I have to admit, that various Web sites provide resources, including late-breaking research results made available after printing, the ability to network with other food allergy sufferers, an opportunity to post direct questions to specialists, and assistance in advocating for policy changes locally and nationally.

FAAN - Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network - When you’re not sure where to turn for help with food allergies, few sites are better than FAAN’s, where a panel of the world’s leading experts in food allergy carefully scrutinize every piece of information before it’s posted.

Here you find plenty of information and resources presented in easily recognizable categories, including the following: Common Food Allergens, Anaphylaxis, School & Childcare, Advocacy, Research, Recipes, and the Daily Tip.

This site also provides links to areas specifically for teenagers and children and to an area where teachers and school administrators can find information on how to implement a food allergy program. The site is bilingual in English and Spanish. Refer your child (or an unmotivated family member) to this Web site. It offers something for everyone in an engaging and easily accessible format.

AANMA - Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics - When you want some practical information on how to care for your child, ask a mom. AANMA created and maintained by moms and other committed individuals, lets you do just that. Once you land on the home page, click Breatherville USA to jump to the main content area or click En Español for the Spanish version.

If you click the Breatherville USA link, the site presents you with an interactive map you can click to visit the desired content area. Click once anywhere on the interactive map to activate it. Then you can mouse over different buildings on the map to display a pop-up box that contains a description of the building.

Click the building to access its offerings. Since you’re interested in food allergies, click the Farmer’s Market to jump to the food allergy page. Here you’ll find an online library packed with information that covers the top food allergy topics, including the following:

• Detecting food allergies
• Symptoms of food allergy
• Follow the food allergy clues
• Adverse reactions to food
• Symptoms of anaphylaxis
• Using epinephrine
• Living with allergies
• Reading food labels

Don’t limit yourself to the Farmer’s Market just because it focuses on food allergies. Visit the other buildings in Breatherville, including:

• America’s College of Allergy & Asthma (where you can take an online course)
• Childcare Center (for parents and care givers)
• City Hall (for advocacy tips)
• Pharmacy (for information on available medications)
• School House (for tips on keeping your child safe and healthy at school)
• News Room (where you can find information on the latest breakthroughs).

The site also features a Play Time playroom for kids.

FAI - Investigating the Food Allergy Initiative - The Food Allergy Initiative (FAI) is a non-profit group that raises funds to fuel research into effective treatments and cures for food allergies. This site is one of the easiest sites of the bunch to navigate, because it offers three ways to skip to the desired content:

• Use the navigation bar that runs across the top of the page to access the main content areas, including Food Allergy Information, Living with Food Allergies, Restaurant Training, Research, Public Policy, and Downloads.

• Scroll down for links that match those in the navigation bar but offer descriptions of each content area. By scrolling down, you can preview areas before visiting them.

• Click the links that run across the center of the opening page for quick access to information on how to deal with the eight most common food allergies: Peanuts, Eggs, Milk, Shellfish, Wheat, Tree Nuts, Soy, and Fish.

Don’t leave this site without clicking the Download link to see what it has to offer. Here you find a collection of PDF documents and Microsoft Word files that include an Authorization for Emergency Medical Treatment, an Emergency Medical Plan (in several languages), and Restaurant Cards (also in several languages).

Food Allergy Kitchen - Food Allergy Kitchen is an online repository for food allergy recipes, dietary substitutions, menu planning strategies and tips, cooking questions and answers, and tips for managing food allergies. This site also features a Links link that recommends additional food allergy Web sites, many of which are included in this article.

From the home page, you can click a link to order the FoodAllergyKitchen Cookbook online or subscribe to the bi-monthly newsletter that features articles, cooking tips, seasonal ideas, recipes, safety alerts, tips for reducing stress, and recipes for those with multiple food allergies.

AAFA - Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America - Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America created and maintains this site to provide the latest available information and advice to allergy sufferers, family members, and other concerned individuals and to assist in advocacy.

The opening page makes the site look like a stodgy billboard intended merely to convey the group’s vision statement and promote the many useful programs it offers for sale, but if you dig a little deeper, you find an outstanding collection of free materials.

Rest your mouse pointer on the Allergies tab and then click Food and Drug to call up an alphabetical list of a couple dozen links, that cover the most common food allergies, allergy testing for children, and various treatment options and therapies.

Each link takes you to a one-page information sheet that provides an excellent overview of the topic along with links to additional resources on the Web. Click the Ask the Allergist link on the opening page to e-mail a specific question to an allergy specialist. You can also register to participate in live online chat room discussions.

Accessing Anaphylaxis Canada - If you or your child has a life-threatening food allergy, head to Anaphylaxis Canada for information and advice. This site features a navigation bar that provides quick access to a definition of anaphylaxis and a page that reveals practical strategies and tips for living with anaphylaxis.

Children and teenagers can click the Safe4Kids link to head to a special activities and games area where they can learn more about their allergies and how to manage them while having fun.

AAAAI - American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology - American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology Web site opens with a page that caters more to allergy professionals than to patients, so upon arrival, click the Patients & Consumers tab to skip to the good stuff.

Here you find links to the Topic of the Month, a Find an Allergist/Immunologist searchable directory, and several useful tools, including a Patient Gallery, Medication Guide, an A to Z index of conditions, printable brochures, and allergy and asthma headline news. The Patient Gallery isn’t a collection of photographs of allergy patients.

Clicking this link calls up a page with eight buttons for various allergy and asthma topics. Click the Food Allergy button for a list of clickable food allergy topics in several categories that include General Information, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Management, Medications, For Kids, and Additional Resources.

This site offers content in both English and Spanish and has special areas just for kids and for seniors. Click the Patients & Consumers Contact link to communicate directly with AAAAI via e-mail.

ACAAI - Attending the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology - ACAAI is a professional organization for allergy specialists that’s committed to improving patient care and educating patients. As soon as you arrive at the home page, click the Patient Education graphic — it’s really big, you can’t miss it. Clicking Patient Education pulls up a page with a navigation bar that runs down the left side of the page.

For food allergies, try the following links in the navigation bar: A-Z Allergy Topics, Find an Allergist (searchable directory), Glossary, Healthcare Plans (a checklist for evaluating healthcare plans for coverage of allergy care medications), Interactive Quizzes, Patient Support, and Questions.

Anaphylaxis Campaign - Anaphylaxis Campaign is a charity organization directed by the top allergists in the UK. Although the site is careful to explain that professional care is essential in properly treating allergies, it offers a great collection of information and resources to empower patients and caregivers.

Here you can find general information about anaphylaxis, food alerts for new popular food products that contain known allergens, guidance for schools and pre-schools, information for young adults, and information and advice for healthcare professionals and companies in the food industry.

AllAllergy.net - If you haven’t yet found the information and resources you’re looking for on the Internet, turn to AllAllergy.net for additional leads. This site acts as a gateway to other Web sites that focus on all types of allergies. Links to sites are organized by category, including Articles, Organizations, Publications, Events, Products, Databases, and Contents. The site also features a handy search tool.