Food allergies

Recognition of food allergies is a new phenomenon, but pervasive. It is now a significant part of youth ministry.

• Gather health forms for all participating youth at the first of the school or program year and check for food allergies.
  
• You may have to ask peanut people directly about the level of their allergy: can they touch peanut butter? can they be in the same room with it?
  
• Find out from lactose intolerant people whether they carry tablets for neutralizing lactose or whether they need alternative foods.
  
• Alert all cooks about specific allergies early on.
  
• Keep the packaging of all processed foods to show kids with food allergies. Most modern youth with food allergies are good at reading ingredient lists and recognizing which ingredients affect them.
  
• It is not politically correct to ask a parent to bring alternative food for a child: however, given a chance to offer, most parents will offer to send something for their allergic child.
  
• Keep an antihistamine and 911 handy at all times, be alert to wheezing and gasping and a panicked look on a kid's face and act quickly.
  
• Always have some sweet foods, especially hard candies handy for several kinds of medical conditions.