Written by Jenny Catton
Discovering that your child has a food allergy is never easy. And if they have multiple allergies or a severe allergy to certain ingredients, it will probably mean making lots of changes to how you arrange your kitchen. You will want to consider everything from how you store food and prepare meals to how you plan family mealtimes. But once you get into a routine, dealing with an allergy doesn’t have to be stressful.
Common food allergies include allergies to dairy, gluten, eggs, nuts, fish and soy. It might not be practical to remove these from your kitchen entirely – particularly if you have other children at home. However, there are a number of simple things you can do in the kitchen to make managing food allergies easier.
A common concernfor parents ishow to avoid cross-contamination between different food types. This might sound like a challenge but with a little planning and clever organisation, you can protect your child from allergens whilst maintaining normal mealtimes and eating habits for the whole family.
Here are seven ways you can use your kitchen to help manage food allergies:
Clear the Clutter
Reduce the clutter on your worktops to an absolute minimum. This way you’ll be able to clearly see what ingredients and utensils you are using, making it easier to avoid cross-contamination. Less clutter also means less hidden spaces for food crumbs to lurk.
Create an Allergy-friendly Cupboard
Designate a cupboard, fridge shelf or storage space specifically for the person with the allergies. Here you can store everyday ingredients plus utensils, crockery and cutlery that is just for them.
Introduce Zones at the Dining Table
Ensure the allergy sufferer always sits at the same space at the dining table. This means even if you serve a meal before everyone has arrived at the table, you’ll know each person is going to get the right plate. It also makes cleaning the table at the end of a meal easier as you can clean their area first to avoid cross-contamination from dishcloths.
Keep Cleaning Products to Hand
Keep your cleaning products on your counter top so that they are easy to reach if you need them while preparing or serving a meal.
Know Where Emergency Medication Is
People often store allergy medication in handbags or bathrooms but it might be better to store it in the kitchen or dining room as this is usually where an allergic reaction is most likely to occur.
Use your Freezer
It can be frustrating for children to see their siblings arrive home with unexpected treats that they are not allowed to share so keep a stash of suitable treats in your freezer which you can quickly take out and defrost so that they don’t need to miss out.
Pin Up the Rules
If a food allergy has recently been diagnosed, it may take a while to adjust to a new routine. Use a noticeboard in your kitchen to keep a visible list of what is – and what’s not, allowed.
Remember, every individual is different so always ask your doctor or health professional for specific advice when organising your kitchen and dining routines.
For more information about food allergies, visit: www.allergyuk.org
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