Foodie Mom Interviews Founder of Divvies Bakery

Foodie Mom Blogger Nicole Potenza Denis adds to her blog post "Kids with Food Allergies are Kids, Too" in an interview with Lori Sandler, founder of Divvies Bakery in South Salem, N.Y., and author of The Divvies Bakery Cookbook.

What advice would you give parents who have just found out that their child has a food allergy?

LS: It is very important that your child’s food allergies do not define who your child is. Do your best to acknowledge your emotions as a parent and become informed. Information is your best friend.

What is the best way to handle social events, like school functions or birthday parties, where allergy-free treats would not normally be served?

LS: If a host throwing a party does not have someone close to them with a food allergy, they often do not think beyond their normal offerings. Communication is key. You do not want to make your concerns someone else’s problems. As a parent of a child with a food allergy, it is your responsibility to share your information in a kind way with the host and communicate that you have a specific need. I recommend that a host level the playing field and get foods that everyone can have together. This way a child with an allergy can have what everyone else is having. As a parent you can bring to the party a dessert everyone is able to enjoy as well. Present it in a nice way, but never let it upstage the main dessert. You don’t want to be presumptuous but instead helpful in a gracious way. My philosophy is that eating and celebrating should be an inclusive experience for everyone—not only for those who do not have dietary restrictions.

How do you avoid defining a child as the one with the food allergy?

LS: It is just as important to take care of a child’s emotional well-being as it is their physical. Do that by making sure that their allergies do not define them. Be discreet when talking with other parents about your child’s food allergy. Most kids who are five and up already know the word ingredients but it is up to a parent to teach their child that they can be safe (around food) beyond their family. Every child is different: Some will just accept their food allergy and others will feel left out. Some will be scared because they might have had a terrible reaction that they remember. 

How can parents get schools more in the know about a child’s food allergy, and what can they do to help the school understand?

 
LS: Parents can do the following:

• Inquire at the school how food allergies are handled and ask about food allergy guidelines.
• Ask the school what type of role as a parent you can play to help establish food allergy guidelines.
• Establish a comfortable communication with the school and teachers. Get involved and get to know when events like class trips and birthdays are held.
• Volunteer to be the parent who purchases snacks for the whole class.
• Provide a list of food Dos and Don’ts to the school and your child’s teachers. Teachers need to truly understand the severity of your child’s food allergy.
• Try to prepare. Have a supply of treats on hand at school for spontaneous events.

Why is it important to get kids involved in cooking and baking at a young age?

 
LS: It is important because many kids by nature are picky, but kids with food allergies are really picky. Getting them involved makes them more apt to try new things and gives them a positive association with food. Children with food allergies tend to have more of a negative association with food

What are some of Divvies best-selling treats?

 
LS: Divvies 2-pack cookies and cupcakes because they freeze well and can be kept at schools and are dairy-free chocolate.—Nicole Denis

1 comment

Roxy Thank you for this very insightful and supportive post. I love the title: Kids with food allergies are kids too ! You can say that again. As a mother of four year old daughter with an anaphylactic allergy to dairy we are all too familiar with the challenges of our child s allergy and the fact that it doesn t change who she is as a person but only how we approach caring for her. Instead of tossing snacks in our bag, we lug around the emergency action plan, Epi pens, Benadryl and baby wipes --- not very appetizing but essential. I love the Q &A you did with Lori Sandler and my takeaway is three-fold. I need to ramp up my interaction with her school beyond the emergency plan. It s been a bust for her to participate in any of the lunches there due to how they mark or don t mark the food not to mention it s just too hard for the staff. Second, while we have baked together and she helps out on some meals we haven t cooked together. I do think getting her involved in making the meal will help combat some of her aversion to foods and ultimate pickiness. Third, we need to work on tackling the question on how to handle her being labeled the kid with allergies . This label is both good and bad. It helps alert people and keeps her safe and at the same time confuses some and annoys others. Glad to know you are not in the later group! Off to outfit the kitchen for my pint size chef.