Feeding children is difficult enough at the best of times. They seem to change their mind about what they will and won’t eat at the drop of a hat, and almost all of them would rather eat a packet of sweets than they would an actual meal!

Add a food allergy into the equation and it can seem like an impossible task. Nobody has time to cook an allergy-free meal from scratch every day, surely?

Luckily, there are a few steps you can take that will make your life a little easier.

Batch Cook And Freeze

When you find yourself with some free time, it can be a good idea to use it to batch cook some allergy friendly meals that are suitable for freezing. Obviously, this is probably the last way in which you want to spend your spare time! However, it is worth doing because you’ll actually save yourself lots of time throughout the week, and overall, you’ll reduce your levels of exhaustion and stress.

A lot of meals are suitable for freezing. Curries, soups, stews, pasta sauces; they’ll all freeze nicely and will be a welcome treat on a weeknight when you truly don’t want to cook!

Don’t freeze any pasta, rice, or potatoes as they won’t freeze very well. Similarly, vegetables such as cabbage, courgette, and mushrooms aren’t great frozen by themselves, but they do freeze well if they are cooked into a dish.

Check out this guide for foods that don’t freeze well.

Have Some Quick Meals On Hand

It’s perfectly acceptable to cook a freezer meal every so often! Sometimes it has to be enough that everyone gets fed.

It’s a good idea to stock up on allergy friendly frozen and tinned foods that you can quickly cook up in a pinch. Rather than buying the brands that are specifically marketed as being allergen free and are often overpriced, it’s a good idea to get comfortable with checking food labels for any ingredients your child can’t have.

Any allergens are usually marked out in bold so they’re pretty easy to spot, and you’ll find that you’ll save yourself a fortune.

Stock Up On Snacks

Kids always want a snack, don’t they? Often 10 minutes after you’ve thrown away the dinner they didn’t want to eat!

You don’t always have to make nutritious snacks from scratch! Stock your cupboards with good quality allergy friendly snacks so that you don’t get caught out.

Be Careful When Eating Out

If you’re going out to eat with someone who has an allergy it can be a good idea to go to chain restaurants, as their menus will usually have allergens very clearly marked.

It’s also a good idea to call the restaurant ahead of your booking to discuss any allergies with them. Get an idea of whether you’re comfortable with the measures they take to avoid cross-contamination, and whether you feel happy eating there.

It can also be a great idea to eat during off-peak hours when the kitchen staff are less busy.

Talk To Other Parents

Social media is a great way to connect with other parents whose children have the same allergies that yours do. Not only are these groups a great source of information and advice, they can be a great way for you to find some friendship and support for yourself.

Published: 2020-12-05 11:18:11