For children with food allergies, one bite of the wrong food or simply touching an object with food remnants could send them to the hospital. Or worse.

Parents of these children often approach new situations with anxiety and caution. Wendy Mondello, a freelance writer and former Cary News staffer, faced many life changes when her son, Joseph was diagnosed with allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, milk, egg and soy. Since then, she became involved with a parent support group in the Cary area, NC FACES, which started more than seven years ago. Her son, Joseph, is now 7 years old, and her daughter, Pamela, who does not have food allergies, is 2. Correspondent Anne Woodman talked to Mondello about the challenges of raising a child with food allergies.

Q: My own son was diagnosed with a peanut allergy when he was a baby. I know you must have been worried.

A: It's very scary. All of a sudden, you're looking around you, knowing that anything could trigger a potentially fatal reaction. I nursed him longer because of that [until he was 2 1/2]. I was on his diet, and it helped me learn what was OK to eat. Other than the initial reaction when he was 9 months old, he has only had one other anaphylactic reaction - when he was 2. He took a sip of milk [accidentally], then started vomiting and couldn't breathe. He had to stay in the hospital overnight. It was so hard watching him in the hospital. I think, though, that he was old enough then to start to understand how serious it was.

Q: So what events have you attended that help your son?

A: We have gone to Food Free Halloween every year. They play games, give prizes, the kids can wear costumes, and as a parent, you can relax. You know your child can just have fun. There is an Easter egg hunt in the spring. Joseph saw his first movie in the theater because of NC FACES. They coordinate a movie event at Park Place Cinemas where the theater is completely clean.

We also attend the Durham Bulls game each year in the peanut-free section. We're big sports fans. It's nice to take my son and enjoy the experience. Between his asthma and the peanut dust, sports events can be problematic. One time at a football game, someone was eating peanuts, and Joseph broke out in hives on the back of his neck. No one really knows how allergies work. Even if his life isn't in danger, if he has an asthma attack, it's not a good thing.

We also attended the FAAN [Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network] Walk. Last year, I helped get sponsors and helped with the walk, too.

Q: Where does Joseph go to school and how do you manage his allergies when he's there?

A: He is homeschooled. Soon after his reaction to the sip of milk, we were discussing options for preschool, and all I could think about was him having a potentially fatal reaction to something and not being able to tell the teacher the reason he was upset. We decided to give homeschooling a try for preschool, and it turned out to be the right choice for us.

Q: How do you handle meals?

A: I cook all of his food, and he's excited when we find new recipes. My daughter eats the same diet just in case of cross-contamination. Whenever I buy a new product, I call the company and ask lots of questions. Thankfully, I like cooking and enjoy the challenge of finding new recipes.

Q: There's a new event on the horizon for kids with food allergies.

A: Camp TAG [The Allergy Gang] is a half-day camp that will take place for the first time in the summer of 2011. Raleigh is one of the 11 cities nationwide that will pilot the program. Kids ages 3 to 12 can participate. When we heard, we were so excited. I think the fact that our area was chosen says something about how strong our group is. There will be fun activities and a little bit of allergy education, too. On the last day, there will be a celebration.

This is a great opportunity. At the last FAAN Walk, it was so nice to see my son's face when everyone clapped for the kids with allergies. He was so proud because the event was just for him. So often, children with allergies are the "different" kids.