JJ Vulopas
JJ Vulopas lives in the Land of Can. For this Wharton student, author and entrepreneur, milk and tree nut allergies are not limitations, but opportunities to make a change in the world. JJ is on a mission to put kids with food allergies on the map, inspiring them to advocate for themselves through his children’s book, Land of Not. As his characters learn to focus on what they can do, the book teaches a lesson we could all learn — you are who you are, not who you’re not. Follow JJ on Spokin @jamisonv to see all of his 25 recommendations!
Chef Tony Priolo
Tony Priolo is in the business of making food dreams come true, whether you can eat everything on his menu or have food allergies. This beloved Chicago-based chef says there is no food allergy he cannot handle. His restaurant Piccolo Sogno, which translates to "little dream" in Italian, was inspired by his desire to make simple, authentic Italian dishes just the way his grandmother taught him. His love of food extends to each dish and customer, as he takes every precaution to help families with food allergies enjoy safely eating out.
Food Allergy-Friendly Overnight Kids Camps
On the night our daughter Natalie was initially diagnosed with food allergies, I vividly remember panicking and asking my husband, "How is she ever going to go to overnight camp, kiss anyone safely, or study abroad?" My husband calmly replied, "She's 3, I think we have time to figure it out." He was right, and it did take time, but she has safely enjoyed many summers away. One of Spokin's core goals is to reduce the time required to find safe and trusted resources. As far as managing to kiss safely and study abroad, we know that we can reliably turn to Spokin users to guide us with their food allergy wisdom when that time comes. Following are the highest recommended Midwest-based overnight camps shared by Spokin users. These camps are either completely nut-free or deemed food allergy friendly.
Marie Tillman
As an entrepreneur, nonprofit founder and food allergy step-mom, Marie Tillman is all about creating solutions. Her company, Mac & Mia, is a children's clothing service that provides custom outfits for boys and girls — age newborn to 6 — delivered right to your door. Marie also created the Pat Tillman Foundation, a nonprofit that awards scholarships to veterans and their spouses in honor of her late husband Pat Tillman. She currently lives in Chicago with her husband and five children.
Top Rated Allergy-Friendly Overnight Camps
Overnight camp is a place for kids with food allergies to gain independence and self-advocacy skills. This opportunity is only made possible by the wonderful camp owners and directors that have created safe environments — a second home for so many kids.
See camps reviewed by families managing your same allergies - the ultimate buddy system.
Brooklyn, New York Food Allergy-Friendly City Guide
If Manhattan’s midtown traffic and Times Square's crowds aren’t your scene, Brooklyn may be the borough for you. With more than 20 distinct neighborhoods – including hipster haven Williamsburg and stroller-central Park Slope – Brooklyn is a thriving, mysteriously cool metropolis in its own rite.
Whether you’re seeking out the hottest restaurants, live music and vintage boutiques or looking for a quiet place to picnic with your family, Brooklyn has you covered. Stroll the tree-lined streets, admire the brownstones and soak up views of the Manhattan skyline from the bank of the East River. Why bother crossing the Brooklyn Bridge when everything you’re searching for is right there? Feel like a local and explore some of our favorite allergy-friendly, family-oriented finds during your next trip.
Top Food Allergy-Friendly Skin + Hair Care Products
Food allergens are found in more than just what we eat. From argan oil shampoo to shea butter lotion, food allergens like tree nuts can sneak into everyday beauty products under names you might not recognize. Because the FDA does not regulate allergen labeling for beauty products as it does for food, cosmetic companies are not required to specifically call out food allergens in their products. Luckily there are brands that rise above industry standards. Spokin's list of top food allergy-safe hair and skin care products has you covered head to toe with options for every age and allergy. Each company offers clear ingredient lists, detailed allergen information and shows a commitment to consumers with food allergies. This product guide was published on 3/17.
Allergy-Friendly Overnight Camps For Boys
Since 1928, Camp Ojibwa has provided young men a home away from home based on a philosophy of brotherhood. This brotherhood is exemplified by the four tenets of The Ojibwa Way: kindness, respect, fair play and trustworthiness.
Celebrating Easter And Passover With Food Allergies
While kids are busy hunting Easter eggs, food allergy families are on a different kind of search. From safe Easter candy to nut-free Seder recipes or even eggless eggs - the hunt for food allergy-friendly Easter and Passover options ends here. We've mapped out an allergy-friendly Easter candy guide with safer alternatives to the classics, a how-to on eggless egg decorating and allergen-free recipes for Easter brunch, lunch or dinner. For those celebrating Passover, we've found tasty alternatives to fill a Seder plate to accommodate any allergy. Consider this your golden (allergy-free) egg to a safe Easter and Passover.ALLERGY-FRIENDLY EASTER RECIPES | ALLERGY-FRIENDLY SEDER RECIPES
Flying With Food Allergies
Whether you’re heading out for spring break or to grandma’s for the weekend, air travel is a necessity for millions of people, including those living with food allergies.
Recent headlines have highlighted a key reason why traveling with food allergies is tricky. While food allergies are defined as a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act, airlines abide by a different set of rules defined by the Air Carrier Access Act. Under these guidelines, a pilot can prevent you from boarding or ask you to get off the plane if you make yourself or your child seem “medically fragile," according to his or her own discretion.
But don’t let the uncertainty surrounding air travel keep you grounded. With a little extra planning and the right resources, every family can have the adventures they deserve.
To clear the air and make flights smoother, we laid out the 16 tips for flying with food allergies, identified the top six “food allergy-friendly” airlines and found a mission-driven mom dedicated to making air travel easier for all of us.
16 Tips for Flying with Food Allergies | 6 Top Food Allergy-Friendly Airlines | No Nut Traveler
See our 2024 list of Top Rated Allergy-Friendly Airlines.