By Suzanna Paxton

My children, Samuel and Emily are the reason that I began the Allergy-Safe journey.

My son, Samuel, is anaphylactic to egg and has had three critical, or life-threatening, events. My daughter, Emily, has allergies to soy, peanut, tree nuts and sesame seed. With the help of family and friends, I have been collecting and adjusting recipes over the past five years to meet my family’s dietary needs. I am constantly exploring new recipes and products to create easy, interesting and healthy family meals, snacks and party foods.

Although managing these food allergies was a huge challenge initially — and new parents often find it overwhelming — I found that achieving a busy, happy, allergy-safe family life is easier than I could have imagined.

Often children with allergies are not invited into other people’s homes — they are afraid of not being able to provide a safe environment. Our experience was nothing like that! When Samuel started kinder, he was invited to a lot of birthday parties. The mothers wanted to ensure that the food they prepared was safe, so they asked me a lot of questions about Samuels’s allergies and recipe suggestions. Out of this came the idea of putting together an allergy-friendly cookbook as a kinder fundraiser, and from there it snowballed!

Because I work in the health field and am a great believer in educating people, and driven by the desire to nurture the community’s willingness to learn about and accommodate my children’s special needs; I recognised an opportunity to help other Australians overcome the hurdles that my family has had to jump, and to help children like Samuel and Emily enjoy the same opportunities that all kids look forward to.

I look forward to my children, and all children with allergies, being able to enjoy the simple pleasures of childhood, such as sleepovers, play dates and parties, without worry or fear. I hope my book Allergy-Safe Family Food and the resources found at this allergy-safe website helps people to feel more comfortable about preparing allergy-safe food, and opening their home to all. Believe me when I say that they will really appreciate the effort you make to include them as well.

Even if no one in your immediate family has food allergies, it is highly likely that other people you mix with do. This book aims to make their visits to your home safe and happy every time.

When members of our extended family visit, we find ourselves catering for egg, peanut, tree nut, soy, dairy, sesame seed and gluten allergies. That is seven of the nine main food allergens! We all enjoy good food and many laughs together. After all, food is generally central to the way people socialise.

Allergy-safe cooking is easier than you may think, and it is very rewarding because nobody is isolated or segregated.

ENJOY!

Order the Allergy-Safe Family Food Online and you CAN manage food allergies.

Allergy Safe - Be Allergy Aware and Be Safe!