Food Allergies at School: How to Keep Your Child Safe

For children with food allergies, school brings situations that require planning, from classroom snacks and birthday celebrations to lunch, field trips, sports, and after-school activities. A clear food allergy action plan can help children stay safe while giving them the confidence to participate fully at school.

Katherine McCormack, MD, a board-certified allergist and pediatric allergy specialist at Boulder Medical Center in Louisville, Colorado, shares practical steps parents can take to help children with food allergies stay safe at school and build confidence as they grow.

Talk with Teachers and School Staff About Food Allergies

Food allergy policies can vary by school or district. Whether your child attends Boulder Valley School District, St. Vrain Valley School District, or another nearby school, check with the school about its policies for emergency medications and managing food allergies.

Communication with teachers and school staff is important throughout the school year—not just before the first day. Checking in periodically can help make sure everyone understands your child’s needs and that safety plans are working as intended.

Questions to discuss with your child’s school include:

• Do teachers, lunchroom staff, coaches, and other appropriate staff know how to recognize symptoms of an allergic reaction?
• Are emergency medications current, clearly labeled, and easy for appropriate staff to access?
• How do you handle classroom snacks and birthday celebrations?
• What precautions are taken for field trips, sports, and other activities away from the classroom?
• Does your child know which adult to tell if they begin experiencing symptoms?

Keep Your Child’s Food Allergy Emergency Action Plan Up to Date

Every student with food allergies should have an Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan on file at school. Work with your child’s health care provider to complete the plan and ensure appropriate school staff can access it.

Also, make sure medications are up to date and readily available. Recommended supplies may include:

• Two epinephrine auto-injectors for severe allergic reactions
• Oral antihistamines, such as liquid cetirizine, for mild symptoms as directed by your child’s allergy plan

Review your child’s emergency plan and medications periodically throughout the school year, especially if allergies, medications, or school activities have changed.

Help Your Child Manage Food Allergies at School

Children can become more confident managing food allergies when they know what to do in everyday situations. Depending on their age and maturity, help your child practice how to:

• Politely decline food when they aren’t sure it’s safe
• Ask questions about unfamiliar foods
• Tell a teacher or another trusted adult immediately if they begin to feel unwell
• Recognize their own allergy symptoms
• Use their epinephrine device if they carry one

Practicing these situations at home can make it easier for children to respond when they’re at school, a friend’s house, a sporting event, or another activity without a parent nearby.

Food Allergy Safety for Teens

As children enter middle and high school, they typically have more independence—and more responsibility for managing their food allergies.

Teens with food allergies must carry their epinephrine at all times. An allergic reaction can happen unexpectedly, and having epinephrine immediately available can save a life.

The teen years also bring new social situations that families should discuss openly. Alcohol, for example, can lower the threshold for allergic reactions and may also affect a teen’s ability to recognize symptoms or seek help promptly.

Talk with your teen about:

• Carrying epinephrine at all times
• Telling friends about their food allergy
• Checking ingredients rather than assuming a food is safe
• Recognizing symptoms and treating reactions promptly
• Food safety at restaurants, parties, sporting events, and other activities
• Alcohol and its potential impact on food allergy safety

The goal is not to limit a teen’s independence, but to give them the knowledge and habits they need to manage their food allergy safely as they become more independent.

Helping Kids with Food Allergies Participate with Confidence

Food allergies shouldn’t prevent children from participating in school, friendships, sports, field trips, and other activities. An up-to-date emergency action plan, access to epinephrine, clear communication with school staff, and age-appropriate education can help children participate more safely and confidently.

Let’s Talk

If your child has a food allergy or you’ve noticed a concerning reaction to food, an allergist can help evaluate the allergy and develop a plan for managing it at school, at home, and during activities. Boulder Medical Center’s board-certified allergy specialists provide food allergy evaluation, testing, treatment, and ongoing care for children in Boulder and Louisville, Colorado.

Meet Our Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Team and Make an Appointment