Introducing new foods to babies can be a fun experience- but it can also be stressful at times! Especially stressful when introducing some of the top allergens. I experienced this firsthand with my son when he was about 8 months old and had a reaction to peanut butter. After a series of tests and oral challenges, it was confirmed that he had a severe peanut allergy.

This diagnosis was pretty tough for me to process. As a dietitian, fortunately I had the knowledge to ensure my son was still getting the nutrients he needs and including a variety of other options in place of peanut butter. But as a parent, I had a lot of concerns and anxiety about the diagnosis. I did quite a bit of research to find products that were “safe” for him. It wasn’t as simple as just avoiding peanut butter. Because of the severity of his allergy, now I had to check every package thoroughly for labels such as “may contain peanut”, “made in a facility that processes peanuts,” etc. All of a sudden it felt like a LOT of options were off the table. Who knew certain brands of canned spinach had a label that said “may contain peanut”?!

Aside from nutrition labels, this diagnosis was something we would have to be extremely cautious about when dining out and attending any social outing that involves food. It really made me reflect on how much food is involved in so many aspects of our lives and has a huge impact on our quality of life. This is something I have always recognized as a dietitian working with others but haven’t really dealt with on a personal level until now. It can be very difficult to try to manage a food related health condition while balancing a social life and still feeling included when it comes to gatherings around food. There are many conditions our clients live with that may require or benefit from dietary adjustments, so working side by side with them to develop a sustainable plan that still allows them to participate in things they enjoy is such a rewarding role to be in. If you are struggling with your health and finding a way to navigate day to day activities while still taking care of yourself, give us a call today. We would love to work with you!

By: Julia Blackford, RDN, LD

Have you worked with our dietitians? Please leave us a google review!