Tips on Flying with Dietary Restrictions - My Guest Blog with Rudi's Gluten-Free Bakery

Flying with Food Allergies?  Getting on an airplane these days can be enough stress in itself.   Overcrowded airports, delays and impatient kids and adults all around.  If you have food allergies, your anxiety may be even worse.  

Flying with Dietary Restrictions - S.A.F.E. Guest Blog with Rudi's Gluten-Free

Flying with Dietary Restrictions - What You Can Do to Make This Easier - Rudi's Gluten-Free Guest Post

A huge 'Thank-You' To Rudi's Gluten-Free Bakery for having me, once again, as a guest blogger; 

As a flight attendant of over 20+ years and two kids with multiple food allergies, including anaphylaxis to peanuts, I hope my tips will make your trip a bit easier.  

Guest Teen Nut-Allergy Blogger, Kaya - Inspiring Words from One 'Allergian' to Another!

At a time where 'Food Allergy Bullying' is quite the topic, I was pleased to have this encouraging article from a local tweener who has managed living with severe nut allergies with wonderful success.  

Her family, friends and school are incredibly supportive in helping her lead a healthy and inclusive life.  I love her reference to younger kids with allergies as being "little Allergians".  

Here's to more food allergy encouragement and Allergian Support!

Hi, My name is Kaya and I am an twelve year old girl soon to be in eighth grade. I have been dealing with a tree-nut/peanut allergy since I was about two years old. The first time I experienced a nut reaction was at the Boise Town Square Mall. 

Guest Blogger - Natalie Honodel is back!

As it is National Food Allergy Awareness Week, I am pleased to have Natalie Honodel back as my guest blogger. As a young woman managing food allergies in the social scene, she has come prepared with some great common sense tip for for her peers!

Welcome Back, Natalie!

Living with Food Allergies - Back to School Guest Speaker, Natalie Honodel

I am pleased to share the following story from a young lady who lives with nut and peanut allergies.  She recently contacted me to see if I was still interested in having young guest bloggers who were willing to share their personal stories.  Of course!     

As 'back to school prep' is upon many of us, Natalie's story and pictures are perfect timing.  This week alone has offered me two opportunities with Kristin Beltaos, owner of A Gift of Miles, to speak on this very topic, but in very different venues.  Yesterday we spoke with Sandy Fowler from Heart Filled Holidays about Back To School Prep and on Saturday, we present our webinar How To Keep Your Food Allergic Child Safe At School.  

Now, I have the wonderful opportunity to present this personal story from someone living with food allergies.  Natalie is 18, has finished all of her public schooling and feels that her personal experiences motivate her to write about the social aspects of having food allergies from two perspectives: 

1. Being the ONLY individual among friends WITH food allergies

2.  How friends react to having a friend with food allergies

 Greetings everyone! My name is Natalie and I am so very excited to be sharing my story with you! I have grown up with a number of food allergies including a tree nut allergy and a peanut allergy. What better way to introduce myself to you than to show you a picture of one of my skin tests! 

A LITTLE skin testing - unbelievable!

Well now that we are acquainted, I want to share with you the most valuable thing my parents instilled in me during school. Any guesses? It was probably the hardest thing for them to do and yet the best thing they could have done.

 INDEPENDENCE.

Living with Food Allergies - Guest Blogger, Kayla Oliver-Connelly

In celebration of National Food Allergy Awareness Week, I wanted to share the perspective of a young adult living with food allergies.  Never having had food allergies myself, I know I can't truly understand the challenges which come with managing allergies on a daily basis, particularly life-threatening ones. 

S.A.F.E. Guest Blogger - Kayla Oliver-Connelly

I am so appreciative of this young lady's willingness to share her personal experiences and thoughts with so many of us.  I can only hope that as my children get older, they will be the positive, encouraging role model that this young 8th grader is to the younger peers around her.

Living with Food Allergies

By Kayla Oliver-Connelly

   
I have been allergic to tree nuts my entire life. I have heard stories about when my parents first found out that I was allergic to tree nuts. We were at the beach when I was younger. I ate a nut and immediately threw up. Thinking I was sick, I took a shower and then went to bed. I do not remember it, but my aunt, who is a nurse, noticed that I was not breathing right. My parents took me to the hospital where the doctor made the diagnosis.

It was hard at first to get used to living without tree nuts. I have to read the label on foods to see if they contain nuts. I also had to get into the habit of asking others if things that they make for a special occasion contained any nuts. It can be hard to be the only one to not take a treat because it contains a certain ingredient that you are allergic to. I have had to do that a couple of times. It gives you a sense of being left out in a way. 

Now that I am older, I regret thinking of my allergy as a disadvantage for me. Of course, my allergy made me different than a lot of people. I am not able to eat some of the foods that my friends eat.

However, I know other people who have food allergies.  In a way, I can see how it is harder for them. You could be allergic to a very common food or a mix of different foods.  You should never think of your food allergy as a disadvantage or something bad.  Think of it as a way to be different than other people. 

We are all special and unique. 

Your allergy is just a way that you are different from everyone else.