Easter for many people is a time of year for indulging in chocolate and all kinds of other sweet treats. However, for people who are at risk of a severe allergic reaction, these festivities can be challenging, especially for children who may not be able to get involved with certain activities.
We have some top tips and advice on how to stay safe if you or anyone in your family suffer with a severe allergy. There are also some fun Easter themed games and activities for the holidays!
Helpful Tips and Advice- Remind your child what their allergens are and explain what they should look out for.
- Ask your child not to eat treats their friends give them without checking the ingredients label or with an adult first.
- Have safe sweets, snacks or non-food treats ready at home that can be swapped for any unsuitable treats so that no one feels left out.
- Many supermarkets sell Free-From chocolate but you don’t have to indulge in sweet treats to enjoy Easter, for example, craft activities can be just as enjoyable.
- Make friends and family aware of the allergy, what to do in an emergency and how to use any prescribed adrenaline auto-injectors.
- Remember that Easter eggs made by food manufacturers may not have the same ingredients, and subsequently the same allergen profile, as other chocolate bars from the same manufacturer – so always check the ingredients label.
- Watch out for multipack items that may have been separated from the main packaging.
- Keep your or your child’s adrenaline auto-injectors and medication with you at all times.
Members can also check our ‘Tried and Trusted’ area to find out which restaurants have been approved by other allergic people. Not a member? Click here to find out more.
For more information, contact our helpline on 01252 542029 or email [email protected]
Pin the Tail on the Rabbit is sure to get everyone enjoying the season!
You will need:
- Coloured paper
- White paper
- Scissors
- Sticky tac, sticky tape or Velcro
- Pencil
- Cotton wool
- Sleeping mask or scarf for a blindfold
Making your rabbit:
- Cut a rabbit template out of coloured paper (if you’re not an arty person search for an image to cut out online).
- Lightly draw on where the tail should go.
- Make a fluffy rabbit tail out of white paper or cotton wool.
- Add sticky tac, sticky tape or Velcro to the back of the white tail.
- Stick your rabbit carefully to a wall with sticky tac.
How to play:
- Blindfold your players and spin them around.
- Give players one attempt to stick the tail on the rabbit.
- Put a mark on the paper to show how close each person has got to the target.
- Closest to the original tail mark wins!
Making an Easter Bunny Mask is fun for the whole family and easy to do.
You will need:
- Paper plates
- Pipe cleaners or black paper
- White paper
- Wooden lollipop sticks
- Pink colouring pencil
- Stapler or glue
How to make:
- Cut out the centre of the paper plate, big enough to see your face through.
- Cut up 6 strips of black paper or get 6 pipe cleaners and stick it on the cheek area of the paper plate mask.
- Then cut out two bunny ear shapes, and stick/staple them to the top of the mask.
- Colour in the middle of the ears with the pink pencil.
- Stick the wooden lollipop stick to the bottom of the mask and use to hold in front of your face.
- Voila, your own easy to make bunny mask!
If Easter for you really is all about the eggs and chocolate, many supermarkets sell Free-From versions of chocolate eggs making the good old Easter Egg Hunt possible.
You will need:
- Free-From Easter Eggs
- Places to hide!
Hide your eggs around your house and let your children have fun trying to find them all. You can even create little clues and hints to help them on their way. And, why limit it to the house? You could take them to the park, in your garden, anywhere!
You can check out manufacturers avoidance and Free-From lists online or by giving them a call. Here are the lists available from Nestle.
If you’ve got into the creative spirit or have any other fun and allergy friendly Easter activities send us your pics by using the hashtag #AllergyFriendlyEaster – we look forward to seeing your pictures and posts!