Jenn Casey on Living Safely with Food Allergies: Two Philosophy in Action Podcasts

Last night, I completed my two-part interview of food allergy mom Jenn Casey about "Living Safely with Food Allergies" for Philosophy in Action Radio. Food allergies are distinct from the food intolerances that often reveal themselves after a person eats paleo for a while. However, since they're increasingly common, and perhaps of great concern to some readers, I wanted to post the podcasts of the interview here.

Jenn Casey on "Living Safely with Food Allergies"

Many Americans have food allergies to common foods such as peanuts, dairy, and eggs. Some of those allergies are so serious as to be life-threatening. Jenn Casey's son has a life-threatening peanut allergy, diagnosed when he was a toddler. What must people diagnosed with such allergies do to protect themselves from accidental ingestion? How can parents keep their children with such allergies safe? How should other people in their lives – such as family, friends, and teachers – do to protect them from harm? What should schools, clubs, and other organizations do?

Jenn Casey is a homeschooling mom to three hilarious kids, wife, small business owner, CrossFit athlete and coach, Positive Discipline educator, sometime blogger, puppy trainer, reluctant 5K runner, urban-chicken-raising wannabe, amateur gardener, humor dabbler, serious Beatles enthusiast, longtime Objectivist, economics nerd, even bigger operations management nerd, Sauvignon Blanc lover, bourbon appreciator, and President of ATLOS.

Part One

Listen or Download:

• Duration: 1:02:06
• Download: Standard MP3 File (21.3 MB)
• Tags: Allergies, Children, Food, Health, Medicine, Parenting

Topics:

• Jenn's background
• Food allergies versus intolerances
• The most common food allergies
• The increase in rates of food allergies
• Jenn's introduction to food allergies: the peanut kaboom
• Diagnosing food allergies
• Food allergies in kids versus adults
• Outgrowing allergies
• Cures and treatments for food allergies
• Dealing with a diagnosis
• Managing a food allergy with a "comfort zone"
• The dangers of not carrying an epi pen
• Managing a food allergy in a toddler versus almost-teenager
• The death of Natalie Giorgi
• Epi-pen strategy
• Life sustaining food as deadly
• Allergies and the hygiene hypothesis
• The topics for Part 2

Part Two

Listen or Download:

• Duration: 1:19:05
• Download: Standard MP3 File (27.2 MB)
• Tags: Allergies, Bullying, Children, Communication, Education, Food, Health, Medicine, Parenting, Respect, Schools

Topics:

• Comfort zones, again
• Educating friends and family
• Vistors and rules
• Talking to kids at different ages
• Allowing foods to the non-allergic kids
• Conflict over comfort zones with spouses
• Extended family not respecting comfort zones
• Problems with other kids, including bullying
• Unpleasant and ignorant comments
• Accommodations in schools
• The limited value of food labels
• Questions for food producers and restaurants
• Peanuts on airlines
• The value of doctors and other support
• The biggest challenge of food allergies
• Preventing food allergies
• Silver linings

Links:

• Rational Jenn: The Big Peanut Kaboom
• NoodleFood: Coping with Life-Threatening Food Allergies
• Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE)
• Philosophy in Action: Peanut Bans in Schools

About Philosophy in Action Radio

Philosophy in Action Radio applies rational principles to the challenges of real life in live internet radio shows on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. For information on upcoming shows, visit the Episodes on Tap. For podcasts of past shows, visit the Show Archives.