When I was pregnant with my first child, I dreamed about his personality and the color of his eyes, not a long list of food allergies to manage.

When he was diagnosed, it felt so overwhelming. Figuring out how to feed a child was already hard and this diagnosis unlocked new challenges and fears (it was also the beginning of COVID!). Now, years later, we are still very much on a journey but each day is a little easier because of the systems and community I have built.

I will not let food allergies get in the way of a happy childhood. Nearly 1 in 13 kids in the United States has at least one food allergy. We need systems to help make this diagnosis more manageable, we need awareness to keep our kids safe, and we need community to do it together. I've helped friends through new diagnoses, advocated for my own child, learned so much, and now I want to help you.

I'm building The Safe Plate Project to be a place where parents, grandparents, friends, teachers, and caregivers can come together to help children with food allergies thrive. Let's build a safe seat at the table for every child.

You can reach me at Nell@safeplateproject.com