Search Results for: Laurie Harada

There I was again, reeling off the list of foods which my son, Julian, had to avoid because of his allergies to peanuts, nuts, shellfish, chick peas, split peas and soy. He was 6 years old at the time and we were dining at a restaurant, one of many during a week-long vacation in Florida. [...]

Food allergies are a growing public health concern, with approximately 1.2 million Canadians at risk. The surge in allergic disorders, and the risk of life-threatening anaphylactic reactions has elicited a flurry of media coverage. At the heart of many articles are lobbying efforts to restrict peanut and tree nuts in schools and public venues. Journalists [...]

They say that music is a universal language. In many ways, so is food. No matter where you travel, people show pride in their heritage and express their emotions through food. As world travelers, my husband, Victor, and I want to expose our children to different cultures. Both of us have worked abroad – he [...]

A couple of years ago, the news media reported the results of a study that found that many nut allergic children were unable to recognize common nuts. The article prompted mixed reviews from parents of food allergic children. Some were offended by the suggestion that parents, in trying to shield their children from danger, had [...]

Food, the very sustenance of life, is present as we celebrate both life and death, mark rites of passage, and proudly offer others a glimpse into our unique cultures with special dishes. But our relationship with food – when, where, how, and even why we eat – has changed significantly over the years. There is [...]

When my son, Julian, was diagnosed with peanut allergy years ago, I faced the news alone. My husband Victor could not come to the allergist’s appointment as he had a business commitment. Overwhelmed by the thought of possibly losing our child, I had a meltdown when I called Victor later. Sobbing, I explained: “He could [...]

The start of kindergarten is bittersweet for most parents. On one hand, we’re excited for the new experiences that await our youngsters as they begin their school careers; at the same time, we mourn the passing of the baby years. How quickly they grow up. I remember clearly the day that our first-born child, Julian, [...]

Are school playgrounds getting meaner? It certainly seems so when you hear media reports about children being singled out for being different, whatever “different” may mean. I was surprised to receive a call recently from a friend whose child had been involved in a bullying encounter. She was embarrassed to admit that her son had [...]

When my son, Julian, was first diagnosed with an allergy to peanut the summer before starting kindergarten, I was devastated. I felt overwhelmed by the prospect of losing him to a lowly peanut. For months, I walked around looking like a deer in the headlights, my face fixed with that ‘ohmygawd’ expression. Danger seemed to [...]

Ten years ago my foray into the world of food allergies began when my first born, Julian, was diagnosed with peanut allergy just months before starting junior kindergarten. Looking back, I’m amazed to see how far we’ve come as a society to address an issue affecting a growing number of children. In January 2006, Sabrina’s [...]