Friday Food for thought:  My head is still whirling and processing data from my mind blowing weekend.  I was honored to speak at the Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) leader’s summit last Friday about Advocacy and then again on Saturday with Tricia Gavankar, hostess of the popular Facebook group, Disney Chefs Rock Food Allergies.  Trish and I enjoyed leading a lively Communication Role Play Workshop.   I was flying high with inspiration and information on Saturday and thought I was going to self-combust with Peter Wright’s Sunday workshop regarding Self Advocating and 504 plans.  The data was valuable and life changing. What I found profound is our insatiable need for food allergy management, life style and medical information along with support.  Even though our food allergy world has developed into a very connected and  rich community of patients, parents, experts and physicians with information available 24/7, our need grows!  Looking back over the last decade we have more resources now than ever, yet we want and need more!  I am sure this is due in part to the  increasing prevalence of food allergies, but I it seems as if the more we learn, the more we want to know.

My workbook and CD received at the Wright’s Law Seminar

My Food Allergy World 14 years ago:

• My slow computer could barely access the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN, now FARE) website, which was hard to navigate.
• I did not know about Kids with Food Allergies until a few years after my son’s diagnosis.
• I learned about food allergy management from my beloved allergist and a local California food allergy support group.
• Books by Food Allergy Pioneer, Linda Coss, “What’s To Eat” and “How to Manage Your Child’s Life Threatening Food Allergies” were like Bibles in my world.
• I had only one epinephrine auto-injector option.
• My son had never eaten a candy bar or store bought cookies.
• We never ate in restaurants.

My biggest support came from those moms who shared their knowledge over play dates in the park.  I packed my son’s meals and struggled to find recipes.  People often told me to “lighten” up over label reading and calling manufacturers was a nightmare.  Even though Inow have incredible access to information, I am still thirsty as ever for more!  Greedy?  I don’t know.  I just can’t seem to get enough information or time with my food allergy community.

Pascha Chocolate!  My little slice of heaven.

Fast forward to the food allergy world in 2014:

• I have three national food allergy advocacy and education groups to chose from: (FARE, Kids with Food Allergies and Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Connection Team), not including smaller state food allergy non-profits.
• The Internet keeps me connected day and night to facebook groups, twitter conversations, Pintrest ideas, bloggers, articles and resources.  I can use my computer or even my smart phone to find information instantly.
• I have an army of food allergy parents, just like me, ready to offer advice, pull me from the ledge or guide me to new foods or ideas.
• The Food Allergy Bloggers Conference was born and provides a true food allergy community experience like no other.
• My shelf of two food allergy books has expanded to full line of cookbooks, children’s and research books, educational tools and more!
• My daughter carries EpiPens® while my son uses a mix of Auvi-Q® for home and EpiPen®for school.  For cost purposes, I carry the generic Adrenaclick®.
• I have a full assortment of EpiPens® and Auvi-Q® carriers to choose from.
• I visit Divvies, Pascha Chocolates and Peanut Free Planet to buy my children safe candy bars, if I can’t find them in my local grocery store.
• Thanks to improved education, my children frequent restaurants and we share information regarding the SafeFARE restaurant program with restaurants we hope to visit.

Thank you everyone for taking our food allergy world and growing it into a larger community that is revving up our energy to learn more and to make a difference!

What food allergy information or conversation do you still crave?

Happy Friday!