If your child is constantly battling tummy aches, skin rashes, mood swings, or recurring congestion, it might have crossed your mind: Could it be something they’re eating? You're not alone—food reactions in kids are more common than ever. But here’s the catch: not all food reactions are true “allergies.”
In fact, most children we see with food-related symptoms actually have food sensitivities, not full-blown food allergies. Understanding the difference is the first step to helping your child feel better.
A Personal Note...
Before we dive deeper, I wanted to share a quick personal example: when I eat too much dairy, I don’t get a stomach ache—instead, my neck and shoulder muscles get sore and achy. It took me a while to make the connection, but once I cut back, the tension improved significantly.
Another example, we had a patient with chronic migraines and she could not figure out what was causing them. She eventually did a food intolerance panel and discovered she was highly sensitive to bananas—something she had every single morning in her smoothie. Once she removed them, the migraines stopped.
This is why it’s so important to remember: food sensitivity symptoms won’t always show up as digestive issues. They can manifest in all sorts of sneaky ways.
Food Allergy = Immediate & Immune-Mediated
Food allergies involve the IgE part of the immune system and usually cause symptoms within minutes to two hours of eating the offending food. These are the reactions that can be serious or even life-threatening.
Common symptoms include:
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Hives, itching, or swelling
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Wheezing or difficulty breathing
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Vomiting or severe stomach pain
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Anaphylaxis (in extreme cases)
These reactions are typically tested with skin prick tests or blood IgE panels, and must be taken seriously. Foods like peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, dairy, shellfish, and wheat are common culprits.
Food Sensitivity = Delayed & Often Overlooked
Food sensitivities involve the IgG part of the immune system (or sometimes the gut’s inflammatory response) and can take hours or even days to show up. That makes them harder to connect to symptoms—especially in kids.
Common signs of food sensitivities in children:
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Belly pain, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea
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Dark under-eye circles or “allergy shiners”
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Eczema, acne, or chronic rashes
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Headaches or fatigue
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Mood swings, anxiety, or difficulty focusing
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Chronic runny nose, congestion, or ear infections
Because these symptoms aren’t immediate, many children continue eating the problematic foods for **months—or even years—**before parents connect the dots.
How We Identify Sensitivities
In functional medicine, we use a combination of tools to uncover food sensitivities:
- Elimination diets: Temporarily removing common inflammatory foods (like gluten, dairy, soy, etc.) to see how the child responds
- IgG food sensitivity testing: Blood tests that check delayed immune reactions to dozens of foods
- Comprehensive stool testing: To look for signs of gut inflammation, leaky gut, or imbalances in gut bacteria that make sensitivities worse
What Happens Next?
If a food sensitivity is found, we focus on:
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Removing the reactive foods for a period of time
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Healing the gut and supporting digestion
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Gradually reintroducing foods (if tolerated)
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Supporting long-term immune and gut health
The goal isn’t always lifelong restriction—it’s restoring balance and figuring out what your child’s body needs to thrive.
Your Child Deserves to Feel Good
If your child has symptoms that just don’t seem to go away—or you’ve been told “everything is normal,” but you know something isn’t right—consider exploring food sensitivities.
We’re here to help you uncover the root causes and support your child with personalized care, not just quick fixes.
Ready to dig deeper? Reach out to schedule a consult or learn more about functional nutrition support for your child.
