You have friends you exercise with, go on vacation with, and spend nights out with, but do you have friends who are also managing food allergies? Whether you branch out and make new “food allergy friends” in your town, or you connect online, it’s beneficial to build your support network. Having someone to talk to about challenges you’re facing, swap recipes, and trade tips is invaluable in the day-to-day management of food allergies.
Here are a few ways you can start building or expand your group of food allergy friends and confidants:
FARE Events
While all of FARE’s information and resources are available for free online, we know the value of gathering the food allergy community in person. That’s why we host events across the country to bring people together to learn, connect, and raise funds to support our mission. Here are just a few examples of the types of FARE events you can attend with your family and friends:
FARE Walk for Food Allergy Events
FARE Walks for Food Allergy are family-friendly events taking place in more than 60 communities nationwide in 2014. Walks are a great chance to meet other families in your community who are managing food allergies, as well as raise funds for food allergy research, education, advocacy and awareness. Register for a Walk at www.foodallergywalk.org.
Teen Summit
The 9th Annual Teen Summit is a 3-day event, being held November 7-9, 2014 at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C., that gives teens living with food allergies a chance to meet with other teens from across the country. There is also a sibling and parent track for family members to share their experiences and learn from some of our great speakers. You can hear about teens’ experiences at the summit by reading page 11 of our Summer edition of Food Allergy News. Register at http://www.foodallergy.org/teensummit.
FARE National Food Allergy Conference
This annual conference gathers the country’s leading food allergy experts and members of the food allergy community together for a weekend of world-class programming. The 2015 conference is scheduled for May 16-17 in Long Beach, California and registration will open in winter of 2014. Learn more about the 2014 conference at http://www.foodallergy.org/conference.
Support Groups
Online and in-person support groups can provide advice specific to your community, such as suggestions for local restaurants, products, and events.
Search FARE’s support group directory for a group in your area.
Blogs
Even if you’ve never met your favorite bloggers, you feel like you know them after learning so much about their lives online, and reading their blogs can start to feel like checking in with old friends. Food allergy bloggers are a great source for laughs, recipes, news and opinions about hot topics in food allergies. We’ve listed just a few blogs covering different topic areas here to get you started, and we encourage you to share your favorite food allergy blogs in the comments section!
Research
Food Allergy Mom Doc
Food Allergy Sleuth
Advocacy
The Grateful Foodie
Allergic Girl
Food Allergy Buzz
Food Allergy Mama
Oh Mah Deehness!
Parenting
The Nut-Free Mom
The Food Allergy Mom
Mom Versus Food Allergy
Mothernova
Allergic Kid
Multiple Food Allergy Help
Cooking and Recipes
Making it Milk Free
Don’t Feed My Monkeys
Our Life as an Epi Family
CAFE (Celiac & Allergy Friendly Epicurian)
Food Allergy Feast
Cybele Pascal – The Allergy Friendly Cook
Easy Breezy Life
Nut Free Wok
Adults with Food Allergies
Adventures of an Allergic Foodie
Franny Cakes
The Diary of Ana Phylaxis
Teens with Food Allergies
Food Allergy Froggie
Teen FAAB
Miles with M.E.
Gluten Free and Allergy Friendly
Raising Jack with Celiac
Ginger Lemon Girl
Angela’s Kitchen
Do you have any favorite food allergy blogs? List them in the comments section!
However you choose to reach out and connect to others in the food allergy community – we encourage you to make the effort. Good friends are truly invaluable to have by your side as you’re managing the day-to-day of living with food allergies.
