August 13, 2010
The likes and dislikes of Joel Stein, and severe food allergies
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Having a baby changes everything. It really does. Having a baby almost die in your arms from eating the FOOD you just gave them changes everything even more.
So what makes a man that is so set in his ways such as writer Joel Stein go from writing an article like this in the LA Times, to then writing one like this one in Time, a year later?
Parenthood!
We all love our children and we all (hopefully) want what's best for them. We are all in this world together, like it or not. And in the U.S. we are all eventually going to be touched by a child that either has food allergies, asthma, autism, ADHD, cancer, heart disease, obesity or diabetes. It's beginning to appear inevitable.
Until we stop bickering over whose fault is it and who’s more pitiful than the other, and start focusing our attention on what's actually causing the problem, we will never find a resolution. We can debate until we're blue in the face, and all along one of our children will be suffering from the wasted energy we've spent that could be channeled toward their benefit.
Wake up people, it's our children that are suffering here; not just us. I have read some of the responses Mr. Stein has gotten over both the above mentioned articles, and have just stopped reading them from pure distress. If anyone wishes something so harmful upon an innocent child, no matter who the remarks are aimed at hurting, it's wrong.
Mr. Stein, I still disagree with you on some of your opinions (like having nuts in the house) but then again you still have a lot to learn (and you will learn it) about food allergies. I am truly sorry about your son. I would never wish this upon anyone, and most especially on a child. I hope you can find support within the food allergy community, because you will need it, as will he. You and your family are welcome here at my (nut free, wheat free, gluten free, egg free, dairy free, you get the idea free) table.
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July 27, 2010
New product review... Allerbling wristband
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I've just discovered Allerbling!
What a fun, creative way to alert people of your small child's food allergies. I first stumbled upon their website about two weeks ago. They have a very kid friendly wristband with a medical alert charm in the center. You can choose each additional charm you need to represent each food allergy your child has. Nathan has a few, so I chose the complete kit as opposed to buying each charm separately.
Within three days of my order, I had already received it! Talk about fast service! And to make it even better, it's even cuter than it is in the picture. It also came with an extra, larger sized band.
It appears to be a very durable product, and that's definitely a plus. Nathan loves it, and has worn it every day now. It has also helped to visualize the foods he can't have. When you've never seen a food because it's so dangerous to you, you aren't really familiar with what it looks like, and this has helped him with that.
According to their website, they are working on adding even more charms to accommodate the growing number of children with less common food allergens. Right now they have all of the top eight most common allergens as charm options.
Thank you, Allerbling for making such a wonderful, age appropriate product!
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July 22, 2010
A new food find!
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My son could eat his weight in Ian's wheat-free fish sticks. Seriously.
We were in Whole Foods the other day, and I noticed a few new products by this company that were safe for him to have. A lot of the new line included more organic choices. For me, that's a big plus. I read all the labels and found a neat little kid-friendly dinner that was safe for him. It wasn't organic, but it was free of all his food allergens, and he decided it was the one he wanted to try. Plus, just to be able to find something like that in the store gave me a real rush. I thought for the convenience of it the price was fair. It was around 5 bucks. Although I didn't really care at that point; I was just glad to be able to give him something fun that he could eat, and it is by a company I trust.
So, we came home with the "Wheat-Free Chicken Fingers Kids Meal". It had breaded chicken patties, mashed potatoes, corn and chocolate cake... ALL Nathan friendly!
Of course the very next day he wanted it for his lunch, so I was happy to oblige. There were microwave directions on the box, but I opted to use the oven directions. I wanted to make sure the chicken was nice and crispy, and it was. It turned out great in the oven.
He ate all three of the chicken pieces, and then on to the chocolate cake, of course! All of the cake was gone in a matter of two or three big bites. He loved it. It was funny because in between the bites of chicken, he would "think" about his new food find as if he were evaluating it (see pic). He ate about three bites of his corn, and then lost interest in it. He never even tasted the mashed potatoes, but that's because he generally doesn't like mashed potatoes anymore for whatever reason. He used to like them and then one day he decided there would be no more of them in his life. But, that was okay because his sister eagerly gobbled up his leftovers, and according to her they were quite good!
This would be a great last minute meal to have in the freezer, or something to have if you're lucky enough to have a baby sitter and a dinner date on the same night. I'll definitely buy it again, so I wanted to share my find with you. Hopefully your children will be able to enjoy it, too!
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July 1, 2010
It's JULY!
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I can't believe it's already July!
I hope everyone is having a fun Summer so far. We certainly are at our house. Lots of water play and homemade popsicles here; Atlanta is humid and HOT!
This month, I am sharing a recipe that I hope ALL our kids (and grown-ups) can enjoy. I've created, posted and published several cake recipes over the past year, but I keep hearing of new allergies popping up like rice, corn, and chocolate. So after experimenting with several test batches I've come up with a new Allergy Free Birthday Cake!
I started this recipe working with sorghum flour, which is what I generally prefer baking with. It was good, but the color was a bit dark for a birthday cake, so I went with millet flour. I used the frosting recipe from my cookbook, but I used the version without the butter substitute, so it would have that classic white birthday icing flavor. I think it worked out really well. Evidently, so did the rest of the family...it got no complaints and was quickly devoured.
I love hearing from you guys so if you have any comments or questions, I'm always here. And to all you July birthday babies, have a Happy, Happy Birthday.
Let them eat CAKE! :^)
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May 21, 2010
Happy first Anniversary, Allergy Free Mom.com!
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It's hard to believe that June 1st will be one FULL year since I launched this website!
Unfortunately, Nathan hasn't outgrown any food allergies, but I have certainly been blessed, and many great things have happened. In December, I finished writing and developing over 115 allergy-free recipes, and self-published my first cookbook. Somehow, I've managed to still find time to create and post a recipe each month, and most importantly I have met so many wonderful parents and grandparents out there that are just like me... raising with a child with life-threatening food allergies.
So, what does this new year have in store for Allergy Free Mom.com? A LOT!
In addition to continuing to create and post new allergy-free recipes for you each month, I'd like to offer my cookbook for a discounted price this June. No discount code will be needed; the price will automatically be calculated for you. So beginning June 1st and until June 30th 2010, You will be able to buy your copy of "Allergy-Free For Mommy And Me" for $10.00 per book and for only $5.00 per E-book, from me. As always, my book sales go directly to support this website.
What else? As a few of you may already know, I am about to market my own wheat-free, gluten-free flour. You will soon be able to bake and fry delicious foods again, wheat free! You can use it in any recipe calling for traditional all-purpose flour. I hope you will all be able to enjoy it. I made some allergy-free beignets the other day that were SO good, and I used my flour to make them. I'll be sharing that recipe with you soon.
Of course, more allergy-free recipes are on the way! In honor of Spring and those wonderful fresh berries, June's recipe will be "Fresh Strawberry Tea Cakes" so move over biscuits and jelly! These are addictive, so you might even want to double up on the recipe. Our test batches haven't lasted very long around here.
I love what I'm doing. I feel like if I've helped just one family out there, I've done what I set out to do. My kids love watching and helping me create new dishes, and we all love eating them. The fact that I'm constantly teaching them a healthy alternative way to eat and cook means the world to me. And seeing the smiles of approval as they bite into a recipe that didn't flop? The best thank you ever!
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May 19, 2010
Autism and Genes
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Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Autism has just released studies pinpointing the ABCs of autism and it's possible causes.
While research is still being done, great progress has been acomplished. Click here for the 12 page fact sheet that explains what is known about ASDs and genes, and describes some NICHD-supported research on the topic for parents and families.
According to The Autism Society, autism now affects 1 in every 110 births in the United States, and almost 1 in 70 boys.
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May 10, 2010
Our Walt Disney World Experience with Food Allergies
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This past week, our family went to Disney World for a very last minute vacation. I was a bit nervous about taking Nathan with all his food allergies and asthma. I called (407-939-3463) to see what type of policy they had, and was sent a food allergy form to complete via email. This form was to list not only all his allergens, but also what he COULD eat. This was wonderful since there are so many foods he is sensitive to, and others that have to be of a specific quality. Let me just say that ALL my fears were eased. The reservationist took note of Nathan having severe food allergies over the phone, and wrote this on a note to which each restaurant I made reservations with would receive.
The chefs and servers at Disney were VERY aware of safe practices in food preparation and how to keep Nathan safe and well fed. Each one of them went out of their way to make us comfortable. I must say though, one chef stood out from all the rest; Chef Rob McNeelege. He called me personally and went over in detail not only the foods that Nathan could eat, but also what he liked. We talked together and came up with two nutritious meals... one for lunch and one for dinner.
When we arrived for our first Disney meal, The Liberty Tree Tavern was out of this world! Chef Rob had briefed the staff and the chef for the lunch shift (Chef Sutilak) and she came to our table to go over everything with us. She was very friendly and personable, taking the time to make sure everything was just right. He ate every single thing on his plate...king salmon, steamed carrots and a baked potato...AND his dessert, which was Rice Dream ice cream and Enjoy Life cookies (two of his favorites). For dinner, we dined at The Liberty Tree Tavern again, and despite us having to arrive an hour earlier than our reservation, Chef Rob was ready to accommodate us. He came out into the busy dining room to greet us personally, and even took the time to let us snap a picture of Nathan with him, which you'll see here. Once again, Nathan enjoyed an outstanding meal...allergen free! He had baked range chicken, steamed broccoli, a baked potato, Ener-G Foods tapioca rolls, served warm with Earth Balance dairy-free butter, and Rice Dream ice cream sandwiched between Enjoy Life cookies. I was absolutely blown away by the extra mile this one man went to ensure my son's safety. Kudos to you, Chef Rob! You made our first day at Walt Disney World wonderful and worry free!
Our second day, we dined for lunch at the Coral Reef. It had a fun ocean theme, and there were large wall-sized aquariums filled with sting rays, sharks, and other exotic fish. The waiter came to the table, mentioned the food allergy notation to us, and sent the chef out to speak with us. We came up with a simple yet safe meal for Nathan. He had grilled mahi-mahi and oven baked potatoes, complete with Rice Dream ice cream. He didn't eat the potatoes because he doesn't like oven roasted potatoes, but Dad ate them for him. For dinner, we dined at The Biergarten, which was a buffet-style German restaurant. They had live entertainment, so the kids loved that. We were nervous about the cross-contamination issue, so the chef came out and spoke with us and was more than happy to prepare a safe meal for Nathan separately in the kitchen. He loved it, and ate very well. There was no Rice Dream ice cream there, but the chef did come to the table with a "Safe" Popsicle which made Nathan smile. It, of course was eagerly gobbled away.
The third day, we went for lunch at the 50's Prime Time Cafe'. This was a fun place where everyone dressed in character as a brother and sister at Mom's house. Our waiter, “Uncle Tim”, came to the table and made note of the food allergies. He then sent the chef out and we came up with a rice-flour-coated chicken finger and french fry lunch (a little bland compared to mine, but nevertheless a relief to see on a menu) topped with...you guessed it... Rice Dream ice cream for dessert! For dinner, I had pre-made a sun butter & jelly sandwich on some safe bread for Nathan, and we opted for a quick serve dinner in order to see our show that evening. He was fine with that.
On the fourth day, we were in Animal Kingdom, which closed at 5pm. We only had to worry about one meal there, which was lunch. I had made a reservation at the Rainforest Cafe' because I thought the kids would like the jungle-theme there, and they did. The server came to our table and once again, sent the chef to speak with us about the allergies. We went over the menu options to see what would be safe, and settled on apple sauce, "safe" french fries, and grilled chicken. Nathan said the chicken tasted funny, so he didn't eat it. He did eat every single bite of everything else though, and we left with our last meal at Disney World being a happy one.
With a place as busy as Walt Disney World, and a child as allergic to as many foods as Nathan, it really leads to one big question... Why can't every restaurant accommodate us in this way? Is it just a lack of education, a lack of awareness, or a lack of care and/or patience? I know it CAN be done, because I do it every day, and they certainly found the time to do it at Disney World. So until others jump on board the awareness boat, we as parents to allergic children just need to spread awareness and do what we already do every day... keep our kids alive, happy, and healthy. And don’t forget you can go to Disney World to relax, not worry, and HAVE FUN!
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April 23, 2010
The Baseball Game
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To many parents, having a son means pitching a baseball and attending all the baseball games you possibly can. But to parents of children with peanut allergies, especially those that are airborne, a professional stadium can become a very scary place to be.
After all that old familiar tune "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" does boast buying peanuts and cracker jacks, right?
But to those of us living in fear, there comes a point where we have to allow life to be lived and enjoyed by our allergic children, and hope and pray for the best possible outcome. Alas, we decided to go to the Braves game—with Nathan.
We saddled up our Allergykids gear, packed "safe" popcorn and other snacks, checked the (two) epipens and set off into the Atlanta skyline.
We had some really super-awesome seats, but we opted to set up camp elsewhere (in an empty section) just to be alone. Carefully wiping down the seats and checking for any residue, we made sure it was okay for Nathan to sit and we all started eating our stadium "dinner". Nathan of course had his separate food I had prepared just before leaving the house. I opted for the veggie burger, and a beer to help calm my nerves!
We sat there and watched the game, and had fun. And although it was always on our minds, for a few minutes we let the fact that our son has a life-threatening peanut allergy get put on the side lines, and he enjoyed his very first baseball game... just like any other little boy.
  
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March 21, 2010
What about oats?
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I often hear the question "What about oats?" when it comes to Gluten-free baking. When my son outgrew his own oat allergy around the age of two, I began to experiment with it in some of my dishes. For our family, it was just one more grain we could add back into the pantry (yay!) so I eagerly took it in.
Let me preface by saying there are people who unfortunately suffer from a true food allergy to oats as well as other grains. Those people must avoid them to prevent an allergic reaction, of course. But if you are concerned about gluten or wheat contamination in your oats, I have good news for you. There are a few select places you can find pure bred oats that are gluten free. Many commercial oats and oat products in the U.S. are contaminated with wheat and other glutenous grains during shipment, processing, or even in the growing and harvesting process. BUT... I've found a place called (quite appropriately) Gluten Free Oats that has high quality, pure, "safe" oats. The company was founded by a family with three generations of Celiac' s disease, so they know first hand the importance of scrutiny.
The company's website goes into deep detail about how they ensure thier oats are pure. and they also have a recipe page.
Oats are a wholesome, nutritious grain that is both heart-healthy and versatile in baking. If you've never tried them because of fear, this is your lucky break.
Thank you, Gluten Free Oats, for bringing this hearty grain to all of us once again!
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March 12, 2010
Are you more likely to develop food allergies?
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Have scientists pinpointed a "master gene" that is responsible for the development of Food Allergies and Eosinophilic esophagitis (EE)?
A newly released study by researchers at Cincinnati Children's Medical Center (also affectionately known by a lot of moms as "Cincy") suggests this is very likely the case. Not only could this hereditary gene be responsible for food allergies but also other allergic conditions such as eczema and asthma.
A promising find, if there is a chance in the future of blocking this gene in some way. Perhaps like an antihistamine blocks the histamines during an allergy attack? We'll see...
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March 10, 2010
Take action
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Draft Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Food Allergy are now available for public comment.
You can visit the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Food Allergy Clinical Guidelines public comment site at www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/foodAllergy/clinical/comments.htm to read the guidelines and register comments
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February 15, 2010
What's in that?
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I remember when I was a kid (not going to say the decade here) in a time when I could walk to the corner store with my older brothers. We would look at the glorious array of candies and drinks, and pick our favorites for the trek back home. Usually mine was a bottle of soda filled with peanuts. We never thought about food allergies or what was in our food, and usually what we bought at that store was considered junk food. “Too much sugar” was the main complaint from our parents. It made us “hyper”, they would say.
Today, I wish all I had to worry about was “sugar” in my children’s diets. There are so many ingredients we can hardly pronounce, and certainly one must wonder what those ingredients really are!
Well, I stumbled upon a place this past week that can help us find out the answer to just that! Foodfacts.com (http://www.foodfacts.com/) is a website that houses a wealth of information we could all benefit from. With an easy-to-navigate system in place, you can find out just about anything you want there.
I’m highly impressed, and I wanted to pass this information right along to you. Go visit them. You’ll be glad you did.
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December 3, 2009
The dreaded Airborne reaction
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I'm posting pictures of my son to show what can happen to a food-allergic child. Even though he didn't eat any food to cause this, he still had asthma, swelling, and itching.
This reaction was from being in a carpeted room where a party with food was held, 3 days prior. We later found out this room is used frequently for social gatherings with food. We believe he was exposed to wheat and/or peanut residue, as these are the two foods he has anaphylaxis to if ingested.
Those of us who have children like this (and the number is growing at an alarming rate) are often thought to be over-reacting. We may very well be, but this is why. We, like any other parent, want to keep our children away from harm. At a young age, they need us to be the protectors. Allergic reactions are lessons to them toward learning how to handle themselves as they grow older. We as parents know, these minor cases are a window to what can happen if the foods are accidentally eaten. We often live in fear that our child could eat something as seemingly innocent as a peanut butter cookie, and lose their life within minutes.
I hope this helps raise a bit more awareness for you all.
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July 27, 2009
Learning to cook all over again...AGAIN?
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Hi, everyone!
Once again I greet you all with such an appreciation for the overwhelming positivity and feedback you’ve sent. It’s really humbling to receive so many messages that are so uplifting and full of ideas.
I’m blogging this time about learning to cook.
Fortunately, I have always possessed a passion for food. I began learning about ingredients, spices, and how they work when I pushed my great-grandmother in her wheelchair to the stovetop in 1977; I was 6 at the time. Since then, I have worked in my share of restaurants and kitchens of my own, learning a tid-bit more.
Like most of life, you live and you learn----and then you realize you really don’t know that much!
The other day, I was preparing a loaf of the usual wheat free, gluten free, egg free, dairy free, blah blah blah free bread, and it dawned on me what I was doing. I had mastered the bread! All this time, and I was running through my ingredients and adding them to the bowl as if it were finally "old hat"!
Then, I began to remember what it was like to really cook before food allergies came into the picture.
If my son outgrows these food allergies and I can pick up where I left off, would I even know how?
Seriously…would I know how to use "flour" and real eggs again? I started thinking about not needing xanthan gum anymore, and for a split second, I didn’t know what to do! How would I measure everything and where would I even begin?
Wow! What a wild ride.
Food allergies can be quite the blessing in disguise. Never again will I buy an egg or meat that isn’t farm fresh and free range. Never again will I use milk and flour that’s not organic. NEVER again will I use non-organic soy or corn. That’s scary to me. But, I will learn how to do it in a new way, again---just like I did before. And this time, it will be even better than it was! Never get discouraged over food allergies. It’s an eye opener to an underlying problem more times than not. Yes, it is most likely genetic. Yes, it can be a pre-destined condition. But like all destinies, we can overlook them or see them for what they truly are--- an insight learned only when embraced.
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