#1: Halloween with Food Allergies + the Johnson Family’s Story

Let's Talk Food AllergiesHalloween
Written By Lisa Woodruff, RDN

In this episode I talk with Kelli Johnson, who was one of the first people I turned to for help when my son developed food allergies. Kelli truly is an inspiration for food allergy parents everywhere.

In addition to sharing her son’s journey with food allergies, Kelli offers suggestions and resources for making Halloween more inclusive for all food allergy children. And now, let’s talk food allergies!

In this episode of Let’s Talk Food Allergies:

  • There’s a club for food allergy parents that none of us ever thought we would be a part of, but we are sure glad there is a community for support on this journey.

  • It’s okay to switch pediatricians or medical providers if you feel like it’s not a good relationship or collaboration. Medical providers have different personalities and treatment approaches.

  • Have an action plan for managing your anxiety as a parent, especially when it comes to introducing new foods to an infant or child with food allergies.

  • Set realistic expectations for yourself as a parent when it comes to providing safe options for your food allergy child, especially when it comes to holidays or other special occasions. Include your child in the planning process and help them learn to feel comfortable in the kitchen.

  • Kelli’s suggestions for enjoying Halloween with food allergies:

    • Introduce several candy options one at a time before Halloween to make sure there are safe options to enjoy immediately after trick-or-treating.

    • Participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project by offering nonfood treats during trick-or-treating.

    • Consider the Switch Witch, which involves kids leaving their unsafe candy in their Halloween buckets overnight to be replaced with nonfood gifts or safe candy options.

    • Set family dynamic expectations in advance for those households that also have siblings without food allergies.

Food Allergy Resources mentioned in this episode:

Connect with Lisa:

Lisa’s first children’s book, Be a Food Allergy Helper! is available online wherever books are sold. Learn more at lisawoodruffnutrition.com/books.

Disclaimer: This conversation, and podcast in general, is provided for general information purposes only; it is not intended to replace the advice of a medical professional. As always, individuals with food allergies should consult with their healthcare team to create an individualized Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan.

Special thanks for assistance with this podcast:

Copyright (C) 2022 Lisa Woodruff Nutrition

Lisa Woodruff, RDN

Lisa is a FARE-trained registered dietitian and food allergy mom. She helps families and individuals learn how to confidently manage food allergies while nurturing a healthy relationship with food. Lisa is a food allergy dietitian licensed to practice in Iowa, Illinois, and Nebraska. She also wrote the children’s book Be a Food Allergy Helper! and hosts the podcast Let’s Talk Food Allergies.

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#2: Advocating for Food Allergies + the Holl Family’s Story