Kids & Food Allergies – My Brand New Book

We all know children can be tricky to feed at times but when your child has a food allergy or intolerance and you have to avoid certain foods or food groups there can be additional concerns making sure their diet is healthy and balanced. With three boys myself all with food reactions and being coeliac myself I know the pain of having to constantly read labels, check ingredients and create allergy free versions of family favourites.

Through my own experiences and working alongside families with allergies I have learnt how it is possible to make dietary and lifestyle adjustments yet at the same time create delicious real food that the whole family love and enjoy.  I have also spent years helping families develop the skills and information they need to cook nutritious meals that the whole family can eat.

More importantly it is important to support your child’s health long term and to really tackle their symptoms naturally you need to address the route causes of food reactions. Food reactions are often a sign of imbalances in the immune response. By tackling underlying imbalances you can help bring about longer term relief and ensure future allergies and associated conditions are less likely to manifest.

After years of working with children and allergies I am delighted to announce that I have a new book coming out:  My Kids Can’t Eat That: Rules and Recipes to Cope with Children’s Food Allergies, Intolerances and Sensitivities .

This is very much a functional nutrition approach to allergies and it looks at how imbalances in the body including the immune system and the gut are linked to the risk and severity of allergies.  The book is divided into three parts. The first part ‘What Does This All Mean?’ helps you understand the different types of food reactions that may be affecting your child and what it means for them. It then explains what is happening to your child’s immune system, risk factors and why the gut plays a crucial role in the development of allergies. This section also includes my route to resolution – how you can identify the underlying imbalances involved in your child’s food reactions and symptoms and how to eliminate these causes and thereby reduce your child’s allergic potential, and ongoing symptoms. In some cases, you can desensitise their reactions to certain foods enabling them to tolerate them again. Some types of allergies of course are for life. If your child has certain types of reactions you can still reduce the severity of their allergic symptoms using natural approaches, rebalance the immune system, nourish the gut and improve their health long term.

The Second part of the book is ‘Getting Down to Business’ – this looks at how to support your child in dealing with allergies – this may be practically and emotionally. It includes guidance on how to talk to your child about their allergies as well as practical support in coping with food allergies in daily life. This includes how to avoid cross contamination, preparing for travelling and eating away from home. There is plenty of advice around working with the nursery or school and how to ensure your child enjoys birthday parties and other celebrations without feeling excluded or different. This section also covers nutrition aspects of creating a nourishing diet and ensuring your child is not missing out on key nutrients.

Part Three ‘Mealtimes in Practice’ includes a range of meal plans that not only cover gluten free, dairy free, egg free, soy free dishes but those that help lower inflammation, nourish the gut and rebalance the immune system. By including nutrient rich meals that help tackle the route causes you can reduce their allergic potential long term and address any ongoing symptoms at the same time.   The recipes included address some of the most common food allergens with notes on adapting the recipes to suit your child’s needs. In all the recipes I have aimed for simplicity using ingredients regularly found in supermarkets and health shops and focusing on everyday family friendly recipes. Whether you cook regularly or feel less competent in the kitchen you will find these recipes easy to follow and make. They are also focused on nourishing your child with dishes that are low in sugar and rich in an array of nutrients, vitamins and minerals to keep them healthy and happy.

If you’re looking for a nutrition focused book that will provide you with clear steps to take and practical tips together with delicious family friendly recipes then pre order your book now. This is the book I wish I had when my children were young!!

Remember too that you can sign up to our FREE cook alongs where we share fabulous easy to make allergy free recipes.