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Meenal Lele is the founder and CEO of Hanimune Therapeutics, which she founded with the aim of developing food allergy preventative products. The company's goal is to create solutions for parents preventing food allergies and doctors seeking better options to support tolerance. The company's commercial branch Lil' Mixins provides products making early allergen introduction to infants in a safe and controlled manner.

In our conversation we explore her groundbreaking innovations in creating "non-allergenic" peanuts and other top allergens and the vital connection between the gut microbiome, allergy development, and mental health. We also explore how anxiety plays a role in allergy management and treatment, and her perspective on how reducing anxiety around this might benefit patients.

Lele's book The Baby and the Biome is a great resource for anyone interested in prevention and microbiome health.
The Baby and the Biome a book by Meenal Lele and Cezmi Akdis - Bookshop.org US

Resource Hub – Lil Mixins
Hanimune Therapeutics

Preventing Food Allergies in Infants Guide by foodallergyprevention.org and FARE: Clinician-Guide_FAPrev_2.24.pdf

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
-welcome@dramandawhitehouse.com

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In this episode, Dr. Whitehouse is joined by an inspiring young adult living with multiple food allergies, Mia Silverman. Mia shares her journey of navigating the world with confidence, resilience, and clarity. Together, they discuss what it really looks like to say “yes” to life, while still taking precautions and honoring the realities of her medical needs.

From dealing with bullying to building meaningful friendships and dating with food allergies, to tackling food challenges and managing the emotional ups and downs along the way, this episode is packed with practical insights and deep validation for anyone growing up allergic or raising someone who is.

Mia shares her favorite tools, perspectives, and voices in the allergy advocacy space, leaving listeners with both encouragement and resources they can turn to.

Allergies With Mia
@allergieswithmia

Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Connection Team | FAACT
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America | AAFA | Home
FARE Teen Advisory Group - FoodAllergy.org

CA Restaurant menu labeling bill (SB 68) addie tells all | food allergy

Dr. Zachary Rubin @rubin_allergy
Dr. Ruchi Gupta @drruchigupta_
Dr. Payel Gupta @nycdoctor (Co-host @theitchpodcast)

Miss Allergic Reactor - The No.1 Resource for Travelers with Food Allergies to Safely Navigate The World (@miss_allergic_reactor)
Food Allergy Cards | Translation Cards in 52 Languages – Equal Eats
Top 9 Allergen-Free Meat Sticks & Snacks | Lorissa's Kitchen
Abe's Muffins
Welcome to MadeGood - United States – MadeGoodFoods-USA

SPOKIN food allergy app

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
-welcome@dramandawhitehouse.com

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In this special birthday episode of Don’t Feed the Fear, I’m pausing to reflect on a whirlwind year, both personally and professionally. I answer some of the questions I get most often, including what inspired the name of the podcast, what I’ve learned through a year of growth, grief, and gratitude, and how nervous system work continues to shape everything from allergy management to parenting to healing.

As we continue to discuss the choices that we do have in managing allergies well, I share how I use the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) with my own family and clients to help regulate the nervous system after chronic stress and trauma, and an invitation to join me for a group experience this fall. Plus, I open up about what’s next for the show, and why even the good things in life require rest, recalibration, and intentional nervous system care.

Thank you to all the amazing guests who joined me this year to get the podcast off to such a great start! I loved meeting each of you, learned so much from you, and look forward to staying in touch!

You can follow me on Instagram @thefoodallergypsychologist

For info about my upcoming groups or any other aspect of my work, check out my website www.thefoodallergypsychologist.com
and contact me/sign up for my email list here:
Connect — Amanda Whitehouse Phd

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
-welcome@dramandawhitehouse.com

Send us a text

In this week's chat about choices, psychologist/researcher Dr. Katharine Dahlsgaard and your host Dr. Whitehouse explore what we can do about the emotional side of food allergies, exploring when everyday anxiety crosses the line into specific phobia and how to address it. Dr. Dahlsgaard walks us through her research demonstrating that exposure therapy, including the proximity challenges, like smelling or being close to an allergen, to help recalibrate fear responses.

We discuss balancing safety with bravery through the healing lens of being “safe enough,” address the overlap of food allergies with Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), and unpack the essential life skill of functioning even while anxious.

-Dr. Katherine Dahlsgaard | Psychologist | CBT Therapist
-Instagram: @braveisbetter
-Scale of Food Allergy Anxiety (SOFAA) | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
-Want to help your patients with food allergy anxiety? Do proximity challenges!
-Cognitive-behavioral intervention for anxiety associated with food allergy in a clinical sample of children: Feasibility, acceptability, and proof-of-concept in children - ScienceDirect
-Episode 4 with Kelly Chambers, discussing her experiences as a Food Allergy Bravery parent: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2371319/episodes/15580765

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
-welcome@dramandawhitehouse.com

Send us a text

In this episode, host Dr. Whitehouse welcomes dietitian-author Lucy Upton @childrensdietitian to explore developing healthy relationships with food. Topics discussed include:

• Nervous system–informed eating strategies
• Safe and science-backed early allergen introduction
• The gut-brain-axis, vagus nerve, and mental health connection
• Medicalization of food and how to combat it
• Lucy's "3 Fs" for encouraging balanced eating habits in children

Whether you're already navigating food allergies, trying to prevent them for your little ones, or simply aim to feed your family with more calm and confidence, this encouraging conversation offers science-based guidance and practical tools.

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Where to find Lucy:
On Instagram and TikTok @childrensdietitian
Experts on infant & child feeding & nutrition | The Children’s Dietitian
The Ultimate Guide to Children's Nutrition a book by Lucy Upton - Bookshop.org US

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
-welcome@dramandawhitehouse.com

Send us a text

In this World Allergy Week episode, I'm joined by Ilana Golant, Founder and CEO of the Food Allergy Fund. She exposes the significant gap between the prevalence of food allergies and the amount of research dollars devoted to this. Ilana shares how the FAF is stepping into this gap, ensuring that every dollar donated goes directly to research on prevention, treatment, and eventual cures. She reports on the most exciting findings from this year's FAF Summit.

We discuss:

• How a mother's love became a catalyst for global change
• The food allergy crisis: stats, trends, and what's fueling the growth
• The disproportionately low amount of funding, and how FAF is turning the tide
• Ongoing research on the microbiome and AI predictive model for food challenges

Tune in to learn about this innovative model reshaping food allergy research and how you can be part of it.

Food Allergy Fund
Food Allergy Fund (@foodallergyfund) • Instagram photos and videos
Food Allergy Fund | Facebook
Food Allergy Fund (@foodallergyfund) / X

Ilana's mental health: Invisible Burden: The Mental Health Cost of Food Allergies - Thrive Global
2025 Summit Videos: FAF Summit April 2025 — Food Allergy Fund

Every Cure – Unlocking the hidden potential of existing drugs to save lives

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
-welcome@dramandawhitehouse.com

Send us a text

This challenging and important episode concludes our spring season, "I Don't Want to Talk About It."

We tackle one of the most difficult questions food-allergic families may face: “Could I die from my food allergy?” Though we hesitate to bring it up, kids often overhear scary headlines, which there have been far too many of recently. When they ask, avoiding the topic or lying can erode trust and leave them unanchored.

I share why considering your responses ahead of time is important, give insight into how to recognize that the time is right, and walk through what conversations might sound like at different ages. Highlights include:

• Signs your child might be worrying, even if they haven’t asked
• Age‑appropriate guidance from preschoolers through teens
• Why clarity, calm, and validation are essential—and when to use them
• How parents can manage their own anxiety about the topic
• Tips for creating moments when kids feel safe bringing up “the hard stuff”

This episode offers practical tools and compassionate insight, helping families deepen connection, create emotional safety, and bring confidence and groundedness to an important and challenging conversation.

Fatal Anaphylaxis: Mortality Rate and Risk Factors - PMC

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
-welcome@dramandawhitehouse.com

Send us a text

This episode is the third in a series of recent discussions about Food Allergies and Intimacy. I encourage you to listen to Parts 1 and 2 to provide the medical background and social/emotional context for this episode.

In this deeply touching conversation, I sit down with Portia Barton, whose tween daughter Charlotte tragically died in 2022 from a mysterious allergic reaction. While she shared part of the story at the time, understandably some details remained unclear as the family processed and mourned their child's death, and gathered information trying to understand the events that led to her passing. Portia now feels ready to share the full story in order to inform and protect the food allergy community.

This episode is a quiet conversation with powerful resonance. Portia's courage in sharing her story invites empathy and fosters awareness that intimacy with food allergies can have life-and-death consequences.

Trigger Warning:
This episode contains detailed discussion of the events leading to the tragic death of a child due to an allergic reaction triggered by a kiss. This description may be distressing—please listen with care and consider skipping if you're experiencing the loss of a loved one or have young children present. This episode may be best processed with supportive company.

Please know that we did not share this conversation in order to shock or ignite fear in the food allergy community. Instead, we feel this is important information for young people and parents to understand in order to grasp the reality of the potential risks of kissing with food allergies.

Portia has generously made herself available to any questions/discussions that the audience may have. Please be respectful and considerate of the family's loss in any comments shared with her directly or on social media.

You can follow Charlotte's legacy here:
About | Live Like Charlotte
@livelikechar

You can follow Portia's grief journey on social media @iamportiabarton

Thank you again to Portia for sharing this important story. 💙

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
-welcome@dramandawhitehouse.com