New to Food Allergies? Your Quick Start Guide
- Allergy Force Insights
- Mar 11, 2022
- 5 min read
Updated: Feb 23
(Updated: February 2026)
When you’re newly diagnosed with food allergies, you may feel overwhelmed, anxious, unsure what to do first after you leave the allergist, epinephrine prescription in hand. What you do know with certainty is that life as you know it has just taken a sharp left turn. Here is a ‘quick start’ guide to resources** to help you reset and recalibrate your journey called life.
As you explore these resources, you will find that there are excellent advocacy groups for the food allergy community. You’ll also find that you are not alone and that there is a broad and kind food allergy community who will share their know-how, hacks, and encouragement to help you gain your footing and build your confidence.
Figuring It Out
—getting a correct diagnosis & understanding it
ACAAI
Resource suggestion: food allergy testing and diagnosis
ACAAI is the ‘American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology’, a professional medical organization of more than 6,000 allergists-immunologists and allied health professionals.
KFA
Resource suggestion: diagnosing a food allergy
KFA is ‘Kids with Food Allergies’, a division of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). KFA serves as a lifeline for families raising children with food allergies. AAFA, a non-profit founded in 1953, is dedicated to saving lives and reducing the burden of disease for people with asthma and allergies through support, advocacy, education and research. Don't miss KFA's information on affording epinephrine, a medication you will need to keep within reach 24:7 to manage severe allergic reactions.
AAAAI
Resource suggestion: oral food challenges—what, why, how
AAAAI is the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, a membership organization of more than 7,000 allergists / immunologists (in the US, Canada and 72 other countries) with a special interest in the research and treatment of allergic and immunologic diseases. AAAAI is also a trusted resource for patients with allergic disease and immune deficiency disorders.
Allergic Living
Resource suggestion: How to Prepare for Your First Visit to the Allergist
Allergic Living is your source for deeply researched, accurate, and timely reporting on food allergy and asthma news, research breakthroughs, and legislative developments. When you subscribe you'll receive direct to your inbox newsletters featuring all this, plus in-depth articles on navigating allergic life, inspiring personal stories, and allergy-friendly recipes.
Settling into Life with Food Allergies
—climbing the learning curve post-diagnosis
FAACT
Resource suggestions: for the newly diagnosed & food allergy basics
FAACT is the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team, a non-profit organization that educates, advocates (government & civil rights), raises awareness and connects food allergy parents. FAACT organizes highly accessible events & experiences like teen retreats, support group leader training sessions, camps for kids and support groups.
FARE
Resource suggestions: for the newly diagnosed & for early childhood
FARE is the Food Allergy Research & Education organization, a non-profit that empowers individuals with food allergies to lead safe, productive lives. FARE works for a future free from food allergy by driving legislative initiatives, supporting research into novel strategies for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, and building community and awareness.
Food Allergy Canada
Resource suggestions: for your new reality & the emotional impact for children
Food Allergy Canada is dedicated to helping Canadians with food allergies live with confidence. Food Allergy Canada is a source of critical food allergy information, educational programming, support services and advocacy for the more than 3 million Canadians (1 in 2 households) who live with this chronic condition.
CFAAR
Resource suggestions: Workbook & Passport for consolidating and communicating your food allergy information
CFAAR is the Center for Food Allergy and Asthma Research. CFAAR conducts research to improve the health of people living with allergic disease. From their research, CFAAR develops, evaluates and distributes asthma and allergy interventions, and informs local, state, national and international health policymaking. (CFAAR is part of Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine & Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago)
The Food Allery Counselor, Tamara Hubbard, MA, LCPC
Resource suggestion: Book — "May Contain Anxiety"
Food allergy therapist Tamara Hubbard, MA, LCPC, recently published her book, "May Contain Anxiety." It's an excellent resource to help you find your way through the fear and overwhelm of parenting allergic kids, especially when newly diagnosed or when facing big life transitions. Learn more about Tamara, her work, and her mental health resources for food allergy families and patients. Visit her website.
Finding Support from Others Who ‘Get It’
—for when you're ready
Always check with your own medical provider to verify information you gather from the internet when making healthcare-related decisions!
Support group options to consider
FARE: find a FARE support group.
FRIENDS HELPING FRIENDS is a FAACT-recognized support group: Explore here.
NNMG Food Allergic Families Forum is another FAACT-recognized support group: Explore here.
Regionalized NNMG Facebook groups: There are over 100 groups — at state/province level, county/region level, and city level — coast to coast in the US and Canada. Find a group near you.
Other resources
AAFA offers a free course on managing your child’s food allergies.
A start-up, ‘Feed Your Can’, recently launched an A-Z course on food allergies for people who are new to allergic life.
The Itch Podcast co-hosted by, NYC allergist Dr. Payel Gupta and Zestfull founder Kortney Kwong-Hing covers broadly topical allergy and asthma information and is well worth a listen.
Getting Started with Allergen-free Cooking
—venturing forth in your brave new world
Label reading—this is an all important skill to hone
An article on ‘How To Read Food Labels for Allergens’ by Allergy Force is a good place to start sharpening this critical skill set.
Knowing where allergens can hide—protects you from accidental exposures
Allergic Living’s article on hidden allergens is a great place to start.
Substituting for allergens in recipes—this is another important skill to master
KFA’s recipe substitutions can make kitchen creativity easier.
FARE suggestions for simple substitutions by top allergen can help, too.
Trusted recipe sources for allergy-friendly cooking & baking
Food allergic living will get easier over time as your knowledge and skills grow—promise. You’ve got this!
** Notes
We’re committed to help you find resources that help you master allergic life quickly and confidently. Allergy Force is not an affiliate of any of the organizations (non-profit entities, for profit companies, websites, publications) referenced in this article.
Allergy Force is committed to helping people with food allergies live freely — with less fear, less anxiety, more confidence — through technology and education. The Allergy Force food allergy app is peace of mind in your pocket.....
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Image Credits: Ian Battaglia on Unsplash and Wix
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