Raising a child with food allergies can be difficult since the allergic reactions sometimes can create a life threatening situation. According to recent studies as many as 12 million people suffer from food allergies. The website, Kids with Food Allergies provides a great resource for parents.

We found some great tips in the following excerpt from the article, Anxious about food allergies, You are not alone by Beth Puliti. Originally posted on www.kidswithfoodallergies.org. The full article can be found on their website. The site also features a "safe eats" recipe database.

Tips for coping from the article:

* Communicate your child’s needs to others, especially teachers, neighbors,relatives and others who will be part of her everyday life. This will reduce the risk of a reaction and put you more at ease.

* Regain your confidence by finding safe foods and recipes.

* Focus on your needs for a change! De-stress with relaxation therapy techniques, get out for some "me" time (even if it is just a workout or a latte), or talk to a close friend.

* Work with your physician to develop and write down an emergency treatment plan. Make sure you have emergency medicines on hand at all times.

* Teach a few close friends and family members how to cook food for your child and how to administer medicine so they will be ready if you ever have to be away.

* Continually educate your child about food allergies, what he can and can’t eat and who is allowed to give him food. Once older, teach him to read an ingredient label.

* Get involved in your child’s school where you can meet people — and also monitor food.

* Talk to others about your children, your family, your hopes and your fears. Sometimes just being in the company of others who truly understand can be stress relieving in itself.

* Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you feel overwhelmed. If the daily anxiety becomes more than you can handle, seek out professional help and be happy you did.

* Find joy in everyday life with your children. Know that your child is much more than the sum of her medical status. Take time to bake together, to read together and to play in the dirt together. Remember, before they are children with food allergies, they are simply children.

I just found out that my son has a peanut allergy, which has brought us alot of anxiety over allergic reactions, and using epipens. Anyone else in the same boat? We have an appt with an allergist in a few weeks.

My older son has a lactose intolerance, and still deals with that - but I wasn't overly surprised since it runs in my family anyway. But the peanut thing caught me way off guard. I was eating garbage cereal (reeses pieces puffs) and gave him three little pieces and he had quite a reaction. Not winning mother of the year on that one! Hopefully the appointment with the allergist in a few weeks will shed some light for us and we will know just how much we are dealing with. I find myself worrying about him touching something that came in contact with peanuts and having a reaction, and totally petrified of poking him with an epipen. Although, I'm sure when it comes down to it, we will be fine. In the meantime I like to research this stuff online and learn what I can.

My four year old has Milk and Egg allergies. It was very hard at first dealing with finding foods without milk and eggs in it but after dealing with it for awhile, they are actually alot of foods out there without it. Some of the foods we made at home, like mashed potatoes, we used extra water instead of milk and used a vegetable spread instead of butter. We also used soy milk for alot of things. His allergist is hoping he will outgrow it, she thought he would had by three but actually his titers went up when they retested right after his third birthday.

Angela