Learn Safe Practices Together with Kids
Your whole family can be involved in meal planning at home. They will gradually learn safe practices, such as replacing ingredients in favorite recipes to make them safe to eat.
If you make food in your home that contains a family member’s allergens, here are some great tips for staying safe:
- Cook meals that are free of the person’s allergens first, using separate cookware and serving utensils. Keep the food covered in a space where it will not be splashed or come into contact with other foods.
- Do not use the same utensils when cooking or serving food to the person who has the food allergy.
- Wash hands often, especially before and after preparing meals that contain an allergen, and the allergy-safe meal.
- Wipe down surfaces before preparing meals; and use a separate sponge on surfaces that contain the allergen.
- Have two dish washing cloths: one for cleaning pots and pans that contain the allergen, one for cleaning pots and pans that are used for allergy-safe meals.
- Use two different cutting boards: one dedicated to allergy-safe meal preparation.
- Carefully wash all utensils (forks, spoons, servers), pots and pans and cutting boards with dish detergent and water.