Another Sweet Holiday

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If it’s Valentine’s Day, the sweets are getting rolled out. Tempting chocolate hearts appear in the grocery stores, and bakeries display cookies decorated in red or pink to give to your loved ones (or to gobble up yourself). But the holiday is no reason to let down your guard. Before you let your child scoop up any of these sweet treats, remember all of the basics of effective food allergy management and stay safe.

  • Be on heightened alert for treats in your child’s classroom. Teachers in lower grade levels often schedule Valentine’s parties, and store-bought Valentines that children distribute are increasingly packaged with candies. Re-emphasize to your child that these sweets shouldn’t be eaten unless a trusted adult has read the labels and said it’s okay.
  • Remember that candy manufacturers may change packaging for holidays like Valentine’s Day. For example, a peanut butter cup might come in the form of a foil-wrapped heart instead of the tell-tale cup shape. Don’t assume anything. Read every label, every time. If a label is not available, don’t take chances and avoid the treat.
  • Buy some safe candy or inexpensive toys or trinkets and prepare a special Valentine’s goodie bag for your child. Or have these items available for a trade in case your child receives treat that he or she cannot have.
  • Invent your own holiday tradition, such as baking allergy-friendly cookies together and decorating them in keeping with a Valentine’s theme. (Need inspiration? Check out February’s featured recipe, Valentine Peppermint Pop’ems.)

Happy Valentine’s Day!