Growing up with Food Allergies
You can't help but feel optimistic after talking to Josh Bass. Living with severe peanut, tree nut and shellfish allergies has given him a strength that is evident in the way he talks about his experiences and in the way he gives back to the community. We asked him where we can buy the ‘secret sauce' of being Josh — because we're ordering it, stat. Hear what he has to say about growing up with food allergies, the challenges he has faced, and how he outshines it all.
The No Nut Traveler Lianne Mandelbaum
In 2013, food allergy mom and frequent flier Lianne Mandelbaum took a negative travel experience and turned it into a passion project. She launched No Nut Traveler, an online advocacy group for people with food allergies who want to fly safely on commercial airlines. Lianne shared her personal experience and how it affected her son, Joshua, a child with an anaphylactic peanut allergy. Soon after, firsthand stories from other parents began pouring in.
Allie Bahn
Allie in Patagonia Around the world with over a dozen food allergies, and she's just getting started. Allie Bahn is the voice of Miss Allergic Reactor, a blog all about living life fully with food allergies. As a world traveler, writer and teacher, Allie pours her passion into helping others build a food allergy support system based on self-advocacy. We were able to catch Allie in between adventures, and get some of her best tips on traveling, eating out and constantly growing with food allergies. FOLLOW ALLIE ON SPOKIN
Alexa Jordan
Harvard student Alexa Jordan could teach the class on world travel and food allergy advocacy. A mid-flight anaphylactic reaction spurred this inspirational political science and government major to resurrect legislation requiring epi-pens on airplanes. Not only has she gotten back on a plane— she’s studying abroad this summer while using her passion for the law to fight for human rights at 30,000 feet.
Denise Woodard
Denise Woodard has found the sweet side of food allergies. After her daughter was diagnosed with FPIES and multiple food allergies, buying safe and tasty snacks was not so easy — so she started making her own. Denise is now the founder of Partake Foods, a line of top 8 allergen-free mini cookies that are made with simple ingredients from safe suppliers. Denise lives with her family in New Jersey where she is working to expand Partake to include even more delicious snacks for families with and without food allergies.
Pamela Fernandez
Pamela Fernandez is an unstoppable force in the food allergy world. When she is not busy co-running the site Navigating Food Allergies in New York and serving as a No Nuts Moms Support Group leader, Pamela can be found fundraising on a local level for FAACT, and on a national level for Food Allergy Awareness Month. She works tirelessly to connect and advocate for people living with food allergies. Pamela and her son, who has multiple food allergies, keep each other inspired with their positivity and optimism.
Sharon Wong
Sharon Wong is the food allergy advocate and blogger behind Nut Free Wok, a food allergy blog specializing in "Allergy Aware Asian Fare." When her two sons were diagnosed with food allergies, Sharon took action by channeling her love of cooking into adapting classic Asian recipes for people with nut allergies. Her blog and personal advocacy is all about making food allergy-friendly Asian food possible and delicious with recipes like Peanut-Free Pad Thai and a Better for You Butter Mochi.
Mother’s Day
In honor of Mother's Day, we are celebrating a few food allergy moms who embody the true spirit of Spokin. These women get the job done. They move food allergy mountains and raise awareness by creating products, resources and even entire research facilities. These are the moms who stay up until midnight baking safe chocolate chip cookies — and then use the recipe as inspiration for a food allergy-friendly cookbook. They lead by example to ensure that their children lead full lives, and for that, we are truly grateful.
Mary Weiser
Mary Weiser is a more than a food allergy mom — she is an advocate committed to changing the future of food allergies. After her two children were diagnosed with multiple allergies, she founded the Mary H. Weiser Food Allergy Center at the University of Michigan. This center of excellence will provide cutting-edge research for the food allergic community and will be a model for other centers around the country. Mary lives with her husband and two food allergic children in Ann Arbor.
Heather Eiserman
Heather Eiserman does not let food allergies hold her family back. This Chicago mom is a relentless advocate and fundraiser for food allergies in support of her daughter, Lola. Heather recently walked with her daughter at the Chicago FARE Walk, where Lola led "Team Lola" to raise more than $10,000. Whether through traveling internationally or by dining out at new restaurants, Heather encourages those managing food allergies to live fully. Her advocacy also inspires Lola, who has her own food allergy blog LE by LE, which highlights allergy-friendly products.
