Grocery shopping and dinner can be very daunting at times. Is it because my kids are picky or they like to stick more things up their nose than in their mouth? Hmmm, not really. My twin boys are allergic to eggs and peanuts.  I never realized how bad it was or how serious I needed to take it until each one of my boys had to be rushed to the hospital two separate occasions, one child had to stay overnight.

This is when I got into serious mommy mode.  Take it from me, this is NOT something you want to mess with.  This is one issue you take time out to address no matter how busy you are.  This can be a life or death situation.  I’m not trying to scare you, I’m just trying to educate you.

First of all, this isn’t the end of the world for the kids.  There are a zillion foods that kids can eat.  There are many cookbooks and recipes out there that can cater to the allergy needs of your children.  I’ve made the most delicious chocolate chip cookies, cheesecakes, pancakes..all without the use of eggs.

Here are some steps I took to address my kids allergies and keep them safe.

• Consult a Doctor - If you suspect that your child may have an allergy to something consult his or her doctor.  This doctor will most likely refer you to a specialist that can pin point these concerns.  Keep notes on the foods that your children react to and be specific about the symptoms, this will help the doctor determine the right steps.
• READ LABELS – I honestly never really read what was in the foods I ate.  That is why Iwas VERY surprised to know that egg whites were in my vanilla ice cream I like so much.  The first few times you go grocery shopping you should do it alone.  Give yourself time to read the labels of EVERYTHING you are buying.  The FDA makes it easy. Food products are required by law to point out the trigger allergy ingredients in their products, either by highlighting or seperating at the end.  I won’t even buy products that are PROCESSED in a factory containing eggs or peanuts, it’s just too risky.
• Pass the word – Make sure that anyone and everyone that is involved in your child’s life knows of this allergy -  teachers, babysitters, friends and their parents, the cafeteria workers at your child’s school.    Also make sure they know what to do in case of a reaction.
• Action Plan – Make sure YOU know what to do incase of a reaction.  Carry the epi Pen with you at all times. Be sure you know how to use it correctly.
• Eating Out - Eating out doesnt have to be a nightmare.  Try calling ahead and talking to the chef or manager, ask them about their menu and tell them about your child’s allergies.  Make sure they are able to cater to your child’s needs.  If you can’t call ahead, ask a manager when you sit.  Ask a manager or chef. FYI, I once asked our server if the chicken fingers had egg in them. She said no, but once they were delivered I could tell by the batter that my kids could not eat them.  Also, talk about cross contamination. Make sure that your child’s food is not prepared with the foods they are allergic to.
• Be creative -  The one good thing about all this is that I make a lot more from scratch.  That way I know every single thing that goes into the foods.  My kids eat a lot healthier too.   Also, always have alternative snacks when your kids have play dates, preschool, etc in case the snacks served aren’t friendly for your kids.

Alright, so, I’m not proud of this, but the other day we were rushing through the store and my son  picked up a candy bar and said does this have eggs in it…and, well, in order to avoid a melt down I said “yes.” He put back the candy bar.  Hey, I don’t always do the right thing, and I’ll probably do the wrong thing again. Case closed.