Last week, I had the opportunity to speak at a Lunch & Learn at Redland Oaks Elementary.
It turned out to be a very rainy day in San Antonio, so the turn out was low. I couldn’t blame them as I wasn’t thrilled about being out in the rain. But with our recent years of drought, and the fact that we still haven’t recovered from the droughts, San Antonio does NOT complain about rain. BUT, the parents in attendance were eager to learn.
With summer coming, I was asked to speak about “Allergy-Free Nutritious Snacks For Kids.” But I started with a different approach. I knew that parents of kids with allergies were clear on how to cope with their particular food allergens. The problem is more in understanding how all the other food system issues can contribute to allergies.
For example:
- Hidden allergen sources buried in ingredient lists.
- Sugar in the body can cause inflammation which can cause the immune system to overreact.
- GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) soy has been shown to impact other allergies, especially peanut allergies.
It was primarily a talk to inform parents of the things they should watch out for in our food system; e.g. sugar, soy & derivatives, pesticides, hormones & antibiotics in dairy & beef, GMOs. The first step is to reduce processed foods. Buying organic is another good idea, especially for certain foods.
I really had a good time at this Lunch & Learn and was encouraged by the feedback I got from parents. For many, the talk opened their eyes about their need to look at their food choices more closely and change their shopping habits. Parents also are interested in learning more, knowing how to plan better and having hands-on classes.
What might you want to learn about what you feed your family?
Photo Courtesy Jim Lukach via Flickr
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