Tag Archives: Food Allergy Awareness Week

May MADNESS! recap!

16 Monday Jun 2014

Posted by in Austin Adventures, Coolin' and Homeschoolin' the kid!, Food Allergies, Travel

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This is my first opportunity to post since Food Allergy Awareness Week.  My boy has had a busy month!

We attended a Kyle Dine concert hosted by the Austin Families with Food Allergies and as the PR volunteer – I was busy snapping photos.  I didn’t realize that the NPR/ KUT Austin crew who were there to interview, snapped a shot of the boy!  I received a call from a friend travelling in Iowa.  She’d gone to NPR’s website and was tickled to see the kid’s face on their homepage.  I must admit…so was I!

http://kut.org/post/musician-has-unique-and-maybe-lifesaving-message-kids-food-allergies

Then, there’s the 3rd Annual Food Allergy Retreat.  Instead of the usual 6 and under obstacle courses, my bravehearted 5 year old was persistent on going with the 6 and up crowd.  He wanted to hang out with his 9 year old buddy, Noah.  – AND to our dismay, climbed a 40 foot rock wall and ziplined for the first time!

During Food Allergy Awareness Week, we announced, Danny’s Pantry:

Danny's Pantry

We’re collecting non-persishable food items FREE of the top 8 food allergens.  I was inspired 3 years ago, as I read an article in Living Without Magazine titled, “Special Diet Pantries.”  It made me think about the food insecure and families with food allergies right here in the Austin community.  We’re currently in the phase of collecting food, but also collecting donations via the Austin Community Foundation.

We also received news coverage during Food Allergy Awareness Week – with a little help from our allergist and friend, Dr. Allen Lieberman at the Asthma and Allergy Center of Austin.  Here “he” is again!

http://www.kvue.com/story/news/2014/05/28/2462212/


If I include our Houston trip and the Austin parks we frequented – It was March ALL OVER AGAIN!!!!!!  Fun and exhausting.

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Food Allergy Awareness Week is May 11-17th!

12 Monday May 2014

Posted by in Food Allergies

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This week is the 18th Annual Food Allergy Awareness Week, from May 11 – 17, 2014.  Austin Families with Food Allergies (AFFA) has shared a few ways you can get involved:

Monday, May 12:

  • Wear teal today in support of food allergy awareness! ‪#‎TealTakeover www.foodallergy.org/tealtakeover Post your photos on our Facebook page!
  • Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) Twitter Party! To kick off Food Allergy Awareness Week, FARE will be hosting a Twitter chat that will allow you to “Ask the Experts” your questions about food allergies. With members of FARE staff moderating, Ruchi Gupta, MD, PhD and Wayne Shreffler, MD, PhD will answer questions submitted by parents or individuals with food allergies, or anyone else interested in the topic.  Click the link below for details – http://ow.ly/wIZ2y
  • Challenge your friends or family to “subtract” an allergen from their diet for a week!
  • In honor of Food Allergy Awareness Week – Support Danny’s Pantry’s FIRST Food Drive ending May 17, 2014.  Please donate food FREE of the following: Dairy, Egg, Wheat, Peanut, Soy, Gluten, and Shellfish.   Location: Cameron Road Church of Christ (East Austin).  For more information, contact Sun at sunconnor (at)gmail (dot)com.

Tuesday, May 13:

Wednesday, May 14:

  • Anaphylaxis Awareness Day! Learn how to use an epinephrine auto-injector or train someone else.
  • The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, in cooperation with the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital (GSCNC), offers the Be a PAL Patch Program. Girl Scouts from any council can earn the patch. Information located on FAAN’s website.

Thursday, May 15:

  • Contact your legislators. You can help to get important legislation passed by simply contacting your representatives and asking for their support. Visit www.foodallergy.org for all the information you’ll need to easily do this.
  • Host or Create your own Fundraiser to support this year’s Austin Walk for Food Allergy.

Friday, May 16:

  • Read a food allergy story at your local library, go into your child’s classroom, do a social media blitz to your friends, family, co-workers.  Visit www.foodallergy.org for video links, story ideas, coloring pages & more.
  • Jennifer B-Food Allergy Buzz’s – ANNUAL Food Allergy Awareness Week (FAAW) Twitter Party! Use #foodallergy to tweet and participate! Let’s make #foodallergy #1 trending topic again! (Twitter @foodallergybuzz)  Learn more here.

Saturday, May 17:

  • Learning at Libraries Day!  Donate a Food Allergy Book to your local library.
  • Don’t forget to register for the Austin Walk for Food Allergy! http://ow.ly/wJ2oB
  • 10:30 a.m. – Food-free Family Story time at the Round Rock Library (216 East Main Street, Round Rock, Texas 78664). This interactive program includes a variety of activities such as books, fingerplay, music, movies, and puppets.

For more information on Food Allergy Awareness Week (and giveaways), visit our Facebook page here.

Austin Families with Food Allergies is a support group of parents located throughout the Austin-metro area raising children with food allergies.  The Austin Walk for Food Allergy is organized by Austin Families with Food Allergies in conjunction with The Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE).

FARE is a non-profit organization that provides services nationwide, funds research of food allergies and has been at the forefront of progress in food allergy awareness, advocacy, education, and research.  Findings from FARE-sponsored studies have been used to change laws here in Texas, improve school policies, raise public awareness, and provide education for patients, caregivers and health professionals.  Funds from programs like the FARE Walk for Food Allergy support FARE’s efforts to achieve these feats.

Food Allergy-Friendly Food Pantry

18 Saturday May 2013

Posted by in Food Allergies

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I came across an article called “Special Diet Food Banks” from Living Without Magazine a couple of years ago.  I read about a young girl with Celiac disease having to eat the gluten-containing macaroni and cheese from the food bank, even though it would cause her a great deal of agony.  I’ve never been able to get that article out of my head.  It made me think about just how many families have issues securing food  and have life threatening food allergies.  I decided to reach out to Dee Valdez for inspiration.  Here are some shocking statistics I learned:

  • In the United States, Texas is the second state with the most food insecurities. Suffering from food insecurity simply means that you have such limited resources when it comes to obtaining food that your children and family are forced to eat a reduced quality of food. It is estimated that 17.1 percent of the population of Texas suffers from food insecurities.
  • In the state of Texas, approximately 24.3 percent of the children population is living in poverty. This means that one in every four children in the state of Texas is suffering from food insecurities.
  • Almost have of the families who suffer from food insecurities are forced to choose all the time between food and other basic needed items. Approximately 48 percent of these families have to choose between paying for their light bill, their heat bill, or food. Approximately 47 percent are being forced to choose between paying their rent or buying food. Approximately 39 percent are being forced to choose between buying gas for their vehicles or buying food.

In 2007, I decided to create the Louise Walker Memorial Fund in honor of my grandmother. In 2010, I changed  the mission of my fund to focus its energies on food allergy awareness programs and organizations.  Thanks to the assistance of Capital Area Food Bank, Natural Grocers and Cameron Road Church of Christ (among other local churches) I’ve also been able to create a food pantry that’s food allergy friendly.   It’s still growing and being developed, but it’s definitely making progress!  Stay tuned…by following this blog and following me on twitter!

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Food Allergy Awareness Week is May 12-18th!

14 Tuesday May 2013

Posted by in Food Allergies

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May 13, 2013

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Researchers estimate that up to 15 million Americans have food allergies with nearly 6 million being children.  This week is the 17th Annual Food Allergy Awareness Week, from May  12 – 18, 2013.  Austin Families with Food Allergies (AFFA) has shared a few ways you can get involved:

Monday, May 13:

  • Challenge your friends or family to “subtract” an allergen from their diet for a week!
  • Complete this survey for a chance to win a ½ dozen food allergy friendly cupcakes from Sugartooth Bakery!  To enter you must navigate to the Austin Families with Food Allergies Survey located at: ( http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YCRV9YL ), take and complete the Survey, and at the end of the survey submit your email between 7:00 am CST on Monday, May 13, 2013 and 11:59 pm CST on Thursday, May 16, 2013.  The winner will be announced at the end of the week!

Tuesday, May 14:

  • Food Allergy Awareness Week at Natural Grocers (May 14-18, all day).Visit the activity table and mention Austin Families with Food Allergies to receive a prize. 3901 Guadalupe location only.
  • The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, in cooperation with the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital (GSCNC), offers the Be a PAL Patch Program. Girl Scouts from any council can earn the patch. Information located on their website.

Wednesday, May 15:

  • Food Allergy Awareness Day at Natural Grocers (May 14-18, all day).Visit the activity table and mention Austin Families with Food Allergies to receive a prize. 3901 Guadalupe location only.
  • Check out our Facebook page this week for local sponsor GIVEAWAYS!

 

Thursday, May 16:

  • Food Allergy Awareness Day at Natural Grocers (May 14-18, all day).Visit the activity table and mention Austin Families with Food Allergies to receive a prize. 3901 Guadalupe location only.
  • Food Allergy Awareness Week (FAAW) Twitter Party! RSVP here
    (Hashtag is #foodallergy)

Friday, May 17:

  • Contact your legislators. You can help to get important legislation passed by simply contacting your representatives and asking for their support. Visit www.foodallergy.org for all the information you’ll need to easily do this.
  • Read a food allergy story at your local library, go into your child’s classroom, do a social media blitz to your friends, family, co-workers.  Visit www.foodallergy.org for video links, story ideas, coloring pages & more.


Saturday, May 18:

  • 10:30 a.m. – Food-free Family Story time at the Round Rock Library (216 East Main Street, Round Rock, Texas 78664). This interactive program includes a variety of activities such as books, fingerplay, music, movies, and puppets.
  • “Healthy Gluten-Free Living” Seminar and Health Fair at Natural Grocers (10515 N. Mopac Expressway). Seminar from 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. and Tasting Fair from 11:30-2:30 p.m. Pam Grove will be teaching basics for the healthiest approach to gluten/allergen free living with meal planning and shopping tips. Door prizes and free samples!
  • Last chance to catch the Art Contest art on display at Natural Grocers- Guadalupe location only.

P. S.  the following week, Monday, May 20:

  • Food Allergies: The Hidden Epidemic. Do you have digestive problems? Celiac disease? Autoimmune conditions like MS, rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus? Crohns disease or ulcerative colitis? Headaches or weight gain? These are just a few of the symptoms of hidden food allergies.  Join Dr. Victor Carsrud & Jim Meyer, PharmD, MS, CCN to learn about the different types of food allergies, how they can affect your health, and what you can do about it.  Call 512.219.8600 to RSVP.

For more information on Food Allergy Awareness Week, visit the Facebook page here.

Austin Families with Food Allergies is a support group of parents located throughout the Austin-metro area raising children with food allergies.  The Austin Walk for Food Allergy is organized by Austin Families with Food Allergies in conjunction with Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE).