Dr. Doris Rapp, Pediatric Allergist and Mother of Environmental Medicine, mentions some simple ways to check for potential food allergies at home. The first question we must ask ourselves is: “My child was fine until they ate, touched or smelled what?” The sooner we think critically about our environments, the sooner we can help our children.
Food Allergy Test #1: Infants
• Food allergies tend to appear in infants when they switch to solid foods.
• If you notice food allergy symptoms, remove any common food allergens from the infant’s diet.
• Then add each food separately in a 4-day interval.
• Note any changes in your child’s behavior.
• Infants that arch their bodies and toss their heads back are often displaying signs of an allergic reaction.
Food Allergy Test #2: Children
• Have your child write or draw before they eat.
• If your child suffers from asthma, have them blow into a peak flow meter.
• Wait twenty minutes after food is eaten.
• Have your child write, draw or blow into the peak flow meter again.
• Notice any changes.
• Observe their behavior.
• Repeat test with different foods and locations.
• If significant behavioral or physical changes are noted, your child should have an official food allergy test.
