 After trying homemade granola, I rarely reach for store-bought kinds. A little time in the kitchen is completely worth it for a simple-to-store and easy-to-grab snack or addition to a morning yogurt parfait. This recipe makes a batch large enough to share with friends or package and give as gifts.
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Interview with Nubian Simmons  The following are my life experiences and my opinions. They are not intended to offend or offer medical advice.
1. What are you allergic to, and when were you diagnosed? I am allergic to milk (age 15) and wheat (age 34). I can remember being 6 or 7 and always at the doctor’s office getting tested. I do not know how prevalent food allergies were 30 years ago, but my mom, a retired nurse, was determined to figure it out. Once we realized it was the milk, she searched to find anything I could eat or drink that would not cause a reaction. If you do not live with the daily responsibility of managing food allergies, Food Allergy Awareness Week may not seem like a big deal. It is for the food allergy community because it provides a special opportunity to highlight facts to the public with the hope of educating and increasing empathy for a subject that many know little about until it becomes a part of their personal lives. Food allergy awareness matters because... Food Allergy Awareness Week's 20th Anniversary is next week, May 14-20, 2017. This is the perfect time to share food allergy facts with friends and family on social media, print handouts for teachers and administrators at school, and raise awareness at your community center or place of worship. It is also a great time to celebrate YOU - the young adult managing food allergies at college, the parent or teacher of an allergic child, the grandparent caring for an allergic grandbaby. Food allergies may be challenging at times, but you are doing a great job managing them and living a full life! Go ahead, take a moment to pat yourself on the back!
 We have some exciting news to share. FAAM's co-founder, Billy Barnett, is featured in a new book! Billy was interviewed for the book When Your Child Has Food Allergies by Mireille Schwartz, released today. Billy shares his experiences as a food allergy dad and advice on the responsibility of fathers in the family, "I think it is natural for Mom to take on the lead role of protecting her child when diagnosed, but Dads have the same responsibility." I can attest to the fact that Billy takes his responsibilities as Daddy very seriously, so it is no surprise that his role as food allergy dad is equally important to him.
Invitations to Egg Hunts and Spring Celebrations are popping up like tulips. Many food allergy families are on the look out for safe ways to get in on the fun. The great news is there are many safe options! I am sharing my favorite Easter ideas and resources so your family can enjoy an egg-cellent (yep, I said it) holiday season.
After an incredible 2016, we are really looking forward to 2017! FAAM kicked off the year with a community meeting on February 21st. Our medical advisor, Dr. Jay Lieberman, shared the latest research on Early Introduction to Foods.
by Jennifer Dodrill Being a grandma is amazing! Being Grandma to an allergy kid is…still amazing! When my first granddaughter, Charley, was born, I told my daughter that I wanted to be involved in her life as much as I could. I do not care if she is happy or sad, poopy or dry, healthy or sick. I just want to be part of her life and watch as she grows up.
This article is published in the November 2016 issue of Good Health Memphis, a health and lifestyle magazine for the Mid-South community. FAAM is posting the article here with permission from the editor and author. Click here to view the entire digital issue and past issues of Good Health Memphis. You can find print copies in your Commercial Appeal newspaper and in stands at select Krogers. Click here to view the article in the Commercial Appeal online.  by Kelley Barnett FAAM hosted a Teal Pumpkin Trunk-or-Treat for our members and it was SO. MUCH. FUN! Most holidays involve food and enjoying traditions, like Trick-or-Treating, is very challenging for people diagnosed with food allergies. So we hosted our own food-free Halloween complete with games, face painting with Ms. Rainbow, a costume parade, and trunk-or-treating.
 If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me how to "do the Teal Pumpkin Project", I would be rich! I am excited to share with you how easy and affordable it is to include all children on Halloween. After reading numerous articles about the high costs of epinephrine auto-injectors (EAIs), over the last two weeks especially, I decided to look into the differences and our local prices. I am especially concerned that some people do not fill or refill their EAI prescriptions due to cost, hoping they will not need it; this is very scary and a risk no one with life-threatening food allergies should take.
July's highlight is a review of medical alert bracelets that I personally own. I needed a toddler-sized wristband, wanted the medical alert sign visible from an adult's height, and wanted one that a toddler could not remove. I also looked for one that could be worn all of the time without removing to swim. I decided on a Sticky J bracelet with an engraved plate. Later, I was gifted an Allerbling bracelet kit. I needed help with my Sticky J order and their customer service department was very nice and helpful. They guided me through their products to find the best fit for my needs. Allerbling is one of the nicest companies I have interacted with in a long time. I give two thumbs up to these companies for their passion.
by Jennifer Lofton, Memphis 2016 FARE Walk for Food Allergy Chair For me, and my then 10-month-old daughter, it all began with a bite of banana. A regular snack, like so many before – a few slices of banana placed on her high chair tray. My voracious eater gobbled them up happily. But these bits of her favorite fruit were not like all the others before. I had thoughtlessly (the last time I would ever use this word when describing feeding her) used the same knife I had been using to make myself the southern staple – a peanut butter and banana sandwich – for lunch.
Members were introduced to some great food allergy related items at our Food Allergy Awareness Week (FAAW) event, thanks to the wonderful prizes donated from our very kind food allergy community. I was thrilled to share my favorite allergy finds with our members the night of our event and now, in the spirit of FAAW and Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month, with you...
 Most food allergy families spread awareness wherever they go, no matter the day, week or setting; we are happy to share information with you. But it is nice to have a week designated to our cause, May 8-14, 2016. Food Allergy Awareness Week (FAAW) was first declared in 1998 by the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, which is now FARE. This year, both the governor and our county mayor signed proclamations recognizing FAAW in Tennessee and Shelby County. It feels good to have local support and recognition. This year's theme is "React with Respect" and I appreciate the emphasis on taking food allergies seriously and the role that we can all play in protecting those with allergies around us. For more information on FAAW 2016 and resources you can share to help educate those around you, check out our Resources page.
FAAM's highlight for April is the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team (FAACT), who recently recognized us as an educational support group. Thank you FAACT!
 Hi! My name is Evan and I am twelve years old. I have a severe airborne peanut and tree nut allergy. For me, transitioning from elementary school to middle school was harder than I expected. My elementary school was very good about my allergy and the people there really watched out for me. When I began middle school, I quickly realized I would have to be very aware of my surroundings in order to keep myself safe.
With all of the rain our area received the week leading up to the hunt, we were fortunate that St. Paul's UMC allowed us to use their multipurpose room for an indoor egg hunt. Yes, you read that correctly, an INDOOR egg hunt!
Each month, FAAM is going to highlight a resource or product, something helpful for food allergy individuals and families. To begin, we want to highlight resources for newly diagnosed individuals and families. For most of us, receiving a food allergy diagnosis is scary and confusing. It comes out of nowhere; we have no idea what to do with the information received at the time of diagnosis and never mind the additional confusion when we type the words “food allergy” in Google’s search box, look out! Not only are there a ton of results, but many of them contain misinformation. We have no idea where to start or what information we can depend on to be accurate.
by Jill Connell At 18 months old, we confirmed that our son had multiple allergies to all forms of milk and eggs, as well as peanuts and tree nuts. Not only would he react when he ate the allergens but also touching them or touching residue on playgrounds, chairs, tables and toys. It was overwhelming. I remember thinking how do I teach him how to manage this? How does he navigate a world with food around every corner? How do I keep him from making a deadly mistake? How do I prepare him without scaring him?
by Kelley Barnett, FAAM Founder & Coordinator Thank you so much to everyone who attended our first meeting on Mon., Feb. 8th at St. Francis Hospital-Bartlett. It was great to be with other food allergy individuals and families who were excited to learn more and support each other. It makes me even more excited for what 2016 has in store for FAAM and its members! To prevent leaving someone out who helped, I will not list names, but you know who you are. THANK YOU for all you did, and will continue to do, for our food allergy community.
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Food for Thought is the blog for the Food Allergy Alliance of the Mid-South. FAAM's mission is to provide food allergy support, education, advocacy, fellowship & fun for Memphis, TN and surrounding areas.
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By using this site, you are agreeing to the terms of use stated. If you do not agree with these terms, please do not use this site. The content on this web site and any information presented by FAAM is for informational purposes only and NOT a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The authors are not offering individual medical advice; this material is for reference only. A physician or other qualifying medical professional should always be consulted for medical advice/diagnosis. The authors of this web site; anyone associated with FAAM as members, advocates, leaders, or advisors; Friends of FAAM and/or anyone involved with the production of this web site are not responsible, and do not assume responsibility for any loss, damage, injury, illness, death, or other negative impact that may occur after reading and using the information on this web site. If you have a medical emergency, call 911 immediately and follow up with a physician. 
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