Hi Reader,

Happy 2026!
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As I always do, I’ve been easing into the new year by choosing a guiding word instead of a long list of resolutions. My word for 2026 is connected—being connected to my family, my work, and the moments that too easily get rushed past. And I know that being more connected often goes hand-in-hand with having a better balance, clearer boundaries, and giving myself permission to say no when something doesn’t align, so I'll be recommitting to these actions, too.

As we step further into the new year, I invite you to think about your own guiding word—especially when it comes to managing food allergies.

What word might help you feel calmer in anxious moments, more confident when advocating for yourself or your child, or more balanced as you navigate daily routines and unexpected challenges? Sometimes even a single word can gently steer us toward choices and habits that make life feel safer and fuller.

Finally, in the spirit of honoring my guiding word—connected—I plan to stay connected with you all in 2026 via monthly emails (rather than bi-weekly ones), unless there's something I just can't wait until the next email to tell you!

(And you can always stay connected with me and my content on socials, too)!

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What I'm sharing in this week's email:

• My latest Psychology Today article
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• Info about a cool virtual food allergy event happening tomorrow
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• New free item in the Food Allergy Counselor shop
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• What's making me laugh lately

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Is your food allergy anxiety acting as a helpful tool or an unhelpful life-limiting guide?

Anxiety and food allergies often go hand in hand—and for good reason. When real risk is part of daily life, anxiety can serve an important purpose: keeping us alert, prepared, and engaged in safety behaviors.

But here’s the part that often gets missed.

Research consistently shows that it’s not the presence of food allergy anxiety that most affects quality of life—it’s how we respond to it. The same anxiety that helps one family stay prepared can quietly limit another through avoidance, constant “what if” thinking, and fear-driven decisions.

In my latest Psychology Today article, I explore the difference between helpful and unhelpful food allergy anxiety—why our internal threat-detection system sometimes misleads us, how anxiety can distort risk perception, and what actually helps guide anxiety back to more supportive levels.

Whether you’re parenting a child with food allergies, managing food allergies yourself, or supporting families clinically, this distinction matters.

👉 Read the full article here: Is Your Food Allergy Anxiety Unhelpful?​

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Virtual event with Stanford's food allergy center this week:

Thanks to my good friend and fellow licensed therapist, Marte Matthews, LMFT, I'm excited to share this upcoming event happening tomorrow, Tuesday, January 13th, hosted by the Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy & Asthma Research at Stanford University:

When: Tuesday, January 13th at 3:30pm PT / 5:30pm CT / 6:30pm ET

What: Originally planned just for Stanford staff, this virtual event is now open to all! Join Marte and I for a dynamic discussion about parenting kids with food allergies, food allergy anxiety, and my book, May Contain Anxiety.

Details: Learn more and register to attend here.​

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New in the Food Allergy Counselor shop:

Want to host a book club-type event focused on May Contain Anxiety: Managing the Overwhelm of Parenting Children with Food Allergies? This free packet offers all you need to do so!

Because I've had allergy support groups and allergy practices inquiring about virtual book talk events for my new book, I put together a May Contain Anxiety (Virtual) Book Talk Event packet.

This FREE packet is designed to help food allergy support groups, therapy practices, allergy clinics, and community organizations host meaningful, emotionally supportive conversations aligned with the content in May Contain Anxiety. It includes:

• 60-minute book talk guides (for events with & without me)
• Host facilitation & emotional support tips
• Outline of key book concepts
• Author & book information for event promotion

Visit the FAC shop

Interested in having me attend your book talk event?
Connect with with me here!​

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What's Making Me Laugh Lately:

If you know me or have received my emails for a while, you know I love to use laughter as a coping strategy. And especially with the chaos in the world today, I find myself looking for things that make me smile and laugh now more than ever, which I love sharing with you.

What has been making me laugh (and smile tons) lately is family - and more specifically, having both of my kids at home for the holidays. Now that my oldest is in college, I literally feel giddy any time he comes home....so having him home for a whole month was pure joy for me!

We had lots of laughs over this past month while watching movies, watching our dog be cute, and playing the very fun "let's laugh at whatever mom says because she's mom!" (It's a good thing I have a good sense of humor...haha). We even had fun playing "Hallmark Holiday Movie Bingo" with the special bingo cards I bought. (I was SO surprised at how willing my kids were to play it not once, but twice!).

Here's a picture of our dog after he got caught up in a bag while trying to get involved in opening presents on Christmas morning. He's always making us laugh just by being him!

I hope you also had lots of laughter and joy over the holidays, too. After all, laughter really is the best medicine!
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As always, take good care of yourself - and each other.

Warmly,
Tamara

Work with Tamara

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