My Family and Food Allergies

Nothing is more terrifying for a parent than the discovery that your child has a life-threatening food allergy; often accompanied by an emergency dash to the hospital, and usually followed shortly by the acquisition of several Epi-pens and a huge dose of anxiety.

My Family and Food Allergiesis for anyone caring for, or close to, a child with life-threatening food allergies. It covers every aspect of the journey from diagnosis to helping your child on the path to independence. First and foremost, it is aimed at parents but it is also a must-read for grandparents, friends, teachers and others keen to learn more about living with food allergies. It is bursting with practical tips and expert advice on how to navigate each fresh milestone and challenge, including school care plans, understanding where the real risks are (and what is manageable) and how to handle things like school bake sales, celebratory occasions and birthday parties. It features failsafe recipes for every occasion, including the best 'free from' birthday cake recipe ever, as well as advice on travel and flying, on what to look for in accommodation and a mini-allergy-friendly guide for resorts such as Disneyland, restaurant chains, and so on.

With an outline of what we can hope for the future, where the science is now, and what the experts predict will happen in the battle against life-threatening food allergies, this really is the ultimate guide for anyone who wants to safely support and inform their child on the path to independence.

When Alexa Baracaia's son was diagnosed with multiple severe food allergies at just five months old, she found herself thrust into a strange and frightening new world. Seeking the help and advice of others going through the same struggles, she took to social media and to writing a blog.
Ten years on, she is the co-founder of the hugely popular Twitter support forum @allergyhour, and is a food allergy speaker, campaigner, writer and consultant for organisations including the School Food Plan team, the Institute of Hospitality, the Food Standards Agency, Leon restaurants and more. She is also a judge for the annual 'Free From' Food Awards.
With her non-allergy hat she is a freelance journalist and former newspaper arts editor. This is the book she wishes she had to hand when her son was diagnosed.