Parents know best…but at the risk of their kids health?

Parents are putting the health of their children at risk by self-diagnosing food allergies. According to an astonishing new report, while a third of parents suspect their children either have had or currently have allergies and intolerances to food, over a third of mums and dads turn to the internet first for information, with a further 15% using their own experience to diagnose any potential food allergy in their child. What happened to visiting the doctor?

One of the first food groups to be cut from a child’s diet is diary produce. Essential to bone growth and healthy teeth, cutting diary out from a diet without consulting a doctor is potentially harmful to the long-term health of that child. The report from Total Greek Yoghurt also showed that processed food, nuts and wheat are the other main foods to be cut out by parents if their child displays symptoms of an allergic reaction.

A major concern about parents of children with food allergies is their lack of basic knowledge about what ingredients are contained in certain foods. Not knowing ingredients limits what parents can cook and therefore limits the variety of meals they can prepare for kids they suspect may be intolerant or allergic.

Nutritionist Fiona Hunter, Bsc (Hons) Nutrition, Dip Dietetics, commenting on the health implications of parents diagnosing their own children said “cutting out major food groups like dairy or wheat can compromise a child’s intake of key vitamins and minerals which can have serious implications in terms of their health. It is crucial that allergies are diagnosed by a properly qualified medical practioner and that if parents are going to eliminate food from their child’s diet they seek advice from a Registered Dietitan”.

For more information visit www.totalgreekyoghurt.com