I Love Newton

Tag: food allergies

  • Food Allergy Research Program at MassGeneral Hospital for Children

    Food Allergy Research Program at MassGeneral Hospital for Children

    Dr. Wayne Shreffler, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Allergy specialist BostonDr. Wayne Shreffler is the Director of the Food Allergy Center at MassGeneral Hospital for Children. I was at a blogger event at MassGeneral and met several very impressive and dedicated doctors. Dr. Shreffler expertise in allergies brought up all kinds of questions from parent bloggers:

    Why Have Food Allergies Become Such a Problem?

    There are many theories but no answers. According to Dr. Shreffler:

    • Genetics play a role
    • Hygiene Hypothesis
    • Western diet
    • Vitamin D
    • Geography/Cultural
    • Exposure Route

    What does this mean for parents?

    • Our Western diet has introduced intense processing that mirror the rise in food allergies.
    • Vitamin D might have protective effects.
    • Early introduction to possible allergens is now considered a good idea. This is new for me when advice from 10 years ago urged us to delay introduction to foods like eggs and peanut butter. Good thing I ignored it!
    • Early eczema an indicator for allergies? It’s worth testing kids younger if they have eczema as babies.

    He is also doing research in Oral Immunology Therapy which gives very small doses of allergic foods to kids to see if they build up resistance. This is the same theory in The Princess Bride where Wesley beat that really smart funny short bad guy in the poison-in-a-cup switcharoo. Turns out Wesley had been drinking small doses of poison for years to build up immunity.

    The downside is that children with life threatening allergies can not participate in this study as it is too dangerous. The research is still not conclusive yet but this is a step in the right direction!

    I thought this guy was rockstar smart and if my kids had food allergies, I would fight my way into his practice.

  • Purchase Any of These Children’s Allergy Books and They Will Donate a Book to a Library of Your Choice and GIVEAWAY

    Purchase Any of These Children’s Allergy Books and They Will Donate a Book to a Library of Your Choice and GIVEAWAY

    food allergy picture book, The No Biggie Bunch

    The first five people to leave a comment will win a book! Thank you!

    ———————

    Now through April 30th Parent Perks, Inc. is matching book purchases from The No Biggie Bunch series with book donations to the U.S. Public Library of the buyer’s choice. It’s easy and there are two options for purchase.

    1.  Library 50-50. When customers purchase two books for their own bookshelves, the publisher will send two additional books to the U.S. Public Library of the buyer’s choice – free of charge.

    The second purchasing option is the Library 100, which provides a public library with four books from The No Biggie Bunch series – two purchased by the customer for donation, plus two Parent Perks, Inc. will donate. All libraries receiving books will be given a note from Parent Perks recognizing the buyer’s donation and the buyer will be sent a note of acknowledgment from The No Biggie Bunch.

    The No Biggie Bunch Series- For Kids Creatively Coping with Food Allergies

    Everyday Cool with Food Allergies: Conversation Starters for Kids and Caregivers by Micheal Pistiner, MD, MMSc, edited by Heather Mehra & Kerry McManama, illustrated by Michael Kline.

    This is a great introduction to food allergies and to the No Biggie Bunch series. Because kids with food allergies are so prevalent at school, this would be a great book to read for any child starting preschool or Kindergarten especially those who have no food allergies so that they understand how to keep their classmates safe and learn empathy for those who do.

    Peanut-Free for Three by Heather Mehra & Kerry McManama, illustrated by Michael Kline.

    This book brings up a very good point: opened jars of jelly or jam can often contain remnants of peanut butter in a household where no one has a nut allergy. Peanut butter and jelly just go together, right? And don’t most of us use the same knife when making the sandwich? I know I do! We also meet other kids in the No Biggie Bunch with other food allergies. Greta is allergic to gluten, Paige to nuts, and Eliot to eggs.

    Trade-or-Treat Halloween by Heather Mehra & Kerry McManama, illustrated by Michael Kline.

    Greta’s gluten allergy means that she can’t eat all the candy she collects at Halloween trick or treating but it’s no biggie because her parents have a trading system of safe treats for candy with gluten that she’s excited about.

    Sports-Tastic Birthday Party by Heather Mehra & Kerry McManama, illustrated by Michael Kline.

    I know that finding safe snacks can be an issue if you are the snack mom at preschool or it’s your turn to bring the snack for a sports team. In this case, Scott’s sports birthday party navigates the issue of cake that is safe for his friends with allergies.

    Dairy-Free Dino-Licious Dig by Heather Mehra & Kerry McManama, illustrated by Michael Kline.

    Davis is allergic to dairy so when he needs a snack, he understands that sharing snacks isn’t safe for him.

     

    To view any picture book more closely at Amazon, please click on image of book.

    To purchase book and participate in library donation program, please go here.

    I will be giving away this entire set of books. If you would like to win a book, please leave a comment with the title of the book you want. Thank you!

     

    About Parent Perks, Inc.
    Parent Perks, Inc. is a publisher of educational and entertaining children’s books. We believe when children are engaged and empowered, they can receive messages that stimulate imagination and promise transformation. Our publications embody the spirit of children and spark their social, interpersonal and intellectual innovation.

    About The No Biggie Bunch
    The No Biggie Bunch is a group of kids who are diverse in their food allergies, ethnicities and interests – all the things that make kids special. Kids with food allergies are still kids by definition – kids with equal need to stay safe and have fun. The No Biggie Bunch adventures provide creative solutions and responses for school, play dates, holidays, birthday parties and more. The No Biggie Bunch was created by authors Heather Mehra and Kerry McManama.