Controlling Food Allergies

Dr. Sears answers a question from one of our Baby Babble readers.

 

Because of a constant runny nose, persistent ear infections and various reactions to foods, we had my 20-month old son tested for allergies. We discovered he is very allergic to peanuts, had a slight reaction to wheat and an apparent sensitivity to tomatoes. He is also lactose intolerant. We are now very careful about reading labels, have cut back on the amount of wheat in his diet, and we never give him peanut butter. The only problem this doesn't leave us with a lot of choices for his diet. He has always been a bread and milk kind of baby and we've tried putting food out, but he won't touch fruit, vegetables or meat. Do you have any suggestions to help us through this "picky" eating stage, keeping in mind his food allergies?

 

Since your baby is allergic to a variety of foods and picky about others, you certainly have some feeding challenges ahead of you. The good news is that the hunger drive in infants is so strong that your baby is likely to get enough to eat if you combine wise nutrition with a bit of creative marketing in how you present the foods.

 

First, let me comment on lactose intolerance. Most infants who are labeled "lactose intolerant" can comfortably tolerate small frequent feedings of yogurt, since the culturing of yogurt makes the lactose more digestible. Next, be sure your baby gets more omega 3 fatty acids in his diet for optimal development of your baby's body and brain. This is easily accomplished with YoBaby Plus Fruit & Cereal with DHA!

 

Also recent research has shown that omega 3's may lessen the overall severity of allergic reactions. One of the best sources of omega 3's besides YoBaby, and a food that is less allergenic, is wild salmon.

 

Babies who are both picky eaters and who have multiple food allergies also often don't get enough healthy fats in their diet, which they need to grow. As a source of nutritious fats, suggest adding a daily tablespoon of flax oil to foods he likes. Avoid the most allergic foods, which tend to be: wheat, milk, egg whites, nuts, shellfish, tomatoes, soy products. Least allergic foods are apples, apricots, avocados, broccoli, carrots (most vegetables except tomatoes), and rice. Try rice, millet, buckwheat, and grains or breads that are labeled "gluten-free." The good news is that most children outgrow most of their food allergies with time.

 

Got a healthy question about your little one? Ask Dr. William Sears