I recently attended the AAAAI 2025 conference, where I was invited to speak on the ages and stages of school-aged children with food allergies. The audience of the session was fantastic, and I had a blast discussing such an important topic. Unsurprisingly, throughout the conference, Xolair was the topic du jour. Sparked by the bold […]
Oral immunotherapy (OIT) has revolutionized the way we manage food allergies in children. Dr. Richard Wasserman, a true pioneer in this groundbreaking treatment, recently joined me on the Food Allergy and Your Kiddo podcast to discuss OIT. In this episode, Dr. Wasserman shares his journey on how and why he started offering OIT to patients over 15
LEAP Trio Study: Can introducing peanut in infancy prevent peanut allergy in adolescence? And what if your baby already has a peanut allergy? I was excited to see the LEAP Trio study published. It is a follow-up of the LEAP and LEAP-On studies, which demonstrated that early introduction and incorporation of age-appropriate peanut-containing foods decrease the risk
Palforzia is the food product approved by the FDA to treat peanut allergy. In this article, I review Palforzia and why it hasn’t taken off in popularity. As a board-certified allergist, I am constantly evaluating and re-evaluating therapies to effectively treat food allergies. I’ve written and spoken at length about oral immunotherapy, which is the
After two decades of treating asthma, Xolair is now FDA-approved to combat severe allergic reactions from food allergies. But what is Xolair? Xolair is an injected medication. It binds to allergic antibodies, thereby limiting the ability of those antibodies to activate allergy cells. What is the FDA-approved indication for Xolair regarding food allergies? The FDA
Unpacking the 2023 Anaphylaxis Practice Parameters with Dr. Dave Stukus: Expert Insights into Anaphylaxis Management The landscape of food allergy management is constantly evolving, and with each year, new research brings about changes that can significantly impact the lives of those affected and their loved ones. When the 2023 Anaphylaxis Practice Parameters hit the presses,
Topic: Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) Take a deep dive into the world of oral immunotherapy with Dr. Alice Hoyt, a trusted board-certified allergist and mother, and Pam Lestage, a devoted mom navigating food allergies. They break down the essentials of OIT — from understanding what it is to exploring the risks and benefits. Whether you’re an
Topic: Use Dr. Hoyt’s 3-Step Plan to have an Awesome New Year without setting a Resolution. You don’t have to set a resolution to plan for an amazing year. Resolutions can be, well, overwhelming. They can sometimes lead us to put way too much focus on a really big goal but without us also creating
SLIT = Sublingual Immunotherapy. Can it safely and effectively treat food allergies? SLIT is the new kid on the block when it comes to food allergies. To really dive deep on safety and effectiveness, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Edwin Kim. Who is Dr. Edwin Kim? Dr. Edwin Kim is a world-renown allergist.
Flying and Food Allergies – a Polarizing Topic I was recently asked to answer questions about flying and food allergies. The article was published on November 7, 2023, by Fox Business. I was asked about this topic in light of this heartbreaking story. Here is the link to the Fox Business article. In light of
Shared Decision-Making? What’s that? Shared decision-making is the practice in which patients play active, central roles in making decisions about their own healthcare. Through shared decision-making, patients collaborate with their medical team on management decisions as opposed to simply being told the plan without their input. Why is shared decision-making so important in kiddos with
Okay, let’s get to it. What are the risks of OIT and SLIT for kiddos with food allergies? In this podcast episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with board-certified allergist and pediatrician, Dr. Sakina Bajawala. Our discussion centered on strategies to enhance safety during food immunotherapies and ways to conquer food allergy fears. We
You’ve heard about “early food allergen introduction…” Early food allergen introduction is important to help prevent babies from developing food allergies. While it is not 100% effective, it has been shown to help significantly decrease the risk of food allergies. It works by teaching the baby’s immune system to grow tolerance to a food from
Do you ever wonder if you’re doing all the right things to be the best food allergy parent you can be? We hear ya! Now on the podcast, Dr. Hoyt and Pam dive in to how you can be an amazing parent to your kiddo with food allergies! And you know we love lists… So
I get asked all the time, “Dr. Hoyt, how and when should I start feeding my baby solid foods?”
Starting solids can be exciting and, well, kinda scary, for parents…
Are you a mom, dad, teacher, or school nurse who worries about being prepared for an allergy emergency? On top of already managing daily kiddo responsibilities such as teaching kids, nurturing them, and making sure they’re safe, the last thing you want to worry about is your school not being prepared for a severe allergic
Do you know what to expect at a food allergy appointment? Learn about the three stages of most food allergy appointments so you can be informed and prepared!
After a food allergy reaction, that food allergy appointment can’t come soon enough. Here are strategies for navigating that time period to decrease anxiety!
From OIT to FPIES to all types of food allergies, Dr. Alice Hoyt covered a lot in 2022! Is your favorite food allergy podcast episode on the list?
Doctors’ appointments can be long, especially allergy appointments. Skin testing, ingestion challenges, and oral immunotherapy (OIT) can take time, so Pam and Dr. Hoyt interviewed Dr. Betty Choi for her fun, screen-free strategies to keeping her kiddos entertained.
Like many parents of kiddos with food allergies, this disease may cause you much anxiety, and you’ve wished there was a way to help keep your kiddo safe. Oral immunotherapy (OIT) and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) may be options, but who are good candidates for these treatments?
Have you ever wondered what a food allergist is thinking when he or she is asking you so so so many specific questions? And why he or she keeps interrupting you to get very minute details about your kiddo’s story? It’s because the food allergist is trying to determine…
There’s absolutely a strong connection between eczema and food allergies, and that connection may not be what you think it is! Read this post to learn how these two conditions are related…
If you have a child with eczema or food allergy or both, chances are you’ve wondered what causes these two disorders. In fact, there’s absolutely a strong connection between the two. But that connection may not be what you think it is…
When it comes to feeding babies, all parents want to get it right. This is especially true when those parents are trying to introduce foods to their babies to prevent the development of food allergies like peanut allergy. Can food allergies like nut allergies be prevented? If so, does preventing nut allergies have to be complicated? Read to find out, and check out this fantastic podcast episode!
Back-to-school time can be both exciting and nerve-wracking, especially for food allergy families. Meeting new teachers and starting new classes can be stressful enough, but add food allergy management to the mix, and the worry factor can jump ten-fold. But rest easy! Food allergy mom Pam Lestage and food allergist Dr. Hoyt recently discussed their three simple strategies to an awesome back-to-school. Check out this episode of the podcast for all the details, but here is an overview!
Stock epinephrine and anaphylaxis training save lives. But do all states permit early childcare centers to stock epinephrine or even require center staff know how to prevent recognize, and respond to anaphylaxis? No. But now Louisiana does!
Summertime is a time for fun in the sun, but for families managing food allergies, summer can also be a time of anxiety. But don’t worry – you’ve got this! We’ve got your back with our top three tips for having an awesome summer with food allergies.
OIT is a treatment for food allergies, but how does it really work? And who is and is not a candidate? Dr. Hoyt discusses all things OIT and food allergies with her colleague and fellow OIT allergist Dr. Hugh Windom.
Seasonal allergies can make you feel seriously bad. But don’t let those itchy drippy sneezy symptoms get you down! Check out Dr. Hoyt’s own seasonal allergies treatment regimen and ask your doctor if this may be right for you!
In food allergy, the immune system is like a playground. The balance of allergy and immune tolerance is like a see-saw. Food allergy is not just the activation of allergy cells by a food. Food allergy is the lack of…
Celiac disease is a condition that affects millions of people all over the world. Still, it often is misunderstood. Celiac Disease is not a “wheat allergy” or a “gluten sensitivity.” Celiac Disease is an inappropriate immune response to gluten. If left untreated, it can have serious consequences. In this article, we will break discuss: What
Food allergies are a hot topic right now. There seems to be a new food allergy every day, and many people are wondering if food allergies cause eczema. The answer is no – food allergies do not cause eczema. However, atopic dermatitis (eczema) is a risk factor for developing food allergies. In this blog post,
Has your kiddo been diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis, also called EOE? If so, then you may be wondering what this really means. EOE is a food allergy disorder that causes inflammation of the esophagus. An eosinophil is a type of allergy cell, and the esophagus is the swallowing tube that connects the mouth to the
Do you know what non-IgE-mediated food allergies are? If not, you’re not alone. Many people have never heard of food allergies that are not mediated by IgE. Examples include FPIES, FPE, and FPIAP. These types of food allergies are different from the more-common IgE-mediated food allergies. In this article, we will describe non-IgE-mediated food allergies
Did you know that food allergies can be life-threatening? It’s true. In fact, anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction that can occur when someone eats a food to which they are allergic. In most cases, the type of food allergy that is life-threatening is IgE-mediated food allergy. In this article, we will discuss IgE-mediated food
To kick off Food Allergy Awareness Week, the New Orleans Superdome turned teal! New Orleans has one of the best, most diverse food scenes in the world, and the Superdome is one of the largest and most well-known stadiums in the world. So what a great way to start this important week! Special thanks to
Does your kiddo ever have swollen lymph nodes? Do you wonder if food allergies or seasonal allergies or pet allergies are to blame? If so, you’re not alone. This is a common question that many parents consider, especially during the spring when allergies can be at their worst. In this post, we will answer that
Food allergy skin and blood testing can be confusing. I wrote this ebook to educate parents on food allergy skin prick and blood testing.
Have you ever wondered if Ring Pops are gluten-free? Or maybe you’ve wondered if Saf-T-Pops are indeed safe for your kiddo with peanut allergy? When it comes to determining whether a food is safe for someone with a food allergy, food intolerance, or specific diet, there are three steps to success. Step 1. Know what
Food allergy awareness month starts soon. This is an important time because it shines a light on this important issue.
Stock epinephrine is epinephrine prescribed to an entity, such as a school, to be used in an allergy emergency. Epinephrine is the medication that stops and treats the life-threatening allergic reaction “anaphylaxis.” Some young children…
FPIES is a food allergy that does not involve allergic antibodies, but it can still be severe. Learn more about this food allergy from world-renown expert Dr. Anna Nowak-Wegrzyn!
Finding a great babysitter or nanny can be tough, and how do you prepare that person to manage food allergy? We have the help you are looking for!
Stock epinephrine saves lives. Learn more here about your state’s legislation on this important issue.
At the Hoyt Institute of Food Allergy, Dr. Alice Hoyt leads a team of food allergy-focused healthcare professionals in meeting your family’s food allergy needs.
We love our teachers and produced this episode about food allergy with them in mind!
Learn trick-or-treat strategies for kiddos, especially those with food allergies!
Hear a mom’s experience with her family’s oral immunotherapy journey!
Disney and food allergy go together like Mickey and Minnie! If you’ve ever been to Walt Disney World, then you know that a lot of planning goes into those magical memories. If your kiddo has food allergy, then you may also know how accomodating Disney is for dietary differences. And if you have food allergy
Prepping for college… when should you start thinking about it? (Hint hint: now!) In this episode, Pam and I talk with the amazing Kristi Grim of FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education). Kristi has been with FARE for years and was the original lead and continued director of FARE’s college programming as well as the
De-Stress with Strategies from Tamara Hubbard, LCPC How often do you worry about your kiddo who has food allergy? And have you ever wondered if that amount of worry is “normal” ? Tune in to this episode of the Food Allergy and Your Kiddo Podcast with me, Dr. Alice Hoyt, and my good friend Pam
Death from anaphylaxis is rare. But when it happens to your child, the rarity of it doesn’t matter. And how do you move forward? Here is what the Suhy’s do… The Allison Rose Foundation is fighting anaphylaxis. I’m honored to be joined on this episode with Mike and Becca Suhy of the Allison Rose Foundation. Mike
Schools develop food allergy related policies to try to keep kids safe, but how many of these policies are evidence-based? And how do policies impact the emotional well-being of kiddos with food allergy? Let’s discuss what’s being investigated in school policies and food allergy! Join me as I talk with my colleague Ashley Lahoud of
When it comes to parenting a kiddo with food allergy, remembering that epi is only one of the many challenges faced. Three common themes amongst parents of kiddos with food allergy. When it comes to food allergy, parents have needs surrounding three themes: anxiety, the need for resources, and the concept that the experience is
Kiddos have many challenges growing up in this global era, and, unfortunately, food allergy further complicates things like school and flying. But that where allergists can help provide you with evidence-based information on how to keep your kiddo safe and still lead a happy life! Interview with Dr. Matthew Greeenhawt on School, Flying, and Food
Social media is a relatively new world, and just as navigating the “real” world with food allergy can be challenging, navigating social media with allergy can cause its own issues. In theory, social media was intended to be a place where people could connect; however, if misused, it can become a place where kids –
Bullying comes in many flavors, and when it’s related to your kiddo’s food allergy, it’s even more heart-breaking and can be challenging to address. Bullying a kiddo with food allergy – what to do? I’m delighted to have on the podcast my friend and colleague Jodi Shroba, CPNP, from Children’s Mercy Kansas City Food Allergy Center. Jodi
Co-host of the Food Allergy and Your Kiddo Podcast has picked her top three favorite posts! Topics Pam selected included parenting and being prepared for a medical emergency at school. Food allergy affects parenting and school life. Pam’s favorite episodes are three really tactical episodes regarding parenting, and school. Tune in to this episode to hear why
This past week, I attended the AAAAI meeting. My teams and I presented research posters on treating early food allergy and on treating and preventing anaphylaxis at schools. So we were pretty busy! And, more specifically, we discussed early peanut oral immunotherapy and the heterogeneity of stock epinephrine laws. Treating Food Allergy with Early Peanut
Medical emergencies can be scary and even scarier at school, but planning a response may seem daunting. So how can your kiddo’s school start to be prepared ? Medical emergencies happen, so response planning is critical When you think of emergencies at schools, fire drills and intruder alerts probably come to mind, and these are
If your kiddo has a food allergy, then you may wonder “Is my Sweet Pea getting enough good nutrition despite the food allergy?” Food allergy and nutrition issues are questions that commonly within families of kiddos with food allergy, so I reached out to world renown food allergy and nutrition expert Carina Venter, PhD, RD, to get
Maybe you have thought about this and somewhat organize your kiddo’s food allergy test results in a binder, or maybe you have the results available online. But just like in school when you have a better understanding of things when you write it out yourself, organizing your kiddo’s allergy test results can help you better
Yep, you read that title right: food allergy testing is not the be all, end all, as it does not tell us about immune tolerance. Did you know that positive skin and/or blood testing does not confirm food allergy is present? This is because food allergy skin testing and food allergy blood testing only tell
Have you ever wondered how an allergic reaction works? Wondered what is going on inside the human body during an allergic reaction? And what allows some people to have an allergic reaction while other people don’t have allergies? These are some of the questions I’m asked by my families of kiddos with food allergy, so
New Year’s resolutions can be stressful, right? Sometimes they seem so pass-fail that you avoid making one at all. That stress often comes from not having goal-setting strategies to help you get from your point A to point B. Does that sound like you? Or maybe you think you may have over-committed to your resolution
The safety of a food challenge is probably the first thing that goes through your mind when your allergist suggests performing a food challenge with your Sweet Pea. You may be thinking, “S/He wants my kiddo to eat ______ even though Sweet Pea may be allergic to it? What if…” That’s completely normal and quite
Did your favorite Food Allergy and Your Kiddo Podcast episode make the list? You can find a podcast on so many topics these days, and I’m so glad that you found this podcast and blog on food allergy! I started this blog and the podcast to provide good information on food allergy to families, especially
Oral immunotherapy – OIT – can make kiddos with food allergy like peanut allergy more tolerant of the allergen, but does that tolerance translate into the real world, like when eating at a restaurant? The short answer: yes. What is OIT? Oral immunotherapy (OIT) is a treatment for food allergy. If your kiddo undergoes OIT,
Have you ever wanted to read an article from a medical journal the way your doctor reads an article? Doctors learn how to read medical journal articles and other medical resources. The internet has allowed such medical information to be more easily accessible, allowing doctors to stay up-to-date with best practices. This availability of information
Feeding babies potentially allergenic foods… what does the evidence say about food allergy prevention? Recommendations for when to feed babies certain foods have changed over the years, including recommendations on how on food allergy prevention. You may have had one set of recommendations for one child, then with another child, you had different recommendations! So
Have you ever attended a party and wished the food had been labeled for allergens? Food allergen labeling is super helpful! Food allergen labeling makes meals taste better. This is because guests with food allergies and other special diet needs feel more confident that the food is safe to enjoy. Labeling foods for allergens can
Read this before ordering any “food allergy” testing online! Okay, food allergy mama+papa, let’s talk about online food allergy testing. There is evidence-based testing and NON evidence-based testing, but differentiating between the two can be challenging, even for the most seasoned food allergy parent! In this episode of the podcast, Pam and I discuss food
Parenting is hard enough, but with food allergy too? Knowing the kryptonite is a great first step! Y’all, parenting ain’t easy (can I get a high-five, fist-bump, all from at least 6 feet away, of course), and parenting a kiddo with food allergy takes things to another level. You may feel like you are Super Mario
Gatherings can be stressful, especially when managing food allergies! If your kiddo has food allergies, then gatherings – parties, tailgating, any food-associated get together (which, especially when you’re from the south, is basically any get-together) – can cause stress. You are worried, appropriately so, that your kiddo will eat something to which Sweet Pea is
Many folks ask me, “Dr. Hoyt, what’s the difference between a wheat allergy and gluten sensitivity and Celiac Disease?” I also get asked, “Is gluten allergy a real thing?” This must be a hot topic because my co-host Pam recently had this discussion with one of her friends, so we decided to chat about it
When you think about what your school nurse does all day, you may think about your kiddo with food allergy (as you should!) and Sweet Pea’s epi auto-injector and action plan. Or maybe you think of ice packs and bandaids? Or maybe school health forms and vaccine records come to mind? School nurses are true
Have you ever wondered how school nurses prepare for your kiddos with food allergy? Especially with COVID, how are school nurses getting ready to help their schools take best possible care of students with food allergies? I was honored to speak with one of my favorite groups of school nurses and provide guidance on this
Are you wondering how to have a successful evacuation – hurricane, fire, etc. – with your kiddo who has food allergy? If so, then read on. The recent hurricane devastated parts of my home state. Tragic. From this, I was inspired to write an infoblog and record an accompanying podcast about evacuation preparedness for families
Parents of kiddos with food allergy fear anaphylaxis and also that their kiddo won’t have epinephrine. Have you or your kiddo ever forgotten epinephrine? Or left it somewhere that can damage it, like a hot car? Likely, the answer is yes. So tune in to this episode in which Dr. Hoyt interviews food allergy college
This is a special episode. Can you imagine having a child who has food allergy and that food insecurity challenges your household? This may be you. If this is you, take heart in knowing that you are not alone in trying to provide safe food for your family. Emily Brown has been there, come out
A baby can have a peanut allergy, and the peanut challenge procedure determines that diagnosis. You’ve probably heard about doctors recommending babies eat peanut to prevent peanut allergy, and this recommendation differs from that of 20 years ago. At that time, doctors recommended babies avoid this potentially allergenic food. So there were not many ingestion
This time of year for your kiddo with food allergy is already stressful. Plus, add COVID-19 to the stress of back-to-school, and heavens to Betsy… Where to begin? Here’s a checklist to help you be prepared! I have been receiving many questions about back-to-school during COVID-19 and how to navigate pandemic-associated school changes in the
Do you know what information is true and what’s not true when it comes to epinephrine from an auto-injector like an EpiPen? EpiPens and other epinephrine auto-injectors can be intimidating. Plus, no one really wants to give or receive an injection of epinephrine. But if your kiddo has a food allergy, chances are you have
Did you know there is more than one way to be allergic to a peach? Read more here, and hear the podcast!
Especially during COVID, it’s important to know where to find your kiddo with food allergy safe by knowing where allergensare listed on a product’s nutrition label. Here’s how to do that. First step: listen to my latest Food Allergy and Your Kiddo podcast. On this show, I interview food allergy advocate Jen Jobrack. We discuss the history of
Food allergy moms are faced with challenges every day. Things like “do these cookies contain egg” and “I wonder if I should let my Sweet Pea go to that slumber party?” ring in your mind. All this while you also are making sure your kiddo knows to look both ways and take the ear buds
Demystifying Food Allergy via Podcast I am so excited to demystify food allergy through my new Food Allergy and Your Kiddo podcast! The infoblogcast – infoblog + podcast – is live! I hope you enjoy listening to this first episode of Food Allergy and Your Kiddo Podcast. So, to introduce this podcast, this episode is
Peanut allergy has an FDA-approved OIT treatment Peanut allergy affects 2-5% of children. The treatment plan for peanut allergy recommended by most academic allergy centers is avoidance of peanut – perhaps until now. Hello, Palforzia, the only FDA-approved treatment for peanut allergy. Palforzia works through the treatment process called oral immunotherapy (OIT). Read on to learn more
Early Peanut Oral Immunotherapy (EPOIT) can decrease the severity of peanut allergy in young children. Say what?! Let’s discuss early peanut oral immunotherapy (EPOIT). “So let me get this straight: she’s allergic to peanut. But if we slowly start giving her tiny amounts of peanut, her allergy can decrease?“ Baby Sweetpea’s mom asked her allergist.