Food Allergy Center at MGH

12/30/2025

The Food Allergy Buddies Program is a remarkable mentorship program in which high schoolers ("Bigs") help young kids ("Littles") learn about managing food allergies – and life. “The Bigs were always helping me to feel confident," says teen mentor Olivia, who has multiple . “Now as a Big, I get to help younger kids feel more confident and to connect.” Learn about kids' experiences in the Mass General Brigham for Children program here: https://www.allergicliving.com/2025/12/26/program-empowers-kids-with-food-allergies-aims-to-go-national/
Our article includes info about taking the Buddies Program national. An ambitious joint effort between Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and Food Allergy Center at MGH.

Kids With Food Allergies Foundation The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team, FAACT

12/18/2025

Allergist Dr. Michael Pistiner shares great tips on how to help food-allergic teens to grasp that it’s vital to always be ready with epinephrine. Studies show that some do grow complacent about this and about food allergy risks. So checking in is the wise approach. The Mass General Brigham for Children expert also covers how to reinforce allergy management skills. See his new post: https://www.allergicliving.com/2025/12/17/allergists-view-talking-with-teens-about-carrying-epinephrine/

With the holidays and increased socializing, it's timely to remind – always be ready for anaphylaxis.

12/01/2025

🌟 Calling All K–12 Families in the Boston Area Food Allergy Community! 🌟
The Food Allergy Buddies Program is excited to invite all returning and new Buddies — students with food allergies and their families — to join our community and take part in our programming throughout the year. We offer about four events annually, and we encourage families to stay engaged and participate in as many as they can!
Up next:
🎉 The Food Allergy Adventure: Build, Discover & Create
📅 December 7, 2025
📍 Museum of Science, Boston
Buddies will enjoy a creative, hands-on experience (such as building 3D models of immune cells, designing tools to promote food allergy awareness) while connecting with others who truly “get it.” After the event ends at 3 PM, families are free to explore the Museum of Science!
👨‍👩‍👧 Parent Participation:
Parents of K–8th grade students: Please plan to stay and participate in our parent session.
Parents of 9th–12th grade students: You are welcome, but not required, to stay.
We also welcome new families to register for the Food Allergy Buddies Program (https://redcap.partners.org/redcap/surveys/?s=WDLKDKT4CD4FKY7X) and ask all attendees to RSVP for this event (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCLeSlcEx-MH8rzJ4Gh0pkq5WC-N5TVUgk4wjdH8Th1U5TDQ/viewform).
📧 Questions? FoodAllergyBuddies@mgh.harvard.edu

We look forward to seeing you at this event — and at all of our upcoming programs throughout the year!

Museum of Science, Boston Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) Mass General Brigham for ChildrenFood Allergy Center at MGH

10/27/2025

Advising our families with food allergies can be challenging. Michael Pistiner, MD, MMSc, joins us to talk about resources we can use to help families introduce new foods and work with schools to help advocate for our patients. https://ow.ly/6pzH50XfRmF

09/15/2025

The Mass General Brigham for Children Food Allergy BuddiesProgram is opening a new enrollment period for families in the Boston area managing food allergies. 💙
This free mentorship program supports children, grades K–12 through:
✔️ Friendship & community
✔️ Confidence in allergy management
✔️ Leadership & role-model skills
✔️ Fun, family-friendly events 🎉
📌 Roles for every age:
👩‍🎓 High school – Mentor & lead
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Middle school – Grow as role models
👶 Elementary – Build confidence & connections
✨ 2025/2026 events include:
🚀 October 12 Kickoff Event
🧪 December 7 Museum of Science, Boston exhibit-making
⛸️ March 7 Ice skating
🔍 May 17 Scavenger hunt at the Museum of Science
👉 Learn more & register today:
Program Website: https://www.massgeneral.org/children/food-allergies/food-allergy-community
Registration Link: https://redcap.partners.org/redcap/surveys/?s=WDLKDKT4CD4FKY7X
Help your child connect, thrive, and feel supported this school year! 💫

The Food Allergy Center at Mass General for Children is excited to be launching the Food Allergy Buddies Program in January 2020! The mentorship program will group high-school-age children (Bigs) with elementary-school-age (Littles) and middle-school-age children (Middles) who have a food allergy th...

07/17/2025

👵👴 Caring for Grandkids with Food Allergies?
Join us for a free, in-person education session just for grandparents!

🗓️ Wednesday, July 23, 2025
🕛 12:00–1:00 PM (EST)
📍 Blum Center at Massachusetts General Hospital
White Building, Room 110 | Boston, MA

Are you helping care for a grandchild with food allergies? Whether you're new to it or a seasoned pro, this supportive session is for YOU!

✅ Learn how to read food labels
✅ Get tips for preventing allergic reactions
✅ Practice what to do in an emergency
✅ Connect with other grandparents going through the same thing

💬 Interactive & welcoming atmosphere
🎟️ Space is limited—please register in advance:
👉 https://www.massgeneral.org/blum-center/events/july-2025-grandparents-food-allergy-boot-camp

🎥 Want a head start? Watch our Food Allergy Management Boot Camp before you come:
👉 https://www.massgeneral.org/children/food-allergies/food-allergy-management-boot-camp

Open to the public—spread the word!

Massachusetts General Hospital Mass General Brigham for Children

06/03/2025

05/28/2025

🚀 Ready to Rise! 🚀
Join the Mass General for Children Food Allergy Buddies Program for an epic afternoon of curiosity, confidence, and connection at the Museum of Science, Boston! On Sunday, June 1st, our Bigs and Middles will take the lead in a dynamic scavenger hunt—guiding Littles through the exhibits and helping everyone rise to new responsibilities and challenges.
🗓 WHEN:
Bigs & Middles: 12:30–3:30 PM
Littles: 1:00–3:30 PM
📍 WHERE:
Museum of Science, 1 Science Park, Boston, MA 02114
🎟 All attendees (Bigs, Middles & Littles) receive a free museum ticket! Littles & Middles also get one for their parent or caregiver.
🔗 RSVP to save your spot: https://forms.gle/S6iVA6VaWWLNojje9
Not yet signed up for the Buddies Program? It’s not too late!
⭐ Bigs (grades 9–12, college): https://bit.ly/BuddiesBigs
⭐ Middles (grades 6–8): https://bit.ly/BuddiesMiddles
⭐ Littles (grades K–5): https://bit.ly/BuddiesLittles
Thank you to our partner, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and our local collaboratation with Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, New England Chapter!
Let’s rise together—see you at the Museum! 🌟🔬 https://www.massgeneral.org/children/food-allergies/food-allergy-community

05/14/2025

🚀 Ready to Rise! 🚀
Join the Mass General for Children Food Allergy Buddies Program for an epic afternoon of curiosity, confidence, and connection at the Museum of Science, Boston! On Sunday, June 1st, our Bigs and Middles will take the lead in a dynamic scavenger hunt—guiding Littles through the exhibits and helping everyone rise to new responsibilities and challenges.
🗓 WHEN:
Bigs & Middles: 12:30–3:30 PM
Littles: 1:00–3:30 PM
📍 WHERE:
Museum of Science, 1 Science Park, Boston, MA 02114
🎟 All attendees (Bigs, Middles & Littles) receive a free museum ticket! Littles & Middles also get one for their parent or caregiver.
🔗 RSVP to save your spot: https://forms.gle/S6iVA6VaWWLNojje9
Not yet signed up for the Buddies Program? It’s not too late!
⭐ Bigs (grades 9–12, college): https://bit.ly/BuddiesBigs
⭐ Middles (grades 6–8): https://bit.ly/BuddiesMiddles
⭐ Littles (grades K–5): https://bit.ly/BuddiesLittles
Thank you to our partner, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and our local collaboratation with Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, New England Chapter!
Let’s rise together—see you at the Museum! 🌟🔬 https://www.massgeneral.org/children/food-allergies/food-allergy-community

05/08/2025

Guidance on Early Food Introduction and Food Allergy Prevention 🥜👶
Families of infants often have questions about when and how to introduce new foods — especially regarding peanut allergies and allergy prevention.
This episode of the American Academy of Pediatrics Healthy Children Podcast offers a lively conversation between Dr. Bracho-Sanchez and Dr. Pistiner.
✔️ The connection between eczema and food allergies
✔️ Practical strategies for introducing allergenic foods early
✔️ Evidence-based advice to support families during the early feeding journey
You can listen and share the episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWwICSbsjHo&list=PLKYV5259WcZ2YmTX8WdFCw7aNTpglXTlC&index=3&t=23s

Can eczema predict allergies to food? Michael Pistiner, MD, MMSC, Mass General for Children Food Allergy Center at MGH director of Advocacy, Education and Prevention, joins Dr. Bracho-Sanchez on the Healthy Children Podcast to talk eczema, food allergies and how to safely introduce new foods to babies, especially with a family history of allergies. http://spklr.io/6187CJIV

05/01/2025

Want to learn how to train others to recognize the signs of ? Join us!
🗓️ Mass General for Children Food Allergy Boot Camp
📅 May 5, 12 PM
📍 Massachusetts General Hospital Blum Center

Register here ➡️ https://www.massgeneral.org/children/food-allergies/food-allergy-management-boot-camp

Brought to you by the Advocacy, Education, and Prevention Program. Support our efforts: https://because.massgeneral.org/give/658669/ #!/donation/checkout

02/27/2025

📢 Join Us for Our Next Mass General for Children Food Allergy Buddies Event! ⛸️

We are thrilled to announce our third event of the 2024-2025 year! 🎉 On March 15th, we’ll be hitting the ice at Veterans Memorial Rink in Somerville for a fun and supportive morning of ice skating, teamwork, and bravery!

Buddies will have the chance to skate through real-life food allergy-related scenarios, building confidence in a supportive and encouraging environment. Just like learning to skate, navigating food allergies is a skill—we’ll tackle both together!

🗓 Event Details:
📍 Veterans Memorial Rink, Somerville, MA
🕥 March 15th | 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
👧 Littles (Grades K-5) | 🧒 Middles (Grades 6-8) | 👦 Bigs (Grades 9-12)
Bigs and Middles | Arrive at 9:45
Littles | Arrive at 10:15
❄️ Dress warm & don’t forget your helmet!

💙 Be part of our supportive community & sign up today! Scan the QR codes in the flyer for your age group or email foodallergybuddies@mgh.harvard.edu for more info.

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA)