What to Expect at Your Kiddo’s Food Allergy Appointment
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 the Reaction: How to Be Prepared for Your Food Allergy Appointment
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!
3 Top Food Allergy Podcast Episodes from Dr. Alice Hoyt in 2022
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?
Fun, Screen-Free Activities for Kiddos During Long Appointments
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.
Oral immunotherapy and sublingual immunotherapy – for your kiddo?
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?
Inside the Mind of a Food Allergist: Types of Food Allergies
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…
Eczema and Food Allergies: Further Clarifying the Connections
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…
Eczema and Food Allergies: Clarifying the Connections
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…
Preventing nut allergies, one puff at a time
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!
3 Back-to-School Strategies for Food Allergy Families
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!
UPDATE! Stock Epinephrine and the Laws that Support It: Louisiana Edition
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!
Top 3 Tips for an Awesome Summer with Food Allergies
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.
The Allergists Talk Oral Immunotherapy – OIT – for 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 have met their match with Dr. Hoyt’s allergy regimen!
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!
Allergy Versus Immune Tolerance
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: What It Is and Isn’t and What To Do About It
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 …
Celiac Disease: What It Is and Isn’t and What To Do About It Read More »
Do food allergies cause eczema? Here are the facts!
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, …
Do food allergies cause eczema? Here are the facts! Read More »
What is EOE and what role does IgE play in this food allergy?
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 …
What is EOE and what role does IgE play in this food allergy? Read More »
What are non-IgE-mediated food allergies, like FPIES and FPIAP?
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 …
What are non-IgE-mediated food allergies, like FPIES and FPIAP? Read More »
What are IgE-mediated, life-threatening 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 …
What are IgE-mediated, life-threatening food allergies? Read More »
The Superdome turned teal for Food Allergy Awareness Week!
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 …
The Superdome turned teal for Food Allergy Awareness Week! Read More »
Can allergies cause swollen lymph nodes? Here’s the answer!
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 …
Can allergies cause swollen lymph nodes? Here’s the answer! Read More »
The Mamma’s Guide to Food Allergy Skin & Blood Testing
Food allergy skin and blood testing can be confusing. I wrote this ebook to educate parents on food allergy skin prick and blood testing.
Are Ring Pops Gluten-Free? How to Determine if Snacks are Safe!
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
Food Allergy Awareness Month: How You Can Prepare to Spread the Word About Food Allergy
Food allergy awareness month starts soon. This is an important time because it shines a light on this important issue.
Stock Epinephrine and the Laws that Support It: Louisiana Edition
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 with expert Dr. Anna Nowak-Wegrzyn
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!
How to Prepare Your Babysitter or Nanny to Manage Food Allergies
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!
Your State’s Stock Epinephrine Laws
Stock epinephrine saves lives. Learn more here about your state’s legislation on this important issue.
A New Approach to Practicing Food Allergy
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.
Food Allergy 101, Teacher Edition – What Teachers Need to Know!
We love our teachers and produced this episode about food allergy with them in mind!
Teal Pumpkin – make this your new not-so-spooky tradition!
Learn trick-or-treat strategies for kiddos, especially those with food allergies!
Peanut Oral Immunotherapy – The Preschooler’s Mama’s Experience
Hear a mom’s experience with her family’s oral immunotherapy journey!
Disney Planning Tips for Families with Food Allergy
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 …
Disney Planning Tips for Families with Food Allergy Read More »
5 College-Prep Strategies for Food Allergy Families from FARE’s Kristi Grim
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 …
5 College-Prep Strategies for Food Allergy Families from FARE’s Kristi Grim Read More »
Food allergy and counseling
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 …
Turning anaphylaxis tragedy into purpose
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 …
Food allergy school policies
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 …
Food allergy and parenting – the parent needs…
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 …
School, Flying, and Food Allergy – What do the Experts Say?
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 …
School, Flying, and Food Allergy – What do the Experts Say? Read More »
Food allergy on social media – ask an expert, but not on social.
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 – …
Food allergy on social media – ask an expert, but not on social. Read More »
Food allergy and bullying
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
Parenting and school preparedness
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
Research in treating early food allergy and on preventing anaphylaxis
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 …
Research in treating early food allergy and on preventing anaphylaxis Read More »
5 Steps to Medical Emergency Planning at School
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
Food allergy and nutrition strategies
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 …
Organize food allergy test results
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 …
Food allergy testing and immune tolerance
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 …
How an allergic reaction really works
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
Goal-setting strategies for an amazing new year
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 …
Food challenge safety: what say the data?
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
Most Popular Food Allergy and Your Kiddo Podcast Episodes of 2020
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 …
Most Popular Food Allergy and Your Kiddo Podcast Episodes of 2020 Read More »
Can OIT help your kiddo eat safely at a restaurant?
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, …
Can OIT help your kiddo eat safely at a restaurant? Read More »
How to read a medical journal article
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 …
Food allergy prevention in babies
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 …
Food allergen labeling made easy!
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 …
Online food allergy testing
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 a Kiddo with Food Allergy
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, Parties, and Food Allergy
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 …
Wheat Allergy or Gluten Sensitivity or Celiac or Something Else?
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 …
Wheat Allergy or Gluten Sensitivity or Celiac or Something Else? Read More »
School nurses are allergy superheroes
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 …
How School Nurses are Preparing for Back-to-School with COVID
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 …
How School Nurses are Preparing for Back-to-School with COVID Read More »
6 Steps to a Successful Evacuation for Your Family with Food Allergy
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 …
6 Steps to a Successful Evacuation for Your Family with Food Allergy Read More »
Worried about food allergy and anaphylaxis and NOT having epinephrine? This will help!
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 …
Worried about food allergy and anaphylaxis and NOT having epinephrine? This will help! Read More »
Food allergy and food insecurity – the Food Equality Initiative will help.
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 …
Food allergy and food insecurity – the Food Equality Initiative will help. Read More »
Ingestion challenges for babies
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 …
Back-To-School Checklist for Kiddos with Food Allergy
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 …
Back-To-School Checklist for Kiddos with Food Allergy Read More »
Truths and misconceptions about auto-injectors like EpiPen
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 …
Truths and misconceptions about auto-injectors like EpiPen Read More »
Peaches, Pollens, Peanuts, and Food Allergy?
Did you know there is more than one way to be allergic to a peach? Read more here, and hear the podcast!
Food allergy and the nutrition label
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 …
Mom challenges
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 …
Food allergy podcast
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 Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) Palforzia
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 …
Peanut Allergy Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) Palforzia Read More »
Early Peanut Oral Immunotherapy (OIT)
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. …
