurses, and caregivers such as grandparents, nannies and babysitters. To register for the conference, visit our website or call us at (800) 929-4040.

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Finding Support is Quick and Simple

Among the many user-friendly features of our newly redesigned website is the easy support group look-up tool, where visitors to the website can connect with a support group near them by searching by state or city. You’ll definitely want to pass along this link to friends and family members managing food allergies, who can benefit from connecting with others who share similar experiences.