theconnectionsnj.com HEALTH & WELLNESS PAGE 34 Food Allergy - Celiac/Gluten Diagnosis in Children A food allergy or celiac/gluten sensitivity diagnosis is not only frightening due to the potentially life-threatening allergic reaction, but can also be emotionally overwhelming. Food is more than just a way to nourish your body. It can be a way to connect, show love, represent culture, and most importantly, enjoy! Therefore once you discover your child has a food allergy or another medical condition requiring the avoidance of certain foods such as gluten, there are many questions that come to mind. This is where a dietitian can play a crucial role to help guide you and your family through this journey. A dietitian can review your child’s typical dietary intake to first assess their current eating patterns. They are also well equipped to discern which nutrients are being removed when avoiding certain food groups, and how to appropriately replace these nutrients with safe food alternatives to provide a well-balanced diet and ensure proper growth and development for your kiddo! Let’s answer two burning questions that parents of children with food allergies have: What are some tips for eating out/ finding items on a restaurant menu for my child with a food allergy? Eating out can be especially daunting because you are relying on the restaurant staff to prepare and serve your child’s meal within safe standards. Calling the restaurant ahead of time, during non-peak hours, and requesting to speak to the manager to ask about the processes they have in place to avoid cross-contact will give you a bit more peace of mind. Once at the restaurant, reinforcing the severity of your child’s allergy to the manager, your server, and if need be the chef is important because restaurants can be fast-paced and the staff is busy. Something I also highly recommend is bringing a “restaurant card” with you when dining out. These cards are small cards that clearly state the allergies that your child has, as well the ingredients that may contain these allergens or trigger an allergic reaction. These cards can help improve communication and allow chefs to have all the necessary information needed to prepare a substitute meal or dish safely for your child, and help alleviate stress for you! We have one on our website: jewelednutrition.com, for avoiding gluten; feel free to check that out also. How do I navigate the emotional aspect of my child having a food allergy so that he/she doesn’t feel different from his/her friends? A diagnosis that causes your kiddo to need to avoid certain foods can be overwhelming for both you and your child. All kids just want to feel like every other kid. So navigating not only the physical aspect of a food allergy but also the emotional aspect can be challenging. Listening to your child’s concerns, but also focusing on life beyond food allergies is an important strategy for building up your child’s self-esteem. Make sure to talk about and praise their accomplishments, so that all conversations don’t revolve around them being a child with a food allergy! Check out our new Gluten-Free Accelerator Digital Course at jeweled-nutrition. mykajabi.com/accelerator At Jeweled Nutrition, we’ll help you navigate the information to ensure you are consuming a nutritionally complete diet, minus all the stress! Dietitians are well equipped to discern which nutrients are being removed when avoiding certain food groups, and how to appropriately replace these nutrients with safe food alternatives to provide a well-balanced diet and ensure proper growth and development for your kiddo! NUTRITION FOOD &
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