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Being a parent to a child with food allergies makes every new food situation anxiety inducing. Eating at a new restaurant, eating a new product from the grocery store, eating at a friend’s house – they all bring a certain amount of fear that something will go wrong and your child will have a life threatening reaction.
My eight-year-old daughter was diagnosed with a peanut allergy at the age of two. Back in that time, we were told to keep our babies away from common allergens like nuts and shellfish until they were two-years-old. So, a week before she turned two I didn’t think much of the fact that she swiped a peanut butter cracker from her older brother and ate it. My son who was four ate peanut butter all of the time, as well as other nuts, and we had never had a problem.
Within minutes, C’s face broke out into hives and she started to sound hoarse when she babbled. Let me tell you, that is a terrifying thing. After calling our pediatrician and watching her closely for signs of wheezing, the worst was behind us and she was soon tested and diagnosed with a peanut allergy. And to be extra safe, our allergist told us to keep her away from every nut for fear of cross contamination with peanuts.
Zoom ahead 6 years and thoughts about the best way to treat and avoid food allergies all together have changed significantly. We are going through the process of having C do in office oral challenges with a variety of tree nuts that she has been told to avoid, but has never actually been allergic too. We are now successfully and safely feeding her pecans, almonds, and walnuts.
As a mom who goes through this fear of having her daughter have a life threatening reaction to peanuts, I would do just about anything to erase that risk.
I was so excited to hear about a new product that reduces the risk of your child developing food allergies – it’s called SpoonfulOne. It was developed by a pediatrician, allergist and mother of five.
SpoonfulOne is a daily food mix-in that contains a gentle blend of foods most commonly associated with food allergies, beyond just peanuts. In the past, pediatricians told parents to keep kids away from these allergens, but now, parents are told to introduce these same foods as soon as a child can physically eat them. According to American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, a baby is ready for solids usually between 4-6 months. Because it’s difficult to feed a 4-month-old a spoonful of peanut butter or scrambled eggs, SpoonfulOne is a powdered product makes it easy to mix into any food for even the youngest babies in order to introduce a wide variety of foods at the earliest age possible. Studies increasingly demonstrate that regular dietary diversity early in life is associated with a reduced risk of allergies, asthma, and atopic disease in general.
With the addition of SpoonfulOne to babies’ diets, their immune system becomes accustomed to a wide variety of foods and reduces their food allergy risk. Each pre-portioned packet includes peanut, egg, milk, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, soy, wheat, sesame, and Vitamin D – making it complete and convenient. This complete and proactive approach is key since 77% of people with a food allergy are allergic to something other than peanut. It’s also made without preservatives, artificial sweeteners, flavors, or dyes.
The food mix-in can be added to store-bought baby food or your own homemade purees. Making homemade baby food could not be a easier! Simply steam or bake vegetables, puree in a food processor with breast milk or formula for small babies or mash with a fork for older children, then mix in the SpoonfulOne. And, contrary to popular belief, you can add herbs and spices too! It’s a great way to introduce babies to different flavors–just remember to use only a tiny pinch.
Looking back, I would have loved to come across a product like SpoonfulOne when my children were small if it could have helped avoid any food allergies. If you are a parent to a baby or are expecting to have children in the near future, I encourage you to talk to your doctor to see if SpoonfulOne is an option for your child, and visit their website to learn more.
