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Understanding Elimination Diets For Identifying Your Child's Food Allergies

8 June 2016 by Sasha Meyer

Food allergies are a serious concern for many parents, especially when it's difficult to isolate exactly what is causing the reaction in your child. If you have reason to believe that your child is suffering from a food allergy of any kind, your allergist may recommend that you try an elimination diet to narrow down the potential issues. If you've never had to do an elimination diet in the past, the process can be daunting. Here are a few tips to help you make it a success.

The Basics Of Elimination Diets

Some of the most common food allergens include things like eggs, nuts, milk, soy and wheat. The elimination diet process requires you to remove all of the potential allergens from your child's diet for at least a week before reintroducing them one at a time. As you reintroduce foods, watch for any potential reaction. Don't introduce the foods too close together, though. It can be tough to identify the source of a reaction if you add new foods without at least several days between.

The Best Timing For Elimination Diets

If you want to make the process as easy on your child as possible, the key is to make sure that you're logical about when you plan it. Don't try to do an elimination diet during a family vacation, when you'll be traveling or around holidays. Choose your starting week for a time when you'll have plenty of time to prepare. That preparation time can help to ensure that you get the timing of everything right.

The Process of Cleaning Out

To make it easier for your child to adapt to the transition, you'll want to get rid of any temptation in the cabinets. Eliminate any foods that have potential allergens so that you don't risk any inadvertent contamination or temptation. Your kitchen should be a safe zone for your child through the process.

The Best Planning for Meals

One of the biggest challenges for parents during an elimination diet is planning compliant meals. With work schedules, school and other demands for your family, it's tempting to just order takeout on those particularly busy days. To help reduce the temptation, optimize your use of your kitchen appliances to prepare meals.

Slow cookers are great for this, because they make it much easier for you to cook dinner on a demanding schedule. In addition, if you utilize your freezer, you can prepare meals on the weekend when you have free time, then just thaw and cook them during the week.

Elimination diets don't have to be a struggle. Your child's allergist will tell you what foods are particularly concerning and how long you should spend on the elimination and reintroduction process. Talk to a doctor, like Ear Nose & Throat Specialties PC, for more help.

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