Grade by Grade
D. Healthy Living · Healthy Living

Food Allergies and Sensitivities

D1.2 A1.4About 35 minutes
Learning goals
  • I can name common foods that some people are allergic to.
  • I can describe reactions that an allergy or a food sensitivity might cause.
  • I can help keep friends with allergies safe, like not sharing food and getting an adult fast.
  • I can look for allergy words on a food label with a grown-up.

Words to know

food allergy
When a person's body mistakes a food for something harmful and reacts to it. Some reactions can be very serious.
allergen
The food (or thing) that causes an allergy, like peanuts or eggs.
reaction
What happens in the body after eating or touching an allergen, like itchy skin or trouble breathing.
hives
Itchy, red, raised bumps on the skin.
anaphylaxis
Say it: an-uh-fuh-LAK-sis. A very serious allergic reaction that can make it hard to breathe. It is an emergency.
epinephrine auto-injector
Say it: ep-ih-NEF-rin. A medicine pen that a person with a serious allergy carries. An adult uses it in an emergency.
food sensitivity
When a food makes a person feel unwell, like a tummy ache, but the body is not reacting the way it does in an allergy.
ingredients
All the things that are put together to make a food. They are listed on the food label.

Why can't Noah have that cookie?

At lunch, Noah says, "No thank you," when his friend offers him a cookie. Noah has a peanut allergy. Even a tiny bit of peanut could make him very sick.

Today you will learn what food allergies are, what can happen, and how everyone can help keep friends safe.

What is a food allergy?

Your body has a defence system that fights germs. In a food allergy, the body makes a mistake. It thinks a food is harmful, and it fights it. That fight causes a reaction.

A person can't catch an allergy from someone else. It is not anyone's fault.

Common food allergens in CanadaMore common food allergens
peanuts 🥜tree nuts (like almonds, cashews, walnuts)
milk 🥛eggs 🥚
wheat 🌾soy
sesame (seeds)mustard
fish 🐟shellfish (like shrimp and lobster) 🦐
These are some of the foods that most often cause allergies in Canada.

What can a reaction look like?

A reaction can start a few minutes after a person eats, or sometimes touches, the food. Signs can include:

  • itchy skin or hives (itchy red bumps)
  • swelling of the lips, tongue or face
  • an itchy or tight throat
  • coughing, wheezing or trouble breathing
  • tummy pain or throwing up
  • feeling dizzy or very weak

A very serious reaction is called anaphylaxis. It is an emergency. An adult uses the person's epinephrine auto-injector and calls 911.

1 Noticeswelling, hives,trouble breathing2 Get an adultRIGHT AWAY.Shout for help!3 Adult helpsuses the auto-injectorand calls 911A friend stays with the person the whole time.
If a friend shows signs of a serious allergic reaction, get an adult right away. Never wait to see if it gets better.

Allergy or sensitivity?

A food sensitivity is different. The food makes the person feel unwell, but it is usually not the dangerous kind of reaction.

For example, some people feel tummy pain, gas or bloating after they drink milk. Their body has trouble digesting the sugar in milk. It is uncomfortable, but it is not an emergency.

Only a doctor can tell if someone has an allergy or a sensitivity.

Allergy safety rules

  • Don't share food, drinks or utensils.
  • Wash your hands before and after eating, so allergens don't get on toys, desks and doorknobs.
  • Ask first. Never give food to a friend without asking their grown-up or teacher.
  • Read labels with a grown-up.
  • Tell an adult right away if a friend looks sick after eating. Do not wait!
  • Be kind. Never tease someone about their allergy, and never try to trick them into touching their allergen. Include them in the fun.
Oat BarIngredients: rolled oats, honey, peanuts,raisins, sunflower oil, salt.Contains: Peanuts.May contain: Tree nuts, Sesame.
A pretend food label. The ingredient list and the "Contains" line both show peanuts. "May contain" means tiny bits could have got in at the factory.
Worked example

Let's read a label

Priya is allergic to peanuts. Her dad shows her the label on an oat bar (look at the picture above). Is the bar safe for Priya?

  1. Read the ingredients: rolled oats, honey, peanuts, raisins, sunflower oil, salt.
  2. Find the Contains line: "Contains: Peanuts."
  3. The bar has peanuts in it. Priya's allergen is peanuts.

No, the bar is not safe for Priya. She should choose a different snack. Always check labels with a grown-up, every time, because recipes can change.

Worked example

Let's respond to a reaction

At lunch, Jayden's lips start to swell, and he says his throat feels funny. He has a fish allergy, and he just tried a bite of a sandwich. What should his friends do?

  1. Notice the signs: swelling lips and a funny throat. This could be a serious reaction.
  2. Get an adult right away. Run to the lunch supervisor or teacher. Shout for help if needed.
  3. Stay calm and stay with Jayden (or send one friend for help while another stays).
  4. The adult uses Jayden's epinephrine auto-injector and calls 911.

Friends get an adult fast. Quick help can save a life. Never wait to see if it gets better.

Just for fun

Peanuts are not really nuts! They grow underground and belong to the same plant family as peas and beans.

Hands-on activity

Allergy detective labels

You need: 4 or 5 food packages from your kitchen and a grown-up.

  1. Pick one allergen to search for, like milk or wheat.
  2. With your grown-up, read the ingredients list on each package. Look for the Contains line too.
  3. Sort the packages into two piles: has it and doesn't have it.
  4. Talk: How would a person with this allergy feel at a party? How could you make sure they are included?

Bonus: Make a kind poster for your classroom, like "We wash our hands and keep our friends safe!"

Your turn

1

What is a food allergy?

2

Name three common food allergens.

3

Name two signs of an allergic reaction.

4

Why shouldn't you share your lunch at school?

5

A friend looks sick after eating. What do you do?

6

Why do we wash our hands after eating?

7

What is the difference between an allergy and a sensitivity?

More practice: warm-up

1

What are hives?

2

Is a peanut a common allergen? Yes or no?

3

Can you catch an allergy from a friend?

4

Who should you tell if a friend has a reaction?

5

Where on a package can you find the ingredients?

More practice: on your own

1

Ella is allergic to eggs. A cupcake label says: flour, sugar, eggs, butter. Is it safe for her? Explain.

2

Kai is allergic to sesame. A cracker box says, "May contain sesame." What should Kai do?

3

Your class is having a party. How could you include a friend with a milk allergy?

4

Why is anaphylaxis an emergency?

5

Someone says, "Let's put a peanut near Sam's desk as a joke." What do you say and do?

Challenge

1

Why is it important to read a food label every time, even for a food you have eaten before?

2

Max feels a tummy ache and gas after drinking milk, but no hives or swelling. Is this more likely a sensitivity or an allergy? Who can tell for sure?

3

Think about how a child with a serious allergy might feel at a birthday party. Name a feeling and one kind thing you could do.

Check your understanding

Quiz

1.

In a food allergy, the body...

2.

Which is a common food allergen?

3.

Which is a sign of a serious allergic reaction?

4.

Your friend's lips swell after lunch. What should you do first?

5.

Where can you check if a food has an allergen?

6.

Which is a kind and safe thing to do?

For parents and teachers

Big idea: The Grade 2 expectation asks students to identify common food allergies and sensitivities and the reactions they might cause. The lesson also covers practical safety (not sharing food, handwashing, reading labels with an adult, getting help fast) and empathy for classmates with allergies.

What to know: In Canada, the most common food allergens include peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, wheat, soy, sesame, mustard, fish, and crustaceans and shellfish. Ontario's Sabrina's Law (2005) requires every school board to have an anaphylaxis policy, so your child's school likely has rules like no food sharing and nut-aware classrooms. A food sensitivity or intolerance (such as lactose intolerance) causes discomfort but not the immune reaction of an allergy. A doctor should diagnose either one.

How to help at home:

  • Read labels together and point to the ingredients list and the "Contains" statement.
  • If your child has an allergy, practise how they would tell an adult, "I think I'm having a reaction." Make sure they know where their auto-injector is kept.
  • Model asking before offering food to visiting children.

Keep it calm: The goal is awareness, not fear. Emphasize that adults know what to do and that quick action works.

Common difficulties: confusing an allergy with simply disliking a food; thinking "a little bit" is okay; waiting to see if a reaction gets better.

This lesson also builds healthy relationships (A1.4): empathy and including others.