Just in time for Father’s Day, Allergic Living parenting contributor Megan Lavin pays tribute to food allergy dads.
In this episode of the Megan’s Minute video series, she looks at how many of them help to shoulder the huge workload of food allergy management. That’s the case in her marriage, and she knows of many allergy dads who step up to contribute.
The importance of allergy dads was driven home to Megan, who has a broadcasting background, when she took on a TV news anchor job in 2025. The job was exciting, but what about the myriad tasks and scheduling she managed as a food allergy mom?
Into the breach strode super allergy dad, her husband. In the video, she explains that he’s packed lunches, made dinners, driven kids to activities and handled last-minute schedule changes. Not to mention, she notes, tackling “all those little invisible jobs that keep a household running.”
Megan says allergy moms get a lot of attention – and rightfully so. “Many of us are the ones researching ingredients at midnight, coordinating with coaches, emailing teachers, calling restaurants, scheduling appointments, and carrying a lot of the mental load that comes with raising a child with food allergies.”
Yet, in the background, her husband has always been there. He’s fully versed on their sons’ food allergies, label reading, asking servers questions, and when to use epinephrine. Sometimes he travels alone with their four kids and, while Megan’s wired to worry, she knows they are in safe hands.
Allergy Dads: Sharing Food Allergy Burden
For their two allergic sons: “I know he’ll ask the right questions at restaurants, I know he’ll find safe options. He’ll carry their medications and be prepared if something goes wrong.”
Megan sees that for allergy moms, it’s sometimes hard to share the reins with an allergy dad. “It’s hard to let go,” she says. “We spend years being the default parent for food allergies. We know every ingredient, every safe restaurant, every emergency plan, every school accommodation.”
Taking on the fulltime TV job “has forced me to loosen my grip a little bit,” Megan shares. Seeing her husband step up has been a good reminder that he has long been there on food allergies: learning, listening, showing up.
“Honestly, my husband has been incredible,” she says. She invites you also to share contributions of allergy dads in social media comments on this post.
Megan says: “The food allergy journey can feel lonely at times. But it’s a lot easier when you have someone willing to shoulder the burden alongside you.”
Join Allergic Living monthly for a new installment of Megan’s Minute with Megan Lavin, the creator of the Allergy Awesomeness blog. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook.
More Megan’s Minute Videos:
How to Stay at a VRBO and Have Great, Safe Food
How to Host or Attend Big Summer Gatherings
Allergy Mom’s Crisis over Summer Camp Menu Options
Putting Dairy-Free Whipping Creams to the Test
Visiting LEGOLAND with Food Allergies
Our First Cruise with Food Allergies was a Hit!
Allergy Mom’s Dining Out Boot Camp for Allergic Son
Taste-Testing Free-From, Nondairy Ice Creams
