I've noticed a rude habit I've acquired since I became a PA mom.
I read labels.
Well, that's not really my rude habit. It's the way I do it. I fear that I am coming across as a real pain in the you-know-what when I go to other people's homes. If I see something (anything) that could possibly be served to Bella, I practically lunge forward and pick it up, scanning the labels for 'may contain' and 'processed in a facility' warnings. My maternal instinct takes over I guess.
Am I discreet?
Um.
NO.
And I do this at my parent's home, my sister-in-laws for Pete's sake. People whom I REALLY trust. Heck, I even do it when I'm at work eating something myself. With Bella over 10 MILES AWAY!
I actually looked at the label on a salad bag last night. I think I need an intervention.
Tell me, will I ever stop doing this? Please tell me you do the same thing...
10 comments:
yes i do the same thing. it's just become a habit and i think it's a good one. people that don't have a PA in their home probably think we're crazy, but oh well. you are a wonderful mom who cares about her child. :) aloha!
Oh, that would be me too.
And fyi, I did buy some salad (leaves, not a salad "kit") at Safeway the other day that had a tree nut warning on it. Who knew?!
I totally do the same thing. And, no, I don't think that will ever change.
YES! My 2 1/2 year old has been PA since the age of one. I always read the labels of those I trust because they don't quite get the danger. Recently we went to my SIL house who used to watch him. She fixed a nut free cake (sweet right)! Then on the coffee table she had a large bowl of in shell peanuts. I said "Um would you mind putting those up?" She said "Oops I forgot!" I don't care how obnoxiou I come off. He can only count on me and Daddy to protect him. I think you found someone more obnoxious than you!
Oh yes, sister, I hear you. I read labels all the time, even when the world is whirling around me. Apparently, new facility warnings are popping up on random foods (like canned vegetables!), so checking the salad bag wasn't completely crazy. I posted about it on my blog called Non-Toxic Kids, and it's at http://nontoxickids.blogspot.com. I write about environmental health issues for families and sometimes about food allergies (with the obvious ties and I am a mom of two food allergic kids). I'm happy to have found your blog and will bookmark it for future reading and empathy!
Hey! I found your site from my Peanut allergy Google Alert. Your blog is wonderful! I have it bookmarked now.
To answer your question: you should never stop being so diligent about reading the labels. You should know that a safe product may become unsafe when the company makes a change in production. I learned this the hard way and my son had some crackers that had previously been safe. The label had been changed to say "Contains traces of nuts." Those traces made him break out in hives for about 4 days. Now I check labels diligently--you cannot be too paranoid.
Thanks again for your site!
I read labels when I am on a business trip hundreds of miles away from my allergic child. People think I'm so "healthy" - ha! I haven't looked at calories, or sugar grams in years, just ingrediants!
I read labels on EVERYTHING, even on business trips when I am hundreds of miles away from my allergic child. People think I am "so healthy" but I'm not paying attention to the calorie count of fat grams. It's a great habit to have - don't worry!
Thanks for finding my blog, I'm now addicted to yours as well! I am a dairy allergy mom, and am absolutely the same way about the "label reading". People don't understand that HOT DOGS contain dairy! No one cares but me (and other dairy allergy moms).
I look forward to following your journey as an allergy mom with you. It is so nice to have some walking the path with me.
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