Holidays and special events tend to include food, and spring celebrations are no exception. If your family celebrates Easter or Passover, you might be looking for help to ensure that your little one with food allergies stays safe and enjoys the day(s). Here are some tips and resources to help you navigate the upcoming holidays:
EASTER:
It can be tricky to navigate Easter traditions when your little one has food allergies. But with some helpful tips and ideas, they can still take part in the traditions. Here are a few ways to have an allergy-friendly Easter celebration:
- If your child has an egg allergy, paint wooden eggs, or use stickers to decorate plastic eggs. These decorative eggs can also be used for your allergy-safe Easter egg hunt.
- Fill plastic eggs with small toys, stamps, or stickers.
- Instead of candy, fill Easter baskets with toys and other non-food goodies like sidewalk chalk, books and jewelry. The same switch can be done for the traditional egg hunt.
Here are a few additional resources to help plan your allergy-friendly Easter celebration:
- Tips to Safely Celebrate Easter with Food Allergies by Kids with Food Allergies
- Alternatives to Traditional Easter Activities by Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE)
- Easter Tips & Recipe Ideas from Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE)
Be sure to check with your healthcare professional to ensure any recipe or activity is appropriate for your child.
PASSOVER
Passover traditions may include foods that are off-limits for your child with a food allergy. Work with your healthcare provider to determine if recipes are safe for your child or to come up with allergy-safe versions of traditional foods. You can also reach out to your rabbi for help adapting traditional recipes to meet your child’s food requirements. Kids with Food Allergies provides a helpful guide for celebrating Passover with food allergies that includes tips, possible Seder plate substitutions, and arts & crafts ideas.
Here are some more resources to help you prepare for an allergy-friendly Passover:
- “Common Allergens in Passover Meals” by Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE)
- “What Does Kosher for Passover Mean for Food Allergies?” by Kids with Food Allergies
- Passover Tips & Recipes from Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE)
Again, be sure to check with your healthcare professional to ensure any recipe or activity is appropriate for your child.
Does your family have any allergy-friendly Easter or Passover traditions? Share them in the comments below!
