13 Easy Activities for Food Allergy Awareness Month
As we gear up for Food Allergy Awareness Month, it’s time to shine a spotlight on something that hits close to home for many of us moms: food allergies. Whether it’s managing our child’s peanut allergy or navigating the maze of labels at the grocery store for dairy-free snacks, we know firsthand the challenges that come with keeping our kiddos safe and healthy. It is a job that truly never ends for us.
That’s why Food Allergy Awareness Month is so important—it’s our chance to spread the word about the realities of food allergies, especially for kids. In this blog post, I’m excited to share 13 practical ideas that you can jump into during Food Allergy Awareness Month.
What is Food Allergy Awareness Month?
Food Allergy Awareness Month is a month dedicated to spreading awareness about the importance and facts about food allergies.It not only helps people understand about food allergies even if they are not directly impacted, but can also help other food allergy parents feel seen and heard knowing you are not alone.
When is Food Allergy Awareness Month?
Food Allergy Awareness month takes place every year during the month of May. And just in case you were not already aware, teal is the representative color for food allergy awareness (which I think we are spoiled with a pretty awesome color!).
Why is Food Allergy Awareness Month important?
Food allergies have become increasingly prevalent among children, with recent studies indicating that approximately 1 in 13 children in the United States are affected by a food allergy. This means that in a typical classroom of 30 children, it’s likely that at least two children have a food allergy.
The impact of food allergies goes beyond just dietary restrictions; it affects a child’s daily life, social interactions, and overall well-being. Spreading awareness about food allergies is crucial to ensure the safety and inclusivity of children with allergies in various settings, including schools, community events, and social gatherings.
By raising awareness, we can foster understanding, promote supportive environments, and empower families to navigate the challenges of living with food allergies more effectively.
Ideas of Food Allergy Awareness Month Activities:
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I’ve put together a list of some ideas of ways you can celebrate Food Allergy Awareness Month.
1. Host an Allergy-Friendly Playdate:
Hosting an allergy-friendly playdate is a fantastic way to bring families together while promoting inclusivity and awareness. Choose a local park with ample space for kids to run around and play.
When planning the menu, opt for allergy-friendly foods that everyone can enjoy. Ask everyone to pack their own allergy-safe lunch and eat on their own blanket or pack snacks you know will be safe for most everyone such as, MadeGood Cookies or GoGo Squeeze Applesauce pouches. It’s also completely ok if you choose to avoid food altogether to not add the complication of accommodating everyone’s allergens.
Don’t forget to bring along hand wipes and hand sanitizer. During the picnic, take the opportunity to chat with other parents about food allergies and share tips for managing them in everyday life.
2. Post a Food Allergy Awareness Yard Sign:
This one is simple! Put a yard sign or flag by your mailbox, end of your driveway or in your yard to help create awareness. This may be a conversation starter about your family’s own food allergy journey or it may just plant the seed for your neighbor that someone with food allergies lives there (and maybe to rethink Halloween treats or feeding the community squirrels peanuts!).
3. Create Allergy Awareness Crafts:
Engage your children in a fun and educational activity by creating allergy awareness crafts together. Get creative with crafting allergy-themed items such as teal ribbon pins or teal food allergy bracelets.
These crafts serve as visual reminders of the importance of food allergy awareness and can be proudly displayed at home or shared with friends and family. Use this opportunity to have age-appropriate discussions with your children about their allergies and how to stay safe while still having fun.
4. Participate in a Virtual Allergy Walk:
Lace up your sneakers and join FARE’s virtual food allergy awareness walk logging your miles during the month of May and raising awareness and funds to support food allergy research and education. Encourage friends and family to sponsor your team and donate to allergy research or support groups.
5. Send a Thank you Note to a Teacher or Caregiver
Take 5 minutes to send one of these pretty teal thank you note cards to thank your child’s teacher or caregiver for the precautions they take every day to help keep your child safe when they are away from home. If your child is feeling creative, have them help you make a thank you card to let know how much you appreciate their efforts.
6. Collaborate with Schools for Allergy Education:
Take proactive steps to raise awareness about food allergies in your local schools by collaborating with teachers, administrators, and other parents to implement allergy education programs.
Advocate for allergy-friendly policies in the cafeteria and classrooms, such as nut-free zones and allergen-free snack options. Work together with school staff to develop an allergy action plan for students with known allergies, ensuring they receive the support and accommodations they need to stay safe at school.
7. Organize a Teal Dress-Up Day:
Show your support for food allergy awareness by organizing a teal dress-up day for parents and their children to participate in. Teal is the official color of food allergy awareness, making it the perfect hue to wear proudly to raise awareness in your community.
Or perhaps just buy yourself a food allergy awareness shirt to wear out and about to help spread awareness. I love the message on this shirt!
8. Host a Allergy Mom’s Night Out:
Gather your fellow food allergy friends and give yourselves break. Go out to dinner some evening. Share your accomplishments and frustrations, or simply take a break from talking about your child’s food allergies altogether for the evening. Knowing you are not alone can feel so refreshing in this food allergy journey.
9. Create Allergy Awareness Social Media Campaign:
Leverage the power of social media to amplify your voice and share your experiences as a food allergy mom with a dedicated allergy awareness campaign. Download one of the many cover or profile pic photos for your social media pages created for Food Allergy Awareness Week by FAACT (Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team) to help spread food allergy awareness.
10. Use Food Allergy Awareness Stickers
Use stickers such as this one to spread the message “Exclude the Food, Not the Child” on water bottles, coolers or your car. Hand them out to friends or family.
11. Volunteer at Allergy Support Groups:
Give back to the food allergy community by volunteering together as a family at local allergy support groups or events. Reach out to organizations like FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) or local allergy support networks to inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Pledge to be a FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) Ally and Champion. You can sign up for free and pledge your support to be an advocate for yourself or those with food allergies.
11. Organize a Food Allergy Storytime:
Host a special food allergy storytime session at your local library or community center or invite yourself to your child’s class as a guest reader. Select children’s books that center around themes of food allergies, inclusivity, and empathy to share with the audience. Daniel Tiger’s book is a favorite allergy book of ours is The Asian Allergy Mom, Ina Chung’s new book, A Kid’s Book About Food Allergies. Check it out!
And if you’re not feeling called to host a storytime yourself, perhaps just purchasing a food allergy book to donate to your local library or child’s classroom would be an easier idea and spread awareness on food allergies to many children and families for years to come.
12. Contact Your Local News Station
I even surprised myself and went out on a limb last month and reached out to my local news station and pitched the idea to have them come and talk about food allergies with my 6 year old and I. They jumped on the idea! Yeah, I was nervous being on camera, but the reality is I live and breathe this stuff every single day. We had plenty to talk about and show them about of everyday life that to a family living without food allergies may not be aware of.
Be sure to check out our food allergy news story!
13. Celebrate Your Child with Food Allergies!
Celebrate how far you BOTH have come! The journey of food allergies have its ups and downs, but every day is a commitment to your child’s safety and health. Find a way to celebrate the work both put in. Plan a special day out, maybe it’s a trip to a new playground, mini-golf or out to the movies. This is just a time to acknowledge the lengths you all go and continue to, everyday.
Wrapping Up Food Allergy Awareness
So here’s our call to action: let’s take these ideas and run with them! Whether you choose to host a teal tea party or organize a food allergy storytime, every action, no matter how small, contributes to a brighter, more inclusive future for our children.
I’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts, experiences, and additional ideas in the comments below or join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #FoodAllergyAwarenessMonth. Together, let’s make this month a memorable one, filled with love, understanding, and support for all children and families affected by food allergies.
What are your favorite food allergy awareness month activities you’ve done before? Anything you plan to try this year? I’d love to hear what works for you in the comments below!
And if you are looking for more support with your child’s food allergies, consider joining my FREE email series- 5 Days to Effortless Allergy-Free Lunches for Kids (to get out of your lunchtime rut)!
