child’s barrel. let’s say your child is sensitive to chocolate, cats, and peanut butter. each of these things all can partially fill his barrel. as long as he only has peanut butter or only plays with the cat, his barrel is only partially full. that means that there are no symptoms and that his behavior is fine. then, one day he has a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, has chocolate ice cream for dessert and plays with the cat all afternoon. these things in combination make his barrel overflow, and by evening he is out of control. your child has food allergies, but sometimes they affect him and sometimes they 