FAACT's February e-Newsletter

The Voice of Food Allergy Awareness View this email in your browser Register & Join Us for FAACT's Camp TAG Summer Program!       It may be snowy and cold right now, but it's not too early to start thinking about summer camp!   FAACT's Camp TAG provides a safe place for children (ages 5-13) with food allergies, eosinophilic disorders, Celiac disease, FPIES, and asthma and their non-allergic siblings to have fun – with no worries about allergic reactions – and meet other children who share similar experiences. Teens with food allergies and teen siblings ages 14+ can apply to serve as volunteer teen counselors and receive community service hours for their time during the week. Start planning now for the Camp TAG nearest you: Lebanon, OH: June 6-10, 2022, at YMCA Camp Kern Nashville, TN: June 20-24, 2022, at YMCA Camp Widjiwagan Divide, CO: July 11-15, 2022, at Golden Bell Camp Huguenot, NY: July 25-29, 2022, at YMCA Camp Greenkill For volunteer teen counselors: Teens receive community service hours for their time, which averages about 35-40 hours for the week. There is an application process. Teen counselors will be notified once applications are reviewed. There is a $75 activity fee for teen counselors.   Can't make one of these in-person camps? Join FAACT's Virtual Camp TAG July 18-22, 2022. Details are available on our website.   We hope you can join us for a fun-filled experience this summer. Spots fill up fast! REGISTER TODAY! Sponsored By          National Platinum Sponsor            National Bronze Sponsor Celebrating Black History Month in February FAACT is humbled to join our nation in recognizing recognize Black History Month. Our commitment to our food allergy community includes a commitment to a stronger understanding and learning about diversity, equity, and inclusion. To this end, FAACT is working with members of the FAACT Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Board to affect change as we break down the barriers of systemic racism and inequity that many food allergy families experience.    How did Black History Month get started? In 1926, the Association for the Study of American Life and History sponsored Negro History Week to honor the accomplishments and history of black Americans. For decades, people in black communities continued this tradition, and several mayors across the U.S. issued proclamations in support of this week. However, it wasn't until the 1960s, when the Civil Rights Movement was in its prime, that this celebration picked up more traction. The period of celebration was extended, and Negro History Week was renamed Black History Month.   It is important to remember the experiences and sacrifices of those who participated in Negro History Week, the Civil Rights Movement, and other forward-moving endeavors. It is through this push for justice and equality for Black people and African-Americans that we all can learn great lessons about pushing for change and inclusion.   In the food allergy community, these very lessons of persistence, standing on what is right, unity, and so much more have helped us advocate for legislation, change manufacturing processes, improve research, and create more robust education about food allergies and their impact on all persons in every community.   During this special month, we invite you to celebrate Black leaders who inspire us and learn more about Black culture in America. Read our full blog here... FAACT Social Media Channels for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) Families and Teens February is a great time to check in with FAACT's BIPOC Families Facebook and Instagram groups. We want to ensure you have a safe place to connect with other families, discuss challenges, and find solutions together. Any family who identifies as BIPOC is welcome and encouraged to join these groups. Get started on Facebook and Instagram today. And just for teens….   FAACT's BIPOC Teens Instagram Group It's important for teens to have their own safe BIPOC space to talk about food allergies. Encourage your teen to use this platform to share their experiences, feelings, and ideas. This is a special place where teens can be validated and heard by other teens who understand their food allergy challenges. Share FAACT's BIPOC Teens Instagram Group with your teen today.   Please feel free to reach out to our administrators on Facebook or Instagram with suggestions or requests for content. We are here to offer you support! Critical Checklists for College Students and Their Families College acceptances have been rolling in since December. Before your student says yes, there is work to be done to ensure a safe college experience. FAACT has created a checklist for students (and another one for parents/caregivers) to help your family navigate this critical time for students admitted to college. The student checklist addresses accommodations – including legal rights, housing, dining services, classrooms and labs, medical – plus emergency response, ongoing treatment, stress management, and civil rights information. The checklist highlights questions to consider and tips for learning about what is required to establish accommodations. The parent/caregiver checklist highlights similar topics plus offers tips for passing the torch of food-allergy management to your child, offering resources to prepare them for managing their health and well-being at college. The College Resource Center is brimming with information your family will need on this journey to college and beyond. Please drop by and get familiar with the materials. Never forget that you are not alone – your FAACT family is right beside you! Resources To Support Your Family's Mental Health Food allergies require considerable time and constant vigilance, which can pose a physical and emotional burden for people with food allergies and their families. This can have a big impact on quality of life. Harassment or bullying can be another source of anxiety for children and adults living with food allergies.   You're not alone in coping with these stresses. FAACT's Behavioral Health Resource Center is full of resources, handouts, and tips covering everything from the psychological impacts of living with food allergies, self-care, coping skills, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and PTSD to information for parents on how to listen to your children and teens when they are ready to talk to you. There are also resources for pre-teens and teens on how to talk to their parents when they're ready to talk about their mental health.   We will continue to create and provide numerous FREE resources for families and individuals through this Resource Center, so keep checking in to see what's new. Valentine's Gems To Warm Your Heart by Caroline Moassessi, FAACT Vice President of Community Relations I love a good, old-fashioned gushy moment about unconditional love printed on a frilly pink card. As I recently cruised the greeting card aisles, I was glad to be wearing a face mask so strangers could not see me tearing up over the Valentine's Day sentiments. I headed home, cards in hand, to navigate a different challenge: guiding my daughter through the college accommodation process. After a few moments on FAACT's website, she was able to find the verbiage she needed to get her single room status billing sorted out. I felt that same gush of unconditional love for FAACT's support after my daughter promptly received an email confirming the appropriately lower cost for her room. Where would I be without my food allergy and FAACT family? You are always there for my family and me. Be it a text offering support after an allergic reaction, sharing new food finds, or legal aid for accommodations – the love is there 24/7. Filled with this unconditional love, I want to share with you 10 of my favorite gems from our FAACT family – resources that have been life-changing for my family and many others. Read our full blog here... Valentine's Crossword Puzzles and Word Searches You won't want to miss out on FAACT's Valentine's-themed educational crossword puzzles and word searches. These are fun puzzles to do at home with your family or share with your classmates and friends.   Download our free Valentine's crossword puzzles and word searches! Enjoy! Are You Ready for Valentine's Day? Get Started With These Fun, Food-Free Craft Ideas With Valentine's Day just around the corner, many schools and youth organizations are looking for "food-free" crafts as a healthier alternative to sweets and a way to accommodate children with food allergies. Check out FAACT's Pinterest page for Valentine's ideas to share with your school, or help your kids create that special keepsake at home. FAACT's Roundtable Podcast: Where The Latest Food Allergy Conversations are Heard Stay up to date on the most talked-about news and tips for living with food allergies. Discover the latest information, including back-to-school accommodations from legal experts, Covid-19 vaccinations and food allergies, mental health across the lifespan, and much more.   For our 100th episode, we sat down with Eleanor Garrow-Holding, FAACT's President and CEO, to talk about FAACT's groundbreaking work in 2021 and share exciting plans for 2022. Ms. Garrow-Holding offers a sneak peek at this year's in-person events for kids, teens, and families; expanded FAACT support programs; and new resources to help you and your family live healthy this year.   Download FAACT's Roundtable Podcast here. You can also find FAACT's Roundtable Podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast, Stitcher, iHeart Radio, Podcast Chaser, Deezer, Tune-In, Alexa, and Listen Notes. Subscribe, share, and leave us a review! Chef Diego's Corner Chef Diego Baraona is an executive chef, culinary instructor, and former Culinary Manager of the Bionutritional Kitchen at Mount Sinai Health System in the Clinical Research Unit for Pediatric Allergy Research. Chef Diego has created hundreds of allergy-friendly recipes for families, like this one! Check out his latest recipe! Sautéed Chicken Thighs Ingredients:  4 pieces of skinless, boneless chicken thighs (preferably organic) , fat removed 1/2 teaspoon of paprika 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric  1 tablespoon of olive oil  1/4 cup of Sauvignon blanc wine 1/2 cup of canned, diced tomatoes (preferably organic)  2 teaspoon of crushed Calabrian chili peppers if you want to spice up the chicken and sauce (optional)  1 shallot, sliced  Small bunch of parsley, leaves chopped  Salt and pepper to taste Preparation: Season chicken with spices and salt and pepper.  Heat up a 12-inch sauté pan over medium heat. Add olive oil.  Brown chicken on both sides. Don't overcrowd the pan to allow the chicken to brown properly. Deglaze the pan with the white wine (or substitute chicken broth). Add shallot and stir a bit. Add tomatoes, Calabrian peppers, parsley, and cover with a lid or aluminum foil.  Let it simmer until the chicken starts to fall apart. Approximately 30 to 40 minutes.  Serve with brown rice, quinoa, or your favorite grain.  Enjoy! Chef Diego contributes an allergy-friendly recipe each month in our e-newsletter. You can follow Chef Diego on Instagram at @chefbaraona to see more of his amazing, allergen-friendly recipes. Support FAACT While Shopping on AmazonSmile We're all shopping online these days in record numbers. Use AmazonSmile when you shop and Amazon will make a donation to FAACT – at no cost to you!   Enter Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team as your charity and select AmazonSmile each time you shop – even from your smart phone!   THANK YOU for your support. FAACT Partnership with MedicAlert Foundation! Safety and preparedness are at the heart of each food allergy emergency plan. During an anaphylactic emergency, immediate access to contacts, insurance, and information about other health conditions are often needed. Services linked to identification jewelry are top choices for many people living with food allergies. FAACT partnered with the MedicAlert Foundation to help raise food allergy and anaphylaxis awareness. Our partnership includes collaborating on educational resources, internal call center training with MedicAlert staff, and more.   As a special gift to FAACT families, new MedicAlert subscribers will receive 20% off their new subscription service order. Use promo code: FAACT20. If you order via phone, use code FAACT. Visit MedicAlert to subscribe today! FAACT Partners with MenuTrinfo To Train Food Service Providers The partnership between FAACT and MenuTrinfo®, the food service industry's food allergy expert, provides leading-edge food allergy education, risk-reduction strategies, and emergency preparedness plans to food service facilities so they can safely serve people living with food allergies as well as their families, friends, and colleagues. This training program will help food service professionals at all levels better handle gluten-free and food allergen requests, avoid food allergy-related incidents, and prepare for onsite food allergy emergencies should they occur. Visit FAACT to learn more about this exciting program and partnership. FAACT's Resource Page for COVID-19 Your safety and health are always the highest priority at FAACT. Our medical advisory board encourages all individuals to follow the global health guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) along with relevant state guidelines. We have CDC updates and tips for staying safe on our Resource Page for COVID-19.  From our FAACT family to yours, please stay healthy and safe – and let us know if you need anything! Subscribe for FAACT's Alerts and Recalls Sign up for FAACT's Alerts and Recalls to receive the latest information on food allergen-related recalls of FDA-regulated products. You can also search our recall archives by specific allergens at any time. FAACT will only post recalls and alerts reported by FDA, USDA, and manufacturers regarding the top 8 food allergens recognized by the FDA (soon to be top 9, including sesame). FAACT will not post non-food items with the exception of medications, under the advisement of our Medical Advisory Board. Subscribe today on FAACT's Alerts Page. More About FAACT Food allergies affect as many as 32 million Americans, including 6 million children. The prevalence of food allergies appears to be increasing among children under the age of 18, and there is NO cure! FAACT's mission is to educate, advocate, and raise awareness for all individuals and families affected by food allergies and life-threatening anaphylaxis. FAACT is also your voice for food allergy awareness, from keeping children safe at school to dealing with workplace issues or simply taking the family out for a bite to eat. Managing a food allergy on a daily basis involves constant vigilance. FAACT is here to support you in managing your food allergies – today, tomorrow, and into the future. For more information, please visit us at www.FoodAllergyAwareness.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Contact us directly via Email. 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