Healthy Eating: Understanding Food AllergiesSince the main discussion of this site has to do with food, it is only relevant that it touches on the subject of food allergies in children. Much like not giving your children water, juice, or solid foods till after they are six months old, other foods should be introduced at later periods as well. A good percentage of all children have food allergies. In America, the statistics are about 6% of children under three years of age. The most common food allergies are milk or dairy, eggs or poultry, soy, wheat, shellfish and fish, and nuts like peanuts or walnuts. Generally, children outgrow their food allergies by the time they reach the age of five. Other allergies like those with shellfish and peanuts may never be outgrown. As a parent, it is important to educate yourself on how to be able to determine allergic reactions so you can help your child if it happens. Allergies can affect a child's gastrointestinal system leading to stomach pain or diarrhea, it can also affect the respiratory system by causing your child to sneeze, to develop a runny nose, or to have difficulty breathing. More commonly it affects the skin of your child by producing a rash of some kind, hives, or a tingling sensation. In extreme cases it can affect the cardiovascular system by dropping blood pressure, and inducing loss of consciousness If any kind of swelling, difficulty breathing, a drop in blood pressure, or loss of consciousness occurs, your child could be going through anaphylaxis or is experiencing anaphylactic shock. Any of these two symptoms combined is cause for worry and you should seek medical help immediately. Children and adults can die from anaphylactic shock, and it is important that it is addressed by a medical professional. If your child seems to be having an allergic reaction, call your doctor to help you diagnose the situation. If other family members have allergies or asthma, your child could be experiencing something similar. There are skin and blood tests that can be administered to your child to determine whether or not he or she has a food allergy, and your doctor will be the one to determine whether or not your child needs the test. In terms of healthy eating, food allergies can stop your child from being able to access certain foods. There are debates as to when you can introduce highly allergic foods to a child, and it usually depends on your family's medical history. Generally, highly allergic foods are not introduced until about eighteen months of age. For a more comprehensive look at when you can introduce highly allergic foods to your child, discuss it with your pediatrician. Keeping certain foods from your child for fear of allergies or because they truly are allergic to these foods poses a challenge to you as a parent. You will have to study your food pyramid and daily recommendations charts more carefully to see what your child can eat, and how you can be assured that they are getting the right nutrition and in the right doses. For example, a child allergic to shellfish and fish will have to stick to lean meats and beans as a source of protein. If your child is allergic to wheat products, he or she will have to get his or her carbohydrates from other sources like potatoes or other starchy vegetables. Being aware of what your child should be eating versus what they cannot eat will help you make sound decisions in the type of food you serve. It also means you will have to educate your child at an early age about what foods he or she should stay away from. * * * Good nutrition begins from the time a person is in the womb, and it carries on for the rest of their lives. The essentials of basic nutrition are pretty easy to follow, and while food allergies can pose some complications, the variety of healthy foods and healthy choices out there will more than make up for what a child may not be allowed to eat. |
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How To Get Your Kids To Eat Healthy Food - Without A Fight!
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