Common Food Allergies To Be Aware Of
Whether you’re a parent, an aspiring chef, or just someone who’s looking to cook inclusive meals for future guests, it’s important to know all about what common food allergies are. You wouldn’t want to prepare food that has harmed your guests, or unknowingly hand out food that’s potentially harmful to others – so knowing about what can be harmful will let you plan around that.
What to be aware of
There are quite a lot of different allergies that people have, and your child could be vulnerable to a number of them – which is why you should look into it as soon as possible. Be wary of:
- Peanuts
- Milk or lactose
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Soy
- Wheat
- Other forms of nuts like walnuts
These are just the most common food allergies, but there is a lot you should be aware of. You can be tested for allergies so that you’re aware before the allergy causes any harm; which is necessary if you intend for your child to try more than what you know is safe for them.
Why you should know
Food allergies are no joke, and they’re not as simple as something like allergies you might experience as a reaction to pollen. A reaction to a food allergy can be lethal, and without medication, it can seriously harm the person who has consumed the food that they are allergic to.
Identifying the symptoms
If you’re a parent and you’re unsure whether or not your child is experiencing symptoms of food allergies, you should get yourself clued in ASAP. An allergic reaction to food isn’t always obvious, and it won’t always cause a serious allergic reaction, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t steer clear of the cause of the symptoms. If someone is experiencing any of the following symptoms after consuming your food, it could be an allergic reaction:
- Coughing
- Itchiness in the eyes
- Swelling
- Hives
- Throat tightness
- Stomach aches or pain
- Lightheadedness
- Difficulty in breathing
Of course, these symptoms can be caused by other factors, but it’s best to make sure that you get them checked out and handled before they get worse.
Are they permanent?
A lot of the common food intolerances are grown out over time, and allergies that are experienced in childhood might not carry on into their adult life. Depending on the severity of your allergy, trying small portions to find out whether or not you still have your symptoms can help you to find out about your current allergies.
Handling a diagnosis
It can be hard to work around certain allergies, as being allergic to eggs or milk can eliminate a lot of the meals that you’re used to – but you’re not alone in this. A nutritionist can help you to figure out a meal plan and what your options are when it comes to finding safe meal options. You should make sure you take the allergy with care, and that you don’t accidentally mix up any meals that might be harmful.
