When I was pregnant with my first child, I was told to avoid eating peanuts. Fast forward eight years later, when I was pregnant with my third child, I was told to intentionally eat peanuts. This sudden about-face left me with a lot of questions about food allergies in babies. That’s when I discovered a program called Ready, Set, Food! that demystifies all of this.
Read on to find out:
Why Are Allergy Prevention Programs So Important?
But first let’s go back to those conflicting guidelines. Researchers found that when pregnant women avoided allergenic foods, instances of food allergies in babies actually increased by 50 percent. (source) As a result, experts were forced to reexamine these guidelines.
What they found was that early and sustained introduction of potentially allergenic foods can reduce food allergies by up to 80 percent. Some of the most eye-opening stats include:
- At-risk babies are 80 percent less likely to develop a peanut allergy when peanuts are introduced before 11 months.
- Early introduction combined with extended breastfeeding reduces the risk of developing an allergy.
- Early introduction of hen’s eggs reduces allergies by 79 percent.
This reversal has caused a lot of confusion. And because so many kids have food allergies—experts estimate 5.6 million American children have food allergies! (source)—it’s understandable that we, as parents, are wary of introducing potentially allergenic foods.
That’s why I was interested in Ready, Set, Food!’s allergy prevention program—they offer a safe and effective way to help introduce and prevent food allergies.
What is Ready, Set, Food!?
Ready, Set, Food! is a great allergy prevention program created by an allergist to help you gently introduce allergens to your baby—as early as four months old (although I recommend waiting till 6 months to introducing solids)
The program allows you to introduce all 9 top allergens – cow’s milk, eggs, peanuts, cashew, almond, walnut, sesame, soy and wheat – via their convenient bottle and food mix-in system. With their guided 3 stage system, you can take steps to protect your baby from food allergies by introducing these foods to baby before they can even eat solid food.
Ready, Set, Food Review Do Food Allergy Prevention Systems Work post by Mama Natural Baby Stage 1 2 3 Baby Oatmeal
Get free updates on baby’s first year! – Free Updates on First Year [In-article]
Sign me up!
Why I Don’t Agree With the 4 Month Introduction Plan…
Although babies as young as four months can safely get started on the Ready, Set, Food! program, I suggest waiting until 6 months to introduce solids of any kind (including Ready, Set, Food!). Here are two of the most compelling reasons:
- Both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend exclusive breastfeeding until baby is 6 months old.
- Babies are born with very immature digestive systems, and introducing anything but breastmilk can permanently alter baby’s gut microbiota, potentially causing problems like necrotizing enterocolitis, diarrheal disease, and allergies. (source, source)
Ready Set Food System
How to Use Ready, Set, Food!
Before you begin the Ready, Set, Food! Mix-in program, you’ll have to choose your plan: Stage 1, Stage 2 or Stage 3.
If you’re new to allergen introduction, you’ll choose Stage 1. Ready, Set, Food! says this phase is ideal for babies between the age of 4 and 11 months old. (But don’t forget: I recommend 6 months.)
The basic premise is this:
- Take the numbered packet (start with Day 1) and mix the pre-measured packet into baby’s food (it’s best to use a puree or a smoothie for this). Note: If you prefer, you can mix the pre-measured packed into a bottle of breast milk or formula.
- Repeat this process for each day for the remaining 14 days. Each packet contains slightly more egg, peanut, milk to introduce allergens one at a time and in a gentle manner.
Ready, Set, Food Review Do Food Allergy Prevention Systems Work post by Mama Natural Pouch Group
Once you’ve completed Stage 1, you’ll move on to the maintenance stage, or Stage 2. This stage is only for babies who have already been exposed to the allergens in Stage 1. Because you should immediately enter Stage 2 once you’ve finished Stage 1, you can begin Stage 2 about halfway through baby’s sixth month.
Once you’ve completed Stage 2, you’ll move on to Stage 3 to expand introduction to 9 top allergens or start with Stage 3 if your baby is a regular food eater and hasn’t been introduced to these top allergens. Stage 3 is also interchangeable with Ready, Set, Food! Oatmeal which introduces the 9 top allergens in every bite – learn more below!
During Stage 2 and Stage 3, you will:
- Continue to administer the daily packet via your baby’s puree. For Stage 2, you may also mix each packet into baby’s bottle of breast milk or formula instead.
- Repeat for six months, or until your baby eats these allergenic foods at least 3-5 times per week without issue.
Tip: Don’t stop the program after completing Stage 1. Continuing through Stage 3 is vital, because the key to preventing allergies is early and consistent exposure.
(Note: Their 12 month complete system offers the best option for continuing exposure so you can safely and gradually move your baby through their guided 12 month plan. )
Ready, Set, Food Review Do Food Allergy Prevention Systems Work post by Mama Natural Baby Oatmeal New Flavor
NEW Ready, Set, Food! Oatmeal: Introduce top allergens in every bite!
Ready, Set, Food! now offers another convenient option for introducing 9 top allergens with their new 100% organic oatmeal. Like their guided mix-in system, Ready, Set, Food! oatmeal is 100% organic and non-GMO – plus, it contains 4g of protein in every serving. Ready, Set, Food! Oatmeal is great for babies who:
- Are consistently eating solids
- Have already been introduced to the most common allergens, peanut, egg and milk
- Love the taste of oatmeal
For families who have already started with the guided mix-in system, Ready, Set, Food! Oatmeal is interchangeable with a Stage 3 packet so you can choose between two convenient options based on your baby’s feeding routine. Plus, Ready, Set, Food! comes in real food flavors your baby will love, including sweet potato carrot and banana apple.
How Much Does Ready, Set, Food! Cost?
You can order Ready, Set, Food! Mix-ins as a one-month supply, three-month supply, six-month supply or twelve-month supply, with the twelve-month supply costing the least at $29 per month, or around a dollar a day. And Ready, Set, Food! Oatmeal comes in a 1 pouch, 3 pouch or 6 pouch option with each pouch containing 15 servings. With the 6 pouch option costing $49.99, that comes to around fifty cents per serving.
As a special bonus to Mama Natural readers, the brand was kind enough to extend a special savings offer.
Save 10% on Ready, Set, Food!
Click the button below for a special 10% savings offer when you try Ready, Set, Food! You won’t believe how easy it is.
Why I Trust Ready, Set, Food!
If you are going to go with an allergy prevention program, I think Ready, Set, Food! is the best on the market.
- The company was founded by parents and healthcare professionals: Ready, Set, Food! was born of two doctor’s love for their children: Dr. Andy Leitner, MD, and Dr. Katie Marks-Cogan, MD, founded Ready, Set, Food! as a way to help parents introduce potential allergens to their children in an easy and safe way, based on the concrete evidence in the studies listed above.
- The company has an extensive advisory board: Ready, Set, Food! employs an entire team of allergists, pediatricians, and pediatric gastroenterologists to ensure their product is both safe and effective.
What Pediatricians Say About Ready, Set, Food!
When it comes to testimonials from seasoned pediatricians, there is no shortage. Here’s a sneak peek at what real pediatricians have to say about Ready, Set, Food!:
- “I recommend Ready, Set, Food! starting at 4 months. I like how they make it easy to sustain exposure, how they follow AAP guidelines by introducing one food at a time, and how they maximize safety by starting with a low dose before gradually increasing.” — board-certified pediatrician Dr. Noel H. Sayler
- “I recommend Ready, Set, Food! to every patient at their 4 month well check.” — Board-certified pediatrician Dr. Robert Hamilton, MD
Why I Chose Ready, Set, Food!
The science behind it
I chose Ready, Set, Food!, because it’s rooted in science—I love that there’s so much data to back up this program and how it helps inform the immune system. And I want to help my children’s immune systems as best as I can by exposing their guts to a wide range of foods early on.
And even though food allergies don’t run in our family, I learned that most children who suffer from food allergies don’t have direct family members with a food allergy. (source)
The biggest risk factor for food allergies is actually baby eczema.
In fact, up to 30 percent of children under five with eczema may also have a food allergy. (source)
The convenience
The program is really easy for busy moms. I can just mix each packet into my baby’s food and be good to go—no careful planning required.
The ingredients
I like that the ingredients Ready, Set, Food! uses are simple, organic, and non-GMO.
The price
Ready, Set, Food! is a reasonable cost, with plans as low as $29 per month.
Save 10% on Ready, Set, Food!
Click the button below for a special 10% savings offer when you try Ready, Set, Food! You won’t believe how easy it is.
The Peanut Problem
While I considered a more DIY approach to introducing allergens, taking peanuts into your own hands can be tricky for several reasons. Peanuts are one of the most highly-allergenic foods (hello, Epipen!), but they’re also one of the biggest choking hazards for baby. This makes it super complicated to introduce peanuts (or even peanut butter) safely.
I looked into peanut butter powder but it’s hard to find organic versions or ones that don’t contain sugar or fillers. It’s also difficult to verify how many peanuts are in a serving.
This conundrum is what made me want to try Ready, Set, Food! because everything is pre-measured and in powdered form—no choking hazard and no guesswork about how much to use.
An Exciting Update: Mark Cuban Invests in Ready, Set, Food!
Ready, Set, Food! appeared on Shark Tank recently. The sharks battled it out, with Ready, Set, Food! getting three separate offers. In the end, the company made a deal with Mark Cuban. I love it when a mission-based, baby-friendly company breaks through like this! I think we’ll be seeing a lot more of this company in the future (and hopefully fewer food allergies).
