Food allergies & intolerances

Mandy Sacher

Child nutrition expert and mother of two, Mandy Sacher, is a Paediatric Nutritionist and SOS Feeding Consultant. Her private practice focuses on prenatal and childhood nutrition, helping parents and mums-to-be feed their children healthy, nourishing foods right from the start. Mandy’s philosophy is simple: train children’s taste buds to enjoy nourishing, nutritionally beneficial foods early as possible to ensure optimal development and establishment of lifelong healthy eating behaviours. After the birth of her first child in 2010, Mandy became increasingly aware of the lack of nutritionally sound information available to first-time parents. She was alarmed at the amount of baby and toddler foods marketed as ‘healthy’ when the sugar, salt and preservative contents were overly high. Mandy realised the journey to junk food can begin with the squeezie yoghurts we are fed or the teething rusks given to us. Mandy’s career in children’s health spans more than a decade – in 2006, she, along with other paediatric experts, founded the MEND Programme, an independent, not-for-profit organisation established to research and prevent obesity in children. Mandy and her colleagues at MEND developed one of the world’s only proven weight-loss treatments for obese children, now based on ten years of research and clinical trials. For the past five years Mandy has consulted to daycares on implementing more nutritious whole food menu plans and also privately to parents with children of all ages. Wholesome Child’s nutritional workshops are held at preschools, mother’s groups, non-profit organisations and medical practices.

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Updated on Jun 14, 2024 · 2 mins read

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Cow’s milk, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, egg, soy and wheat are most likely to cause an allergic reaction in children. Most children will grow out of milk and egg allergies. If you suspect your child has a food allergy or intolerance, see your GP or paediatrician straight away.

It can also help to do the following:

Keep a food diary and record food eaten and any reactions. Include what food was eaten, how much, what symptoms, how long they lasted and if any medication was given.

If a reaction occurs in a restaurant or at a friend’s home, find out exactly what was in the food given to your child. If a symptom arises – such as a rash – take a photo to show your doctor.
If a symptom occurs after eating a particular packaged food, save the packaging with the nutrition label or take a photo to show your GP or paediatrician.
Remove suspected foods from their diet for a period of 2-6 weeks or until symptom fades (discuss first with your GP or paediatrician).
Slowly reintroduce the foods, in a controlled manner, one at a time, recording any symptoms if they should appear.
Have a detailed record of any allergy history on both sides of the family.

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Introducing Peanuts

The new guidelines around introducing peanuts suggest that you can start from as early as six months. The idea is that this will give your little one time to build up a tolerance. The best way to introduce it is in the form of smooth peanut butter with no added sugar, vegetable oils or sodium. Never offer a whole nut to a baby. Rub a little bit on the inside of the cheek and if no reaction, give ½ teaspoon. Try again for a few subsequent days. If there is any sign of a reaction see your GP before continuing further.