How to Plan an Allergy-Friendly Birthday for Kids in NYC
Planning an allergy-friendly birthday party in NYC? As food allergies are on the rise, it’s increasingly common to plan allergy-friendly birthday parties – even if you’re child does not have a food allergy.
According to foodallergy.org, researchers estimate that 1 in 13 children have a food allergy. This means your child likely has one or two friends who are allergic to one (or more) of the 8 major allergenic foods: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybean.
In my 10 years of experience as a professional children’s magician in NYC, I’ve performed for thousands of birthdays and found some easy ways to turn birthdays into safe, inclusive and fun events for everyone.
5 simple tips for planning an allergy-friendly birthday party
- Ask parents to include any allergies on the RSVP card. Initiate this conversation early so that everyone feels comfortable and you have enough time to plan. If it’s a drop-off party, you’ll want to make sure everyone is on the same page with the medications and action plan in case of an emergency.
- Keep safe foods safe Ask guests to wash their hands before and after eating. If you’re serving foods with allergens, keep them in a separate, clean area away from the safe foods. Label each dish with both its name and the ingredients.
- Work with the venue If you’re hosting the party at an outside venue, ask about their experience with food allergies. Discuss safe food options, bringing in outside food, preventing cross-contamination and how they manage the medication.
- Recruit help Engaging a room of children can be challenging enough. Make sure you have the support you need to ensure a safe and comfortable environment for everyone.
- Provide non-food party favors Instead of goodie bags filled with candy, give guests a physical item instead. Popular alternatives to candy include coloring books, trading cards, my magic goodie bags, tee-shirts, and bubbles.
Places You Can Find Allergy-Friendly Sweets in NYC
Worried about coming up with an allergy-friendly dessert? The good news is there are a lot of places in NYC that have experience dealing with food allergies.
Here are just a few that can remove the worry and guess-work:
- A La Mode, 360 East 55th street, makes homemade, small-batch ice cream made in our nut-free, sesame-free and egg-free facility. Visit their website for more info.
- Alice’s Tea Cup, 102 West 73rd Street, offers several vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free options. Visit their website for more info.
- By the Way Bakery, 1236 Lexington Avenue, makes delicious baked goods that are gluten-freen, dairy-free and kosher pareve. Visit their website for more info.
- Chloe’s Pops, 25 East 17th Street, makes fruit pops with source ingredients that are free of the eight major food allergens. Visit their website for more info.
- Baked Cravings, 1673 Lexington Ave, offers yummy pastries that are 100% nut-free, peanut free, and tree nut free and kosher. Visit their website for more info.
Making Your Child’s Party the Best One Yet
There’s a lot that goes into planning an allergy-friendly birthday. I hope this article points you in the right direction.
Want a guaranteed-great way to make your child’s party unforgettably fun? I can help with that, too…
…simply arrange my birthday party magic show!
Weekends are popular, and dates sell out quickly. To avoid disappointment, fill out the form below to check your date before it’s too late!
I’m Magic Evan, and I’m wishing you the best in the planning of your child’s special day!