Adjusting to life with food allergies is not a simple task: it’s a journey.
Like every journey, it has ups and downs. Think of it like taking a trip.
Explore the phases of “The Journey” as you adjust to life with food allergies, and we’ll accompany you along the way!

When you go on a trip, often you become familiar with your new environment (hotel room, neighborhood, city) and unpack your things so they’re functional for you during your stay. You can also make use of this strategy on your food allergy journey!

Prepare your home for food allergy living.

• Reorganize your kitchen- Decide if you will keep allergen-containing food in your house.
  • If not, go through your kitchen, read everything, and toss unsafe foods.
  • If you will keep allergens in your home, create separate storage space for safe and unsafe foods. Read all ingredient labels. Create a shelf or cabinet that contains the unsafe foods. Create a shelf in your refrigerator and freezer for the same purpose.
• Create designated spaces for food preparation for safe foods to avoid cross contamination.
• Take a couple of hours to go through the grocery store. Look at all of your commonly-used products and read the ingredients to see if they still work for you. Look at alternate products to find new safe choices. Make a list of new products to try, and where to find them in the store.
• There are many companies now that specialize in allergy-friendly foods. See some of the choices on our Food Shopping page.
• For feeding infants, be aware of all feeding options and talk with your pediatrician. 
  • American Academy of Pediatrics  policy on hypoallergenic infant formulas
  • Neocate amino acid-based formula
  • Elecare  amino acid-based formula
  • Click here information on Minnesota health insurance coverage for amino acid based formulas 

Everything has its place in your food allergy world.

• Product ingredients can change without warning. Be diligent about reading every label on every product you buy EVERY TIME you buy it- no exceptions.
• Label food packages for easy identification. When food products are brought into the home, label safe foods with special stickers or home-printed labels after the ingredient labels are read.
  • Allergy Haven Stickers      
  • FAAN- Pantry Partners Stickers       
• Create a special place to keep emergency medications (EpiPens, Twinjects). There are many options for medication carriers.
• Find a spot near your main door to hang the medicine bag to help you remember it.
• Keep copies of your action plan in easy-to-find locations for yourself or for those who might care for your allergic child.
• Search for new recipes to replace old ones that won’t work for you anymore. There are many allergy recipe sites to research.