Ep. 153: Food Allergy Bullying - How to Talk to Your Child and Their School

Part of the series: Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Innovations Podcast

This podcast was made in partnership with Allergy & Asthma Network.

We thank Genentech and Kaléo for sponsoring this episode. While they support the show, all opinions are our own, and sponsorship doesn’t influence our content or editorial decisions. Any mention of brands is for informational purposes and not an endorsement.

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Food allergy bullying is more common than most parents realize, and most kids never bring it up on their own. Research shows it affects up to 1 in 3 children with food allergies, and the signs can be easy to miss: a lunchbox that keeps coming home full, a sudden reluctance to go to school, or quietly backing off from safe food habits to avoid standing out.

In this episode, psychologist Dr. Amanda Whitehouse joins Kortney and Dr. Payel Gupta to talk about what food allergy bullying actually looks like, how to start a conversation with your child without shutting them down, and when and how to bring the school into it.

What we cover in our episode about food allergy bullying:

• What food allergy bullying looks like. From verbal teasing and social exclusion to threats involving allergens, and how it differs from everyday teasing.

• Signs your child may be being bullied. Behavioral shifts to watch for include school avoidance, changes in eating habits, and withdrawal from activities they used to love.

• How to start the conversation. Why open-ended questions and connection before action are key to getting your child to open up.

• When and how to involve the school. How to approach teachers and administrators, know your child's rights, and document what's happening.

• Building resilience after bullying. How involving your child in the solution, rather than swooping in to fix it, helps them feel empowered rather than powerless.

About our guest

Dr. Amanda Whitehouse is a licensed psychologist who specializes in anxiety and trauma related to food allergy and celiac disease. A food allergy mom herself, she brings both personal and clinical experience to her work. She is the host of the Don't Feed the Fear podcast and has a workbook on navigating food allergy treatments coming summer 2026. 

• More about Dr. Amanda Whitehouse 

• @thefoodallergypsychologist

More resources about food allergies

• Planning for School with Food Allergies

• How Parents, Schools Can Prevent Bullying

• Back to School With Confidence: How to Prevent Bullying

Supporting The Itch Podcast episodes

• Ep. 120: Back to School with Food Allergies

• Ep. 135: Food Allergies in School: A School Nurse's Perspective

• Ep. 132: Boundaries & Communication in Food Allergy Families

• Ep. 114: Managing Food Allergies in Teens

• Ep. 113: Managing Food Allergies in Children Ages 5-11

Supporting Don't Feed the Fear podcast episodes 

• When Safety Creates Distance: Isolation, Connection, and Boundaries in Food Allergy Life

• Is a Therapist the Missing Piece in Your Food Allergy Support System?

• Attachment Styles and Coping Skills

Timestamps‍ ‍

Our episode about food allergy bullying gives parents the tools they need to spot it and talk to their kids

01:15 Amanda's introduction 

02:25 How common is food allergy bullying 

03:22 What food allergy bullying looks like 

09:22 Signs your child may be being bullied 

13:24 How to talk to your child about bullying 

20:40 What if your child won't open up 

24:01 Should you tell your child they could be bullied for their food allergy 

28:13 Setting phone rules with your child 

32:30 How bullying affects kids emotionally 

36:53 When to involve the school 

40:55 How to help your child heal 

45:40 When to seek help from a therapist