Food Allergy – Texas Allergy Center

Food Allergies in North Texas

Summer in Texas is a time for outdoor barbecues, picnics, and enjoying various delicious foods. However, it can also be a challenging season for individuals with food allergies. The heat, combined with the increased consumption of certain allergenic foods, makes it essential to be vigilant. Here are some strategies to help you manage summer food allergies in Texas.

Understanding Food Allergies

A food allergy occurs when the immune system mistakenly identifies a harmless food protein as a threat and launches an attack, resulting in symptoms ranging from mild (itching, hives) to severe (anaphylaxis). Common food allergens include peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, fish, milk, eggs, soy, and wheat.

Recognizing the common Symptoms of Food Allergies

Food allergy symptoms can appear within minutes to a few hours after consuming the allergen and may include:

Itching or tingling in the mouth
Hives, itching, or eczema
Swelling of the lips, face, tongue, throat, or other body parts
Wheezing, nasal congestion, or trouble breathing
Abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting
Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting
Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening reaction

Managing Food Allergies in Summer

Read Labels Carefully:
• Always check ingredient labels on packaged foods for allergens.
• Be aware of cross-contamination warnings such as “may contain” or “processed in a facility that also processes.”

Communicate with Hosts:
• Inform hosts of your food allergies before attending gatherings.
• Offer to bring allergy-safe dishes to share.

Prepare Your Food:
• When possible, bring your allergy-safe meals and snacks to outdoor events.
• Use separate utensils and cooking surfaces to avoid cross-contamination.

Stay Informed About Cross-Contact:
• Be aware of potential cross-contact in shared grills, picnic tables, and serving utensils.
• Clean surfaces and utensils thoroughly before use.

Educate Others:
• Educate friends and family about your food allergies and the importance of avoiding cross-contact.
• Teach them to recognize the signs of an allergic reaction and use an epinephrine auto-injector.

Carry Medications:
• Always have your prescribed medications, including antihistamines and an epinephrine auto-injector.
• Ensure medications are not expired and store them in a cool, dry place to prevent heat damage.

Wear Medical Identification:
• Consider wearing a medical alert bracelet that identifies your food allergies.

Plan for Dining Out:
• Research allergy-friendly restaurants in Texas.
• Call ahead to inform the restaurant of your allergies and inquire about their food preparation practices.

Stay Hydrated:
• Drink plenty of water, especially in the Texas heat, to stay hydrated and reduce the risk of heat-related issues.

Be Prepared for Emergencies:
• Know the location of the nearest emergency medical facilities.
• Have an action plan in place and share it with those around you.

Food Allergy-Friendly Summer Recipes

Here are some allergy-friendly recipe ideas for your next summer gathering:

Grilled Veggie Skewers
• Skewer colorful vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and onions.
• Brush with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and grill until tender.

Fruit Salad
• Mix fresh, seasonal fruits like watermelon, strawberries, blueberries, and grapes.
• Add a squeeze of lime juice and a sprinkle of fresh mint for extra flavor.

Allergy-Free Burgers
• Make burgers using ground turkey, chicken, or beef seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
• Serve on gluten-free buns with safe toppings like lettuce, tomato, and avocado.

Dairy-Free Ice Cream
• Blend frozen bananas with a splash of almond milk and a tablespoon of cocoa powder for a creamy, dairy-free treat.

CONCLUSION

Managing food allergies during the summer in Texas may require precautions, but with careful planning and communication, you can enjoy the season safely. By staying informed, educating those around you, and being prepared for any situation, you can make the most of your summer activities without compromising your health. For any concerns or if you are experiencing severe reactions, consult Dr. Jane Lee for personalized advice and treatment options. Stay safe, enjoy the delicious food, and have a wonderful Texas summer!

July 25, 2024

Texas Allergy Center Helps You Manage Food Allergies During The Holiday Season

The holiday season is a time of joy, celebration, and delicious meals. However, for those with food allergies, the festivities can also bring a sense of anxiety and caution. Food takes center stage for Christmas, and managing food allergies becomes crucial to ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday experience. Let’s explore practical tips and strategies to navigate the Christmas season while keeping food allergies in check.

Communication is Key

Open and honest communication is essential when attending holiday gatherings or sharing meals with family and friends. Inform your host or hostess about your food allergies well in advance, providing them with a list of specific allergens to avoid. Most people are more than willing to accommodate dietary restrictions; this proactive approach helps create a safer environment for everyone.

Host Your Allergy-Friendly Feast

Take charge of the menu by hosting a Christmas gathering at home. This way, you have complete control over the ingredients used in the dishes, reducing the risk of accidental exposure to allergens. Consider sharing recipes or cooking tips with friends and family to make the process smoother and ensure everyone can enjoy a delicious, allergy-friendly meal.

Read Labels and Ingredients

When shopping for ingredients or pre-packaged holiday treats, make it a habit to read labels and ingredient lists carefully. Manufacturers may change formulations, and cross-contamination risks can vary between brands. Consistently checking labels helps you make informed choices and avoid potential allergens.

Prepare Safe Alternatives

Whether attending a potluck or hosting a Christmas dinner, preparing allergy-friendly alternatives ensures you have safe options. Experiment with allergen-free recipes or adapt traditional dishes to suit your dietary needs. Many resources online provide creative and tasty recipes catering to various food allergies.

Educate Others

Use the holiday season to educate those around you about food allergies. Share information about common allergens, symptoms of an allergic reaction, and the importance of cross-contamination prevention. Increased awareness can lead to a more supportive and understanding environment for individuals with food allergies.

Carry Medication

Always have your prescribed medication, such as an epinephrine auto-injector, with you, especially during social events involving food. Inform your friends and family about where you keep your medication and how to use it in an emergency. Being prepared can provide peace of mind and swift action if needed.

Allergy Free Zone

When attending events at other people’s homes, identify an area to comfortably enjoy the festivities without worrying about allergen exposure, which may involve choosing a seat away from the food table or asking the host about the preparation methods of specific dishes.

With proper planning, communication, and awareness, managing food allergies during Christmas can be a manageable and stress-free experience. Taking control of your dietary needs and fostering understanding within your social circle can ensure a safe and joyous holiday season filled with delicious, allergy-friendly delights. Remember, preparation, communication, and a dash of festive spirit are critical to a successful and allergy-safe Christmas celebration.

Our board-certified allergist and highly trained staff are here to help you find relief with the proper treatment and care. Call 214-370-5700 to schedule your appointment and be prepared for the festivities!

December 24, 2023

When To Introduce Allergens

Introducing allergens to a baby is scary whether you are a first time or seasoned parent. If you have food allergies yourself, you may be extra nervous about introducing them to your baby. Luckily, there is some new guidance from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to help you determine your baby’s risk for developing a food allergy. Guidelines 1, 2 and 3 below will help you determine which category of risk your baby falls into. For children with none of the above identified risk factors, the top 9 allergens should be introduced around 6 months when solid foods are started.

Tips for introducing baby food allergens

There are several things that can set you up for success when introducing allergenic foods to your baby.

1. Introduce allergenic foods when your baby is feeling well (no illness or fever present) you don’t want to question if your baby is having a reaction to an allergenic food or if it was due to whatever they were already fighting off.
2. Offer one allergenic food at a time so you can identify if a reaction occurs. You don’t have to wait several days, but it’s ideal to wait at least until the next meal or the next day to introduce a new allergen. Most true allergies create a reaction within minutes to hours.
3. Set aside at least 2 hours after the first taste to watch your baby for a reaction. Make sure you or another family member can give full attention to your baby.
4. Wait 10 minutes between the first and second taste. If your baby does not have any reaction after 10 minutes, may give more.

Safety when introducing allergens to baby

When you give your baby any of the 9 baby food allergens for the first time, you’ll watch out for any signs of an allergic reaction.
Common signs include redness or hives on the skin or face, tummy upset, vomiting, or diarrhea. Talk to your child’s healthcare provider right away if a reaction occurs. If a severe allergic reaction such as difficulty breathing or loss of consciousness occurs, dial 911 immediately and seek medical attention.

What are the new recommendations for introducing peanut to baby

The new guidelines recommend that before 11 months of age, all infants should start eating age-appropriate peanut-containing foods. The ideal age is closer to six months.

Guidelines for introducing peanuts depend of baby’s risk of peanut allergy

1. Severe eczema, egg allergy or both: This group is at higher risk to develop peanut allergy and benefits the most from early introduction. An allergist should evaluate peanut senistization (by skin test or blood IgE test) before introduction of peanuts. If negative, peanut should be introduced regularly in baby’s diet. If positive, the allergist will determine next steps.
2. Mild to moderate eczema: These infant do not need any testing and should be introduced to age-appropriate peanut containing foods as early as 4 to 6 months of age. Some allergist may desire an in-office supervided feeding.
3. No h/o of food allergy: These infants do not need any testing and can be introduced to age0appropriate peanut-containing foods at home.

Peanut Recipe for babies

Option 1: Peanut butter puree
You will need:
• 2tsp. smooth, all natural peanut butter (with no added ingredients)
• 2-3 tbso. Of plain yogurt pureed (smooth) fruit or vegetable that your baby likes

1. Mix peanut butter and yogurt or fruit vegetable puree. Add more water if you want to the puree to be thinner.

Option 2: Peanut butter powder sauce
You will need:
• 2tsp. powdered peanut butter or peanut flour
• 2-3 tbsp. of warm water, oatmeal, applesauce or mashed banana

1. Mix peanut butter or peanut flour with the warm, oatmeal, applesauce or banana.
2. Let the mixture cool.
3. Add more water if you want the mixture to be thinner.

Option 3: Bamba peanut butter puffs
You will need:
• 21 Bamba peanut butter puffs
• For babies aged 7 months and under, soften puffs in 4-6 tbsp. of water. Feed your baby one puff at a time.
• For babies older than 7 months or who can eat dissolvable solids, feed one puff one at a time as normal.

How to introduce tree nuts to baby

Introducing tree nuts to baby is very similar to introducing peanut protein. In fact, you can follow almost all of the same ideas but instead of using creamy peanut butter, you can use creamy almond or cashew butter. You can find both in most grocery stores.

If you can’t find a tree nut you want to try out in creamy nut butter form, you can turn most nuts into a powder using a food processor, make sure it is a fine powder so it can dissolve well into food you mix it into.

Tree nuts to try out with your baby

Often these in creamy nut butter or powder form mixed into other foods, do not give your baby whole nuts or nut pieces which can be a choking hazard.

Almond butter
Cashew butter
Hazelnut butter (don’t use Nutella)
Pecans
Walnuts
Pistachios

October 20, 2023

Why Are Food Allergy Cases Increasing For Adults And Children?

Food allergies are becoming increasingly common in both children and adults. Approximately one in 12 children and one in 10 adults suffer from food allergies. We now believe some of our previous guidelines for delaying the introduction of allergenic foods into a baby’s diet caused an increase in food allergies.

Gone are the days of waiting until your baby is 1 or 2 years old to try a potentially allergenic food. The most recent evidence-based data suggests that early introduction of allergenic foods is the way to prevent development of food allergies. Infant immune systems are malleable, and the first few months of life are critical for calibrating an immune system’s response to foods.

Baby Food Allergy vs. Food intolerance

Food Intolerance is different from a food allergy, although many people confuse the two. Food Intolerances usually produce uncomfortable symptoms but are not life-threatening. No Immune response occurs with a food intolerance. One common intolerance is lactose intolerance (lactose is a natural sugar found in dairy products.)

Baby Food Allergens – “The Big 9”

Most allergic reactions are caused by the proteins found in 9 different types of food. These are known as The Big 9 Allergens. They are:

Peanuts
Tree Nuts
Eggs
Wheat
Fish
Shellfish
Dairy
Soy
Sesame

Many kids will outgrow their food allergies by their teen years, but this isn’t always the case. The most commonly outgrown allergies are milk, soy, egg, and wheat. Fish, shellfish, peanut, and treenut allergies often last into adulthood.

Important research in the past 15 years has changed our recommendations about when to introduce allergen-containing food to babies. The LEAP study, the LEAP-on study and the EAT study are three key research studies that have shaped the new guidelines on introducing allergens.

These studies showed that introducing allergen-containing foods, like peanut and egg, before the age of 12 months actually helps to prevent food allergies in children.

Similarly, the EAT study showed that children who ate high allergen foods like cow’s milk, peanut, hard-boiled eggs, sesame, fish, and wheat early in life had fewer food allergies develop than those who did not.

Based on the current research, we can reduce the likelihood of a child developing a food allergy by serving these foods before they reach 12 months of age.

Our board-certified allergist and highly trained staff are here to help you navigate food allergies. We will address questions and concerns, and then find treatment and care that is right for you! Get started today.

Category: Food Allergy