This group is for parents of children with food allergies ages birth-preschool. We have organizers from Chicago and Fox Valley, so we offer events in both areas.

Perhaps you are breastfeeding and you are on a restricted diet, your baby is on a special formula, or your toddler has food allergies and you are figuring out how to plan meals. You won't have to explain yourself - we already understand! We are here to foster the social wellness and development of our children through interactive play, while increasing food allergy awareness, community acceptance and active support.

Our meetups can include the zoo, parks, play dates, and anything else that's fun for the family…the bonus is that we all support each other by making our meetups as food-safe as possible. Occasionally we will schedule Parents’ Night Out.

Meetups are scheduled throughout the week for those stay at home/work at home parents within the group or if you work a different schedule other than the normal 9-5. We'll also schedule some evenings and weekends so the entire family can attend.

If you have an idea for a meetup, please feel free to post it on the message board or email the Organizers.

When you join:

1. Annual membership dues of $6 per family are due by the last day of the first full month following your join date (For example, if you join February 8, your fees are due by March 31). If dues are not paid on time, you will be removed from the group.

Dues go towards the cost of maintaining the Meetup group site. Any additional money collected will used for meetup expenses and/or donations to food allergy groups such as FAAN or FAI. You can pay via Paypal, cash or check. See payment options on the site for more details.

2. Please make sure your profile is updated with a current family photo. This helps us to find each other at meetups.

3. RSVP to events and stick to them. We know that things come up and kids get sick, but please be courteous and let us know if you can’t make it.

We hope to bring together food-allergic families, share stories and experiences, and make lasting friendships!

Disclaimer: This site is provided for general informational purposes only, and not for the purpose of providing medical advice or giving a medical opinion. You should always seek the advice of your personal physician or other health care provider for any medical advice you seek or to respond to any questions you may have regarding a food allergy or any other medical condition; and you should never disregard professional medical advice, or delay seeking it, because of something you have read or otherwise seen on this site.