Monday, January 25, 2010

Do Your Children Have Food Allergies?

By Mika Benne

Do you have a child with food allergies, or do you suspect food allergies in your child? Food allergies children can usually be diagnosed with an allergy test from your doctor. However, allergy tests aren't always reliable.

Sometimes, doctors will dismiss the possibility of food allergies if testing for them does not cause a reaction. Some food allergies and food sensitivities can't be found with a laboratory test though. The only way to uncover them is through the process of dietary elimination.

In fact, diet modification is one of the best ways you can treat food allergies children. Simply avoid those foods you suspect are allergens by buying certain types of food or particular brands. However, some allergies like those to dairy or wheat might require a total dietary change.

You may have to eliminate some of your favorite meals because of food allergies in your child. Luckily, you can find several websites on the internet that will help you make substitutions so you can prepare meals your family will love that are made without the offending foods.

Your child will probably not be happy when you make changes to his diet. He has comfort foods he loves just like you do. You can expect a few unhappy meals at first and maybe even a few temper tantrums. Just remember it is for your child's better health.

If your child is old enough to understand, you can try explaining the basics of food allergies to your child. This works well with children who realize that they shouldn't feel so tired or ill all the time, usually by age 8 or 9.

If your child is younger, you may need to make changes to his diet gradually. Of course that is only an option if his allergies are not life threatening or serious. For example, if your child is allergic to dairy foods, replace a yogurt snack with fruit and omit the cheese from his sandwich. That will reduce the amount of dairy in his diet and he might not even notice the change.

In order to make the dietary change a smoother one, try to change the diet of your entire family so your child with the food allergy won't resent other family members. When dealing with food allergies children, you have to get creative. For example, if your family loves macaroni and cheese, make one batch with milk and cheese and another batch with soy milk and non-dairy cheese so everyone is happy.

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