Over the last few weeks we have received several e-mails from parents with babies on elimination diets due to food allergies. Some of these e-mails have requested advice about which foods should be given to infants on elimination diets in order to replace the nutrients they are missing.
Whilst we always try to provide a full and informative response to any questions we receive, on these occasions we recommended that the parents sought professional advice, specifically from a dietitian or allergist.
The reason is that elimination diets usually involve excluding an entire food group from the diet.
For example, a baby with a dairy allergy will probably have to avoid ALL items containing dairy products – and this can have far-reaching nutritional implications.
If your baby has to avoid a certain food group, then it is very important that the foods he IS given contain the nutrients that the excluded group would usually supply. The best person to recommend the most appropriate foods – and to continue to supervise your little one’s diet – is a dietitian or allergist familiar with your child and his specific needs.
Failure to thrive
The importance of this professional supervision was underlined back in 2006, when scientists warned that children on allergy avoidance or elimination diets might suffer from malnutrition or a failure to thrive without nutritional supplementation.
During a meeting at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, two cases were presented of children who were receiving the majority of their calories from a single food source that was low in protein. Both of these children had developed failure to thrive, although they recovered once they received supplementation under the care of a nutritionist.
Source: Nutritional Implications of Food Allergies
It’s also important to note that you shouldn’t attempt to eliminate a food group from your baby’s diet unless advised to do so by your doctor. If you think your baby reacts badly to a certain type of food, then discuss the situation with your doctor who will arrange for tests to determine whether or not a true allergy or intolerance exists.
More baby food allergy information from our site..
Baby Food Allergies – Main Page
Wheat Allergy
Soy Allergy
Milk Allergy/Lactose Intolerance
Egg Allergy
Sesame Allergy
Corn Allergy
Eczema and Baby Food