Your kid wants nothing more than to trade his tuna sandwich for his school buddy’s PB&J—but he can’t. To help ease his allergy blues:

Be upbeat.
Rather than showing pity, remind your child that everyone is unique. Some kids sport glasses, others may have asthma...and they’re still cool! His allergy is only a small part of who he is.

Be prepared.
If you know your kid will want some of his best friend’s birthday cake, bring along some extra-special—and gluten-free—cupcakes to the party. This way, he can have a sweet and safe treat with the partygoers.

Be practical.
Food allergies can be a constant reminder of everything your kid can’t eat, so focus instead on what he can. Make an okay-to-eat list and he’ll soon realize that his food options are plentiful—and plenty tasty.

Source: Susan S. Bartell, PsyD, psychologist and author of The Top 50 Questions Kids Ask