Allergen Free Please

Creating Holiday Memories with a Hot Air Popcorn Popper

2011-12-17T19:51:00.000-06:00

I hope everyone is preparing to relax and spend time with their family over the holidays. I have to share something that I purchased a few weeks ago that we are really enjoying. It has been a part of us making some great memories this season while watching Christmas movies.

A friend of mine was talking about a hot air popcorn popper, and I realized that Brody was 3 years old (milk, egg and peanut allergy) and has never had popcorn. This was enough motivation for me to purchase the popcorn popper. I also loved the idea of being able to buy organic popcorn kernels (so I can avoid GMO's) and control what, and how much "butter" and salt goes on our popcorn.

The popper pops wonderfully and leaves very few kernels (so quick and easy). It is easy to clean and is so much fun to wait and watch the popcorn overflow out of it (the kids get a kick out of that). Sometimes we use Earth Balance dairy free butter, and sometimes we just eat it plain (what a great low calorie snack).

The best part, you don't even have to leave your home to purchase it. I bought mine online at walmart and paid .97 to have it shipped to my house...AWESOME! It was so worth it to not have to go in and look for it and "hope" they have it this time of year.

If you are looking for a last minute gift or want to treat yourself with something that the whole family can enjoy together, I highly recommend it!

Go make some memories!

Greek Style So Delicious Coconut Milk Yogurt

2011-11-09T17:24:00.000-06:00

I was really excited to see that So Delicious has a new Greek Style Coconut Milk Yogurt. It was "on sale" at Whole Foods, so I grabbed a couple. Coconut milk yogurt, in my opinion, is much tastier than regular yogurt (and also safe for my milk allergic child).

The greek style yogurt is decadent; it is thick, creamy and delicious! We put some granola on top and had it as a snack today. We tried the strawberry, but I am thinking I will have to buy the chocolate next :)

Click HERE to request a coupon

15% off coupon on Food Allergy Bands at USA Baby & Big Kids Too

2011-08-18T11:46:00.006-05:00

I am excited that our family's journey with food allergies is being featured on Nashville Kids Furniture Blog. I am passionate about spreading awareness about food allergies and helping to encourage other families who are on a similar journey.

USA Baby & Big Kids Too in Franklin, TN is offering Allergen Free Please readers a 15% off coupon on a Food Allergy Band. Just in time for pre-school and school starting, you can protect your child from food allergens in a fun, kid-friendly way.

The Food Allergy-Band was the brainchild of three partners from the Nashville area, who have personally been affected by their kids with food allergies. The Food Allergy-Band offers an added layer of protection because they stay with the child when parents and guardians cannot.

The initial Food Allergy-Band will be available in three styles:

Dairy
Nut
Food

Did you know that dairy and nut allergies are the two primary food allergies that can be life-threatening? The number of children affected by food allergies has doubled in the past 10 years and now affects over 12 million Americans. Each year more than 125,000 children visit emergency rooms because of food allergy reactions.

Each band is designed for a specific allergy, is 100% latex free and incorporates a "kid friendly" design.

Print out your 15% off coupon HERE (expires September 30, 2011), stop by USA Baby & Big Kids Too and pick your Food Allergy Band up today!

USA Baby & Big Kids Too
1113 Murfreesboro Rd. Suite 370
Franklin, TN 37064
615-595-5565
Mon-Sat 10am-6pm; Sun 1pm-5pm
"Like" on Facebook

Nashville Sounds Peanut Free Night August 17th

2011-08-02T16:41:00.001-05:00

A friend of mine told me that the Nashville Sounds have had a few peanut free nights this season. I know some of the food allergy moms worked hard to make this possible. I also want to thank the Nashville Sounds for bringing awareness to food allergies by setting aside nights so children that have life-threatening peanut allergies can enjoy a baseball game with their families. This is wonderful!

The last peanut free night is Wednesday August 17th 2011 at (against the Padres) at 7:05pm in Section D. Click HERE to read more. *Section-D will be designated as a peanut-free zone at Greer Stadium. For more information, call (615) - 690 - HITS.

Tickets are $12 in advance (prior to game date). Children 2 and under are free, if they do not occupy a seat. Ticket prices include tax. To see more details, click HERE

Enjoy a night out with the family!!!!

Make Your Own Smoothie Pops

2011-06-18T09:39:00.001-05:00

Popsicles are the perfect summer time treat!

I love being able to make my own pops so I know what's in them. It is fun to make different flavors with fruit and the kids enjoy being a part of creating them.

The hardest part of making your own pops is finding the right popsicle molds.

I found these popsicle molds from Tovolo and I really like them (I actually found them at TJ Max but it looks like you can get them off of Amazon).

I like that these molds have a base that each pop sits on so they do not fall over when you put them in the freezer. They are durable and even have a drip guard. They come out star shaped, which is fun AND they are BPA free and dishwasher safe.

*Tip: do not fill the pop up to the top with smoothie or the stick has a hard time staying in.

How to make Smoothie Pops

1. get a great popsicle mold (I like the Tovolo Shooting Star Freezer Pop Molds)
2. get out your blender (I am in love with my Vitamix and we have definitely have gotten our money's worth, as we use it at least 2-3 times a day).
3. real fruit juice and frozen or fresh fruit

Here is my recipe for one of my favorite smoothie pops, but you can be creative and use any fruit combination

OJ (not from concentrate) (about 2 cups)
Frozen chunks of mango (I buy at Trader Joe's)
Frozen pineapple tidbits (I buy at Trader Joe's)
Frozen organic strawberries (I buy at Trader Joe's)
I sprinkle in some ground flax seed for Omega 3's

Blend ingredients in blender and pour into the molds. Whatever does fit in the molds, we drink ;)

Also, if you want to make what we call around our house "Shrek Smoothie Pop" add a handful of kale or spinach. Both greens are extremely nutritious and will turn the smoothie a cool green color. Bonus: you will be sneaking in some veggies.

These molds come in handy when you make a blender-full of smoothie and you are not able to drink it all....we just have smoothie pops for later on and it is not wasted.

Farmers Markets Around Town

2011-06-09T20:09:00.006-05:00

Summer is all about Farmers Markets; an abundance of a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables straight from the farm. Fruits and vegetables are always safe for us and it is an activity that we can do as a family. My boys enjoying know where their food comes from (they love to know what farm it is from) and it gets them more excited and involved in healthy eating.

Here are some local farmers markets around town

Open all week long

Nashville Farmers Market Monday-Sunday 8am-6pm

Find them on Facebook HERE

Saturday

Franklin Farmers Market behind the Factory in Franklin from 8am-1pm

Find them on Facebook HERE

Spring Hill Farmers Market at the TN Children's home from 3:30pm-6pm

Find them on Facebook HERE

Columbia Farmers Market at the Public Square in Historic Downtown Columbia 7am-12pm

Find them on Facebook HERE

Tuesday

Franklin Farmers Market at the Whole Foods at West McEwen Drive from 3-6:30pm

Whole Food Franklin puts out reminders, etc. Find them on Facebook HERE

Wednesday
Thompson Station Farmers Market near Thompson Station Church from 2-6pm

Find them on Facebook HERE

If you not local, find some farmers markets around town and check them out. It is a fun way to try new foods, support local farmers and maybe you will be excited to try something new for your family...they might even like it if they are a part of picking it out :)

Let me know if I am missing any local markets

Amazing Allergen Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

2011-06-01T20:37:00.006-05:00

Have you tried Enjoy Life's NEW Crunchy Chocolate Chip handcrafted cookies? Oh...you need to!

When I first found out about Brody's food allergies, I was thankful for Enjoy Life because I knew that their ENTIRE line of products were "safe." It definitely helped make my life easier as I was trying to figure out the world of food allergies. It was also an easy recommendation for others who were dealing with food allergies (even if they are different from ours) because everything is free of the top 8 allergens (wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish and shellfish).

We have been eating the Enjoy Life cookies (the small soft ones) and they are good...but these NEW cookies? THEY ARE GREAT!!!!! They taste like a "bad for you cookie" without all of the stuff that you don't want. It still amazes and encourages me how something can be free of so many allergens and still taste amazing!

A friend of mine gave some of these new cookies to a non-food allergic child who was over to play with her son who has multiple food allergies. The result? The child kept asking for more! There is something that makes a mom feel good when those who do not have food allergies want what your child is having because it is GOOD.

Go out and grab a box. You won't be disappointed. I even had to try a few just to make sure I REALLY liked them ;)

Thank you Enjoy Life for helping to make my life easy and yummy!!!

Check out the other new crunchy varieties also

Amanda's Own Confections

2011-05-03T10:45:00.012-05:00

Before Easter, I was looking safe chocolate for Brody. Not just any chocolate, but SPECIAL chocolate that was in cute seasonal shapes. I really was looking for little bunny shapes instead of a big bunny that he would have a hard time eating . For holidays, it is more difficult to find candy that is special for children who have food allergies, etc.

I could have bought him an Enjoy Life chocolate bar, but I felt he deserved to have some sort of bunny chocolate like other kids are able to eat :) I don't want his food allergies to keep him from having special memories. I remember, as a child, having special chocolate in my Easter basket and wanted to see him enjoy a special treat.

I was searching allergen free chocolate on the Internet and came across Amanda's Own Confections. I discovered that the chocolate was dairy free, egg free, gluten free, tree nut free and peanut free. I was really excited to see all of the options to choose from for holidays and for special occasions.

Amanda's Own Confections was developed as a result of their daughter Amanda's life-threatening food allergy to diary products. Her parents did not want her miss out on all of the chocolate for holidays or other special occasions.

They started making chocolate that was totally diary free, tree nut free, peanut free, egg free and gluten free for Amanda, and she loved it. They they began to share the chocolate with friends who have children with food allergies and it received such a positive response in regard to the great taste and safe ingredients, that Amanda's Own Confections was created to offer safe chocolate for others!

Here is the statement about food allergies that made me feel confident in the product I would be receiving:

The purity of our dairy-free, tree nut-free, peanut-free, egg-free, gluten-free chocolate is of the greatest importance to us, as the safety of our child and yours depends on it.

The chocolates were delicious and the shapes were adorable. It made me so happy to see Brody eating special chocolate for Easter. My older son enjoyed it and loved it too.

I connect with why Amanda's Own Confections was created and I am thankful for those who are passionate about helping other children have yummy, healthier treats. I love supporting companies like this.

I know I have said this before, but I truly believe some of the yummiest, healthiest food is the allergen free food.

You can find Amanda's Own Confections on Facebook

Last Minute "Healthier" Easter Candy

2011-04-22T08:50:00.005-05:00

At Whole Foods, you can find Yummy Earth Organic Gummy Bears. These are individually packaged and perfect to put inside Easter baskets (10 snack packs). They are on sale for $4.99

What's best about these gummy bears?

Certified Organic
No artificial dyes
No corn syrup
Tree Nut-free
Real Fruit Extracts
100% Natural Flavors
Gluten Free
Peanut Free
Soy Free
Dairy Free
GMO-Free
No MSG

I think that about covers it. Not to mention, they are REALLY GOOD! I have had a hard time not eating them this week (I think I still have enough for Easter baskets ;)

The Yummy Earth brand is wonderful choice for a "healthier" candy. You can also grab a bag of their lollipops...YUM!!!!

Have a wonderful Easter with your family!

Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil

2011-04-15T16:03:00.005-05:00

As long as I can remember, Brody has had sensitive skin and eczema. When we removed Brody's allergens from his diet, his skin drastically improved, but we still had issues with eczema from time to time. It seemed like if we didn't keep his skin moisturized, the eczema would flair up , which would make him itch, which would then make his eczema worse. It was a vicious cycle.

We were told by different health care professionals to use different lotions/prescriptions on his skin to help with his eczema; some had steroids (which I did not like to consistently put on him) and others were full of ingredients I had no idea what they were (nor could pronounce them). Because we tried to keep his skin moisturized, we put products on his skin every day, sometimes even twice a day.

I decided that I wanted to switch to a product that was more natural for his skin and move away from products with a ton of ingredients that I could not pronounce (which could have potentially been irritating his skin even more, making the eczema worse because his skin is so sensitive).

A friend of mine suggested Tropical Traditions Gold Label Standard Virgin Coconut Oil and we started using it in the beginning of the fall. In the past, winter has made Brody's skin dry and cracked and his eczema seemed to get worse. I have to say that this has been the best winter for Brody's skin. I am very pleased with the coconut oil and have used it all over his body (we cover him in it), on my family's chapped lips and even as moisturizer for my face.

The more I learn about about the skin being the largest organ and how it absorbs toxins just as if you have eaten them, I understand how important it is to find more natural (as close to nature ingredients as possible) products. I try to use the rule, "If I wouldn't want to eat it, I won't put it on my skin."

What else can you use the coconut oil for besides a moisturizer? You can cook with it (it is one of the best cooking oils you can use) and you can also add it to smoothies for great health benefits.

You can "Like" Tropical Traditions on Facebook and you will get access to sales and coupons codes, etc.

Here is a great offer from Tropical Traditions: You can try the 16 oz trial size and if for any reason you are not 100% satisfied with your trial size in the first 30 days, you get a full refund-no questions asked.

Anyone else use coconut oil for the skin?

What Could Be Causing An Increase In Food Allergies?

2011-04-04T22:16:00.008-05:00

Have you found yourself asking this question to your family, friends or doctor?

When I tell people about Brody's food allergies, I always find myself saying to them, "Do you remember going to school with kids who had food allergies? I didn't know one child with food allergies when I was in school or even when I was teaching almost 4 1/2 years ago. Now, almost every day I meet someone who has a child that is food allergic. It is becoming an epidemic and our children are suffering"

In this 18 minute talk, Robyn O'Brien shares how one breakfast changed her outlook on food. After she discovered that her daughter had a severe food allergy, she became determined to figure out what was causing a spike in the food allergies here in the U.S. Here is what she found:

Robyn O’Brien is a former food industry analyst turned crusader for safe, healthy food talks about the link between food allergies and our food system.

The facts about our food system are eye opening. As Robyn says in her talk, “one person can make a difference.” She encourages everyone to “Do One Thing” to improve your health and that of your family and our country. What’s your one thing?

Other resources
Food Inc,.
Food Matters

Living With Food Allergies

2011-03-14T22:43:00.008-05:00

This video will touch your heart

Me my son Brody

Our Story:

Our journey with food allergies started with our son Brody having severe eczema at 4 months old. The eczema on his face would get so bad, that it would be open and weepy. People would make comments about his cute red cheeks and I would just smile, knowing that it was not normal. There were times when his face looked so bad it made my stomach turn.

I remember calling doctor offices crying and asking them to see our son as soon as possible. We took him to our pediatrician, a dermatologist, and a pediatric dermatologist. We tried expensive topical treatments (that I did not like to use because of the steroids) and nothing completely took it away. I asked all three doctors if something that I was eating could be getting into him from nursing, and all of them said it was not possible and wrote me a prescription (I now know otherwise). It was frustrating to watch him be so uncomfortable; I felt helpless.

At 7 months old, I introduced whole organic yogurt, and he immediately broke out with hives all over his body. It took me a minute to process what was going on, because I had never seen anyone have an allergic reaction, nor did I anticipate our child would have one. I called the triage nurse at our pediatrician’s office and was told to give him Benedryl and watch to make sure his throat did not close. We were asked to come in to see our pediatrician the next day, and he recommended a blood test.

A few days later, the pediatrician called and said, “Brody is allergic to milk, eggs, peanuts and wheat.” I said “Ok.” He then asked if I was going to continue to nurse him; I immediately said, “Yes, of course” and he replied, “You know that what he is allergic to is in everything?” I realized that what I had been eating was hurting him. I cut those allergens completely out of my diet and went on what we affectionately called “ The Brody diet.” His eczema went way, he was a happier baby and I was overwhelmed, yet relieved to find out the root of the problem. I was on the "Brody diet" for 6 months, since I had decided to continue to nurse. I am glad I chose to do this; it forced me to find safe foods and recipes that tasted good.

After I learned a little more and had time to digest what was going on, we decided to see an allergist and do a skin test to compare to the results of the blood test and begin a relationship with a doctor who takes care of children with food allergies everyday.

We have since had some accidental exposure to allergens, which have been both eye opening and scary. We have also done a baked egg challenge with our allergist and Brody’s lips turned blue, his eyes rolled back in his head and he was given the Epi-pen. This incident built our belief in the Epi-pen and we do not leave home without it.

Being allergen free was a dramatic change for our entire family, since none of us have any food allergies. We were completely immersed into this new lifestyle. I began to look at food differently. I always knew that what a person eats could eventually hurt them, possibly causing heart disease, diabetes, obesity, etc. but for our family, certain food could cause our son to stop breathing.

Reading labels has made our family so much more aware of what is actually in the food that we are eating, and we have cut out a lot of processed foods and are eating whole foods, fruits, vegetables, food made from scratch and with fewer ingredients (which is much healthier). This has definitely been the silver lining since Brody has been diagnosed with food allergies.

Along the way, I have met and have been encouraged by other moms who are on similar journeys. I have met local bakers who make delicious allergen free treats for special occasions, which makes my heart happy. We embrace this path for our family and are learning that being allergen free can be healthy and delicious.

There are days where I feel anxious, but other days I am so thankful that God has put our family on this journey. It is stretching and growing us.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (NIV) Philippians 4:6-7

What are food allergies?

It is estimated that approximately 12 million Americans suffer from food allergies.. Food allergies occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks a food protein. Ingestion of the offending food may trigger the sudden release of chemicals, including histamine, resulting in symptoms of an allergic reaction.

What are the top eight allergens?

Milk, eggs, soy, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish.

What are some symptoms of an allergic reaction?

Symptoms may be mild (rashes, hives, itching, swelling, etc.) or severe (trouble breathing, wheezing, loss of consciousness, etc.). A food allergy can be potentially fatal.

How a might a child might describe a reaction?

Children have unique ways of describing their experiences and perceptions, and allergic reactions are no exception. Precious time can be lost when caregivers do not immediately recognize that a reaction is occurring or don’t understand what a child is trying to tell them.

Some children, especially very young ones, put their hands in their mouths or pull or scratch at their tongues when having a reaction. Also, children’s voices may change (example: become hoarse or squeaky), and they may slur their words.

Here are some examples of the words a child might use to describe a reaction (from FAAN)

• "This food's too spicy."
• "My tongue is hot [or burning]."
• "It feels like something’s poking my tongue."
• "My tongue [or mouth] is tingling [or burning]."
• "My tongue [or mouth] itches."
• "It [my tongue] feels like there is hair on it."
• "My mouth feels funny."
• "There's a frog in my throat."
• "There’s something stuck in my throat."
• "My tongue feels full [or heavy]."
• "My lips feel tight."
• "It feels like there are bugs in there." (to describe itchy ears)
• "It [my throat] feels thick."
• "It feels like a bump is on the back of my tongue [throat]."

If you suspect that your child is having an allergic reaction, follow your doctor's instructions.

What is the best treatment for a food allergy reaction?

We carry Benedryl and an Epi- with us everywhere we go. For a very mild reaction, Benedryl is great. For a severe reaction, Epinephrine, is the medication of choice. It is available by prescription as a self-injectable device. If you have been prescribed this medication, carry it with you at all times. It could save your child’s life.

How to Grocery Shop?

Grocery shopping takes more time, because the ingredients and each ingredient statement must be carefully read. Manufacturers change the ingredients of their products all of the time, and these changes may not be seen by looking at the front of a package. Make sure to read the ingredient label every time you purchase a food, even for “safe” food you have previously purchased.

Resources

FAAN (Food Allergy Anaphylaxis Network)
http://www.foodallergy.org

Food Allergy Initiative
http://www.faiusa.org

Kids With Food Allergies
http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org

Local Resources (Nashville Area)

Allergen Free Please
www.allergenfreeplease.blogspot.com (Also on Facebook)

F.A.C.T. (Food Allergy Community of TN) is a support group that meets at the Whole Foods in Green Hills the first Tuesday of every other month.
http://allergysupport.blogspot.com

Email me for more information at allergenfreeplease@gmail.com

Grand Opening of Aunt April's Bakery, Saturday March 19th

2011-03-08T08:41:00.006-06:00

Click HERE to learn more about the Green Wagon's Spring Re-Opening Celebration AND the GRAND OPENING of Aunt April's Bakery on Saturday, March 19th, 12pm-10pm and to RSVP.

GRAND OPENING - Aunt April's Bakery

In addition to being GF, all our items are soy & dairy free. So we are the premier 'allergen friendly' bakery & cafe in middle TN. April's OMGoodies will be for sale and there will be a coffee tasting to let you help us decide our "house coffee."

To read more about Aunt April's Bakery, click HERE

The Green Wagon

1100 Forrest Avenue

Near 5 points, East Nashville

Nashville, TN 37206

615-891-1878

AllergyFree Foods-Eliminating the Top Food Allergens

2011-03-05T19:01:00.011-06:00

Thank you AllergyFree Foods for sponsoring our March F.A.C.T. (Food Allergy Community of TN) Meeting!

Kelly Young and Richard Croteau did a wonderful job of communicating the mission of the company, who believes that EVERYONE has the right to purchase food products that are of both great taste and value.

AllergyFree Foods works with Joel Schaefer, a former Manager of Product Development and Special Diets for Walt Disney World Resort, their products are free of the top 8 food allergens (wheat/gluten, milk, egg, peanut, tree nut, fish, shellfish and soy).

Now those with allergies can finally enjoy the products that they crave such as chicken nuggets, chicken wings and more.

Allergy Free Food offers All Natural Chicken Products (Minimally processed, no Artificial ingredients)

· Chicken Filets

· Chicken Nuggets

· Chicken Tenderloins

· Chicken Tenders

· Chicken Wings

Be on the lookout for some dry mixes to be offered in the near future!

Check out the list of the products/ingredients or order.

AllergyFree Food products have been featured at and have been successful with independent and chain grocers nationwide.

See if AllergyFree Food products are available at a grocery store near you.

Would you like to have Allergy Free Foods available to purchase in your local grocery store? Print a Grocer Request Form, download, print and take it to the manager of your local grocery store (the more people request, the greater likelihood that they will carry it). The distribution centers that the grocery store can order from is: UNFI, Tree of Life and KeHe Foods.

Find AllergyFree Foods on

Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/allergyfreefoods

Twitter

YouTube

Allergy Free Foods

(706) 265-1317

info@allergyfreefoodsco.com

Allergen Free Please is now on Facebook

2011-02-22T09:28:00.004-06:00

Is Facebook an easy way for you to stay connected?

Do you feel like your email inbox is overloaded? Facebook is a great way to check out posts, etc that interest you without having to delete a million emails.

"Like" Allergen Free Please on Facebook and get updates that might not make the blog and have a way to connect with others who are dealing with food allergies or who are making lifestyle changes.

You can find the Facebook link right on www.allergenfreeplease.blogspot.com or you can search pages on Facebook and find it.

Have someone you know that is dealing with food allergies, etc.? Feel free to share! Thanks for being a part of this journey with me!

Avocado and Raspberry Pie...Perfect for Valentine's Day!

2011-02-08T20:41:00.015-06:00

Oh my goodness...I have a dessert that I feel confidant that you will love and the ingredients are ones that you might not have ever thought about putting together.

My husband and I have been following a strict Vegan "diet" for the past 28 days and we have been experimenting with some new plantstrong recipes. We are doing the Engine 2 Diet, not as a diet, but more for a lifestyle. Whole Foods Market has been supporting us through this journey with weekly check-ins and letting us sample wonderful new recipes. Tonight, they made this dessert and I think I could have eaten the entire pan. Who knew that chocolate and avocado could be so creamy and decadent? Plus, I felt a whole lot better as I ate it, knowing that it was full of heart healthy fats. My boys will LOVE this and I will love knowing that I am sneaking in avocado. I know if you are like me, you might be wanting a yummy dessert for Valentine's day....ENJOY!!!!!

Avocado & Raspberry Pie

This recipe is free of milk, eggs, wheat, peanuts, soy, tree nuts, fish and shellfish

Mash two ripe avocados and splash 2T of orange juice over the top

Melt 14 oz vegan chocolate chips in a double boiler with: (example: enjoy life is free of the top 8 allergens)

1 T vanilla extract

1/3 c “milk” — try 365 Soy or Almond (or other milk alternative (Rice, etc))

When melting chocolate, mix in milk alternative and vanilla extract.

Once melted, mix with the avocado — either with food processor to make smooth,

Once combined, pour over fresh raspberries in a pie pan. Put more fresh raspberries on top & refrigerate until it hardens.

Tip: I used frozen raspberries because they were cheaper :) I layered some on the bottom, then added the "chocolate" mixture and then added more on top. YUM!

It comes out super firm. Cut into small wedges because it is so dense, firm and yummy!

Recipe by Renee Mahon

Avocados...The Perfect Game Day Snack!

2011-02-04T11:10:00.006-06:00

Today ONLY: February 4th, Organic Avocados are on sale 5/$5 at Whole Foods
*Call your local store to make sure they are participating

Here are two great recipes for your delicious, healthful avocados!

This recipe is free of milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish

Guacamole
4-6 ripe avocados
1/2 red or yellow onion, minced
1-2 serrano chiles, stems and seeds removed, minced
2 tablespoons cilantro leaves, finely chopped
1 tablespoon of fresh lime or lemon juice
coarse salt to taste
A dash of freshly grated black pepper
1/2 ripe tomato, seeds and pulp removed, chopped (optional)
*if you want, omit the onion, serrano chiles, and tomato and just add some fresh salsa (about 1/4 cup). Doing this makes this recipe SO easy!

Directions
1. Cut avocados in half. Remove seed. Scoop out avocado from the peel, put in a mixing bowl. (See How to Cut and Peel an Avocado.)
2. Using a fork, mash the avocado. Add the chopped onion, cilantro, lime or lemon, salt and pepper and mash some more. Chili peppers vary individually in their hotness. So, start with a half of one chili pepper and add to the guacamole to your desired degree of hotness.
Keep the tomatoes separate until ready to serve.
Remember that much of this is done to taste because of the variability in the fresh ingredients. Start with this recipe and adjust to your taste.
3. Cover with plastic wrap directly on the surface of the guacamole to prevent oxidation from the air reaching it. Refrigerate until ready.
4. Just before serving, add the chopped tomato to the guacamole and mix.

Serve with tortilla chips

Black Bean Salsa

This recipe is free of milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, peanuts, fish and shellfish

Ingredients

2 cans of black beans drained and rinsed

*I like to use organic black beans or whole foods 365 black beans (they are only .89) and they do not have preservatives or added salt.

1 small bag of organic frozen corn, drained

1 lime OR lemon (for juice)

1 Haas avocado cut into pieces and soaked in fresh lime or lemon juice to preserve its color

*You might want to do this right before you serve this dip so the avocado is at its freshest

1 small onion, diced

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 mango, diced OR pineapple, diced

4 tbsp olive oil

4 tbsp white wine vinegar

fresh cilantro, chopped

Directions

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Cover. Let refrigerate at least 30 minutes or until ready to serve. Stir before serving.

Serve with tortilla chips

Lori Sandler (Divvies) will discuss food "Navigating Food Allergies" TODAY at 12pm Central

2011-02-02T07:27:00.002-06:00

"Navigating Food Allergies"

CLICK HERE to Register for the live talk and cooking class

Where in the World is Children's Benadryl Dye-Free Allergy?

2011-01-25T11:01:00.008-06:00

Has anyone else been looking everywhere for Children's Benadryl Dye-Free Allergy?

I have been on a search for Children's Benadryl Dye-Free Allergy for a couple of months now and cannot find it anywhere. Yesterday, I decided to call the company and see if I could get some answers.

In September 2010, Tylenol, Motrin and Benadryl were recalled. If you have any of these medicines sitting around your house and you bought them awhile ago, they might be part of the recall. Call this number, 1-877-717-2824 and they can tell you if it has been recalled and if so, they will send you a refund.

As of now now, the company is having a hard time distributing the Children's Benadryl Dye-Free Allergy after the recall, and they are unsure when it will be back on the shelves.

Would I give Brody the regular Benadryl with dyes if I had no other options? Absolutely, but if I can find an alternative that is dye-free, that would be my first choice.

Since Dye-Free Benadryl is not an option right now (and we do not know when it will be available), I spoke to a pharmacist at Walgreens, and he recommended the Children's WAL-DRYL Allergy Dye-Free. He personally has food allergies uses it.

I bought it, but wanted to call my allergist to confirm that is was alright to give. My biggest concern was that on the Children's Benadryl, it said do not give to children under 2 and on the Children's WAL-DRYL Allergy , it said to not give to children under 4. My allergist said that it was fine to give and the most important thing to look at was that the Diphenhydramine HCl (which is the antihistamine/active ingredient) was 12.5mg per teaspoon, which it is.

If you are like us, we do not go anywhere without "Benadryl" because there have been many times that it has saved us from going to the Emergency Room (too many times to count). If you do not take it with you and you have children with food allergies, I recommend getting some to take with you. We even keep it at the grandparents' house that live close by, so that we are never without it. So, until the Children's Benadryl Dye-Free Allergy comes back onto the shelves, the Children's Wal-Dryl Allergy Dye-Free would be a great replacement.

Aunt April's Bakery

2011-01-13T15:07:00.034-06:00

Aunt April's Bakery is Nashville's very first ALL gluten free bakery. In addition to being gluten free, the products are also soy and dairy free. Some of her options are also vegan. April's heart is to be able to make allergen free treats for any food allergies and is more than willing to accommodate them.

Aunt April's gluten free, vegan (no egg, no dairy) and soy free Heaven Cake is available to purchase at The Wild Cow in Nashville. It is an extremely moist chocolate cake with a creamy, decadent icing.

We had April make the Heaven cake for Brody's 2nd birthday. We ordered a sheet cake so we could cut it up into smaller pieces for the adults and bought cupcakes (also Heaven cake) for the kids. It was a big hit! The adults were going back for seconds and my husband and I had to hide the rest of the cake so we had leftovers. Everyone couldn't believe how many things the cake "didn't have in it", yet it was delicious! Aunt April's also offers seasonal gluten free, soy free, vegan cupcakes at The Wild Cow if you are not in the mood for chocolate or are allergic.

You can also find some of Aunt April's Bakery baked goods (muffins, brownies and cookies) at the Edgehill Cafe.

When you buy Aunt April's baked goods from one of these places, you will find that they are clearly labeled with what is not in it (gluten, dairy, soy, vegan (no milk or eggs), etc.) and you will find a detailed list of ingredients (which I love).

For Thanksgiving, Brody was able to have his first pumpkin pie. April baked a gluten free, egg free, milk free, crustless pie. I was so thrilled that he was able to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving treat.

Aunt April's Bakery is going to be opening (hopefully the end of February) inside The Green Wagon near East Nashville. April will offer her delicious baked goods, and will serve lunch, which will include homemade soup and sandwiches. I am so excited about this! How nice to be able to go and grab some yummy treats when you are out and about, or meet up with some friends at a place that really "gets" food allergies.

If you would like Aunt April's Bakery to make something for you special order, give her at least 48 hours to be able to make it just the way you need it!

You can sign up for Aunt April's Bakery VIP Program by sending a text to 56687 and put Aunt April in the body of the text. When you spend $100 over a period of time, you will get $8 back. Also, 5% goes back to a non profit.

Thank you Aunt April's Bakery for sponsoring our January F.A.C.T. meeting! The Heaven cupcakes were fabulous and we loved the baking tips.

Here is one of April's tips for baking egg free:

Substitute for one egg:

2 tsp of flaxseed meal

3 Tbsp boiling water

Mix together and then let sit for about 10 minutes. The end result will be a egg-like consistency.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact April. She is more than happy to answer your questions!

Aunt April's Bakery

615-568-0028

april@auntaprilsbakery.com

www.auntaprilsbakery.com

F.A.C.T. Meeting

2011-01-03T13:51:00.003-06:00

Our next F.A.C.T meeting (Food Allergy Community of TN) is tomorrow, Tuesday, January 4th at 7pm at the Whole Foods in Green Hills (we usually meet upstairs).

Start the new year off with some great tips on allergen free baking!

April Graves from Aunt April's Bakery (an allergen friendly bakery in middle TN) will be teaching a workshop on baking with food allergies. April is passionate about baking safe, tasty treats for those with food allergies and will teach us tips on how to prepare safe baked goods for our families.

She will be bringing some yummy allergen free treats for us to try. For more information, go to www.auntaprilsbakery.com
She can accommodate any food allergy. Email me at allergenfreeplease@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Tis the Season....

2010-12-10T09:09:00.013-06:00

To be honest with you, I have been struggling this holiday season with working around the food allergies. It seems that so many activities center around food, which of course I love, but it does create some stress when trying to avoid allergens for my two-year old son.

In the past week, Brody has had two reactions due to cross-contamination. Not life-threatingening, but enough to scare us and have the epi-pen in hand (thank goodness for Benedryl, we don't leave home without that or our epi-pen). It is stressful when you think you are keeping your child away from the potential "dangers" and they still have reactions and you are not exactly sure how it happened.

We are preparing to go on a Polar Express train ride with my family a couple hours away. This will be the first time that we have traveled somewhere that wasn't to family's house where things were bought and prepared that were safe. We are not going away long, but I have felt anxiety as I have been getting things ready to go. It is in these times, that I feel sadness that I can't just pack up our clothes, etc and eat out at any restaurant we want and just enjoy being away from home. As a mom who has a child with food allergies, I have to think about what I can pack for him for meals, etc and feel as though I can't just fully relax.

On the Polar Express train, they will be serving the children cookies and hot chocolate as they ride to the "North Pole" in their pj's. This is great for my four year old, but Brody is now at the age that he understands and wants to have what his big brother is having. I have to make sure that I deliver very close to (or better than) what everyone else is having.

I went on a mission yesterday to find some non -dairy hot chocolate (also without partially hydrogenated oils, which is trans fat). I know I could probably make homemade mix, but things have been so busy that I do not have time to buy a ton of ingredients and it turn out bad. Hot chocolate is not complete without marshmallows, so I was also looking for some that do not have dyes in them (we try to avoid dyes).

The last special item that I that I wanted to find was safe candy canes that didn't have dyes (red #40 in them).

Whole Foods delivered with all three items!

I almost cried as I saw the non-dairy hot chocolate mix...I don't know if it was the excitement, or the price :) I have learned that it is necessary to splurge on some items so Brody can feel included and be a part of what we are doing.

AH!LASKA Organic Cocoa Non-Dairy Chocolate Mix

-I am having a cup as I write this blog, and I will tell you that is not as sweet as other dairy-filled brands, but what a wonderful option to have, and I fill much better about the ingredients list (even for the rest of my family).

Besides being non-dairy, it is also wheat and gluten free.

-It is made in a facility that processes peanuts, sesame, dairy, eggs, fish and soy.

(for my family, I have been comfortable that it is made in a facility with....I am not as comfortable when it is made on shared equipment and there is not a note stating that the venders follow good manufacturing practices to segregate ingredients to avoid cross contact with allergens). Make sure you do what makes you feel comfortable.

Eylon Marshmallows

-In my opinion, I think they are better than regular marshmallows. They are sweeter so you might not need as many. They come in small sizes for hot chocolate and baking and larger sizers for making smores, etc.

They are Gluten Free, Kosher and Parve (dairy free), but they are made with kosher fish gelatin, which would not be appropriate for someone who is allergic to fish.

tru sweet organic candy canes

-the red stripe on the candy cane is not as pronounced, but there are perfect!Fruit juice is used instead of the dyes, which I LOVE!

They are gluten free, vegan kosher and also organic and corn syrup free.

Produced on dedicated nut-free and gluten-free equipment in a segregated area of a facility that also processes diary, eggs, peanuts, soy, tree nuts and wheat.

I hope that these simple items can make it easier for you to make memories with your family and allow you or you or your child to feel included :)

Anyone else feel more stressed around the holidays in regards to food allergies?

An Allergen Free Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T11:45:00.003-06:00

I am sitting here watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with my boys and getting ready to make some food for our Thanksgiving dinner. I am so excited that almost the entire meal with my family will be safe for Brody (milk, egg and peanut free)! It makes it less stressful and I want him to be able to enjoy the foods that are a part of our family traditions.

I am thankful that we have a much better handle on the food allergies today than we did last year, but we still have some reactions now and then (example: someone kissed Brody on Halloween who had just eaten chocolate and Brody had a skin reaction). It is really amazing how far we have come in a year. If you are just starting this journey, I want to encourage you that it does get easier as you get comfortable with what foods/products are safe.

Wishing you and your family a wonderful, memorable, safe Thanksgiving!

Here are a just a few highlights of what we will be having....

Organic Turkey cooked with lots of fresh herbs/with homemade safe gravy

Green Bean Casserole

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Sweet Potato Casserole

Roasted Asparagus (bake on 400 for about 10 minutes with extra virgin olive oil salt and pepper...can add freshly squeezed lemon juice for extra flavor)

Fresh Cranberry Relish

Apple Pie

Cranberry Apple Pie

*Ordered a wheat, egg, milk, peanut free Pumpkin Pie from Aunt April's Bakery

Apple Cider

*I love this idea as an appetizer or a centerpiece

Overstuffed Baked Apples

2010-10-29T10:24:00.006-05:00

This recipe is free of milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish

4 large apples, cored (I used Organic Granny Smith...Whole Foods has Organic Honeycrisp on sale today only for $1.49lb)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 cup brown sugar OR local honey for a "healthier version"
1/4 cup rolled oats (can find Gluten Free oats)
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, a healthy grating
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 tablespoons safe butter, cut into pieces (I used Earth Balance...can buy soy free if needed)
1/8 cup, regular or golden raisins

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Sprinkle cored apples with lemon juice. Mix next 7 ingredients and over-stuff apples. Bake 20 minutes in a small oven safe dish. Once cooled, I removed the skin (for my boys) and cut it up into pieces. They loved it!

Enjoy a beautiful fall weekend with your family and make lots of memories!

An Allergen Free Cheese That Tastes Good?

2010-10-22T12:15:00.007-05:00

I just got a phone call from my good friend who just finished eating homemade english muffin pizzas with her food-allergic child with cheese that tasted good! Non-dairy cheese that tasted GOOD? I listened up....she got my attention on this one. I had to share this!

I remember when we first started this food allergy journey, I looked for non-dairy cheese and then figurred out that some of the brands have casein in them. Really? Doesn't make much sense to me.....most people who are looking for non-diary cheese might want to be avoiding casein...hmmm....

After trying several types of dairy free/casein free cheese (there weren't too many choices), I decided that I would rather live life without it. I did attempt to give it to Brody, I thought, "He doesn't know what real cheese tastes like, so he won't know the difference"....he refused it. I didn't blame him. I ate my pizza cheese free with just sauce and lots of veggies. As Brody is getting older (almost 2), I would love to make him a pizza that looks like a pizza and maybe even tastes like a pizza ;)

I am very excited to try Daiya Vegan Cheese (oh, and it is SHREDDED!!!!). I remember trying to shred my non-diary/casein free block of cheese and even the texture (rubbery) grossed me out! This could mean homemade pizzas with shredded mozzarella at the house! That would be so fun! They also have shredded cheddar (think...chili, casseroles, etc).

Daiya Vegan Cheese is free of the common allergens including dairy (casein and lactose), soy, gluten, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts.

I guess I will be grabbing some at Whole Foods and checking it out ;)

Remember that Whole Foods has a wonderful return policy. If you do not like the product you are trying (because I know sometimes you might not want to try a product because of the cost and then would hate to throw it away if you don't like it). If you bring in your receipt, they will refund your money OR if you do not have your receipt, they will give you a store credit.

Let me know what you think!

Healthy Lunches with No Waste....

2010-09-29T07:18:00.007-05:00

My oldest son has started pre-school two days a week and we are adjusting to the new schedule (life has just been busy). The pre-school we send him to is not close to our house, so Brody and I stay up in the area and run errands so we don't waste gas or time. Plus, I figure grocery shopping might be easier with one :) Because we do this, Brody and I also need to pack a lunch on these days.

I have to tell you about easylunchboxes.com. A friend of mine told me about them and I am so glad she did! They make packing lunches easy, and much less wasteful than using tons of plastic baggies. I love that it has 3 compartments, because it makes me be more creative with what I pack for them and I find it is a healthier lunch. I can give them to the boys in the car and the act like a little tray. It is an easy way for them to eat their lunch. Having a child with food allergies, we pack lunches and snacks all of the time when we go out and this system has been a lifesaver!

We packed a family picnic this past weekend (there are four of us) and we each had two easylunchbox containers in each cooler (and we had two coolers). There was also room inside the cooler for an ice pack and apples.

This is similar to the new bento luchbox system and you can even buy pieces to add to make your easylunchbox.com more creative/functional. Check out the gallery of some of the lunches that have been packed using this system.

Due to overwhelming demand, they are currently sold out of container sets....BUT a new shipment arrives Mid-October (which really isn't that far off). Place your order now and they will include a FREE cooler bag that fits with the container sets (a $7.95 value) as a thanks for your patience.

Picking Apples....

2010-09-15T07:34:00.008-05:00

One of the activities that we can do, that is food related as a family, is pick local produce. This past spring/summer, we picked strawberries, cherries, blueberries, peaches, went into our garden and gathered our harvest or took a trip to the local farmer's market.

It is such a wonderful feeling to see Brody pick fruit right off the tree/bush and be able to eat it with no worries! Besides the wonderful health benefits of vine-ripened fruit/produce, supporting local farms and knowing where our food comes from, it is such a treat for a family who has food allergies! Then I get to come home and make safe treats with the yummy fruit/produce.

This past weekend, we were able to visit Mercier Orchard and pick our own apples (the apples are herbicide and pesticide free) and were less than $1 a pound. We got to eat the apples right off the trees. They were the best apples I have EVER eaten (the Jonagold's were my favorite). The boys had a great time riding on the tractor up the hill to the many rows of apple trees. We went into the country store afterwards and were able to taste fresh apple cider...it was wonderful! I couldn't leave without buying some fresh apple butter (ingredients: apples, spices....LOVE it!)

I realize you might not be able to go to Blue Ridge, GA to Mercier Orchard, BUT I was in Whole Foods yesterday (in Cool Springs) and they had Gala Apples on sale for .99 a pound from Mercier Orchard!!!!! In the refrigerated section near the produce, they also had Mercier Orchard apple cider.

No matter where you live, I encourage you to find a local apple orchard and make some memories by picking and then making some yummy treats for your family.

If you know any good apple orchards near by (Nashville), let me know...we are still looking :)

Deal on Grass-Fed Beef at Whole Foods!

2010-09-01T22:40:00.005-05:00

What a DEAL! On Friday, September 3rd you can get Grass-Fed Beef for $3.99 lb at Whole Foods. I will be relaxing at the beach on a much needed vacation, but I will see if I can find someone to help me stock up :)

While you are there, stock up on Simply Orange Juice for $2.50 for 59 fl oz....this is normally $3.50 or more....this is a SUPER deal! We LOVE this OJ (especially when it is on sale!)

A Day of Hope....

2010-09-01T21:57:00.008-05:00

Team Allergen Free Please at the FAAN Walk

Things have been busy around here lately! We just finished up our first FAAN walk in Nashville, TN! We had 670+ walking to raise awareness. It was a beautiful day at Centennial Park and the company was wonderful!

I can't tell you how it lifted my spirits to meet other families who deal with similar struggles on a daily basis. It is just nice to be reminded that you are not alone. I can't tell you have amazing it was to have safe products all around us! I felt like a kid in a candy store. It was SO exciting!

We got to sample Divvies 2010 FAANtastic cookie contest winner choco -lot brownie cookie (I am eating one as I type...OH MY GOODNESS...it is DECADENT!). It says on the wrapper 1 for you + 1 to share...umm...this didn't happen :) Divvies is free of nuts, eggs and dairy. Epi Pen is treating you to 10% off enter promo code: EPI at checkout.

Enjoy life was there with coupons, soft baked snickerdoodle cookies, soft and chewy caramel apple snack bar and cinnamon crunch granola. It is great that Enjoy life is free of the top 8 allergens (milk, eggs, soy, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish).

Lucy's gave out Cinnamon Thins and Oatmeal Cookies (free of gluten, milk, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts). My favorite one was the Cinnamon Thins, they reminded me of fall.

Sunbutter handed out coupons and samples of their sunflower seed spread that is perfect for on the go!

We also got cool freebies and info from Epi Pen and FAAN, got to meet local asthma and allergy doctors and had fruit and water donated by Whole Foods.

I left with my bags full of safe goodies, my heart full of hope and felt rejuvenated and uplifted by all of the wonderful friends and families coming together for the same cause!

Bolthouse Farms...Feel Good About What's In This Bottle

2010-08-25T20:42:00.006-05:00

We make our own smoothies at least twice a day, but I have found a drink/smoothie that is ready to drink that is SUPER yummy if you do not have time to make one yourself.

Bolthouse Farms has varieties of fruit smoothie drinks that are delicious on their own or you can use them in your own homemade smoothie and add even more nutritious ingredients to it.

So far, my favorite is C-Boost Fruit Smoothie because I love mango, but I have to say that I like the Green Goodness. I think because it is green, I feel like it packs a nutritional punch; it includes veggies (broccoli and spinach). In the Green Goodness, one bottle contains 3 3/4 servings of fruits and veggies. The USDA recommends that we eat 7-13 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, so this helps towards the daily goal. I am always looking for a way to get in our servings, since I am learning how important fruits and vegetables are to the health of my family.

Bolthouse Farms is 100% Juice/Puree (the three smoothies that have the below information are Green Goodness, C-Boost and Berry Boost...these are the ones that I bought)

Gluten Free
No Preservatives
No Artificial Flavors
No Genetically Modified Ingredients (LOVE THIS!!!!!!)

On the back of the bottle, it tells you what is in the bottle, for example, in the C-Boost it has 3/4 mango, 29 acerola cherries and 2 3/4 apples. I am such a visual person; I think this is so cool!

HERE IS A DEAL: if you have a Kroger nearby, you can stock up on some! A 15.2 FL oz bottle is $3.29, but they are buy one, get one FREE. So it comes out to $1.65 per bottle (which is a great deal for this smoothie). I have been looking for the bottles with the expiration dates that are farther out and I am stocking up. WE LOVE THESE! I think I am addicted. Grab some and tell me what you think! This deal expires on 9/11 so you still have time :)

Buddy Fruits-Pure Blended Fruit To Go

2010-08-17T09:18:00.005-05:00

Obviously, eating fresh fruit is the way to go....but sometimes you want to give your kids a "treat", need something fun to keep them happy while you are out and about, or a new idea to help them eat more fruit. Buddy Fruits are perfect!

Buddy Fruits....Pure fruit and absolutely nothing else. All natural, no added sugar

No preservatives

No colorings

No additives

No fat

No genetic modification

No water added

No dairy or gluten

Nothing artificial

Only few calories

Only fruit and nothing else!

And they are allergen free!

Fun Info: 1 pouch equals 1 serving of fruit. It is recommended that we eat 7-13 servings of fresh, raw, fruits and vegetables every day. A serving is about the size of your fist.

Buddy Fruits

Easy to carry anytime and anywhere

-fits in pockets, lunch boxes, etc. It is very flexible.

No spoon, No mess

Re-sealable! Cap fits back on tightly

-LOVE THIS! Put the cap back on, and save the rest for later. How convenient?

Baking Idea- use them to add more nutrition and flavor to muffins, pancakes, etc and make them moist at the same time. Just squeeze the amount of fruit you want into your mix and then put the cap back on, put it in your refrigerator and save the rest for next time.

Where to buy Buddy Fruits

Power of Fruit-Frozen Fruit Bars

2010-08-11T08:41:00.006-05:00

With almost 100 degree temps around here, we have been beating the heat with cold treats!

When I saw the Power of Fruit-Frozen Fruit Bars and read the ingredients, I was in LOVE! I am a label reader (as I am sure many of you are), and to see just fruit, fruit concentrate and water with no added sugar, colors or preservatives...I knew this was a product that I could feel good about letting my kids indulge in and wanted to share with you.

Because they are made of just fruit, they are also Allergen Free!

Power of Fruit™ Bars are purely delicious fresh fruit, frozen. Unlike other frozen fruit bars that claim to be natural, we have no 6-syllable ingredients or laboratory additives that would disqualify us from a spelling bee.

We blend whole fruits like strawberries, cranberries, blueberries, mangoes, pineapples and bananas together with just a little all-natural juice concentrate and water. That's it. Just don't tell your kids a bar is equivalent to ½ a daily fruit serving.

Stay Cool, Healthy and Allergen Free!

Back to School: Food Allergy/Gluten-free Store Tour

2010-08-06T08:49:00.004-05:00

If you are local, the Whole Foods in Green Hills is doing a Back to School: Food Allergy/Gluten-free Store Tour next Thursday, August 12th from 3pm-4pm

For parents of children with food allergies or celiac disease, the beginning of the school year often means taking a close look at meal options to ensure the health and safety of their children. Join Whole Foods Market, Green Hills and the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) as we provide a store tour on foods that accommodate food allergies and gluten-free diets. Parents from FAAN will also share relevant information. Parents and their children welcome!
Location: Meet at seating area at 3:00 p.m. next to coffee bar.

Edy's Fruit Bars

2010-08-02T10:43:00.008-05:00

My boys have been enjoying Edy's Fruit Bars All Natural Strawberry this summer. It is free of the top 8 allergens (milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish) and does not contain artificial colors.

Other flavors that are free of the top 8 allergens and does not contain artificial colors.

Deal on "Ice Cream" at Kroger

2010-07-27T08:53:00.010-05:00

I ran into a deal the other day that is too good not to share.

Kroger has Purely Decadent and So Delicious varieties of ice cream on sale until 8/14. Normally, a quart of So Delicious is $6.09 and it is on sale for $2.99; a pint of Purely Decadent Coconut Milk ice cream is also $2.99. This is definitely a price to stock up on! This is the time that I get to try new flavors that I have been wanting to try.

You can also CLICK HERE to get a coupon to make this an even better deal!

Get some ice cream, make some smoothies/milkshakes and stay cool!

The Divvies Bakery Cookbook No Nuts. No Eggs. No Dairy. Just Delicious!

2010-07-21T22:15:00.006-05:00

I am so excited to share THE DIVVIES BAKERY COOKBOOK with you! When I found out Brody had food allergies, I wanted to find cookbooks that were specific to kids with food allergies that had yummy, easy recipes, and "normal" ingredients. This cookbook is one of of those. I sat down last night, and enjoyed reading through all of the recipes. I loved the personal touches throughout the book; they were practical and encouraging. I thought of my son, smiled, teared up and was inspired to make treats that everyone wants to eat!

When Lori Sandler’s son Benjamin was diagnosed with severe food allergies to dairy and nuts at a young age, she decided to take action. While she wasn’t trained as a pastry chef, she had many fond memories of visiting bakeries as a child and wanted Benjamin to experience those same warm moments and treats. And so after years of testing, tasting, and refining, the Divvies Bakery was born in 2005, a bakeshop dedicated to peanut-free, tree nut-free, milk-free, and egg-free products located in South Salem, New York.

According to Sandler, eating and celebrating should always be an inclusive experience and nobody should be defined by their food allergies. The very name of her company connotes “divvying up” and sharing. In her Introduction, she writes: “In the spirit of Divvies, I have written a book filled with recipes for delicious, safe treats that everyone will want to share, with or without food allergies, as well as tips, shortcuts, and ‘life recipes’ that will help everyone feel included.”

Featuring more than 70 sweet treats that anyone can easily prepare, THE DIVVIES BAKERY COOKBOOK is divided into sections that focus on the times in our lives when food plays an important role and those with food allergies often feel left out. From birthday parties and family holidays, to schoolroom and travel snacks, the book includes Sandler’s signature recipes, such as: crowd-pleasers like Warm Apple-Apricot Cake, Cinnamon Buns, and Divvies Famous Chocolate Cupcakes; one-of-a-kind treats like Popcorn Snowman, Wafflewiches, and “Brown” Chocolate Bags that you can fill with fruit or sorbet; interactive desserts like her Chocolate Fountain with Dippers; and special sections on sweet beverages, party favors, cake frostings, pie fillings and more!

It’s hard to believe these scrumptious goodies contain no dairy, eggs, and nuts. The ingredients left out are replaced with healthy dollops of natural chocolate, oatmeal, fruit, and molasses. Along with the Divvies recipes, the book imparts Sandler’s handy resources, basics for stocking the kitchen and getting started, and hard-won wisdom for parenting a child with food allergies, with useful advice for communicating with teachers and parents. And the book also features a note from Benjamin, now 11-years-old, in which he shares his personal story and favorite treats.

With the degree of “divviculty” indicated for each recipe, tips for the best birthday parties, perfect picnic baskets, cool cupcake towers, snacks in a cinch, tasty travel treats, and bonus gluten-free recipes, THE DIVVIES BAKERY COOKBOOK is the essential allergen-free cookbook for beginners and kitchen experts alike.

To get a copy of The Divvies Bakery Cookbook go to Amazon, Borders, Barnes and Noble or a bookstore near you!

Want to win a copy? We will be giving away a copy at our next FACT meeting on September 7th

YummyEarth...Treats You Can Feel Good About...

2010-07-14T09:14:00.009-05:00

Yummy Earth is founded and run by two dads who wanted to share yummy treats with their children with no chemical colors, artificial flavors, corn syrup or anything they wouldn't be proud to cook with at home for their families, including GMO's.

You can feel safe YummyEarth Organic Fruit Lollipops are:

Certified Organic
No Artificial Dyes
100% Natural Flavors
Real Fruit Extracts
No Corn Syrup
Casein-free
100% Vegan
GMO-Free
Nut-free
Soy-free
Wheat-free
Dairy-free

SO....they are Allergen Free...isn't this great?

They proudly handcraft 21 delicious flavors with real fruit extracts and are just as proud of what is in YummyEarth as what is not; in fact, they even use organic black carrots and organic pumpkin for fabulous color!

Some of YummyEarth's intense fruit flavors are mango tango, pomegranate pucker, tooberry blueberry and wet-fact watermelon. Not only are these flavors tasty, the names have to make you smile.

The Ingredients on YummyEarth Organic Fruit Lollipops are:

Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Organic Tapioca Syrup , and/or Organic Rice Syrup, Citric Acid (from beet sugar) Natural Flavors, may contain Organic Black Carrots, Organic Black Currant, Organic Apple, Organic Carrot, Organic Pumpkin

YummyEarth has also has the first ever real USDA organic Gummy Bears and Worms!

I have to tell you that I am not a huge gummy bear fan, but these were packed full of fruit flavor. Click HERE for the gummy bear/worm ingredients

The Gummy Bears/Worms are

Certified Organic
No Artificial Dyes
No Corn Syrup
Tree-nut Free
Real Fruit Extracts
100% Natural Flavors
Gluten Free
Peanut Free
Soy-Free
Dairy-Free
GMO-Free
No MSG

Where to buy YummyEarth: Available at Toys R Us, Babies R Us, Whole Foods, Shop Rite, Publix, Meijer, LeGourmet Chef, Stop & Shop, buybuyBaby, Marriott hotels, Earth Fare, HEB, Disney World, Wegmans, Amazon.com, Harry and David, Smoothie King, Sprouts, Borders Books, health food stores, and supermarkets.

I was in Jason's Deli the other day, and they had YummyEarth lollipops near the cash register to take for FREE. What a nice treat!

Local: Peek-a-boo Playtown is Peanut Free

2010-07-09T09:30:00.007-05:00

I love that Peek-a-boo Playtown has a Peanut Free Policy. Can't wait to check it out!
*Thanks Ginger for sharing this with me!

They are having a Grand Opening Party tomorrow, Saturday July 10th from 9am-4pm at their Cool Springs location (3252 Aspen Grove Road, Suite 9). Admission will be FREE, and there will be prizes, balloons, a magician and much more. You could even win a free birthday party!

Peek-a-boo Playtown is an indoor play center with a Multi-Level Climbing Structure, Grocery Store, Tool Shop, Fire House, School House, Apartment, A separate toddler area, trains, dinosaurs plus more and it is peanut free!

Might see you there!

"Ice Cream" Sandwiches

2010-07-06T09:30:00.009-05:00

All Natural SO Delicious Coconut Milk Minis have been a wonderful treat this summer. They are rich and creamy and are just the right size to satisfy your sweet tooth, since they are Minis. We LOVE them! The coconut milk "ice cream" has such a decadent flavor. And of course, much healthier ingredients than regular ice cream sandwiches. I won't go back to the regular ones :)
All Natural So Delicious made with coconut milk non-dairy frozen dessert

Agave sweetened center
100 calories per serving
Dairy free
Rich in medium chain fatty acids

Click HERE to print a coupon

Allergen Information: CONTAINS: Coconut, Gluten/Wheat, Soy
I have to tell you, I LOVE Turtle Mountain! On all of their products, they state this
Allergen Information: Turtle Mountain applies strict quality control measures in an effort to prevent contamination by undeclared food allergens. To assure our preventive measures are effective, we sample test our products for the presence of dairy, peanut and almond allergens using state of the art testing methods. To learn more about our all allergen prevention program visit us at http://www.sodeliciousdairyfree.com/

They also have great dairy free ice cream....our favorite is Mint Marble Fudge, and we buy the vanilla to make milkshakes with :)
If you are gluten free, the Vanilla Minis Bars (does have soy) or Cookie Dough Ice Cream (they have it using soy ice cream or with coconut milk...both do contain soy though) would be a wonderful choice!
If you are soy free, they do have yummy coconut milk ice creams!

The Fruits of Summer

2010-07-01T23:01:00.007-05:00

We love fruit! We especially love local, vine-ripened fruit. It is healthy and allergen free.

Tomorrow, we are packing a picnic lunch and going to spend some time at a local farm that has pesticide free/herbicide free blueberries and blackberries. I am excited to eat as many fresh berries as we possibly can, and then freezing the rest to put in pancakes, muffins, smoothies, cobblers, pies, etc.

Every summer, we go to farms that have cherries, berries (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries) and peaches. The boys enjoy going to the farms and eating the fresh fruit (usually they do not wait until we get home). Doing this has really given me an appreciation for what is in season and I would rather give my money to local farmers. We look forward to picking every summer! It has become one of our traditions.

Go to http://www.localharvest.org/ to find farms in your area that have the fruits of summer.

Make some memories and enjoy the "fruits" of your labor :)

Homemade Ice Cream

2010-06-29T08:11:00.005-05:00

Over the weekend, I was on a mission....a mission to find recipes for safe, homemade ice cream. I went to an adoption yard sale and found an ice cream maker (the kind that you have to put ice and rock salt in the bucket). I have never made homemade ice cream before. I hesitated buying it, because I have heard that a lot of the recipes call for milk and eggs. I felt pretty comfortable that there would be recipes on the Internet, but I wanted to make ice cream that creamy and yummy, not icy. I wasn't sure if we would be able to get the right texture and richness using milk alternatives, etc.

I bought the ice cream maker, and came home and did some research. I came across a book called The Vegan Scoop 150 Recipes for Dairy-Free Ice Cream That Tastes Better Than the "Real" Thing. I looked into it a little more, and knew that I had to get my hands on this book. I called the local libraries and they didn't have it. I was told they could do an inter-library loan, but it would take a week or two to get it in. I decided that I didn't want to wait that long to make some safe ice cream. I found out that The Vegan Scoop was at Borders and had them hold it for me. We went there and I browsed through it and was excited about what I saw. I used a coupon (you can sign up at Borders) which helped out with the cost, but I thought it pretty funny that the book was more expensive than my yard sale find :) Oh well!

With book in hand, and 5 lbs of ripe bananas that I found for a dollar (we froze the rest for smoothies), I was inspired to make safe banana chocolate chip ice cream. The result? YUM!!!!!! I was so excited about how it turned out! Peaches will be ready to pick soon, so I bet you can guess the next flavor of ice cream we will be making...

To me, ice cream is one of the treats of summer and the memories that the kids will have of making it are priceless!

Banana Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

recipe adapted from The Vegan Scoop

This recipe is free of milk, eggs, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish

*it can be soy free if you substitute plain coconut milk and coconut creamer (I saw the creamer at Whole Foods...using plain and not vanilla, etc lets the real flavors of the ice cream come through). It even says in the book that you can experiment with other types of non-dairy milks (Almond, Rice, Cashew, etc.)

*you will need an ice cream maker

Ingredients

3 bananas, peeled and sliced

1 cup plain soymilk, divided *read above to make soy free

2 tablespoons arrowroot powder (you can find this at Whole Foods, the brand I got was Bob's Red Mill...this is used as a thickener and helps the ice cream be glossy and creamy)

2 cups plain soy creamer (I used Silk) *read above to make soy free

1/2 sugar (I used organic cane sugar)

1 tbsp vanilla extract

Safe chocolate chips (Enjoy Life semi-sweet chocolate chips There is a coupon on Enjoy Life website for .55 off any Enjoy Life product). I just dumped in the amount I wanted to use...just eye-balled it :)

Directions

In a food processor, puree bananas and set aside.

In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup soymilk with arrowroot and set aside.

Mix soy creamer, remaining 3/4 cup soymilk, bananas, and sugar in a saucepan and cook over low heat. Once mixture begins to boil, remove from heat and immediately add arrowroot cream. This will cause the liquid to thicken noticeably.

Add vanilla extract.

Refrigerate mixture until chilled, approximately 2-3 hours. Freeze according to your ice cream maker's instructions. Fold in chocolate chips right before serving or putting back into the freezer.

Yield: approximately 1 quart

Stay Cool!!!!!

Cherrybrook Kitchen Fudge Brownie Mix

2010-06-25T09:35:00.006-05:00

Yesterday, I was at Target, and I found a Cherrybrook Kitchen Fudge Brownie Mix on clearance. It was marked down to $2.58, but had been $5.19. Plus, I had a $1 coupon from when I had contacted the company (it did not have an expiration date). So for $1.58 I decided to try the box of brownie mix.

There is such a convenience of using boxed brownie mixes, but obviously most are not safe for Brody because you have to add an egg (I tried one time to do a gluten free brownie mix with egg replacer and it took us DAYS to get it out of the pan...seriously....it was a rock!) and a lot of the regular brownie mixes have hydrogenated oils and other stuff in them that we try to avoid.

The brownies were pretty good. Next time, I would cook them for less time to make them more "fudge like", but I think you could take these somewhere and people would not question them being allergen free. It was the first time Brody has ever had a brownie and my older son was very excited too! It was such a fun treat for them AND me since I didn't have to cook it from scratch. I just had to throw in some safe melted butter, water and vegetable oil and mix.

The only hang up I would have is paying $5.19 for a box of brownies next time, since I probably won't find them on clearance or have a coupon. Honestly, that is a deterrent for me. Maybe it would be a good deal to buy them in bulk from Amazon? Anybody know any other ways to get the $5 box of brownie mix cheaper?

Click HERE to see the ingredients (they do contain wheat and soy)

Another Reaction...Much Different from the Last Time

2010-06-22T09:14:00.005-05:00

Last Friday, I ran to the store with my boys and had a million things on my "to do" list. As I was backing out of my parking spot (trying to see past the huge Tahoe that was parked on the drivers side), I felt my car stop. A F-150 and my car hit. Everyone was fine, both cars a little messed up, but we sat in the parking lot of the grocery store for about two hours and here is where the story begins....

It was almost 7pm by time we got done with the report, etc. The boys were hungry, it was getting late and I was emotionally exhausted. We decided to grab a bite to eat at a local restaurant that has been safe for Brody the past couple of times we have eaten there.

When we got to the restaurant, it was extremely busy (Friday night). I spoke with the manager and made sure that the recipe for refried beans had not changed. He assured me that they were safe (no milk, eggs or peanuts).

We ordered the food, sat down and when it arrived, I noticed that Brody's beans had a little cheese on the side of the cup. I asked the lady if she could please get us another one because my son is severely allergic to cheese and it makes him have problems breathing and I told her we have to use an Epi-Pen. She took it back and brought out another one. Now, a little concerned, I took a spoon and looked through the beans and noticed that they looked "stringy", (like there was cheese in it). At this point, I was pretty frustrated and Brody was very upset that he couldn't eat his food. I walked up to the lady and asked her if there was cheese in the beans. She said no and I proceeded to ask if she saw them make it. She assured me that there was no cheese in the beans.

We ate our food and I didn't enjoy my dinner very much because I was watching Brody like a hawk to make sure that he didn't have a reaction, because I just felt so uneasy about the circumstances.

We got the boys home, put them to bed and two hours after ingesting the beans, Brody woke up screaming. When we went in to get him, he was wheezing, having difficulty breathing and extremely congested (snot was pouring from his nose) and coughing a little bit. We immediately gave him Benedryl and then I called a friend who is a nurse (she then called a relative that is a nurse practitioner) and recommend that we use Albuterol also and see if that didn't help the wheezing subside. Our plan of action was to use the Epi-Pen and get him to the hospital if the Albuterol didn't work.

I also called a friend of mine who has been on the food-allergy journey for awhile (I was so thankful that she got on the phone with me at 10pm) and asked if her son has ever had a reaction this long after ingesting something. I stayed on the phone with her throughout the breathing treatment. It is so encouraging to talk to those who can empathize with you.

After the Albuterol treatment, Brody's wheezing stopped and his breathing went back to normal. I held him for two hours and monitored his breathing. He also slept in my bed so I could keep checking on him (I set my alarm to wake up).

So, my thoughts on all of this?

First of all, I was thinking the entire time we were having to make decisions on what to do, was the $2 cup of refried beans worth all of this? Absolutely not. I felt responsible that he was going through this. It made my stomach feel sick. I guess we cannot trust certain places. I know it sounds bad, but I am more comfortable with the more expensive restaurants because the managers always seem to take care of it and ensure the safety of the food (but even then, there are no guarantees).

Next, my husband and I struggled with, "Is this a delayed reaction?" Can a reaction that happens two hours later be life threatening? Do we use the Epi-Pen? Last time, he reacted immediately after his accidental ingestion. I feel like there are not solid answers when it comes to using the Epi-Pen. I called my allergist yesterday and told him what had happened over the weekend. He said that this was not a delayed reaction...which made my heart drop. We essentially could have used the Epi-Pen and if he had reacted like this at the restaurant we probably would have administered it and ended up in the ER.

I was so thankful that Brody was alright, but it is something that hangs over our heads all of the time. Is the dining out going to cause a reaction that could make us end up in the emergency room? I am starting to feel more and more that it isn't worth it. People make mistakes and a little mistake could really hurt my child.

In the end, Brody was alright (thank goodness), I learned more about how he reacts and that even two hours later could be a life threatening reaction. I was also told by my allergist that if Brody had been in the care of someone else while he was wheezing and having this reaction that he should have been given the Epi-Pen; but he felt comfortable with what we did and the plan we had if it wasn't working.

To use or not use the Epi-Pen? I feel this seems to always be the question.....When in doubt, use the epi-pen. It cannot hurt your child to use it, but not administering it when needed, could be deadly.

Have any of your children experienced a reaction "after the fact"? I guess in my mind I thought that a severe reaction would happen immediately...now I know better....

Ideas to Make Church/Preschool Safer for your Child?

2010-06-16T07:53:00.005-05:00

I was approached by the Director of the Children’s Ministry at our church and he would love to hear thoughts/ideas from parents with food-allergic children on how churches, pre-schools, etc. can make it safer regarding snacks.

Most of the time, snacks are served to young children, and as we know, it makes it difficult to find a snack that is completely allergen free (milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish).

We bring in a safe snack for Brody each week, but that doesn't mean that he couldn't accidentally grab another child's snack (which has baked eggs and Brody has had an anaphylatic response)

What are you thoughts? What has worked at your church or preschool to make you feel comfortable? What would you like to see done?

Your opinions are invaluable...I would love to share this with him on Sunday at church :)

Ban Peanuts on Planes?

2010-06-12T22:29:00.007-05:00

I heard this on the news last night, and read the article today. I was interested to read the comments, and found that they literally made my stomach turn. Some attitudes were insensitive, downright mean and uninformed.

Are peanuts really that important to people, or does banning them signify something else? Until your child (or someone you love) is affected by this, I truly believe that you cannot empathize. I was there, I did not get it AT ALL before. Life experience has changed my attitude.

We don't even know if Brody is definitely allergic to peanuts since it just showed up positive on his blood test (and since we won't be giving him peanuts for awhile to "find out"), but even if it turns out that he is not allergic later on down the road, I hold in my heart what it feels like for another mom going through it and would never jeopardize the safety of another child.

We teach tolerance on all different levels, why not for life threatening food allergies? I guarantee if someone saw a child turn blue, eyes rolling back in their head, stop breathing, have to be injected with a huge epi pen and seek emergency care afterwards, they would see it in a different light.

Ban Peanuts on Planes? It's Not Nutty to Allergics

By Russ Bynum
Associated Press Writer /June 12, 2010

SAVANNAH, Ga.—Federal regulators are considering a snack attack on the nation's airlines that would restrict or even completely ban serving peanuts on commercial flights.

Advocates say the move would ease fears and potential harm to an estimated 1.8 million Americans who suffer from peanut allergies. Peanut farmers and food packagers, however, see it as overreaching and unfair to their legume.

"The peanut is such a great snack and such an American snack," says Martin Kanan, CEO of the King Nut Companies, an Ohio company that packages the peanuts served by most U.S. airlines. "What's next? Is it banning peanuts in ballparks?"

Twelve years after Congress ordered it to back off peanuts, the U.S. Transportation Department gave notice last week that it's gathering feedback from allergy sufferers, medical experts, the food industry and the public on whether to ban or restrict in-flight peanuts.
The peanut proposals were listed in an 84-page document including several other proposed consumer protections for air travelers. Three options were given: banning serving of peanuts on all planes; prohibiting peanuts only when an allergic passenger requests it in advance; or requiring an undefined "peanut-free zone" flight when a passenger asks for one.

While those options only pertain to peanuts served by flight crews, the document also states "we are particularly interested in hearing views on how peanuts and peanut products brought on board aircraft by passengers should be handled."

Spokesman Bill Mosely said the department is responding to concerns from travelers who either suffer from peanut allergies or have allergic children, "some of whom do not fly" because they're afraid of exposure.

"We're just asking for comment on whether we should do any of these three things," Mosely said. "We may not do any of them."

Peanut allergy can cause life-threatening reactions in people ingesting even trace amounts. Just breathing peanut dust in the air can cause problems -- though usually minor ones -- such as itching, sneezing and coughing.

A few limited studies on airline passengers with peanut allergies found a number of people reporting symptoms while flying, but few were severe or life-threatening, said Dr. Scott Sicherer, who studies food allergies at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.

"But there's discomfort," Sicherer said. "It's sort of like if you were allergic to dogs and all of a sudden they brought 50 dogs onto the plane."
Why worry about peanuts on airplanes, as opposed to other public spaces?

Advocates with the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network say the answer's simple: planes are confined spaces where the air and dust particles get re-circulated. And there's no way to stop and get off during a severe reaction during flight.

"It's a different environment when you're basically 30,000 feet in the air," said Chris Weiss, the group's vice president of advocacy and government relations. "If you're sitting around a bunch of people and all of a sudden they're all handed packages of peanuts, that could release enough peanut dust into the air to trigger a reaction."

The Transportation Department previously weighed imposing peanut-free zones on airliners in 1998. The agency retreated after getting a hostile response from Congress, which threatened to cut its budget.

Several airlines such as Continental, United, US Airways and JetBlue have voluntarily stopped serving packaged peanuts as mile-high grub. Delta and Southwest still hand out goobers as in-flight snacks. American Airlines doesn't serve packaged peanuts, but it does offer trail mix and other snacks that can contain peanut ingredients.

Not surprisingly, government regulation of peanuts on planes is a woefully unpopular idea in Georgia -- the nation's top peanut producing state and home to former President Jimmy Carter, who grew up on a peanut farm.

"The peanut industry feels like we're being picked on," said Armond Morris, who grows peanuts on about 270 acres in rural Irwinville and serves as chairman of the Georgia Peanut Commission. "If we're going to go targeting food products, maybe we just need to ban all food" on planes.

Arlene de Armas of Miami sees things differently as she makes plans for her family to fly to Pennsylvania for a summer vacation. Her 7-year-old son, Leandro, is allergic to peanuts.
She's already planning on what precautions to take -- calling the airline ahead to request no peanuts are served on her son's row, bringing sanitary wipes to clean the folding table in front of his seat and packing epinephrine -- or adrenaline -- to administer if he suffers a severe reaction.

"It's the added stress of knowing, God forbid, you could have a situation where he has a reaction and you have no way of getting to a hospital," de Armas said. "Peanut allergies are severe enough and common enough. Why not serve fruit?"

Go HERE to leave a comment for DOT (Department of Transportation) under What DOT wants to know from you

If you have any other suggestions, please leave them in the comments with the info/link

Sign up for the FAAN walk in Nashville

2010-06-12T11:23:00.007-05:00

I am sure I do not have to tell you that life is busy. I finally sat down and signed up team Allergen Free Please for the FAAN walk here in Nashville on Saturday, August 28th. I called and asked family and will be asking friends to join our team to help find a cure for food allergies and bring awareness to our community. If you want to walk, check in starts at 9am and the walk begins at 10am. The distance we are walking is 2 miles.

It was easy, and free to register. You can register a team or walk as an individual. It will be a fun day!

Take a few minutes to think of a team name and sign up now. August will be here before you know it!

Go HERE to register

Details

Date: Saturday, August 28, 2010

Time: Check-in begins at 9:00 a.m.; Walk begins at 10:00 a.m.

Location: Centennial Park, 2500 W. End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203

Distance: 2 miles

Restrictions: No pets, glass bottles, bikes, roller skates or skate boards. Baby Strollers and wagons are welcome.

An Easy Way to Add Calcium

2010-06-10T08:18:00.005-05:00

When I first found out that Brody was allergic to milk, I questioned where he would get his calcium from. It was ingrained in my head that my kids move to whole milk when they turn a year old and that is where their calcium comes from (and also from other dairy products). The more I learn, the more I know that he is getting calcium from other sources.

For our family, besides eating other sources high in calcium, we have added a calcium (and vitamin D) fortified orange juice. This has been a simple step that we have taken.

There are a few on the market, just make sure that it is 100% juice :)

Keep getting a wide variety fruits and vegetables into your family!

The Tastes of Summer...Watermelon!

2010-06-07T22:45:00.006-05:00

My oldest son enjoying his piece of watermelon. I love having a dessert like this, because everyone enjoys it and it is safe for Brody!

A nice big piece of cold watermelon...a crowd-pleaser and allergen free!

I bought a $3 watermelon this weekend, and we enjoyed it for dessert with a group of friends the other night, had some more tonight with my parents and STILL have more leftover. I think it is a GREAT deal and it is an easy, allergen free dessert to bring to a BBQ or just to have on a hot summer evening.

Go get a watermelon and enjoy the tastes of summer! Stay Cool!

Antipasto Salad

2010-06-05T07:36:00.005-05:00

This is a fresh summer side dish that you can adjust to the tastes of your family.

Antipasto Salad

This recipe is free of milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish

*can be wheat free if you use wheat free pasta

*can be soy free if you make your own vinaigrette/dressing

*if you use pepperoni, make sure that it is not cross contaminated if cut in the deli (ask them to clean the machine for you)

Ingredients

16 oz. bow tie pasta (or something similar if using wheat free pasta), cooked

3/4 bottle of Kraft Italian Dressing (I like the one that says no artificial preservatives on the bottle...Kraft Seven Seas Viva Italian also only contains soy) *make your own dressing for soy free version

1 can of kidney beans, rinsed

1 can of chickpeas, rinsed

1 pint grape tomatoes, cut in half (you could always use tomatoes from the garden also

small box of frozen green beans, cooked

1 can of pitted olives, drained and cut in half

1 green pepper, chopped

1 yellow or purple onion, chopped

4 oz of pepperoni (I bought Boarshead already prepackaged that did not have nitrites or nitrates), cut into small pieces *leave out pepperoni for a vegetarian version

Put all ingredients in a large bowl, stir and put in the refrigerator so the flavors come together.

Serve cold. Enjoy!

Chocolate Dipped Frozen Banana Pops

2010-06-01T08:21:00.017-05:00

I remember eating chocolate dipped frozen bananas at Disney World as a kid and wanted to recreate this treat for my kids.

These are relatively "healthy" treats and are pretty inexpensive and easy to make....perfect for summer!

Chocolate Dipped Frozen Banana Pops

This recipe is free of milk, eggs, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish

*can be free of soy if you do not use Earth Balance natural shortening (you could substitute safe, soy free butter to thin it out)

*Makes 8 banana pops

Ingredients/What you need

Wooden Sticks (I bought them at Michaels, they are called Woodsies and you get 150 sticks for$2.99, I then used a 40% off coupon and got them for $1.96...these will last for awhile! *You can find Michaels coupons in the Sunday paper) *You will need 8 sticks for this recipe
wax paper
4 ripe bananas, peeled and cut in half (will make 8 banana pops)
1 bag of safe chocolate chips (Enjoy life has completely allergen free chocolate chips also, it is a 10 oz bag....go to HERE to print a coupon)
1 TBSP of Earth Balance natural shortening (contains soy)-this helps make chocolate a little easier to work with by thinning it out
medium pot and a bowl that fits on top to make a make-shift double broiler OR use a double broiler if you have one

Directions
Cut the bananas in half (you will have 8) and insert wooden sticks. Put bananas in something (I used an 8x8 glass baking dish) and place them in the freezer for at least 4-6 hours, but preferably overnight.
Make sure bananas are frozen. In a medium pot, boil water. Put a bowl that fits over the pot, but allow a little of the steam to escape (this will make a make shift double broiler so your chocolate doesn't burn). Add your chocolate chips, natural shortening and stir until melted. You can turn your burner off once the chocolate is melted and maybe even remove the bowl from the pot so your chocolate can cool down (see tip below). You can quickly dip the bananas into the chocolate and/or spoon and smooth the chocolate on and lay on wax paper. *I would keep your bananas in the freezer until they are ready to be dipped in chocolate.
Once all of your bananas are dipped, let them dry on the wax paper for a little while (just until hardened) and you can put them back into what you froze the bananas in and place them back in the freezer until you are ready to eat. *A freezer bag would be a great way to store your banana pops so you have them ready for whenever
*Tip-I noticed as I started to get down to the chocolate at the bottom of the bowl, it was so hot that it started melting my bananas and making it harder for the chocolate to stick.

SoyNut Butter...A Great Peanut Free Alternative

2010-05-28T08:25:00.006-05:00

When we first found at that Brody tested positive on his blood test to peanuts, we looked for a peanut free substitutes and tried Sunbutter (which is made from sunflower seeds). I used this for a little while, but I thought it had a strong taste and it wasn't as rich and creamy as peanut butter (which I missed), so I was hoping to find another option.

After purchasing The Food Allergy Mama's Baking Book (which I highly recommend making egg, milk and nut free baked goods), I noticed that she preferred to use SoyNut Butter. I thought I would give it a try and we really like it!

I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter is peanut free and is made with Non-GMO (which means non-genetically modified...if you have watched Food Inc., you will know about this). I love the creamy texture (we like the Original Creamy) and I find that it is not as strong as the Sunbutter. I feel it is a pretty close comparison to peanut butter.

I.M Healthy is

Safe for Schools
Made from Non-GMO Roasted Soybeans
No Trans Fats
No Refrigeration Need after Opening
Dairy and Gluten Free
Kids Love it!

My boys have been enjoying SoyNut Butter and "Jelly" (fresh fruit preserve) sandwiches lately and it has been an easy lunch to pack if we are meeting friends for a picnic or we are just on the go. I am thankful for peanut alternatives.

Being Allergen Free is definitely getting easier in some aspects :)

Click HERE to find out where you can buy SoyNut Butter

Candy That Is Not Full of Junk? Check out Surf Sweets

2010-05-25T22:29:00.010-05:00

Recently, I was given the opportunity to sample some Surf Sweets products and I have to tell you, I am impressed! My favorite part is seeing what is NOT on the label (dyes, high fructose corn syrup, etc.). I tried jelly beans, gummy bears, sour berry bears and sour worms (my children and husband willingly helped sample them also). All of the treats were delicious, but my favorite were the sour berry bears and the sour worms (I love sour stuff). I like that I can have any surf sweets product and not feel guilty about "junk" being in them.

And what did the kids think? They LOVED them! As a mom to a child with food allergies, it is so nice to be able to give my son a safe treat, that tastes great. I read where another allergy mom said that her goal is for all of the non-allergic kids to want what her food allergic child is eating. I just love this concept! I know this is the case with Surf Sweet products.

Thank you Surf Sweets for your tasty, safe, treats!

Made with Organic Fruit Juice & Sweeteners
Natural Colors and Flavors
Free of Corn Syrups and GMO's
Made in a nut free facility
Gluten Free

Where to buy Surf Sweets

Strawberry Milkshakes

2010-05-24T08:22:00.006-05:00

Go pick some fresh strawberries

Add some Turtle Mountain So Delicious Dairy Free Vanilla Ice Cream OR Purely Decadent Coconut Milk Ice Cream Click HERE for Coupon

Strawberry Milkshakes

This recipe is free of milk, eggs, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish

*can be soy free if you use coconut milk ice cream or Rice Dream

Ingredients

approximately 8 oz of strawberries (the fresh from the farm ones are incredible right now...so sweet)

approximately 8 oz of crushed ice

Dairy free ice cream to the consitency and texture you prefer

Soy, Rice, Almond or So Delicious Coconut Milk to thin it out

Directions

put all of the ingredients in a blender and let it whirl!

Enjoy on a hot day!

I need to head back to the strawberry farm...we have used all our ours up :)

Baked Egg Oral Food Challenge

2010-05-22T09:35:00.013-05:00

I need to catch you up on what has been doing on around our house. To say the least, things have been extremely busy and I am emotionally exhausted.

As Brody is getting older, my husband and I have been wondering to what extent are Brody's food allergies? Is what came up on the blood and skin tests accurate? Are we withholding an allergen for no reason?

As you know, it is so difficult with food allergies, because it can sometimes be hard to determine the severity (and sometimes even the accuracy) of the food allergies from the blood test and skin test alone. You may have heard that the most accurate determination of a food allergy is an oral food challenge (which I am NOT advocating be done at home). We experienced this first hand as Brody's blood test showed positive to wheat, but his skin test did not. We were told by our allergist that we could slowly introduce wheat, and Brody is fine with it. Could we live wheat free, absolutely? But, it really opened up a world of opportunities when we were able to add it back into our diet. Plus it knocked one allergen off the list, which encouraged us.

We accidentally had an oral challenge with milk back in November and we knew from what happened, that Brody was severely allergic to milk. We were really curious to see if Brody would be allergic to baked egg. The reason we chose baked egg, is that there has been some studies done, that have shown that sometimes children allergic to milk and/or egg can have the allergen in baked form because the body might recognize it differently. This was very intriguing to us. We knew from the blood and skin test that there was a pretty good possibility that Brody was allergic to egg, since they both showed positive. We have never given Brody egg of any type since we found out on his blood test and I eliminated it from my diet. Part of me did not want to do the oral food challenge, but another part of me wanted to because I thought, "What if we are avoiding baked egg and he is not even allergic to it?" For me, it wasn't necessarily the excitement of putting egg in something (because as you know, most food items that contain egg also contain milk), I think it would be more of the hope that he is moving towards outgrowing his food allergies.

About a month and a half ago, I called my allergist to see if insurance would cover an oral food challenge. I was told to contact my insurance company and insurance said they had never heard of a food challenge before, but might consider covering it if I faxed them a letter of medical necessity. My allergist wrote the letter and I also included a letter that we wanted to do the food challenge in a controlled environment because otherwise, we might have to go to the emergency room if it was not done in a doctor's office, which would cost the insurance company a lot of money.

A month later, we got a letter from the insurance company stating that they would cover the oral food challenge. I was so excited because I felt that it was a little victory. The insurance company acknowledged that a food challenge would be best done in the doctor's office. We were extremely excited!

We scheduled a food challenge as soon as we could after finding out the news. The night before the challenge, I made homemade blueberry, banana muffins with one egg. It was so weird to use egg in a muffin recipe since we have been egg free for almost a year now.

When we got to the appointment, we discussed every possibility with our allergist. We then were given the go ahead for Brody to eat a bite of the muffin. I was excited, but nervous. I handed it to him and he shook his head. I was so confused, my child LOVES muffins! The doctor left to give us some privacy and we tried to encourage Brody to eat a bite. Brody just shook his head and tried to feed it to me and threw it on the floor. My husband, my older son and I all ate a muffin and said "yum" and Brody still would not take a bite. This kept on for about an hour and we then decided it would just be best to re-schedule. For whatever reason, it was not meant to be for that day. As soon as we got out to the car, Brody ate his soy nut butter and jelly sandwich. It was pretty comical. We just had to laugh.

We rescheduled a week later and I decided to make safe chocolate chip cookies this time (who couldn't resist a cookie?), but added an egg to the recipe for the challenge. My husband and I stayed up late the night before making the cookies. The food challenge was at 8:30am in the morning, hoping that Brody would be hungry and not have a repeat of what happened before (our allergist is about 40 minutes away so we didn't want the previous scenario to keep playing out). We got up in the morning, packed up and left for the appointment. We did the same protocol as before and I asked a couple of questions just to make sure I knew what would happen in case there was a bad reaction.

We handed the cookie to Brody and he took a bite. We went into a play area to distract him from wanting the rest of the cookie and watched him carefully for about 45 minutes. He looked great. He didn't have hives, eczema, or breathing issues. He was running around the room playing with the toys. My husband and I were pretty encouraged because we thought if something bad was going to happen, surely it would have happened already. We had seen before what a sip of milk could do to him, and it happened almost instantaneously.

After the 45 minutes, we were given permission to let Brody eat more cookies. If he passed this part, we could feel confident giving him things with baked egg in it at home. He started eating them and we sat there and watched, very carefully. All of a sudden, he sneezed. I thought it might be a coincidence, and then he started to sneezing consecutively. We weren't too alarmed, because if that was the worst part of the reaction, that was tolerable. A couple minutes after he started sneezing, he wanted to be held, lost color and started to act like he was about to fall asleep. He was almost limp and not interacting the way he had been before. This caused us to be alarmed, because this was unlike our child. The doctor and nurse were right there with us and we tried to administer Benedryl to Brody, he refused it, which was weird because normally he doesn't mind it.

The doctor listened to Brody's breathing, which was my biggest concern since his accidental milk ingestion made him have difficulty breathing. Our next concern was his blood pressure dropping because he was acting so lethargic. I knew we were in good hands with our doctor and felt confident about being at a hospital (that is where our allergist's office is located) in case things went downhill quickly. Our doctor tried to get take his blood pressure and couldn't get an accurate reading because Brody didn't like the cuff on. Our allergist then said the wanted to be on the conservative side and wanted to administer epinephrine. We were completely fine with that because we really weren't sure how his body was responding and wanted to be on the safe side.

Epinephrine was given (but no like our Epi-Pens), it looked like a shot that your child gets at the doctor's office and was administered in his arm. Within minutes, Brody's color came back and he started to respond and act more like himself. Not too long after that, he threw up for this first time ever. Brody then accepted his dose of Bendryl and started to play with the toys again.

I can't tell you how crazy it is to watch food do that to your child. Do I regret it? Absolutely not. We were in a controlled environment and I felt confident with my doctor and the protocol. The scenario could have been completely different and we could have walked out of the office with the freedom to feed Brody food with baked egg.

Did it go the way we would have liked it to? Not necessarily, but I feel I can share and educate others on what ingesting an allergen can do to a food allergic child because I have first hand experience. I feel I can recognize a reaction quicker than I did before. I feel completely confident in the Epi-pen and know without a shadow of a doubt that I could administer it to Brody because I saw what a difference it made.

Where do we go from here? We will continue to be milk, egg and peanut free for awhile, and that is alright. I feel like we are able to handle the food allergies much better than we were able to a year ago. I hope that maybe some of our experiences can help someone who has just been recently diagnosed and feeling overwhelmed. I know I am on this journey for a reason with my son and I am going to make the most of it by educating, advocating and continuing to make Brody feel included, regardless of his food allergies. This little boy has taught me so much and I continue to learn every day. I am at peace with what happened yesterday and maybe in a year, we can try baked egg again (his milk reaction was worse so we will not attempt that for awhile).

Until then....we are allergen free!

Olive Garden

2010-05-17T22:13:00.006-05:00

Over mother's day weekend, my in-laws were in town and wanted to take us out for dinner. Olive Garden sounded good, but we hadn't tried it yet with Brody. I decided to give the manager a call and see if they could accommodate us.

The manager spent time going over what would be safe for Brody (there wasn't much that didn't have milk or eggs in it). The marinara sauce has butter in it (FYI) and the spaghetti noodles are made in a facility that processes egg, so that leaves out the traditional Italian cuisine.

BUT, on the children's menu, they have grilled chicken and a side of broccoli (it comes with spaghetti too, but we had to pass on this). The general manager was informed of Brody's food allergies and came over and took our special order and made it himself to make sure there was no cross-contamination. I was really grateful, and impressed. The chicken was made with no seasoning, had a little olive oil on it to give it flavor and the broccoli was just steamed (nothing on it).

We asked Brock (my non-allergic kid) what he wanted for dinner, and he chose the same meal as Brody. So sweet. It was nice to be able to eat out and for Brody to have a dinner that he liked and it helped that big brother wanted the same thing.

One more to add to the list!

Olive Garden
Spring Hill, TN
931-486-1294
General Manager: Richard Hill

Register for the FAAN Walk!

2010-05-12T22:48:00.008-05:00

The FAAN walk will be HERE IN NASHVILLE this fall! We got to hear Kelsey Morgan, our 10 year old local ambassador share her heart with us at our F.A.C.T. meeting. What an inspiring young lady!

Let's sign our teams up (in honor of our children, or others dealing with food allergies) and start raising awareness within our communities and raise money to help find a cure. The earlier we sign up, the more time we will have to share with others.

It is free to register, FAAN asks that we instead collect donations to raise money for food allergy research and education programs. By registering online, you will receive an e-mail confirming that you are registered and information about setting up a personal fundraising webpage (how cool is this!). You will also be able to make secure online credit card donations.

Click HERE to get started

Save the Date
Date: Saturday, August 28, 2010

Time: Check-in begins at 9:00 a.m.; Walk begins at 10:00 a.m.

Location: Centennial Park, 2500 W. End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203

Distance: 2 milesRestrictions: No pets, glass bottles, bikes, roller skates or skate boards. Baby Strollers and wagons are welcome.

Parents Speak about Their Children's Food Allergies

2010-05-12T21:20:00.001-05:00

This video will touch your heart.....

kateelayne is giving away their "Pull-Apart" cakes

2010-05-10T15:19:00.003-05:00

At kateelayne, our goal is to bring a smile to the face of those affected by food allergies. In light of last week's devastating flood, that isn't so easy to do. It is especially not easy for those in our community who may be celebrating a birthday or special occasion. Over the next couple weeks, if you or someone you know has a food allergy and was affected by the flood, kateelayne would like to extend the offer of a free cake for that occasion.Please contact us at 615.942-8433 or carefreetreats@kateelayne.com

FOOD ALLERGY AWARNESS WEEK

May 9-15

Place an order with kateelayne and receive one dozen complimentary CINNADOODLES with your purchase in honor of those affected by food restrictions. Enjoy the Cinnadoodles yourself or pass them on to share a smile!

Grilled Lemon and Herb Chicken

2010-05-07T08:02:00.006-05:00

Last week, I bought a bag of lemons on sale and had to to use them up. I decided to make a marinade. This chicken turned out great! We made extra, and I have been slicing the chicken up to put on salads, etc. this week. Fresh, simple, yummy!

Grilled Lemon and Herb Chicken

This recipe is free of milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish

Ingredients

4 Chicken Breasts

the juice of 2 lemons

extra virgin olive oil (just add enough to mix together to make a marinade)

fresh herbs, chopped (oregano, thyme, basil, etc.) *I used oregano since it is coming up again in my garden

Directions

Mix ingredients together with a whisk, add chicken, coat, and marinate for about 30 minutes.

Grill or cook to your liking.

A Cinco De Mayo Dinner Menu

2010-05-05T08:42:00.006-05:00

Happy Cinco De Mayo! It has been a tradition since the first year my husband and I were married (that has been almost 9 years now) that we eat Mexican food on Cinco De Mayo (the 5th of May). Hey...it gives us an excuse to eat Mexican :)

Sometimes, we have gone out, but we have found that we can cook a delicious Mexican meal at home (and avoid the crowds). Since this is the first year celebrating Cinco De Mayo knowing that Brody has food allergies, we have chosen to stay home and cook some yummy, fresh Mexican food.

Here is what is on the menu for tonight

Pork Tacos (carnitas) with corn tortillas

This recipe is free of milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish

Ingredients

Pork Tenderloin (approximately 2 pounds)

1 yellow onion chopped

1 jalapeno chopped (optional)

1/4 cup vinegar

1/4 cup brown sugar

*This recipe can be doubled. I have had great success with this and freezing the leftovers.

Directions:

Cut any excess fat that you do not want on your pork, put it in the crockpot and add the rest of the ingredients. Check and stir about halfway through. Cook for approximately 8 hours. When done, shred pork and make your tacos.

Toppings for Pork Tacos

fresh avocado (I will probably make guacamole with it)

red lettuce (love the color...plus, the darker green the lettuce, the more nutrients it has or "grow foods" as I tell my kids :)

fresh jalapenos

salsa

fresh cilantro

Tabasco

Sides

Tortilla Chips with salsa and guacamole

Black Beans and Rice

Have a wonderful Mexican dinner with your family tonight...start a new tradition :)

Groupon: $10 for $20 of food at TOSSED

2010-05-03T09:00:00.006-05:00

I am excited about today's Groupon! You can buy $20 worth of food for only $10! What an inexpensive lunch for the next time you are in the Cool Springs area.

Tossed has delicious salads, crepes, wraps, sandwiches, soups and smoothies. They have a gluten free, dairy free tomato basil soup (that is really yummy!). I love the fresh selection at Tossed, and you can feel good about the healthy choices.

The owner has brought yummy salads and tomato basil soup for us to sample at our FACT meeting. I enjoy supporting restaurants who serve healthy food and make eating out easier for people who deal with food sensitivities and food allergies. They also own Garlic Jim's in Franklin, which serves Gluten Free pizza.

Click HERE to get your Groupon....Don't miss out!

Expires in 1 year. Limit 3 per person. Limit 1 per visit. Tax not included. No cash back. Not valid for online orders. Not valid with other offers. Redeemable starting on May 4.

Pirate's Booty...Veggie Puffs

2010-05-01T09:35:00.010-05:00

I was at a friends house the other day and she served Pirate's Booty Veggie Puffs to the kids. They were REALLY good. They tasted like cheese puffs, but without the cheese :) These are a perfect pair for sandwiches; and I love how it contains vegetables powders (spinach, kale, carrots and parsley).

Baked Rice and Corn Puffs
All Natural
Gluten and Trans Fat Free

Ingredients:

cornmeal, rice, soy flour, rice flour, contains one or more of the following: sunflower, expeller pressed canola or corn oil, salt, spinach powder, evaporated cane syrup, broccoli powder, kale powder, carrot powder, cabbage powder, parsley powder, calcium carbonate, and sea salt. Contains soybeans

*Trader Joe's has something similar, but it contains wheat and soy.

Orzo Salad

2010-04-28T07:55:00.008-05:00

We went over to a friend's house the other night for dinner and they made this wonderful, fresh salad. It is perfect as a side dish or add grilled chicken and it could stand on its own.

Orzo Salad

This recipe is free of milk, eggs, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish
*can be free of wheat if you substitute wheat free pasta instead of orzo

Ingredients
Orzo (or wheat free pasta could be substituted)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 medium red onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, pressed
1 28 oz can diced tomatoes, drained
8 campari tomatoes, sliced (or whatever fresh tomatoes you have- if they don’t look good, just increase canned)
1 can water packed artichoke hearts, drained or can use frozen
2 Tbsp capers, drained
½ cup kalamata olives, halved
2 Tbsp chopped fresh thyme (grow some in your garden, it can be used for tons of things)
¼ c chopped fresh parsley
¼ c dry white wine (could skip this)
Splash of red wine vinegar
Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions
Cook orzo (or wheat free pasta) according to pkg directions in salted water. Drain but reserve 1 cup of cooking liquid.

In large skillet, heat 2 Tbsp olive oil and sauté onion for 5 minutes till soft and caramelizing. Add garlic for 30 seconds. Add tomatoes, artichokes, capers, olives and thyme. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes start to soften- about 8-10 minutes adding wine last 5 minutes and reduce. Add pasta, stirring in- add a generous drizzle of olive oil until it is a nice texture. Toss and add pasta water if it is too dry. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm or room temp. Stir in parsley before serving to keep nice green color

*If you are going to serve a lot of people, go ahead and make the full pound of orzo, but for a small family, you could just use a cup of orzo and cut everything in half…

Fruit and Yogurt Parfait

2010-04-26T09:48:00.008-05:00

Fruit and Yogurt Parfait's are a healthy breakfast or snack and are easy and fun to put together!

Ingredients
Safe Yogurt (Wholesoy & Company and So Delicious has dairy free and coconut milk yogurt)

Fruit (berries, bananas, etc.)

Granola (Enjoy life granola is allergen free, you can make homemade or Back To Nature has a safe one)

Directions
Layer and enjoy!

Off to The Valley Of the Sun...

2010-04-21T22:08:00.004-05:00

I am leaving my two boys for the first time EVER and heading to Phoenix for a Juice Plus Conference tomorrow. I am so excited! The boys are going to have a blast hanging with my husband and I get to have some me/professional development time! You will not be hearing from me for a few days, but I will be back to blogging when I get back into town. Off to pack....I have procrastinated :)

I can't wait to eat some good southwestern food!!!!!!! Know any good places in Phoenix? Please share :)

Whole Fruit Sorbet on Sale

2010-04-21T21:59:00.003-05:00

If you go to Publix to grab the Kashi Oatmeal deal, pick up some Whole Fruit Sorbet ; it is BOGO this week ($1.45 each). We love this stuff (our favorite is the lemon). It is really rich so you wouldn't sit down and have a bowl of it...a little goes a long way.

Ingredients in the lemon sorbet:

Micron Filtered Water, Corn Syrup Solids, Sugar, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Pectin, and Natural Flavor.

On sale at Publix BOGO (1.45 each) until Tuesday, 4/27

Kashi Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

2010-04-21T21:10:00.005-05:00

I like to make homemade oatmeal for the boys because I can add fresh apples, local honey, flaxseed meal (great way to add fiber and omega 3's), etc. When we are traveling and need a quick breakfast, we sometimes ues Kashi Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal (with more for you heart, nothing artificial).

*It is on sale this week at Publix for $2.50 until 4/27. Also, there is a coupon in the yellow advantage buy flyer (you can get this at the front of the store) for a free reusable bag when you buy two Kashi products.

Ingredients:
whole grain rolled oats, evaporated cane juice, dried apples (apples, apple juice concentrate), chicory root fiber, cinnamon, guar gum, potassium chloride, salt, natural flavors, decaffeinated green tea extract, calcium carbonate, decaffeinated white tea extract, alpha tocopherol acetate (natural vitamin E), ascorbic acid (vitamin C), activin grape seed extract, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), zinc oxide, ferrous fumarate (iron), beta carotene (source of vitamin A), folic acid, vitamin B12.

Back to Nature Apple Blueberry Granola

2010-04-20T13:39:00.005-05:00

Back to Nature Apple Blueberry Granola is wholesome granola clusters with sweet pieces of apples and wild little blueberries. Lightly sweetened with fruit and cane juices.

This is great in homemade trail mix, on yogurt, as a topping for ice cream, etc.

Excellent Souce of Whole Grain

No artificial preservatives, flavors or colors

dietary fiber 4 g

no trans fat

Ingredients: Whole grain rolled oats, evaporated cane juice, pineapple juice concentrate, pear juice concentrate, dried apples, dried wild blueberries, peach juice concentrate, vitamin e (a natural vitamin to help preserve flavor), natural flavor, salt.

*On the Back to Nature website, it states that one of the ingredients in the Apple Blueberry Granola is whole grain wheat...the bag that I purchased does not have wheat in it. Maybe they have not updated the website?

Home Depot: Buy One Get One Free Veggie & Herbs TODAY ONLY

2010-04-18T07:38:00.006-05:00

If you are thinking about doing a garden or haven't bought plants yet, Home Depot has a great deal TODAY ONLY, 4/18 (I did this last year and filled my garden with veggie plants and herbs for inexpensive).

Bonnie 3"-5" Peat Pot Veggie & Herbs

Vegetables: choose from tomatoes, peppers and more

Herbs-choose basil, thyme, oregano and more

Biodegradable pots plant right into the ground

Limit 10 per customer; (while supplies last). Bring someone with you (husband, etc.) and you can really make sure you will have enough plants for your garden.

If you want to start your plants from seed, for 7 days only-April 18th-24th they will have buy one get one free deal on all vegetable, herb and flower seed packets (while supplies last). Looks like organic is included.

I love having a small garden. The vegetables are fresh, vine-ripened and we know how they are grown. This saves us lots of money and forces us to think of ways to use these fresh vegetables and share with friends/neighbors.

This year in our garden, we are going to do:

Roma tomatoes (salads, homemade pizza)

grape tomatoes (salads)

squash

zucchini

cucumbers (I'm thinking homemade pickles)

jalapenos (salsa, sandwiches, fresh Mexican food)

eggplant

Herbs

I love herbs! I have a little area in my garden that is dedicated to my herbs.

*If you choose herbs that come back every year...all you have to do is make a one time investment and it keeps giving back. If you buy herbs at the grocery store for a recipe, you would pay at least $1.50 for a one time use...think of it that way. If you have all of these fresh herbs at your disposal, you will think of ways to use them and flavor your food. Plus, it is always nice to share with friends.

sage (comes back)-tastes great with chicken, sauces or homemade sausage

oregano (comes back)-pasta sauce, homemade pizza, chicken

thyme (comes back)-chicken, pasta salads, homemade dressings, etc.

rosemary (comes back)-pasta sauce, stuffed in whole chickens, etc.

mint (comes back): *make sure to plant in some type of pot or it will overtake your garden...it spreads like crazy)-we make minted salsa, add this to our iced tea in the summer

chives-I keep these in a pot on my porch, bring them in the garage during the winter and put them back out in the spring and they keep coming back. Perfect for baked potatoes, etc.

lavender (comes back: make sure to buy the kind that is a perennial)-I love the smell and they add color to my herb garden

Do not come back, but worth the investment

Basil-great accompaniment to all of the tomatoes you will have. Tastes great in sauces, salads, on homemade pizza, etc.

Dill-macaroni salads, chicken, fish, homemade dill pickles

Cilantro-I love it, but it likes the cooler weather and goes not grow when your tomatoes are ready, that is so disappointing because it would be perfect to have for fresh salsa

Go to Home Depot and click on local ad or call to see if they are having this deal in your area

Happy Planting!

Craisins

2010-04-17T07:13:00.004-05:00

Craisins are allergen free. They are a yummy snack, taste great in oatmeal, muffins, breads, cookies, bars, homemade trail mix...you get the idea :)

Usually a good deal is when they go on sale at Publix (BOGO...it usually comes out to about $1.10 each...I stock up...my boys LOVE them).

Craisins

Made with Real Fruit

Naturally Fat Free & Fiber Full

No Artificial Colors, Flavors or Preservatives

Peanut Free, Gluten Free

Possibly Great deal on So Delicious at Whole Foods?

2010-04-15T08:22:00.009-05:00

*UPDATE: Yes...I went today and the Coconut Milk Yogurt is on sale for $1.50 each, use the $1 off coupon and you can get it for .50...what a deal!

If you are heading to Whole Foods today for tax free, go to turtlemountain (dairy free indulgence). Click on rewards at the top of the website. Then click on coupons. You will fill out a request for coupons and then a coupon will pop up to print. It is for $1 off on any Purely Decadent or So Delicious dairy free frozen dessert or refrigerated item. *Remember to hit back and you can print 2!

We LOVE LOVE LOVE their dairy free ice cream, but I think today I will be able to score some dairy free yogurt (normally the price kills me) for Brody for CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP!!!! Should probably be less than .50. Plus...TAX FREE!

*Don't forget to bring your reusable bags....Whole Foods gives you .10 off your bill for each one you bring. Every little bit helps and you are helping the environment.

Whole Foods Tax-Free Shopping Day TODAY!

2010-04-15T07:09:00.003-05:00

If you need some items at Whole Foods, today would be a great day to go...Whole Foods will pay your sales tax! As we all know, (in TN) this adds up, so this is a fun way to save! Stores will also offer deep discounts on select items on Tax-free shopping day, in addition to Weekly Flyer Specials, giving customers even more ways to save. Happy Shopping!

Contact the Whole Foods near you to see if they are participating

Article from the Tennessean

Food, Inc. Hungry For Change?

2010-04-14T08:28:00.012-05:00

I encourage you to get your hands on the documentary Food, Inc. (a Robert Kenner Film). It is powerful information. After watching it, I felt so empowered to make more changes in our family's diet. I believe that food is medicine and that what we eat can build us up or tear our bodies down. I realize that we can't be perfect all of the time, but we can make steps in the right direction.

I am so excited to support local farmers. I want my boys to be excited about fruits and veggies and know where they come from (not too far from our house). We will be choosing to buy from farmers that use responsible growing methods. How awesome to know that the fruit/vegetables will be more nutritionally dense because they were allowed to vine ripen and were not picked weeks before they were ready so they could be shipped?

Here are 10 simple steps things you can do to change our food systems:

1. Stop drinking sodas or other sweetened beverages (drink water instead...it is better for you and it will save you money. A good goal is to try to drink 1/2 your body weight in ounces a day)

2. Eat at home instead of eating out (this will save you money allowing you to buy better quality food. Also, you will know exactly what is in your food)

3. Support the passage of laws requiring chain restaurants to post calorie information on menus and menu boards (if we saw this, we would probably make a healthier choice)

4. Tell schools to stop selling sodas, junk food, and sports drinks (before I stayed home with the boys, I taught at a high school and it is crazy how many sodas the students drink throughout the day)

5. Meatless Mondays-Go without meat one day a week (this will also help cut your grocery budget)

6. Buy organic or sustainable food with little or no pesticides (TN farmers/produce)

7. Protect family farms; visit your local farmer's market (Franklin Farmers Market, Nashville Farmers Market)

8. Make a point to know where your food comes from-READ LABELS (if you are local, I would love for you to come to one of my Wellness Workshops and I will share some simple steps on reading labels, identifying harmful ingredients in food and how to eat healthier. If you are not local, I can send you a link to a webinar that will share this information. Email me and I will get it to you)

9. Tell Congress that food safety is important to you

10. Demand job protections for farm workers and food processors, ensuring fair wages and other protections

BPA Free Water Bottle for Kids

2010-04-11T09:37:00.012-05:00

I have been looking for a water bottle for my 3 1/2 year old that wasn't a straw kid's cup, but that wasn't too big for him (some of the ones I was looking at were too large, a bit complicated or I was afraid he would chew through the straw if he had to bite it to get the water out).

I was in Target last week, and I decided to checked out their water bottle section (by the outdoor equipment, etc.) and I found one that was BPA free for $3.99, it is called EMBARK.

It wasn't until I got home, that I decided that I liked it even more! My older son was so excited about the water bottle because it looks similar to my husband's Nalgene. When we opened it up, we realized that the water bottle is 2 step. It has a straw that goes down in the the water bottle for younger kids so all they do is suck to get the water out OR for older kids, you can take the straw out from the inside and they can turn the water bottle up to get the water out. The pop up "straw" cannot be chewed through (YAY!) and goes down when not in use.

Well, we had to go back to Target because Brody had a meltdown that his brother had one and he didn't (oops...I didn't think that it would work for Brody, but it does because it is 2 step). Both boys have one now and we put their Bumpyname Orbit Labels on it (different colors) so they know which ones is theirs. My older son uses his without the straw inside and Brody uses the straw. PERFECT! They can even go in the top rack of the dishwasher.

I fill the water bottles up every morning with water, add ice and set them out so they can drink whenever they want. I am very excited! It was well worth it... $8 for both boys; if they don't last for a long time, we are not out that much money. Plus, it is a fun way to encourage them to drink water.

Get yourself a water bottle too and fill it up throughout the day. I like to add fresh lemons to mine. Model good health for your children. It starts with us :)

Summer Spinach Salad with Homemade Poppy Seed Dressing

2010-04-10T10:19:00.007-05:00

The weather has been beautiful! Last night we had a barbecue out on our deck and we enjoyed this salad yummy salad with BBQ chicken, baked beans, corn on the cob and fruit tea.

Summer Spinach Salad

This recipe is free of milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish

Salad

1 bag of spinach leaves

1 container of fresh strawberries, sliced

2 ripe bananas, sliced

1 small can of mandarin oranges in their own juice, drained (I didn't have this on hand last night so you won't see it in the picture, but this is a great addition if you have it)

Directions

In a salad bowl, combine ingredients, serve dressing (below) on the side)

Homemade Poppy Seed Dressing

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup onion

2 Tbsp + 2 tsp red wine vinegar

2 1/2 Tbsp sugar

1 1/2 tsp ground mustard

1 1/2 tsp poppy seeds

Directions

Place ingredients in blender or food processor. Blend. Serve with salad.

Funky Monkey: Fruit That Crunches

2010-04-07T19:49:00.006-05:00

My mom found Funky Monkey treats for the boys for Easter (she found them in the dried fruit aisle at Target). The boys liked them and they were a fun treat. They both liked freeze dried fruit and we always end up with just "O's" when we buy Trader Joe's Triple Berry O's because the first thing they want is the freeze-dried strawberries, blueberries and raspberries. How can you go wrong with freeze-dried bananas with a touch of cinnamon? :) The bag isn't very big, my 3 1/2 year old polished off the bag in one afternoon, but he really enjoyed them.

Funky Monkey Snacks are freeze-dried, a unique and modern process that maintains nearly all of the flavor and nutrients found in fresh fruit, unlike other types of fruit-based snacks. There is no added sugar, preservatives, coloring or flavoring.

Funky Monkey (freeze-dried fruit)

100% Real Fruit

100% Fat Free

100% Organic

All Natural

No Sugar Added

Vegan

Gluten Free

Kosher/Parve

3 servings of fruit in one 1 oz bag

Funky Monkey Snacks
800-783-1326
http://www.funkymonkeysnacks.com/

Groupon Deal:9 Fruits

2010-04-07T11:45:00.007-05:00

Hey Locals...Michele told me about a great deal offered from Groupon today 4/7 for 9 Fruits.

Check out this link to see how you can get Two Medium Smoothies from 9 Fruits for only $5 (you will see it on the right hand side of the screen)

If you purchase the deal (limit 2 per person), it expires on 7/08/10 but that gives you plenty of time to grab two smoothies next time you are in the Cool Springs area.

Cilantro Lime Coleslaw

2010-04-06T06:31:00.003-05:00

Here is an easy side that has lots of color and is full of flavor.

Cilantro Lime Coleslaw

This recipe is free of milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish

Ingredients

2 garlic cloves, pressed

1 Tbsp sugar

2 Tbsp lime juice (usually 1-2 limes)

4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp crushed red pepper

a dash of coarse salt and pepper

1/2 bag of coleslaw

1/3 cup cilantro, chopped

Directions

In a bowl combine first six ingredients and whisk together until blended. Add the coleslaw and cilantro and mix well.

*This can be made ahead and chilled in the refrigerator

*Most of the time, I double this recipe so we have leftovers (or if we are going to have guests for dinner)

Fruit Tea

2010-04-02T06:47:00.014-05:00

Easter has really snuck up on me. Today I will be doing resurrection eggs with the boys, grabbing last minute items at the store to cook for this weekend and putting Easter Baskets together.

We have a beautiful weather forecast here in TN on Sunday and I am looking forward to a light Easter dinner followed by an egg hunt outside and flying kites.

I wanted to share this Fruit Tea recipe (from my friend Lyndi), I love having a "special" drink to serve in pretty glasses for Easter dinner.

Fruit Tea

This recipe is free of milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish

Ingredients
3/4 cup sugar (OR 3/4 cup of unprocessed, local honey as a natural sweetener...we love this!)
1 cup water
3 cups strong tea (I always use decaffeinated)
1 cup lemon juice (I will be using fresh lemon juice)
2 cups orange juice
2 cups of pineapple juice
OR 4 cups of pineapple/orange juice mixture

*Optional: steep some fresh mint when you make your simple syrup (I love having mint in our garden, it makes the fruit tea taste extra special). Throw mint away when your simple syrup is done.

Directions
In a small pot, mix sugar and 1 cup water together and heat until it makes a simple syrup (sugar has dissolved). Meanwhile, put 3 cups of water in a pot, bring to a boil and then add 3 large teabags (double this if using small teabags) and let it sit for about 6-8 minutes (until it is dark and strong). In a gallon container add sugar mixture, strong tea, lemon juice, orange/pineapple juice and then add water to make a gallon. Stir. Put in refrigerator to chill before serving.

Optional garnish: fresh mint, lemon or orange

*Another idea I like: pour some of the fruit tea into an ice cube tray and freeze. Add to the "tea" so it doesn't get watered down.

credit: image is from http://www.bfeedme.com

Fruit Kabobs

2010-03-30T21:59:00.008-05:00

I saw the most delicious looking fruit kabobs in one of the (free) magazines that I get. I knew I wanted to post about it, and now I cannot find it anywhere. So frustrating :)

Fruit Kabobs would be a great addition to an Easter Brunch, or even as an appetizer or fun dessert for Easter Dinner.

The fruit kabob recipe that I wanted to share with you was made with strawberries, pineapple and kiwi. The colors looked "spring-like".

Why I like Fruit Kabobs?

They are easy to make

You can be creative with the kinds of fruits your family likes

The kids could help put them together and even learn about making patterns

There is something about putting fresh fruit on a skewer that makes you want to pick one up and eat it.

It's a healthful snack/dessert

Directions

-cut up the assortment of fruit that you are going to use

-stick them on a wooden skewer or kabob stick

-arrange on a plate or even have them sticking out of a tall glass or vase

Pasta Salad

2010-03-29T10:14:00.018-05:00

I love pasta salad because it is so versatile (and can be personalized to satisfy your family's taste). It is also a great way to get those veggie servings in. You can throw in pretty much whatever you have on hand. It is perfect during the summer when you have excess from your garden and are trying to figure out what to do with it. This dish can also be a meal if you throw in grilled chicken.

Pasta Salad

This recipe is free of milk, eggs, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish (the salad dressing contains soy)

Ingredients

Tri-colored pasta (Tinkyada Vegetable Spirals is a Gluten Free option)

Safe Italian Dressing (I have found that Kraft Italian only contains soy)

broccoli florets (raw or steamed)

onion, chopped (yellow or purple..purple adds color)

black olives (I cut mine in half for the kids)

*Other options

-cucumber, diced

-grape tomatoes or regular tomato seeded and diced

-sweet pepper (any color), diced

-squash, diced

-zucchini, diced

-fresh herbs-basil, dill, etc.

*optional
grilled chicken sliced, or diced

This is a great "all in one" meal to take to a picnic. Enjoy this beautiful weather!

Homemade Hummus

2010-03-26T12:55:00.009-05:00

This

Plus this

add a few more ingredients

equals...yummy homemade hummus!!!!

Oh wow...I LOVE Hummus! I have been eating it with pita chips, putting it on sandwiches, the possibilities are endless. I bought some at Trader Joe's the other day (16 oz for $3....which isn't bad). But, I got brave and decided to make my own. The result? Less expensive, creamy, delicious hummus. Also, try some other variations such as roasted garlic, roasted red pepper or spinach artichoke...be creative.

Hummus

This recipe is free of milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, fish and shellfish (contains tree nuts due to tahini (puree of sesame seeds),

*I double this recipe so we have leftovers

Ingredients:
3 tbsp. juice from 1-2 lemons (when doubling, I just use the juice from 2 lemons)
¼ cup water
6 tbsp. tahini, stirred well
2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
1 (15 oz.) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 small garlic clove, minced or pressed through garlic press

a dash of sea salt
¼ tsp. ground cumin
1 tbsp. minced fresh cilantro or parsley (optional)

Directions:
Combine lemon juice and water in a small bowl or measuring cup. Whisk together tahini and 2 tablespoons oil in second small bowl or measuring cup.

Process remaining chickpeas, garlic, salt, and cumin in food processor until almost fully ground, about 15 seconds. Scrape down bowl with rubber spatula With machine running, add lemon juice-water mixture in steady stream through food tube. Scrape down bowl and continue to process for 1 minute. With machine running, add oil-tahini mixture in steady stream through food tube, continue to process until hummus is smooth and creamy, about 15 seconds, scraping down bowl as needed.

Transfer hummus to serving bowl, (sprinkle cilantro over surface if using), cover with plastic wrap and let stand until flavors meld, at least 30 minutes. Drizzle with olive oil and serve.

Serve with pita (Stacy's Pita Chips are my favorite...they do contain wheat), tortilla chips or veggies like (celery, cucumbers, carrots, red peppers, etc)

Recipe from Cooks Illustrated, May/June 2008

How to Decorate Eggs with an Egg Allergy

2010-03-24T23:33:00.006-05:00

Holidays are difficult with food allergies because there are certain food items that are part of the "tradition." In this case, eggs. Here is a wonderful idea for kids that are older or if you are brave enough to do it with your little one...go for it! This could prove to be a fun tradition until your child outgrows his egg allergy.

Instructions

Things You'll Need:
Wooden Easter Eggs
Acrylic paint
Mod Podge
Newspapers
Paper towel tube

Step 1
Hit Hobby Lobby (or Joanne's or whatever your favorite craft supply store might be...Don't forget to use a coupon) and grab enough wooden eggs to provide one to each person who will decorate Easter eggs with you. Head to the craft paint aisle and pick out small bottles of acrylic paint in various Easter colors. Grab a bottle of Mod Podge too. You are now armed with everything you need to let your loved one with an egg allergy safely decorate Easter eggs.

Step 2
Assemble the family at a table that is covered with newspapers, to protect the work surface as you safely decorate your egg allergy friendly Easter eggs.

Step 3
Trim half inch sections from a paper towel tube and use these loops to stabilize the wooden eggs. Just place the egg on the top of the loop and it will serve as a stand while you paint.

Step 4
Decorate your wooden, egg allergy friendly Easter eggs with the paint. Let dry. Use a permanent marker to write the artist's name at the bottom of the egg.

Step 5
Apply a layer of Mod Podge to each egg.

Step 6
Display your special egg allergy safe Easter eggs in a basket and add to the collection each year.

*This is for you Sara....hope this gets your creative juices flowing :)

This idea is from e-how

Need a HoneyBaked Ham Coupon?

2010-03-24T08:20:00.003-05:00

Want to get a Honeybaked Ham for Easter? I have a coupon for you; Click HERE.

We have a ham two times a year; at Christmas and Easter. Have you ever put some of your Honyebaked Ham on the grill (just for a few minutes)? This is my favorite way to eat it! I am already looking forward to ham sandwiches with the leftovers. If you do buy a ham for Easter, remember to save your ham bone so you can make ham and bean soup one last time before the weather gets too hot :)

HoneyBaked Ham...Not the Same in all States?

2010-03-23T08:46:00.009-05:00

Back in December, I contacted Honeybaked Ham through their 1-800 number and through email and received their ingredient list for their ham and was given a statement that their hams are free of the common allergens: dairy, soy, gluten and nuts. I confirmed this with the ingredient list, and I know a couple of other moms who emailed to get the list also (you know us allergy moms like to take a look at the label ourselves to make sure).

Yesterday, I received a comment from a reader that made me curious to find out some more information:

I received this email from them today. It appears that it does contain gluten, wheat starch?

Our Honeybaked Hams are cured with:Pork, Water, Salt, Sodium Lactate, Sugar, Sodium Phosphates, Sodium Diacetate, Sodium Erythorbate, Sodium Nitrite

Spices and Glaze contain:Processed from: Sugar, Gelatin, Honey Powder (honey, high fructose corn syrup, wheat starch, corn syrup, soy flour) Paprika, Dextrose, Spices, Natural Flavorings.

When I read this, I was confused. I thought, "surely they didn't change the ingredients, because they had come so far with making them safe for more people."

I got on the phone this morning with a really nice representative and she explained a lot and I wanted to share it with you. Because of the nature of this blog (food allergies), I try to make sure to thoroughly research what I post to make sure that it is safe. I would never want someone to just take my word and something happen to them or their child. I take this very seriously because I know first hand how serious (and possibly life-threatening) food allergies can be.

Ready for a story?

Here we go...When the owner of Honeybaked Ham died, the business was split between four grandchildren and for whatever reason they went their separate ways. Because of this, there are four Honeybaked Ham divisions (Georgia, Ohio, Massachusetts, and California).

Two years ago, the change was made in the ingredient list to make the hams allergy friendly. It was the representative's understanding that all of the divisions made this change, but she cannot fully guarantee it because the owners of the divisions operate separate from each other. She then told me that because of the severity of food allergies to make sure the person wanting the ham contacts their local store for the ingredient list. She did guarantee me however, that the ham in Tennessee is allergen free because the Georgia Division owns our stores.

If you go to http://www.honeybaked.com/ and click on Our Stores, you are then prompted to enter your State (now you know why...they are run by different owners). When I enter in Tennessee, I am directed to http://www.honeybakedonline.com/. At the top of the web page, you will see HELP, if you click on this it has frequently asked questions and one of the questions is Do your hams have gluten in them? ANSWER: We have reformulated our glaze to be considered free of allergens. This means our hams and turkey breasts DO NOT contain glutens. This is from the Georgia division.

But, for example, when I entered California as my state, I was directed to a completely different website and no where did it state any gluten free information about the hams...crazy, huh?

So here is my suggestion if you do not live in Tennessee or Georgia, contact your local store and speak with the MANAGER and ask him to read you the ingredient list in the glaze (this is where the possible problem could be with the wheat/gluten).

The representative that I spoke with in Georgia mentioned that the person my reader emailed might have possibly sent the out-dated ingredient list because they either do not know, or do not really care (I know I have spoken with people who have NO CLUE about food allergies or the people who are annoyed and don't want to deal with you) OR possibly the stores in California have not changed their ingredient list for whatever reason (this makes no sense to me why they wouldn't keep Honeybaked Ham the same). She also said California was the most difficult division to get a hold of for whatever reason. Again, the best way to handle this is to contact the local store that you would want to pick your ham up at and speak directly to the manager.

So, you and I have had a history lesson today about HoneyBaked Ham. Pretty interesting, huh?

If you are from another state and have had a safe Honeybaked Ham....will you let us know what state in the comments? I have had a safe ham in Tennesee and in North Carolina.

Surf Sweets Jelly Beans

2010-03-21T07:50:00.006-05:00

After I mentioned wanting to buy Surf Sweets Jelly Beans for Easter in a previous post, I couldn't find them anywhere. A friend of mine, even said they were sold out on Amazon (plus shipping was almost as much as the jelly beans themselves).

I made some calls, and The Turnip Truck in Nashville ordered them for us. They called me yesterday and said they are in! If you don't live close, I would call to make sure they still have them (if they are sold out, ask them to order you some more...they will...it only took 3 days to get them in). I am going to head up there and get some "healthier" version of jelly beans for the boys for Easter and do some shopping also. I have never been to The Turnip Truck, and I am excited to check it out!

The Jelly Beans come in a 2.75 oz bag (75 grams) and come out to about $2.17 a bag

The Turnip Truck Natural Market
970 Woodland Street
Nashville TN 37206
(615) 650-3600

STORE HOURS
8 AM - 8 PM Monday - Saturday
10 AM - 7 PM Sunday

What I found at Target for Easter....

2010-03-19T10:03:00.003-05:00

I stopped in Target yesterday to see if I could grab another Hide 'Em & Find 'Em Egg for my boys (Thanks Sara for letting me know they were at Target). You can find them in the Easter Section near the plastic eggs. They are $3.99. They have lots of colors to choose from. I am excited, because this year I can be more creative with where I hide the eggs in the house :)

I browsed the candy aisle and came across these plastic eggs filled with candy (fruit string and nuggets). I was intrigued when I saw "Healthy Treats" and I was like..."alright, let's read the label." Not bad. I was excited. It says Kosher Parve right on the front of the packaging. My mom bought one for the boys for $1.99 to share and this is the information I found when I got home and looked it up on the Internet. Pretty cool you can find this at Target!

Made from fruit puree and juices from concentrate
All natural flavors
Fortified vitamins and minerals
No artificial colors
No preservatives
Fat free and no trans fat
Nut free
Gluten free
No gelatin
Kosher PARVE

I am still waiting for Whole Foods or Turnip Truck to order the Surf Sweets Jelly Beans...I will let you know when and if they do :) Have you seen them anywhere? If so, let us know!

Food Revolution

2010-03-17T20:48:00.008-05:00

I am SO excited about Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution! Take a look at the Video clip below. *Unfortunately, in the clip he uses a curse word that I do not endorse...but the message is powerful. It is sad, yet inspiring that there is something we can do about it. We can take control of what we are eating!

In the Wellness Workshops that I teach, I discuss steps to take control of your family's health and do exactly what Jamie Oliver is talking about....have a food revolution.

I am teaching a Wellness Workshop next Thursday, March 25th from 7:30-8:45 (if you live local and would like more information, email me for more details). If you do not live local and would like to hear this information, I have a Webinar (you can listen and watch it on your computer) that my friend Julie (a certified fitness instructor) does on steps to eat healthier; it is informative and powerful. Let me know and I will e-mail you the link.

With knowledge, we can make healthier food choices for ourselves and for our children. I know I have mentioned this before, but Brody's food allergies have made us so much more aware of what is in our food and this has positively impacted our family.

Easter Basket Ideas

2010-03-16T21:00:00.006-05:00

Divvies has a Dairy Free, Nut Free 4 oz. solid chocolate bunny (it contains soy). Enter the code "March" at checkout and you will get 20% off your order. If you have a friend who has a child with food allergies, you can order together and split the shipping cost. Shipping is $7.50 for 1-4 bunnies, so it would be cheaper to do it this way. The shipping is almost as much as the bunny :) I am really excited that Brody will actually be able to get a bunny and not just an Enjoy Life Chocolate Bar (not that these aren't good...but you gotta have a bunny for Easter).

I LOVE that Surf Sweets Jelly Beans (I called Whole Foods and Turnip Truck and both are trying to order them...I will keep you updated) are made with organic fruit juice and sweeteners, 100% vitamin C per serving, 97% organic, no corn syrup or GMOs, gluten free and casein Free, made in a nut-free facility and vegetarian. My boys are getting these instead of dye filled ones this year :) YAY! for "healthier" candy options :)

I found one of these Hide 'Em and Find 'Em Eggs last year at Rite Aid and drove really far (won't tell you how far because you will laugh) to pick one up that was being held for me (it was the last one in a boy color). Of course I figured out that I REALLY wanted one too close to Easter. Brock (my older son) had a blast finding his laughing, talking egg last year. I know they both will enjoy it this year. I think Learning Express in Franklin has them if you are local. Give them a call and see before you go. These little eggs are ADORABLE! *I might be trying to locate one more this year so each boy has one...the search begins again....hopefully not as crazy as last year :)

Other things that will be in Brody's basket:

A kite: I got a kite every Easter growing up and I will continue this tradition with the boys....as long as the weather is nice (that means not too cold here), it is a fun treat
Bubbles...you can't go wrong with bubbles :)

If I think of anything else (sometimes I am a last-minute kind of person) I will add to the list, but these are the definite items in the basket. Can you believe that Easter is almost here?

Garden of Eatin Organic Tortilla Chips $1

2010-03-16T12:25:00.008-05:00

Here is a great coupon/sale match up for you. If you live near a Kroger, they have Garden of Eatin Tortilla Chips (9 oz) bag on sale for $2. Click here to print a $1 off coupon and you only pay $1 for a bag organic tortilla chips. I served the Blue Chips with my black bean salsa and they are great; love em'...love em' more for a buck! Kroger deals end Saturday 3/21.

Allergen Free Please

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15% off coupon on Food Allergy Bands at USA Baby & Big Kids Too

Nashville Sounds Peanut Free Night August 17th

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Avocados...The Perfect Game Day Snack!

Lori Sandler (Divvies) will discuss food "Navigating Food Allergies" TODAY at 12pm Central

"Navigating Food Allergies"CLICK HERE to Register for the live talk and cooking class

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Aunt April's Bakery

F.A.C.T. Meeting

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Overstuffed Baked Apples

Directions

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Picking Apples....

Deal on Grass-Fed Beef at Whole Foods!

A Day of Hope....

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Another Reaction...Much Different from the Last Time

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Sign up for the FAAN walk in Nashville

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Candy That Is Not Full of Junk? Check out Surf Sweets

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Olive Garden

Register for the FAAN Walk!

Parents Speak about Their Children's Food Allergies

kateelayne is giving away their "Pull-Apart" cakes

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Groupon: $10 for $20 of food at TOSSED

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Orzo Salad

Fruit and Yogurt Parfait

Off to The Valley Of the Sun...

Whole Fruit Sorbet on Sale

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Home Depot: Buy One Get One Free Veggie & Herbs TODAY ONLY

Craisins

Possibly Great deal on So Delicious at Whole Foods?

Whole Foods Tax-Free Shopping Day TODAY!

Food, Inc. Hungry For Change?

BPA Free Water Bottle for Kids

Summer Spinach Salad with Homemade Poppy Seed Dressing

Funky Monkey: Fruit That Crunches

Groupon Deal:9 Fruits

"Navigating Food Allergies"

CLICK HERE to Register for the live talk and cooking class