Even though it's possible to be allergic to just about any food, over 90 percent of food allergies, especially in young children, are caused by seven foods:
•dairy products
•soy
•shellfish
•wheat
•tree nuts
•peanuts
•egg whites

Most-Allergenic

Foods
•berries
•buckwheat
•chocolate
•cinnamon
•citrus fruits
•coconut
•corn
•dairy products
•egg whites
•mustard
•nuts
•peas
•peanut butter
•pork
•shellfish
•soy
•sugar
•tomatoes
•wheat
•yeast

READ LABELS
Potentially allergenic foods may be listed under another name in packaged foods. The most common are:
•wheat flour: durum semolina, farina
•egg white: albumin
•dairy products: Casein, sodium caseinate.

Careful label reading will help you discover what you are eating:
•Cocoa mixes, creamed foods, gravies, and some sauces contain milk.
•Noodles and pasta contain wheat and sometimes eggs.
•Canned soups may contain wheat and dairy fillers.
•Most breads contain wheat and dairy products.
•Margarine usually contains whey.
•Hot dogs, cold cuts, and "nondairy" desserts contain sodium caseinate.

FOOD ALLERGIES WHILE BREASTFEEDING
Research shows mixed results about whether maternal food restrictions during breastfeeding will lessen the risk of food allergies in babies. In fact, a study presented at the 1996 meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology showed a surprising result: The children of breastfeeding mothers who withheld allergenic foods from their diet later showed an increase in food allergies.

At present, there is some scientific basis for believing that cow's-milk products in a mother's diet can cause colicky symptoms in a baby, and therefore it would be wise for a breastfeeding mother with a family history of cow's-milk allergies to withhold dairy products from her diet, at least during the first year.

It would be wise for a breastfeeding mother to seek nutritional advice from a doctor or nutritionist before going on a restrictive diet; otherwise she (and perhaps her baby) could run the risk of nutritional deficiency.

When you do start solids, introduce the least allergic foods first, such as fruits, vegetables, and rice. Wait until at least eighteen months before introducing the worst potentially-allergic foods, such as egg whites, tomatoes, shellfish, and peanut butter. Make citrus fruits the last fruits you introduce. Also, delay introducing cow's milk products until at least a year of age. By twelve months of age, your child's intestines are mature enough to screen out most of the food allergens

Variety, variety, variety. The less children eat of one particular food, the less likely they will become allergic to it, since most food allergies are dose related. Encourage your children to eat a variety of foods. Continuing to bombard the body with the same food risks turning on the food-antibody response. Rotation diets make good sense for every eater, and especially for the allergic person.

Be a pure parent. During the early years, make your child's diet as fresh and as additive-free as possible. The fewer cans, boxes, and packages you open, the less likely your child is to be exposed to allergens. Be especially vigilant to keep food colorings out of your child's tummy, namely yellow dye #5 and red and blue dyes.