You Can Be an Allergy Ally!
Learn about food allergies, play games, and discover how YOU can help keep your classmates safe and happy.
What Is a Food Allergy?
Some foods can make certain people very, very sick — even in tiny amounts.
It’s different from just not liking a food, or having a tummy ache after eating too much. A food allergy means a person’s body treats that food like a danger signal — and reacts by trying to fight it. That reaction can happen very fast and can be really serious.
These are some of the most common allergens
The Allergy-Safe Friend Rules
Four things every great Allergy Ally knows how to do.
Rule 1
Wash your hands after eating
Soap and water help wash away allergens so you don't accidentally spread them to classmates.
Rule 2
Don't share food unless an adult says it's safe
Even a tiny bite of the wrong food can make someone very sick. Sharing food without checking first is never worth the risk.
Rule 3
Ask before bringing treats
Before you share a snack or birthday treat, check with your teacher first so every student can be safe.
Rule 4
Help keep your friends safe
You don't have to do it all — just do your part. Every small action adds up to a much safer classroom.
Be a Brave Helper
Being an Allergy Ally isn’t just about not sharing food. It’s about being the kind of friend who helps keep everyone safe. Here’s how:
Remind others not to share food without checking first
Tell an adult if someone ignores allergy rules at school
Help keep eating areas clean after snacks and lunch
Stand up for a classmate if someone makes fun of their allergy
Heroes don’t need capes.
Every time you wash your hands, remind a friend to check before sharing, or speak up for a classmate — you’re being a real hero.
What I Wish My Classmates Knew
“Every single day, I have to check the ingredients on every food I eat — even foods I’ve had before, because recipes can change. At lunch, I have to sit carefully and make sure no one puts certain foods near mine.
At birthday parties, I sometimes can’t eat the cake. At holidays, I have to ask what’s in the treats before I can have any. It’s not that I don’t want to join in — I really do. It’s just that one wrong bite could send me to the hospital.
When a friend remembers my allergy without being asked, or says, ‘Let me check if this is safe for you’ — it matters more than you know.”
Game 1: Spot the Unsafe Snack
Read each snack situation and decide: is it Safe or Not Safe? 5 questions!
Your friend brings homemade cookies to school and offers to share them with the class. No one checked the ingredients.
Game 2: Label Detective
Study the food label closely and answer the question. Can you spot the clues that keep classmates safe?
Nutrition Label
Chewy Granola Bar
What ingredient might cause a reaction in someone with a tree nut allergy?
Take It Home!
Kids Activity Sheet
A printable activity sheet with fun allergy-awareness exercises, drawing prompts, and facts to share with your family.