"When In Doubt, Spit It Out"

As children get older, they learn to recognize their body's signals that something is wrong when they are eating a food they are allergic to. If they suddenly feel sick, strange or "funny" while they are eating, this is their body's way of saying "Danger! Danger!"

While I know it's not polite to spit food out in the presence of others, for any child with a food allergy, not swallowing the offending food is absolutely vital. Linda Coss recommends in her book "How To Manage Your Child's Life-Threatening Food Allergies" that when children eat something they shouldn't, they should adopt the "When In Doubt, Spit It Out" rule.

Obviously this isn't something Miss Manners would approve of but it is very important the child (or adult, for that matter) spit the food out immediately. Now is not the time to be polite and run to the bathroom. Teach them to grab a napkin or even do it in their hands if nothing is available. Explaining the situation to shocked people watching is much easier than comforting your child in the back of an ambulance.


**If you missed my review on Ms. Coss' book, click here.