Articles & Comments
FACST Says Thank You for the Kind Words!
"Sarah,We all can't thank you enough for everything. You were a wealth of information and a very interesting speaker. Everyone commented how great you did.We are ever so grateful for all your pamphlets too and now more great stuff you added here! I will pass the nurse stuff on to all of the nurses including the ones who could not come. And I intend to pass along your website to all of our food allergy parents. -Please keep in touch!"
-Polly Mandl, School Nurse, Holy Cross Catholic School, OP KS_
Comments from the CECA Summer Seminar:
"A Must See; This should be required"
"I have a son with food allergies and wish there had been someone like Sarah when he was 1st diagnosed to help us at his school!!!"
"Excellent, loved it!"
"Critical need; important info can save a life"
"I feel comfortable with administering EpiPen because of the trainer"
"Informative for meeting needs of kids in school"
Christian Early Childhood Association(CECA) is a not-for-profit organization serving the needs of Christian early childhood programs bringing support to directors of church based programs and providing quality training for staff sponsoring one of the area’s largest professional conferences targeted for early childhood and open to the public.
"I am thankful for Sarah Albert. Sarah has been my partner in crime for two asthma and allergy presentations now, and I must say, we make a pretty awesome team. As a former teacher and the mom of a child with severe food allergies, she's opened my eyes to new perspectives on how we can be welcoming and inclusive for my children's future classmates and friends. Sarah is easy to approach and she's passionate (two of my favorite traits in a person). Yet, she knows how to respect someone's viewpoints while at the same time recognizing that she doesn't agree with them and/or they won't work for her family. I truly enjoy every conversation I have with her, and I look forward to our next asthma/allergy talk, whenever and wherever it might be!"
- Heather Duncan,
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America of Kansas City presenter
"A HUGE thanks to you! I am so glad that I found your website and was able to attend your meeting - it was wonderful! I found out that I have SOOOO much more to learn and I am glad that I found a support group as warm and welcoming, as you ladies!"- Angela C.
"THANK YOU for organizing it (504 workshop)!! I learned a LOT and have so many new questions/issues I need to pursue relative to my son's education." -Kathy S.
Regarding the Food & Nutritions Symposium-
"That was an amazing opportunity. I learned so much. Thank you for setting that up!" -Kasie G.
"Wow. You provide a GREAT resource for families in Kansas City ~ and beyond. I really appreciate your kind words about my cartoons, and hope other parents find joy through my silly drawings. Finding online food allergy resources, support, and similar families really helped me tackle our new allergen free life. I'm grateful to people like you, who help strangers because you CAN. Thanks for all that you do." -Tiffany Glass Ferreira (aka foodallergyfun.com)
"Thank you very much. Molly and I both feel this workshop opened our minds to understand the dangers of allergies. Lots of useful information to absorb.
Thanks again."
Nickolas F. KC YMCA
-Polly Mandl, School Nurse, Holy Cross Catholic School, OP KS_
Comments from the CECA Summer Seminar:
"A Must See; This should be required"
"I have a son with food allergies and wish there had been someone like Sarah when he was 1st diagnosed to help us at his school!!!"
"Excellent, loved it!"
"Critical need; important info can save a life"
"I feel comfortable with administering EpiPen because of the trainer"
"Informative for meeting needs of kids in school"
Christian Early Childhood Association(CECA) is a not-for-profit organization serving the needs of Christian early childhood programs bringing support to directors of church based programs and providing quality training for staff sponsoring one of the area’s largest professional conferences targeted for early childhood and open to the public.
"I am thankful for Sarah Albert. Sarah has been my partner in crime for two asthma and allergy presentations now, and I must say, we make a pretty awesome team. As a former teacher and the mom of a child with severe food allergies, she's opened my eyes to new perspectives on how we can be welcoming and inclusive for my children's future classmates and friends. Sarah is easy to approach and she's passionate (two of my favorite traits in a person). Yet, she knows how to respect someone's viewpoints while at the same time recognizing that she doesn't agree with them and/or they won't work for her family. I truly enjoy every conversation I have with her, and I look forward to our next asthma/allergy talk, whenever and wherever it might be!"
- Heather Duncan,
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America of Kansas City presenter
"A HUGE thanks to you! I am so glad that I found your website and was able to attend your meeting - it was wonderful! I found out that I have SOOOO much more to learn and I am glad that I found a support group as warm and welcoming, as you ladies!"- Angela C.
"THANK YOU for organizing it (504 workshop)!! I learned a LOT and have so many new questions/issues I need to pursue relative to my son's education." -Kathy S.
Regarding the Food & Nutritions Symposium-
"That was an amazing opportunity. I learned so much. Thank you for setting that up!" -Kasie G.
"Wow. You provide a GREAT resource for families in Kansas City ~ and beyond. I really appreciate your kind words about my cartoons, and hope other parents find joy through my silly drawings. Finding online food allergy resources, support, and similar families really helped me tackle our new allergen free life. I'm grateful to people like you, who help strangers because you CAN. Thanks for all that you do." -Tiffany Glass Ferreira (aka foodallergyfun.com)
"Thank you very much. Molly and I both feel this workshop opened our minds to understand the dangers of allergies. Lots of useful information to absorb.
Thanks again."
Nickolas F. KC YMCA
Labeling Reading Tips for Back to School
#1 We highly recommend that all students with food allergies see a board certified allergist and create a Food Allergy Action Plan to be given to the school which tells staff exactly what your physician orders in an emergency.
#2 We stress that all people with Food Allergies have rapid access to epinephrine (known as Epi Pen or Auvi Q) at all times. Most deaths from anaphylaxis have occurred due to a delay in treatment.
#3 And finally, we strongly recommend that all parents of food allergic children sit down with your school and make a specific plan for strategies and accommodations to avoid allergens throughout your child's school day- including not only the lunch room, but parties, filed trips, and after school activites. Most students diagnosed with ife threatening food allergies qualify for a Section 504 plan protecting their children's rights to equal access to education. Regardless to the type of plan used, the key to avoiding a reaction is avoiding the allergen.
In today's schools, snacks and label reading are a big concern. The biggest way to avoid a child having a reaction is to avoid the allergen. In order to do this, we all need to know how to read a label.
There are 3 things to know:
Read Every Word,
Every Label,
Every Time.
Allergens are not always bolded at the end, one product may be different from a very similar one, and recipes and practices can change without notice. What you bought last time may no longer be safe. May contain statements such as made in a facility or on shared lines are to be taken seriously. For info about cross contact, see out FB page "Food Allergy Labeling Resource"!
Below are some tricky "look alike" products- Beware!.
- AAAAI Emergency Action Plan
- FARE Food Allergy Research & Education- Emergency Care Plan
#2 We stress that all people with Food Allergies have rapid access to epinephrine (known as Epi Pen or Auvi Q) at all times. Most deaths from anaphylaxis have occurred due to a delay in treatment.
#3 And finally, we strongly recommend that all parents of food allergic children sit down with your school and make a specific plan for strategies and accommodations to avoid allergens throughout your child's school day- including not only the lunch room, but parties, filed trips, and after school activites. Most students diagnosed with ife threatening food allergies qualify for a Section 504 plan protecting their children's rights to equal access to education. Regardless to the type of plan used, the key to avoiding a reaction is avoiding the allergen.
In today's schools, snacks and label reading are a big concern. The biggest way to avoid a child having a reaction is to avoid the allergen. In order to do this, we all need to know how to read a label.
There are 3 things to know:
Read Every Word,
Every Label,
Every Time.
Allergens are not always bolded at the end, one product may be different from a very similar one, and recipes and practices can change without notice. What you bought last time may no longer be safe. May contain statements such as made in a facility or on shared lines are to be taken seriously. For info about cross contact, see out FB page "Food Allergy Labeling Resource"!
Below are some tricky "look alike" products- Beware!.
1.similar item, different brand
Left:2 allergens Right: 1 allergen |
Left: 0 allergens Right:6 allergens |
Left:2 allergens Right: 3 allergens |
2. same item different variety
Yes, some are obviously labeled on the front, but when you are in a hurry, or shopping with a toddler, it can be easy to grab the wrong one!
3. same item, different size
The bar on the top and the bar on the bottom are made on equipment that processes Almonds. The bar in the middle has only milk as an allergen listed.
An Awesome Resource from our friend Gina Mennett Lee!!
A Fantastic Web Site!!!
You've Got to Check This One Out!
Food Allergy Fun
I stumbled upon a FANTASTIC website that actually mixes art and fun with food allergies. The creator, a fun, funny, creative woman, truly "gets it."
From her site:
by Tiffany Glass Ferreira Food Allergy + Art + Fun was founded to share creative inspiration inspired by food allergies. My son's first birthday ended with an ambulance when we discovered his egg allergy. Since then, we've totally changed our lives to avoid exposure to common foods, including eggs, milk, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish and peanuts.
I make art to spread awareness about food allergies, to teach my children about food safety and to share joys we've discovered along the way. I'm hoping to connect with other people who share our situation and find inspiration in the challenges.
Questions or comments, please email [email protected]
From her site:
by Tiffany Glass Ferreira Food Allergy + Art + Fun was founded to share creative inspiration inspired by food allergies. My son's first birthday ended with an ambulance when we discovered his egg allergy. Since then, we've totally changed our lives to avoid exposure to common foods, including eggs, milk, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish and peanuts.
I make art to spread awareness about food allergies, to teach my children about food safety and to share joys we've discovered along the way. I'm hoping to connect with other people who share our situation and find inspiration in the challenges.
Questions or comments, please email [email protected]