https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 20:57:40 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergies-at-playdate#post-2492182 Fri, 11 Mar 2016 14:24:46 +0000 cat620 2492182@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yin: That is a helpful list. Some of those are things I wouldn't have thought of </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergies-at-playdate#post-2492170 Fri, 11 Mar 2016 14:20:35 +0000 yin 2492170@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Here are some ideas for snacks that are dairy, egg and nut free:</p> <p>pretzels, chips (plain), raisins, apple sauce, dried fruits, Ritz crackers, Oreos, graham crackers, veggie straws, rice crackers, ants on a log with sun butter, hummus (check ingredients), guacamole with plain tortilla chips, seaweed strips, and Belvita breakfast bars</p> <p>LO is allergic to dairy, eggs, and peanuts. His school is nut free, and they have done a great job accommodating his allergies for snack time. He can eat most snacks, and I tried to include them in the list above. Hope this helps give you an idea of some safe foods. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergies-at-playdate#post-2492150 Fri, 11 Mar 2016 14:15:04 +0000 Mrs.KMM 2492150@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would try to have some options the kids with allergies could eat but I wouldn't worry if there were some items that would be off limits (assuming a kid isn't going to go into anaphylactic shock by being near the items). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergies-at-playdate#post-2492140 Fri, 11 Mar 2016 14:08:09 +0000 psw27 2492140@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@aprild: Yes cheese and crackers can be tough. My BF's daughter is nut, egg and dairy allergic so she usually just brings her something. Luckily our LOs are so young they don't really care what their friends are eating (i.e. she isn't jealous if my LO gets a cracker or something) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergies-at-playdate#post-2492137 Fri, 11 Mar 2016 14:06:45 +0000 cat620 2492137@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@psw27: Providing nut-free snacks is easy, but the dairy and eggs can be tricky. The cheese and crackers wouldn't work in that situation. I agree about the coffee shop! I'm going to suggest if people don't want to meet in their homes, maybe we can start going to the park as the weather gets nicer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergies-at-playdate#post-2492132 Fri, 11 Mar 2016 14:01:50 +0000 psw27 2492132@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If I was hosting, I would try to accommodate but that isn't too hard with fruit, simple stuff (cheese, crackers, etc.) My friends who have kids with allergies would always bring their own stuff/check the labels anyway. I would NOT want to bring my toddler to a coffee shop, that sounds way too hard! (And not very much fun for a kid!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergies-at-playdate#post-2492110 Fri, 11 Mar 2016 13:51:36 +0000 cat620 2492110@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HappyBaker: I totally understand, and I know how serious allergies can be, so I don't mind his mom being extra careful. But I think it is hard for the moms to know which snacks are safe (which is why I was asking if it's necessary for all of the snacks to be safe or just one or two of them). I remember the mom of the kid with the allergy shared a recipe for chocolate brownies, and they were made with a butter substitute and applesauce instead of eggs. They were actually pretty good, but I think some of the moms didn't have time to bake them before each playdate, so that could be part of what my friend was referring to when she said it got to be stressful for some moms. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergies-at-playdate#post-2492105 Fri, 11 Mar 2016 13:48:57 +0000 Mae 2492105@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Depends how serious the allergy is IMO. My daughter is allergic to avocado (which is easy to avoid/random anyways) but she just gets a rash. I don't really think twice if we are at someone's house and they are serving guac or something. I just keep an eye on her, NBD. But we have a good friend whose daughter has trouble breathing when she has peanuts or egg. So that is way more serious and whenever they come over I make sure there is nothing with those allergens anywhere she could possibly grab. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergies-at-playdate#post-2492102 Fri, 11 Mar 2016 13:47:29 +0000 rachiecakes 2492102@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would definitely make sure that whatever was out was to accommodate everyone. I'd hate for a kid to feel left out before they're old enough to actually understand why.<br /> And especially if it's a group that meets regularly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergies-at-playdate#post-2492097 Fri, 11 Mar 2016 13:43:40 +0000 HappyBaker 2492097@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@aprild: Label reading is just a way of life, don't feel bad about that! Most parents aren't going to trust another person to offer their kid a snack without reading the label themselves. I always feel so bad / like I am making the person who offered feel bad when I do it, but realistically if it could save my kids life to take those 5 seconds to be sure I'm going to do it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergies-at-playdate#post-2492093 Fri, 11 Mar 2016 13:40:24 +0000 cat620 2492093@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jedeve: I always have fruit out and sometimes crackers, but for the kid who is allergic to dairy and eggs, there are even some crackers he can't eat. I remember putting out pita chips, and the mom had to read every ingredient before he could take a bite. </p> <p>@jedeve: I agree, but I think the moms like it, because then they don't have to worry about providing snacks. The parents either bring their own or buy something there. I'm not sure who suggested it, but it's someplace they have been meeting at for a little while now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergies-at-playdate#post-2492021 Fri, 11 Mar 2016 12:40:59 +0000 ShootingStar 2492021@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think if I was a mom hosting, I'd be nervous I'd serve something the kids aren't supposed to have, and they'd get into anyways. But I would of course try to have foods everyone could eat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergies-at-playdate#post-2491940 Fri, 11 Mar 2016 11:36:23 +0000 Alba4 2491940@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My nephew and best friend's daughter have severe food allergies, so we always prepare something they can eat in addition to serving food they are allergic to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergies-at-playdate#post-2491850 Fri, 11 Mar 2016 10:54:53 +0000 Mamaof2 2491850@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, I would feel like the snack had to be dairy, nut, and egg free!</p> <p>Maybe the moms of the ones with allergies can send out some approved snacks? That would be helpful and less stressful for the host! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergies-at-playdate#post-2491825 Fri, 11 Mar 2016 10:44:44 +0000 avivoca 2491825@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I go out of my way to make sure that there are things that people can eat. A friend of mine has a son with a severe nut allergy, so I make snacks from scratch or have things I know he can eat (plain hummus and veggies is his favorite). Meeting at a coffee shop sounds awful because you would have to keep your kids quiet the whole time and there are way more allergens there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergies-at-playdate#post-2491814 Fri, 11 Mar 2016 10:40:57 +0000 jedeve 2491814@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also, fwiw, meeting at a coffee shop sounds way worse than someone's home! There definitely wouldn't be anything my kid could eat there either, and I would have to spend the whole time making sure he is quiet rather than just enjoying myself! Was it an allergy mom who suggested switching or someone else? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergies-at-playdate#post-2491812 Fri, 11 Mar 2016 10:39:40 +0000 jedeve 2491812@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I would avoid anything that says "may contain." We serve our LO stuff that says "made in a factory with." I would make sure to save the box and show it to the mom. We have nut and dairy allergies, so it's a little more difficult and that's why I always bring stuff from home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergies-at-playdate#post-2491700 Fri, 11 Mar 2016 09:42:32 +0000 Foodnerd81 2491700@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jedeve: what if it was something like a mix that the warning about being made in the same factory as nuts? I would never have anything with actual peanuts when there is a peanut allergy but most mixes have that warming. Full disclosure- I just wanted muffins that day. I could have not made them at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergies-at-playdate#post-2491694 Fri, 11 Mar 2016 09:37:50 +0000 catlady 2491694@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't expect accommodations, but if I were hosting, I would accommodate the food allergies. After being on an intense elimination diet for a year for my LO (which included dairy, eggs, and nuts, among other things), I now really appreciate how hard it is for some folks to find foods they can eat. At the very least, I'd provide fruit and veggies. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergies-at-playdate#post-2491693 Fri, 11 Mar 2016 09:36:06 +0000 jedeve 2491693@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't expect it, but I would be pretty worried if someone was like, "oh don't eat the cookies, they have peanut butter." I bring food for my kids wherever we go anyway. </p> <p>Could you just do things like fruit and crackers? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergies-at-playdate#post-2491682 Fri, 11 Mar 2016 09:24:44 +0000 yin 2491682@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As a parent with two kids with food allergies, I do not expect accommodations to be made. At the same time, it is very much appreciated. I always pack extra food and snacks for them. I do like it when people run their menu by me so that I can pack/make similar items so they don't feel left out. So if you're planning on having muffins available, I would either defrost a frozen one or make a fresh batch. I go out of my way to make sure my kids don't feel left out. </p> <p>I also don't want people to think food allergies are a hassle or stressful to accommodate. Imagine being a kid with food allergies. It's even harder on them. Fruits (fresh fruit, apple sauce, raisins, dried fruits, fruit pouches, etc) and a juice box would make my kids' day. Simple gestures go a long way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergies-at-playdate#post-2491622 Fri, 11 Mar 2016 08:48:56 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2491622@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, I wouldn't expect it, Although it may be nice to send a text ahead of time letting everyone know what you'll have and tell them to feel free to bring anything else if they want. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergies-at-playdate#post-2491598 Fri, 11 Mar 2016 08:31:21 +0000 HappyBaker 2491598@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As a mom of two kids with food allergies, if we were going to a big playgroup like that I would definitely not expect the host to have options that both my kids could eat. We always bring our own snacks to things like this (enough to share so it's not just like a personal special snack). Usually just fruit is fine and safe so we'll bring some with us to share. </p> <p>My 3 year old is old enough now to know she can't eat every food she sees - so she wouldn't get upset if there were treats / snacks she couldn't eat.</p> <p>I think if you are the host, as long as you are clear with the food allergy parents about what is in everything, that is totally fine! Also maybe keeping the food out of reach of the kids would be helpful, so that a not so aware 2 year old doesn't just grab stuff he is allergic to. It's much easier to relax when the food is somewhere safe and you know exactly what your kid can get to / not get to.</p> <p>I still probably wouldn't let my kids eat your baked goods (unless I knew you REALLY well), even if you said they were fine, just because non-allergy parents might not be as aware of hidden dairy / eggs / nuts in ingredients you wouldn't expect. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergies-at-playdate#post-2491573 Fri, 11 Mar 2016 08:11:09 +0000 lamariniere 2491573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If I know someone has allergies, I run the menu by the parent and see if everything is ok or if they can suggest something or bring something safe. Assuming someone is not going to have an allergic reaction by just being in the vicinity of a certain food, I would not make every single food item allergy friendly. I would also be sure to point out the safe foods to the concerned guests. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergies-at-playdate#post-2491569 Fri, 11 Mar 2016 08:08:06 +0000 Foodnerd81 2491569@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have had play dates with a kid with peanut allergy, and a kid with egg and dairy allergy. I just tell the parents if something isn't safe and make sure there is something for the allergy kid (like a muffin mix I used was made in a factory that may also contain peanuts so I warned all the moms to make sure that kid didn't get a hold of one, and I had a couple muffins in the freezer that were homemade and safe). The egg and dairy free baby was younger so it was easier to keep away. </p> <p>I think as long as you have enough options and nothing is messy like the would get on their fingers and then get on the kids, it's ok? (Like pirates booty residue could be bad for a dairy allergy). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergies-at-playdate#post-2491553 Fri, 11 Mar 2016 07:51:33 +0000 cat620 2491553@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm part of a playgroup of about 8 moms who all have kids between the ages of 2 and 3. We meet once a week, and I really enjoy this time. For a few months, we had been meeting in each other's homes, and I thought this setup worked well. But recently, we have started meeting at a local coffee shop, which doesn't offer much entertainment for the kids. There is a small corner with a few toys, but when you get 8 toddlers together, it gets chaotic fast. I always assumed we stopped meeting in our homes, because people were worried their house wasn't clean enough. I saw one of the moms outside of the playgroup and asked her about it, and she said she thinks we stopped meeting in homes because it got too stressful providing snacks, since a couple of the kids have food allergies. One kid is allergic to nuts and the other is allergic to dairy, eggs and nuts. </p> <p>Here's my question: if you were hosting a playdate for a group of toddlers, and you knew a couple had food allergies, would you feel like every snack you provided would have to be something they could eat? It's easy to provide things with no nuts, but what about the dairy and eggs? That would eliminate most baked goods. When I hosted, I would have some muffins out (mostly for the moms), and then a bowl of fruit and some goldfish or animal crackers for the kids. I realize the kid with the allergies might not be able to eat some of the items, but I made sure they could eat at least one or two things. Maybe I was in the wrong? What would you do? </p>