BYOFA - Bring Your Own Food Allergy - to Parties!

Posted Feb 9, 2012 | By Nicole Smith |

Isn’t it amazing how many parties and celebrations involve food? I never realized how much food is part of the American social culture until I had a child with severe food allergies. When my son was preschool age, he attended friends’ birthday parties with me or my husband by his side carrying his EpiPen Jr.^®, Benadryl^®, and safe snack. As he aged, I would call the parents of the birthday child to see what food was being served and to ask if they would like to learn how to operate an EpiPen^®. Not once did a parent say no, and thankfully parents who had extended the party invitation were well aware to not serve food with my son's allergens. I would drop my son off, and give the chaperone parent instructions. My son would wear his fanny pack with his EpiPens^®. By elementary school age, I'd stay in the driveway or the parking lot of the party to give him some room to enjoy his friends. Then I got brave enough to drop him off and leave after the education session!

Now, as a high school student, he goes to parties of friends — many of whom he has trained how to recognize allergic symptoms and how to operate the EpiPen^®. No longer is he afraid what food might be served. He has always felt comfortable taking his own food to parties rather than hoping that something is safe at the event. Or he will just have a soda and enjoy everyone's company.

School parties were frequent in preschool and elementary school. One year when my son was in preschool, a parent was asked by the teacher to please bring in safe candies, upon which she commented, “You mean he’s still allergic?” Yes! Every day of the year, he’s still allergic!

Many children at our son’s elementary school brought in candy along with Valentine’s Day cards. Yearly, we reminded our son's teacher to watch for unsafe candy coming into the classroom and to please send it back home with the student. One year his teacher lined up all of the children’s Valentine's boxes in the hallway. That ensured no unsafe candy was brought into the classroom.

Families who don't deal with severe food allergies may never understand our focus on safe foods at parties. Continued education allows my son to participate and to help others gain awareness while enjoying his company.