Thank you all for a very successful Food Allergy Awareness Week!

Posted by Food Allergy Education Network in Blog, Food Allergies, Uncategorized and tagged with , , , ,

Our children tell the Governor about their food allergies after he reads the Proclamation declaring May 13-19th Food Allergy Awareness Week in Connecticut.

On Wednesday, May 16th, members of Food Allergy Education Network met with Governor Malloy and Senator Ed Meyer  in honor of Food Allergy Awareness Week.

Pictured from left to right: Michael Pascucilla, Senator Ed Meyer, Erin Spaulding (Vice-President of FAEN), Robin Comey (Secretary of FAEN), Gina Mennett Lee (President of FAEN), Governor Dannel P. Malloy, Anne Josephy-Zack (Treasurer of FAEN), Theresa Colombo, Unk DaRos (First Selectman, Branford, CT), and Kirsten Hess

Governor Dannel P. Malloy takes time to pose for a picture with our children.

ENTER HERE: 5 DAYS of GIVE-AWAYS (FREE Book: “The Princess and the Peanut Allergy”!)

Posted by Food Allergy Education Network in Blog, Food Allergies, Uncategorized and tagged with , ,

Day 5:

The Princess and the Peanut Allergy  by Wendy McClure

The Princess and the Peanut Allergy [Book]


“Regina and her mom are busy preparing for her birthday party. It’s going to be a princess party with the perfect cake that looks like a castle and has ice cream cone towers. Regina is inviting all the girls in her class, including her best friend, Paula. Paula is excited, too, until she finds out about the cake. It will have nutty fudge brownies and peanut butter candies. Paula can’t eat that cake–she can’t go anywhere near that cake–because she has a peanut allergy. Regina really wants her cake, and she and Paula fight about it.á That afternoon they both go home mad.á But that night, after Regina reads her favorite story, “The Princess and the Pea,” she thinks more about her friend and the cake.á The next morning she has a great plan that will please everyone.”

A special thank you to “Let’s Play Books” for providing this book for our giveaway.  Let’s Play Books is an organization that focuses on engaging children to WANT to read, by giving a child a role in literature.  Children learn differently, and engaging them in wanting to read is the first step towards life long learning.

To Enter You Must Do All Three Below:

  1. “LIKE” our facebook page
  2. “LIKE” the Let’s Play Books facebook page  AND
  3. Leave a comment here.  Tell us why you would like this prize pack.
Day 5 Giveaway ends at 5pm EST.  PLEASE SHARE on facebook, twitter, etc… Good Luck!

Comment must be appropriate and positive.  Any comment deemed inappropriate by Food Allergy Education Network (FAEN) will be disqualified and will not be posted.  No Spam.  Any spam will not be posted and will be disqualified.  FAEN has the right to disqualify any entries that it deems inappropriate.  All comments are monitored. If your comment doesn’t appear right away, please check back later.  It will be posted.

All entries must be made between 9am and 5pm (EST) on Monday, May 14th, 2012.  This giveaway is only open to residents of the continental USA and Canada.  One winner will be selected at random.  The prize will be mailed within 2 weeks to the winners address.

ENTER HERE: 5 DAYS of GIVE-AWAYS (FREE SUPER SEEDZ PRIZE PACK!)

Posted by Food Allergy Education Network in Blog, Food Allergies, Uncategorized and tagged with , ,

Day 4:

Super Seedz prize pack. Retail Value: $40.00+

Kathie's Calendar

 

Prize Pack includes:  

  • 2 reusable tote bags
  • 2  packages of Sea Salt flavor
  • 2 Packages of Sugar and Cinnamon flavor
  • 1 package of Coco Joe flavor
  • 1 package of Tomato Italiano flavor
  • 1 package of Somewhat Spicy flavor
  • 1 package of Super Spicy flavor

If you are looking for a nutritious, tasty treat for your child…look no further…Super Seedz is here!

FROM SUPER SEEDZ:

“Welcome to Superseedz…America’s Tastiest Healthiest Snack! Our mission is simple: Provide you with a healthy snack with big flavor that you always will enjoy every time you snack.  We take great pride in our company, our commitment to customer service and all of our all natural products. We use only premium grade pumpkin seeds in our special roasting process. That’s why Superseedz are:

Gluten free
Wheat free
Peanut free
Tree nut free
Egg free
Soy free*   (*except Original Curry  which contains non gmo soy)
Dairy free

We are dedicated to providing you with a tasty crunchy fun snack that’s so good for you!

“Munch a Munch and Spread The Health”……you’ll see what we mean!!”

For more information, visit the Super Seedz website :  www.superseedz.com

 

To Enter You Must Do All Three Below:

  1. “LIKE” our facebook page
  2. “LIKE” the Super Seedz facebook page AND
  3. Leave a comment here.  Tell us why you would like this prize pack.
Day 4 Giveaway ends at 6pm EST.  PLEASE SHARE on facebook, twitter, etc… Good Luck!

Comment must be appropriate and positive.  Any comment deemed inappropriate by Food Allergy Education Network (FAEN) will be disqualified and will not be posted.  No Spam.  Any spam will not be posted and will be disqualified.  FAEN has the right to disqualify any entries that it deems inappropriate.  All comments are monitored. If your comment doesn’t appear right away, please check back later.  It will be posted.

All entries must be made between 9am and 5pm (EST) on Monday, May 14th, 2012.  This giveaway is only open to residents of the continental USA and Canada.  One winner will be selected at random.  The prize will be mailed within 2 weeks to the winners address.

ENTER HERE: 5 DAYS of GIVE-AWAYS (FREE EPI-ESSENTIALS PRIZE PACK!)

Posted by Food Allergy Education Network in Blog, Food Allergies, Uncategorized and tagged with , ,

Day 3:

Epi-Essentials Prize Pack. Retail Value: $73.00

Prize Pack includes:

  • Mystic Navy Accessory Case
  • Additional Allergy Action Card
  • Additional Emergency Contact Card
  • 1 Mini-Nalgene antihistamine container

Looking for a stylish way to carry to emergency medications?  This is the answer.  Epi-Essentials is “versatile enough for a student to carry in her backpack, a woman to carry in her handbag or for a new mom’s diaper bag.”

Introducing Epi-Essentials™ Handbags and Accessory Cases…life’s style solution for keeping your EpiPen® close at hand.

Finally, there’s no excuse to be without everything you need.   Keep life-saving allergy medicines alongside personal belongings, all in one super-cute, super-organized essential.

Crafted in colorful leather exteriors with the finest attention to details, dual-zip compartments (one personal, one medical)
secure (2) EpiPens®, inhaler & antihistamines with instantly visible Allergy Action & Emergency Contact cards.
A separate zip section for your “must-have” daily basics makes every day safe, stylish and complete.

To Enter You Must Do All Three Below:

  1. “LIKE” our facebook page
  2. “LIKE” the Epi-Essentials facebook page  AND
  3. Leave a comment here.  Tell us why you would like this prize pack.
Day 3 Giveaway ends at 6pm EST.  PLEASE SHARE on facebook, twitter, etc… Good Luck!
 Comment must be appropriate and positive.  Any comment deemed inappropriate by Food Allergy Education Network (FAEN) will be disqualified and will not be posted.  No Spam.  Any spam will not be posted and will be disqualified.  FAEN has the right to disqualify any entries that it deems inappropriate.  All comments are monitored. If your comment doesn’t appear right away, please check back later.  It will be posted.

All entries must be made between 9am and 5pm (EST) on Monday, May 14th, 2012.  This giveaway is only open to residents of the continental USA and Canada.  One winner will be selected at random.  The prize will be mailed within 2 weeks to the winners address.

ENTER HERE: 5 DAYS of GIVE-AWAYS (FREE book, the sequel to BugaBees “The Bugy Bops:Friends for All Time)

Posted by Food Allergy Education Network in Blog, Food Allergies, Uncategorized and tagged with , ,

Day 2:

Win a copy of  the brand new BugaBees book sequel: “The BugyBops: Friends for All Time” By Amy Recob

If you liked the BugaBees, you are sure to love the The BugyBops!  Amy Recob does it again by creating wonderful characters that children can relate to.  She uses the BugyBops to educate our children about ways to be a good friend to those with food allergies.  Enter to win this wonderful book today!

To Enter You Must Do All Three Below:

  1. “LIKE” our facebook page
  2. “LIKE” the The BugaBees facebook page AND
  3. Leave a comment here.  Tell us why you would like this book.
Day 2 Giveaway ends at 6pm EST.  PLEASE SHARE on facebook, twitter, etc… Good Luck!
Amy Recob is offering a 10% coupon code to all of our fans .  Just use the code: SAVE10 on this site: http://www.bookhousefulfillment.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=1148 Books are also available on Amazon.

Comment must be appropriate and positive.  Any comment deemed inappropriate by Food Allergy Education Network (FAEN) will be disqualified and will not be posted.  No Spam.  Any spam will not be posted and will be disqualified.  FAEN has the right to disqualify any entries that it deems inappropriate.  All comments are monitored. If your comment doesn’t appear right away, please check back later.  It will be posted.

All entries must be made between 9am and 5pm (EST) on Monday, May 14th, 2012.  This giveaway is only open to residents of the continental USA and Canada.  One winner will be selected at random.  The prize will be mailed within 2 weeks to the winners address.

ENTER HERE: 5 DAYS of GIVE-AWAYS (FREE DIVVIES PRIZE PACK!)

Posted by Food Allergy Education Network in Blog, Food Allergies, Uncategorized and tagged with , ,

Day 1:

Divvies prize pack. Retail Value: $35.00+

Prize Pack includes:

  • 2 BingGo Benjamint Crunch Bars
  • 1 BingGo Divvine Chocolate Bar
  • Heart 4U
  • Rock Candy
  • Super Stars
  • Jelly Beans

A special thank you to Lori Sandler for providing this giveaway. The Sandler family envisioned homemade fun-foods that the whole family, and their friends could enjoy. These foods would be made without peanuts, tree nuts, eggs or milk and despite all those left-out ingredients, these treats would be delicious. They would be so good, in fact, everyone (with or without food allergies) would ask to share them.

Now, Divvies fun-foods are available to share with families and friends across the country. Divvies cookies, popcorns, and cupcakes are made in the company’s-own dedicated facility where no peanuts, tree nuts, eggs or milk enter the doors. Divvies candies, frosting, and sprinkles are certified by their manufacturers to be peanut-, tree nut-, milk-, and egg-free and are packaged in Divvies Bakery. Divvies conducts routine testing to minimize the risk of any cross-contamination in their certified allergen-free ingredients. 
 The Sandler family envisioned homemade fun-foods that the whole family, and their friends could enjoy. These foods would be made without peanuts, tree nuts, eggs or milk and despite all those left-out ingredients, these treats would be delicious. They would be so good, in fact, everyone (with or without food allergies) would ask to share them.

Now, Divvies fun-foods are available to share with families and friends across the country. Divvies cookies, popcorns, and cupcakes are made in the company’s-own dedicated facility where no peanuts, tree nuts, eggs or milk enter the doors. Divvies candies, frosting, and sprinkles are certified by their manufacturers to be peanut-, tree nut-, milk-, and egg-free and are packaged in Divvies Bakery. Divvies conducts routine testing to minimize the risk of any cross-contamination in their certified allergen-free ingredients.

To Enter You Must Do All Three Below:

  1. “LIKE” our facebook page
  2. “LIKE” the Divvies facebook page  AND
  3. Leave a comment here.  Tell us why you would like this prize pack.
Day 1 Giveaway ends at 5pm EST.  PLEASE SHARE on facebook, twitter, etc… Good Luck!

Comment must be appropriate and positive.  Any comment deemed inappropriate by Food Allergy Education Network (FAEN) will be disqualified and will not be posted.  No Spam.  Any spam will not be posted and will be disqualified.  FAEN has the right to disqualify any entries that it deems inappropriate.  All comments are monitored. If your comment doesn’t appear right away, please check back later.  It will be posted.

All entries must be made between 9am and 5pm (EST) on Monday, May 14th, 2012.  This giveaway is only open to residents of the continental USA and Canada.  One winner will be selected at random.  The prize will be mailed within 2 weeks to the winners address.

Food Allergy Awareness Week-Morning Announcements

Posted by Food Allergy Education Network in Blog, Food Allergies, Resources, Schools and tagged with ,

Morning Announcements-Elementary School

Monday:  May 13-19 is Food Allergy Awareness Week. Each day this week, we will be sharing information and facts about food allergies.  Did you know that a person can be allergic to any food?  The top 8 foods that children are allergic to are: milk, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, fish, wheat and soy.

Tuesday:  Do you know someone with a food allergy?  You can help keep him or her safe by washing your hands after eating and never sharing your food.

Wednesday:  If a friend with food allergies doesn’t look well or feel well, it is important tell an adult immediately.

Thursday: Food allergies are serious.  Please be kind to your classmates with food allergies.

Friday: Make sure to include your friends with food allergies in class, at lunch and recess, and outside of school too.  They want to be a part of the fun, just like you!

 

 Morning Announcements-Middle School

Monday: May 13-19 is Food Allergy Awareness Week.  Each day this week, we will be sharing information and facts about food allergies.  Did you know that people can be allergic to anything?  If fact, the top 8 allergens in the United States are: milk, egg, fish, shellfish, soy, wheat, peanuts, and tree nuts.

Tuesday:  Did you know that food allergies can be life threatening and that even a trace amount of an allergen can cause a reaction?  That is why it is important to wash your hands after you eat, and to never share food.

Wednesday:  If someone with a food allergy doesn’t feel well.  It is important to tell an adult immediately.  You could save a life!

Thursday: If you have a friend with a food allergy, you can help.  Help your friend avoid the foods they are allergic to.  Encourage your friend to always have his medication with him.

Friday:  Kids with food allergies are just like you.  They want to be included in the fun.  You have the power to make a difference.   Be sure to include kids with food allergies in school, and out of school.   It’s up to you!

For more information on the BE A P.A.L. Program, visit www.foodallergy.org

Traveling with Food Allergies

Posted by Food Allergy Education Network in Blog, Food Allergies, Tips and tagged with , ,

Traveling away from the safety of your own home can sometimes feel overwhelming, but it can be done with careful preparation and planning.  Not only is travel a way to bond as a family, but it also provides an opportunity for your child to safely venture outside of his or her comfort zone.  Each time we’ve taken a trip, I’ve seen a huge boost in my daughter’s confidence.

Planning:

Whether traveling by plane or car, it’s a good idea to investigate the following ahead of time:

  • The location of the nearest hospital ( I always like to be within 30  minutes of a hospital.)
  • How to call for emergency medical services
  • The location of supermarkets
  • Food Allergy Friendly restaurants (allergyeats.com)

If traveling by plane, you also will want to research the best airline to meet your needs.  (I prefer JetBlue.)

Booking:

The best scenario is to book a hotel with a kitchen, or to rent a house/condo/apartment.  (We’ve found that renting a house is actually less expensive and more enjoyable.  You can check VRBO.com or other similar sites for more info.)

Even if your hotel doesn’t officially offer amenities like a kitchen, call ahead and ask if they have a mini fridge and microwave available.  I haven’t found a hotel yet that hasn’t had one available upon request.

When booking your flight, notify the airline of your child’s food allergies and ask to pre-board.

We always book seats together so that we have a whole row or so that family members can flank our daughter with food allergies.  This is helpful because you can control what foods are around your child for the flight.

Travelling (by car):

Pack a cooler full of “safe” foods, wipes, and other necessities like utensils, can openers, paper plates, hand soap, etc…(I often use the wipes to clean surfaces in the hotel or home once we arrive.)

Mark good places to stop along the way to have a picnic, eat out,  or to take a break.

Travelling (by plane):

  • Pack airline-friendly foods for the trip in your carry-on.  I prefer to have my daughter eat only foods that I pack.
  • At the airport, notify the airline again of your child’s needs and request to pre-board.
  • Pre-board and wipe down all surfaces with wipes (Don’t forget to pull down the tray and wipe there too).
  • I also pack a crib sheet to put it over the plane seat.  There are seat covers you can purchase but I’ve found a crib sheet to work just as well.  This sheet can also be used in the car if you are renting one.
  • Bring all medication in your carry-on.  I always have 4 Epipens with me, and antihistamine. Sometimes doctors will also prescribe an oral steroid.  Be sure to have your doctor write a letter stating the need for your child have his or her medication with him at all times( in case security needs this).  I’ve never had anyone question the need for the medications even on international flights.  Also have prescriptions with you.

Once you are there:

Unpack.  Wipe down any surfaces that need cleaning (TV remotes, etc..).  Check the labels on any soaps or other items in the room.  Go shopping, if needed.  And, most of all, have fun!!!

Allergy Travel Checklist:

  • Epinephrine
  • Antihistamine
  • Doctor’s letter
  • Prescriptions
  • Chef Card
  • Medic Alert Bracelet
  • “Safe” foods
  • Change of clothes
  • Phone Numbers of Doctor, local hospital, etc..
  • Wipes
  • Crib sheet or seat cover for plane
  • Lunch Bag or cooler  (I always pack meals for the day so my daughter has food no matter where we happen to end up on our adventures.)

See the Mom Bag Post for more info and helpful links.

Best,

Gina

In my next post, I’ll provide tips for international travel.  It can be done!