Blog — Mun Cho RD

What should I feed my baby first? Anything high in iron! After 6 months, baby's iron needs go up dramatically. Some of these foods fall under the "high" risk category for FPIES (eg. soy, egg, fish, chicken). Keep in mind that just because the food is labelled "high risk" does not mean that your baby will react to it.

The level of "risk" describes how likely the food tends to be a culprit in a GROUP of babies. It is not very good at predicting whether or not your baby will react to it. The only way to know for sure is to offer the food to baby.

Food AllergiesMun ChoOctober 31, 2019fpies, food introduction, food allergy in babies, pediatric nutritionistComment

What's The Difference Between An IgE vs. non-IgE Mediated Food Allergy?

Both impact food allergy families significantly. More money to buy special food, fear and anxiety, lack of food freedom, more time and labour spent on preparing special foods. Both groups need to avoid the allergen.

Both are very different from food intolerance. I know some would refer to non-IgE food allergies as "food intolerance" and IgE mediated allergies as "true food allergies". This language is problematic. Read more…

Food AllergiesMun ChoOctober 9, 2019fpies, food allergies, managing food allergies, food allergyComment

Moving From Fear To Vigilance When Dealing With Food Allergies

Let's talk about food allergy and fear. My first thought when my son was diagnosed with a peanut allergy was to create a peanut-free household. I wanted a peanut-free zone so that I don't have to worry about a possible anaphylactic reaction. That way I can let my guard down. Read more…

Diagnosing Food Allergy: What You Need to Know About False Positive in Skin Prick Test and Blood Work

Disclaimer: I am not an allergist. I have seen a variety of practices among allergists. Some will do wide panel skin prick test (SPT), some will only do SPT when there is a clinical indication for it (ie. hives, other clinical symptoms that points to a suspicious IgE mediated reaction). I believe many are moving towards the later.

Read more about what you need to know about false positives in skin prick test and blood work from the perspective of a pediatric nutritionist.

Cross-Reactivity Between Soy and Dairy in FPIES - A Closer Look at the Stats

Are you afraid to trial dairy because your baby reacted to soy? Or vice versa....nervous try soy because dairy is a trigger? You heard about cross-reactivity between soy and dairy. Let's take a closer look at the stats…

Food AllergiesMun ChoSeptember 16, 2019fpies, managing food allergies, food allergies, pediatric nutritionist, dairy allergyComment

Is Soy Oil Or Lecithin Safe If My Baby Is FPIES To Soy?

Is corn oil ok if my baby reacts to corn?

In FPIES, the reaction is to the protein molecules in food. Soy oil, lecithin and corn oil are highly refined, which means that most (if not all) of the protein should be removed during the refining process. However, some babies can be sensitive even to trace amounts in highly refined oils. Read more…

Burnout And Parenting With A Food Allergy

Managing your child's FPIES can be very draining. Burnout among food allergy parents is a real thing!! Where we direct our energy matters. Constant worrying over something that is BEYOND your control is draining. It leads to anxiousness and most importantly, it makes you feel helpless. Read more…

Let's Talk Poop And FPIES

Because FPIES moms are obsessed with poop! So what's a normal poop? And what are the symptoms we should be watching for? First of all, let's talk about normal poop in a healthy baby. Even for babies without FPIES, there is a high degree of variability in frequency, consistency and colour - all which are considered normal. Read more…

High Risk vs. Low Risk Foods In FPIES

Introducing new foods to FPIES babies can be seriously stressful and every FPIES mama probably has come across the high risk vs. low-risk in FPIES food chart. Here are some thoughts on food introduction and my personal experience with FPIES...

Food AllergiesMun ChoAugust 10, 2019fpies, food allergies, food allergy in babiesComment

A Letter To My Daughter With A Thin Body

If I wrote a letter to my daughter with a thin body it would read something like this... You are more than a girl who is thin. I know that it delights you when others comment about how thin you are. They don't know how their comments about your body also make you fearful...

Building Body PositivityMun ChoAugust 4, 2019body positivity, positive parenting, relationship with foodComment

A Note From A Dietitian And FPIES Mama

A Registered Dietitian and FPIES mama here... Even as a dietitian, I was not taught about FPIES during my training. My knowledge of FPIES comes from my lived experience when my baby girl was diagnosed at 7 months. Read more of our FPIES journey...

Food AllergiesMun ChoAugust 4, 2019fpies, food allergies, food allergy in babies, pediatric nutritionistComment

A Letter To My Daughter With A Fat Body

If I wrote a letter to my daughter with a fat body it would read something like this... There is nothing inherently wrong with your body. The world is cruel. Friends, family and even doctors may imply that your body "needs to be fixed"...

Building Body PositivityMun ChoJuly 26, 2019body positivity, relationship with food, positive parentingComment

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