 | One thing many food allergies families can empathize with each other about is the anxiety or mental burden of leaving our homes. They are our safe zones, a place where we can finally set our "allergy radar" to low and spend time together without worry. We know that our toys have not just been handled by a toddler friend with peanut-buttery hands, that we have our child's safe food options stocked in the kitchen, and the medicine we need is ready in the |
event of a severe reaction.
With kids everywhere eating allergenic snacks all over playgrounds, picnic areas, and kid-friendly spaces, it can be stressful to navigate fun experiences successfully. I'd like to share my time-earned list of things I believe can help any food allergy family more easily navigate "leaving the nest"... so that each of us can start taking our lives back again...and leaving some of that stress behind.
With kids everywhere eating allergenic snacks all over playgrounds, picnic areas, and kid-friendly spaces, it can be stressful to navigate fun experiences successfully. I'd like to share my time-earned list of things I believe can help any food allergy family more easily navigate "leaving the nest"... so that each of us can start taking our lives back again...and leaving some of that stress behind.
Clorox Wipes
Now, before I say any more, it is not in my nature to make a favorite list with disposable anything on it. I love the environment, we have 4 compost bins in our backyard and we have 6 different recycling bins and we try to implement reusable products in any instance we can.
But in our battle with food allergies, if I'm Batman, then Clorox Wipes are my Robin. And I'll take any sidekick I can get.
But in our battle with food allergies, if I'm Batman, then Clorox Wipes are my Robin. And I'll take any sidekick I can get.
"Holy understatement, Batman."
In a study conducted by the Journal of Allergy, Asthma, and Clinical Immunology, researchers measured the continuing presence of peanut protein on a surface for 110 days at levels that would cause an allergic reaction to a person with that allergy. After cleaning with a commercial cleaning wipe, no presence of the allergenic protein could be detected. According to the study, "There are many commercial cleaning wipes, and individuals and families should make it a habit to carry these wipes with them. Simple but thorough cleaning of a surface, for example in a restaurant or a school cafeteria, should safely eliminate the peanut allergen."
YOU DON'T NEED TO TELL ME TWICE. Wherever we go, if I have these guys along, I can make most tables, chairs, floors, play equipment, and toys safe for my son. And that's a big deal. Because the alternative is to either say no to fun opportunities OR take risks with allergenic surfaces, but these wipes help us find a middle ground so we can participate in the things we want to enjoy. SuperParent, to the rescue.
Insulated Epinephrine Carrier
Epinephrine, the "fire extinguisher" that we all keep on hand for our worst-case-scenarios, needs it's own protection. A few years into Griffin's diagnosis, I was startled to find out that epinephrine was temperature-sensitive, and here I had been leaving it out in the car in summer sun and winter snow! An insulated carrier will not allow you to leave it in your car safely for extended periods of time like I had been, but it will ensure that it stays at a steady temperature for longer than it would without, buying you extra valuable time at the beach or cross-country skiing.
In all things, I go neutral or earthy-toned with my choices, but when it came to our emergency medicine, we thought bright was the best decision. I can't tell you how many times I've reached for it in a panic and been so relieved to find the lime green case quickly in our bag, and not another black or gray item.
If safe epinephrine storage is a new concept to you, read here for more info.
If you need one of these, here is one of many great options available now.
In all things, I go neutral or earthy-toned with my choices, but when it came to our emergency medicine, we thought bright was the best decision. I can't tell you how many times I've reached for it in a panic and been so relieved to find the lime green case quickly in our bag, and not another black or gray item.
If safe epinephrine storage is a new concept to you, read here for more info.
If you need one of these, here is one of many great options available now.
Disposable Silverware
Most of the time, I can plan where we are going, what we are doing, and what food and utensils I need to bring along for Griffin. But 20% of the time, when we are out and about, something comes up where my son can eat something safely (whether his grandma surprises him with a safe treat or we buy a pint of safe ice cream from the grocery store) and we don't have any utensils. Or times when I bring his lunch to an event and don't have utensils, and have to hope that the reusable utensils provided have been cleaned well enough (and sometimes they haven't). I can't tell you how many times keeping a package of disposable spoons, forks, and knives have saved my butt. Feel free to pack reusable silverware, but my diaper bag already gets gross enough in my neglect to clean it regularly, and I just can't add dirty silverware to the chaos.
(I really like having this "silver" disposable set in case we are somewhere that is more elegant and he has to use disposable silverware. One of many small decisions in an effort to not make him feel like the "odd one out".)
(I really like having this "silver" disposable set in case we are somewhere that is more elegant and he has to use disposable silverware. One of many small decisions in an effort to not make him feel like the "odd one out".)
Great Food Storage
My kids love eating out of clever food storage containers. It's like they are opening Christmas presents. Having easy-to-use, easy-to-pack, easy-to-let-your-kid-carry food storage options make traveling with safe food SO.MUCH.EASIER. And if your kid is delighted by it, win-win. Check out BentGo products at Target. I know there are a bunch of fun options on Amazon, but if you're like me and prefer to not have to replace your containers when your kid outgrows Paw Patrol or Sofia the First, go neutral!
(If you like that ninja cutout and want to know where I got it, stay tuned for our next blog post on tools to keep in your kitchen to make allergy-safe food more fun!)
(If you like that ninja cutout and want to know where I got it, stay tuned for our next blog post on tools to keep in your kitchen to make allergy-safe food more fun!)
Wipable Tablecloth
Picnic tables usually trigger thoughts of summer, sunshine, potlucks, and playing...but for many of us dealing with food allergies, picnic tables are food surfaces that are often spilled on and their porous surface is not easy to wipe clean with our standard tools, making them spaces that we are not comfortable using. That being said, we don't want to leave ourselves out of family or sporting events by not using picnic tables! Simple solution: the wipeable (or washable!) table cloth you keep in your trunk. Get a cute one and you'll forget you're doing it for safety (and you probs won't be able to stop instagramming it every time you use it).
Washable Picnic Blanket
Same deal here, but for only slightly different reasons. At many parks we'd visit, we would sit on the grass to eat (avoiding the picnic tables because I hadn't started packing a tablecloth at that time yet) and I'd still end up finding a sticky candy bar wrapper or nut shells on the ground. Fed up, I purchase a great picnic blanket (a blanket that is sturdier and will stand up to spills easily while also staying nice and flat on the ground with everyone running around on it) and did away with the stress of worrying about the grass. Again, the charming blanket ups our experience anyways as we enjoy it's cute coziness in the shade.
Picnic Basket
One thing I've learned as a food allergy parent is that if I can make an experience special, it takes the sting out of a food he is missing out on otherwise. So when we have a summer event to go to, where friends are eating pizza he can't have and cake he can't enjoy, we can pack our picnic basket and use many of our things listed above. My son is always grateful for our picnics and I know he will always look back and remember that even when he missed out, he had these picnic basket moments. Not only is it adorable, but it's so easy to keep in your trunk until you need to pack it.
How These Choices Affect Our Son
Do you know what little Griffin has learned from these intentional choices?
That he was special, even when being left out or having to opt out.
How to care for himself in all situations, by watching and learning how we prepped to go out.
How to turn a frustrating situation into a positive one with a little planning.
And finally...how to set up a great picnic.
That he was special, even when being left out or having to opt out.
How to care for himself in all situations, by watching and learning how we prepped to go out.
How to turn a frustrating situation into a positive one with a little planning.
And finally...how to set up a great picnic.
Griffin surprised me with a picnic that he set up all on his own last summer. I'm not crying, you're crying.
Honorable Mention: Cart Seat Cover
This receives an honorable mention as an essential, but didn't make it to the list because it's only for a small window of time...the phase where your child puts there mouth on everything. Every other age, you can use wipes to make a cart safe for your child, but you don't want that solution if they are going to suck on the cart handle when you aren't looking. The Cart Seat Cover is a necessary solution for store runs during the "everything goes in my mouth" phase.
This receives an honorable mention as an essential, but didn't make it to the list because it's only for a small window of time...the phase where your child puts there mouth on everything. Every other age, you can use wipes to make a cart safe for your child, but you don't want that solution if they are going to suck on the cart handle when you aren't looking. The Cart Seat Cover is a necessary solution for store runs during the "everything goes in my mouth" phase.
Alright, that finishes our list! Make sure to comment if you try out any of these suggestions and let us know how you are enjoying your time out of the house! We also love to hear other great suggestions from food allergy families :).
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