JAKE EAGEN
Founder & Chief Advocate
Jake is a teen passionate about helping kids and families adjust to life with food allergies. Diagnosed with anaphylactic allergies to all nuts (except almonds and Brazil nuts), sesame, and shellfish as a baby, Jake has experienced the struggles firsthand. He hated being the kid who had to bring his own food to birthday parties and hated playdates that always required his mom to tag along.
Starting at just 5 years old, Jake participated in a pioneering oral immunotherapy (OIT) clinical trial at Stanford University, where he was treated with Xolair. The process wasn’t easy—he had to eat up to 120 nuts a day, hidden in everything from pudding to muffins. But his hard work paid off, and Jake successfully became desensitized to his allergies. While he still doesn’t love the taste of most nuts, he is now safe around them and stays committed to maintaining his desensitization by continuing to eat them regularly.
Like many teens with food allergies, Jake faced significant anxiety growing up. Therapy helped him build confidence, and he now uses his experience to support others. He started a meditation club at school to provide tools and a safe space for kids dealing with anxiety, whether it’s allergy-related or not.
Jake and his family launched an allergy awareness and support network to guide families through the challenges of food allergies. With a blend of personal experience and compassion, Jake connects with kids and parents, offering advice and encouragement to help them thrive in their “new normal.”
Jennifer Eagen, CHC, AADP
Founder & CEO
Jennifer is a passionate advocate for families navigating life with food allergies. Like many parents, her world was turned upside down when her first born, Jake, was diagnosed with life-threatening allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, and shellfish. Overnight, everyday places like playgrounds, schools, birthday parties, restaurants—and even her own home—felt unsafe.
Realizing that the Epi-Pen was only part of the solution, she dedicated herself to becoming an expert on managing food allergies. She cleaned out her cabinets, learned to decode ingredient labels, and was alarmed by the number of unpronounceable additives lurking in everyday products. Jennifer developed a deep interest in the connection between food, health, and well-being and earned her certification from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.
In addition to The Allergy Nut, she has spent over 25 years creating innovative marketing programs. She caught the entrepreneurial bug early in her career as the fourth employee at Method Products, Inc., and has lent her expertise to brands like Cleancult, Ovii, Freeli, Lifefactory, and Beautycounter.
Jennifer is a dedicated volunteer in the allergy community and has served on boards and councils for Stanford University’s Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy & Asthma Research and UCLA.
Bob Eagen
Founder & Chief Marketing Officer
With 25+ years leading marketing for blue-chip health and wellness brands, Bob shares his wife’s passion for educating families about food allergies.
Addie Eagen
Flavor & Palatability Tester & Communications Director
Addie’s personal experience with her brother’s food allergies has fueled her passion for spreading awareness about Oral Immunotherapy (OIT). Having witnessed firsthand how OIT transformed her brother’s life, allowing him to live more freely and with less fear, Addie is dedicated to helping others navigate food allergies with hope and confidence. Addie supports product evaluation by reviewing the taste and overall sensory experience of allergy-friendly foods to ensure they are as enjoyable as they are safe. She also leads all email communication, social media outreach, and advocacy efforts, committed to sharing reliable information and supporting families on their journey toward a relatively normal life despite food allergies.