Our Nut-Free Cupcake Winner from Nutphree's in Chicago, Plus a Nut-Free Holiday Cookie Recipe!

We've got a winner!!! Read on....

We've got a winner in the Nut-Free Mom and Nutphree's Cupcakes giveaway! Our winner is Michelle B. from Park Ridge, IL!!!

Congratulations, Michelle! You've got one dozen nut-free cupcakes coming your way with free delivery, courtesy of Nutphree's. This is a $45 value. Woohoo! Michelle B., please send an e-mail to me at nut-freemom@sbcglobal.net with your full name, address and phone number and I'll forward your info to the nice people at Nutphree's Cupcakes.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this giveaway. If you live in the area and didn't win, do yourself a favor and go to Nutphree's storefront bakery in Mount Prospect, IL, to give you and your family the total bakery experience. Many of us have never been able to bring our kids to a bakery. As parents of a child with severe nut allergies, Nutphree's understands and they've got you covered. If you stop by, tell Nutphree's that I said hi!

For those of you who were not eligible for the giveaway, don't worry, we'll have more contests open to all readers very soon.

A BIG "thank you" goes to Nutphree's Cupcakes for sponsoring this giveaway and for being such a great friend of The Nut-Free Mom blog and readers. You guys are the best!!

Nut-Free Holiday Cookie Recipe

It's the holiday season, so it's definitely time to talk about cookies. I've had many recipe requests, so have I got a great recipe for you. Remember those Andes Peppermint Crunch Bits I talked about on Facebook? Recently, I added them to one of my favorite holiday cookie recipes and they were a hit!

Here's what the bag looks like. I found them at my local supermarket in a holiday baking display. Ask your store if you can't find them.

Andes brand baking chips are made by Tootsie Roll corporation so they are egg-free, peanut-free, tree nut-free and gluten-free. Please check the bag for more allergen info.

The following recipe contains egg and butter; if you want a dairy-free, egg-free shortbread recipe that is similar, then click this link for my candy corn shortbread. Instead of adding food coloring and shaping into a candy corn shape, keep the dough plain, roll into a log and press these baking chips into the top of each cookie before baking. Yum. For those of you who can bake with eggs and dairy, read on.

Nut-Free Peppermint Crunch Shortbread Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup (two sticks) unsalted butter
• ¾ cup sugar, scant
• Yolk of one egg
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (McCormick or Nielsen-Massey brand)
• White granulated sugar (for topping)
• Andes brand Peppermint Crunch baking chips (to taste)

Directions:

1.        Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream butter and sugar with electric mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add egg yolk and beat until combined. Mix salt with flour and add gradually to butter mixture. Add vanilla. Dough will be stiff.

2.     Roll into small balls, about one teaspoon and place on non-stick cookie sheet. Flatten slightly with the bottom of a glass, then press in several Andes brand Peppermint Crunch baking chips in a decorative pattern. Sprinkle with white granulated sugar or decorator's sugar, if you like.

3. `Bake 7-9 minutes or until bottoms are very lightly brown. Let cool on cookie sheet and then transfer to wire racks to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

Nut-Free Mom's Peppermint Crunch Shortbread Cookies.

These would be great to bring to a party, or just to tuck into a lunchbox as a special treat. I hope you enjoy them! What's your favorite thing to bake at the holidays?

*Giveaway winner chosen using random.org

Food Allergy Post-Thanksgiving Wrap Up: Coping with Family and Food Allergies

With Thanksgiving behind us, now is a good time to review how things went so that we can anticipate the winter holidays and how to safely participate in family events. Family gatherings can be stressful for those with food allergies as well as for those hosting our families.

It's a rare food allergy family that faces smooth sailing with regard to holiday gatherings involving food, at least at first. Most of us have run into difficulties at one time or another. Common scenarios include: being "uninvited" from a family dinner due to food allergies, lack of understanding from family members about hosting people with severe food allergies (they feel like a kid with food allergies is too fragile to be around) and isolation due to family members not understanding the real dangers that food allergies present, forcing us to stay away from the gathering.

Even though I will always try to find a positive solution that involves inclusion with family, I know  this approach doesn't always work. Not everyone is going to be willing or able to cope with our kids who have food allergies. If that happens, we do the best we can, either by hosting meals ourselves or by opting out of certain food-focused events and finding other ways to connect with family.

However, I feel like some of the problems we encounter can be either minimized or avoided with some open discussion. What is at the heart of someone telling you not to come to their house for a holiday meal, because it's "not safe?" Ask yourself: are you giving a message that the responsibility for the safety of your child is not your responsibility? Or are other people simply interpreting it that way? Take a look at what you're saying to each other and how you're saying it.

Sometimes people hear one thing when we say another. I'm no relationship expert, but when it comes to food allergies and family relationships, many times there is something going on between the lines that has nothing to do with what is being discussed.

Fear is a factor. While we want compassion for our situation at the holidays, we need to feel equal compassion for those who don't live with food allergies each day. It's a long process of education, so if you feel like you haven't been treated very well this year, give it time. Have a talk with your family members who handle the food. What can you do to help?

For example, even though I've dealt with food allergies for years, if you told me to host a dairy-free Thanksgiving, I'd be fearful of cross-contamination and ingredients because I don't shop, cook or deal with dairy allergies each day.

Looking at this way, I  can see how others might be afraid and have a lot of  questions. If family  are open to talking about it, try to have a calm discussion about what the problem is with making the holiday allergy-friendly.

Here are some things you might want to discuss:

What do you think it means when we ask you if the meal can be allergy-friendly? Do you interpret that as the entire meal is available to the allergic diner, or just part of it? Can we work out a compromise that will be OK with both of us?
This isn't about treading on tradition, it's about wanting to participate in a family event. Take the other person's suggestions and feelings into account regarding food. They might not understand that you view food differently than they do. For those with food allergies, food isn't a fun, happy tradition if it contains an allergen. It's a threat to health and well-being. It has nothing to do with them, personally. Many people don't understand this and feel like you're "ruining" their meal if you request, say, no Chex mix with peanuts on the table.

How can I help with this meal? Would you feel better if I brought my own food? Would you be offended? Why? Be sure to explain that you love this person and their cooking, but that food allergies are a medical condition and not a food preference, so they require appropriate caution. Just like diabetics, those with food allergies have certain foods they must avoid or they will face a medical emergency.

What can we, the family dealing with food allergies, do to make this easier? Do you want us to host an event over the holidays? If others host, can we collaborate on the menu? If not, why not? One of the most difficult things to get across is that you don't want to be in control of the food just for the sake of being in control. You might have to repeat this point, often. This is NOT about control. It's about health and safety. You aren't asking for things just to be difficult, you're asking because you have to ask.

Ask your family member (s): Do you think a child with severe food allergies is too fragile to even enter your home because your kids eat peanut butter or tree nut products like granola bars? What can we do to make this work? Can I help wipe down the toys? Right before we come over, can your kids wash their hands? Just having this discussion is a huge help because some people are so freaked out at the thought of a child having a reaction in their home, that they don't even want them in the house. If this attitude persists, so be it, but at least talk about how to minimize exposure or reactions.

And remember, you can always host people if they just don't feel comfortable. Never try to force or "guilt" someone into an invite. A food allergy education can help, but if someone is saying "no"even after they have the facts and you feel like they understand the issues, then you have to go with that. It's about health and safety.

None of these issues are easy, but talk to your family. Don't sit in isolation and wish things were better if you think there is any chance that others will work with you to find safe solutions. Bring your own food if that's the safest option or host parties on your own. It all comes down to your individual situation, but at least be open to a discussion and ask others to be open. If you don't try, you won't know.

In the coming weeks, I will be co-hosting a live chat on this topic. More details on that in future posts and on FB and Twitter, so stay tuned!

What about you? Have you had these discussions? How did it go? Have you made headway or are you at a stalemate?

My e-book talks about educating others, finding safe foods, keeping your cool and living a happy life with severe allergies. It's on sale for the holidays and many readers have told me they've shared it with grandparents and other family members. http://nut-freemom.blogspot.com/p/my-e-book-new-nut-free-mom-now-available.html Click the link to find out how to get it.

Food Allergy News: Cyber Monday Savings from Allergy-Friendly Retailers!

Save big on allergy-friendly foods, medical ID jewelry and more.

In case you hadn't heard (wink, wink) it's CYBER MONDAY!!! To help us all with our holiday shopping, I want to share a roundup of some allergy-friendly retailers having Cyber Monday sales.

There are many more sales going on today than those listed here, but this should get you started. If you know of any good deals not listed here, please feel free to give them a shout out in the comments section below! For more information on any of the retailers mentioned in this post, please contact them directly with questions. Thanks and happy shopping!

Allergy-friendly Cyber Monday Deals:

Food: Vermont Nut-Free Chocolates
(Peanut-free and tree nut-free treats, plus baking chocolate)
Cyber week-end sale continues through Monday November 26. 10% off everything by using the code CYBER in the key code box while shopping at www.vermontnutfree.com

Premium Chocolatiers (nut-free, egg-free, dairy-free, gluten-free chocolates for all occasions) Cyber Monday: 20% across the board and free shipping over $100. Let us know if you like this or what we can do better to serve you this season! Coupon code: Cybermondayhttp://www.premiumchocolatiers.com/ International shipping to over 20 countries!

SunCups (Chocolate candy with SunButter sunflower seed butter filling. Like a Reese's only safe for nut allergies--and tastier!)Cyber Monday: WEBSITE SALE of 35% Discount on all 2 Cup flavors. Through Monday, use coupon code CYBERSALE. http://suncups.com/

Indie Candy (allergy-friendly online candy retailer, free from many top food allergens) It's time for our biggest coupon of the year! Cyber Monday - 20% off your entire order!
Coupon code is "NOV26" and it is good through the end of Cyber Monday. www.indiecandy.com

Sweet Alexis Bakery (Nut-free, egg-free, dairy-free) CYBER MONDAY! 25% off Today only!!!! Promo code: sweetcyber

Parenting e-book for nut allergies:

The New Nut-Free Mom: A Crash Course in Caring for Your Nut-Allergic Child
by Jenny Kales, creator of The Nut-Free Mom Blog (that's me)
http://nut-freemom.blogspot.com/p/my-e-book-new-nut-free-mom-now-available.html

Now at a reduced price for the holidays! No coupon required. Click link to find out how to buy. 

Allergy Apparel, Awareness Products and Gear:

Peanut Free Zone (allergy awareness products)
Cyber Monday Sale is starting today and running until 11:59 pm (est) on Monday. BOGO tattoos (50 tattoos for ONLY $8)
BOGO chef cards (50 chef cards for ONLY $5)
BOGO signs (8 signs for ONLY $12)

http://www.peanutfreezone.com/cyber-monday
Must use the link above for the savings

Hope Paige Medical ID Jewelry (personalized bracelets, dog tags and more)
20% off all merchandise! Coupon Code: Cybermonday Sale runs until Tuesday, 9 am EST. Plus, design your own bracelet is now here! www.hopepaige.com for more details.

Onespot Allergy: (Convenient, wearable belts for allergy meds, plus other allergy gear)
Cyber Monday Sale today only! All Onespot Allergy products are 15% off. It's a great time to try our Best EpiPen Belt or EpiPen Carrying Case, try out a different color for a change, or buy some to give as Christmas or Chanukkah gifts. www.onespotallergy.com

Epi-Essentials(Fashionable carrying cases for allergy meds)

Our Holiday Savings have begun! Save $20. on your new essentials. Choose the versatile "Grab & Go" Handbag or Accessory Case. Safe, simple, stylish and available in 4 luscious colors. 2 organized compartments keep epinephrine auto-injectors & allergy essentials next to your daily basics. Gift wrap for the holidays (it's super-cute and always free) + Priority ship anywhere in the U.S. for $6. International flat-fee shipping also available. (Check website for details.) www.Epi-Essentials.com

Blue Bear Aware (allergy apparel and much more) Cyber Monday Nov 26, receive 40% off selected allergy gear. Use the code blackfri in the coupon box at the check-out and save.**
includes all regular priced short sleeve and long sleeve t-shirts, accessories, badges & labels and wristbands. www.bluebearaware.com

Nut-Free Halloween Edible Craft Project: Pumpkin Cake Haunted Houses!

A completed pumpkin cake Haunted House.

Halloween is fast-approaching and those of us who have kids with severe food allergies are searching for fun Halloween treats and activities that are safe. Here's one to do with your kids at home or for a Halloween party with friends: an edible Halloween craft project using delicious and healthy pumpkin cake to make "Haunted Halloween Houses."

I recently included a pumpkin-apple bread recipe and please note that this recipe is a bit different. It's more dense, which helps the cake stay together. Another tip is to let the cake sit for several hours after coming out of the oven so that it does not fall apart when you try to work with it.

To "glue" the roof of the Haunted House to the base and to create doors, etc., we used a basic buttercream frosting. I tinted the frosting purple, black and orange and then a reusable pastry tube with tips.  (I have this kind of stuff because I am a kitchen gadget geek.) Nordic Ware has a wonderful pastry bag made out of solid plastic--it is kind of like a cookie press and is very easy to clean up. I bought mine at SuperTarget, my home away from home.

 If you don't have one of these frosting decorators, you can place the different frostings in resealable plastic bags, cut off the corner of the bag and then squeeze the frosting through it. Works great!

My daughters used inedible plastic spiders as well as Sixlets, Halloween gumballs and cupcake picks (inedible) to decorate. We got this huge bag of nut-free candy made in Canada at my local Jewel (Albertson's) supermarket for some of our candy decor.

Candy made in facility that does not process nuts.

Front of the bag: It's called Witch's Brew and has gumballs
 (Jack o Lantern and eyeballs) and black and
 orange Sixlet candies, among other nut-free treats.

You could also use Surf Sweets spooky spiders, Vermont Nut-Free Chocolate Skippers (like M&Ms) and other chocolate props such as Premium Chocolatiers amazing array. Whatever you like and is nut-free (or free from) would work here. I just had a thought that a plain Tootsie Roll (nut-free facility, by the way) would make a nice little chimney on the house. In any case, you and your kids can have fun with this project.

Nut-Free Haunted House Pumpkin Cake Project

(Please note: make this nut-free, dairy-free and egg-free by using dairy-free margarine, dairy-free milk and your favorite egg replacer)

Recipe:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice (or use a combination of ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg)
1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree (from a can)
1/4 cup milk (you can use dairy-free milk)
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
1 - 1/2 cups sugar plus 2 tablespoons (you can use part brown sugar if you like for a deeper, richer color and taste)
2 large eggs (or use egg replacer)

Method:


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9 x 9 inch square baking pan.

In a medium bowl, combine dry ingredients and mix. In a small bowl, combine pumpkin puree, milk and vanilla. Set aside.

Cream butter or margarine with sugar in a large mixing bowl until fluffy and light. Beat in eggs or replacer; eggs should be added one at a time and then blended.

Reduce mixer speed to low. Alternately, add flour mixture and pumpkin mixture, ending with flour mixture. Beat until just blended and no traces of flour remain visible.

Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 35 minutes; check with wooden pick. If it the pick is clean, remove from oven. If not, bake a few more minutes and test again. Do not over bake.

Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then remove to wire rack to cool completely. For this project, let it cool for several hours. If eating it without doing the project, eat a slice warm with some powdered sugar on top.

Project:

Once the cake is cooled, slice it evenly into squares. Use one full square for the base of the house. Cut another square in half; these triangles will be used for the roof.

Secure the roof to the base of the house with butter cream frosting of your choice. Decorate as desired and enjoy!

You can keep the finished houses in a container with a tight-fitting lid for a few days...but they will probably disappear pretty quickly.


Happy Halloween!

While you are online today, will you take a minute and vote for me in the Facebook Circle of Moms Food Allergy Blogger contest? It ends today, so every vote counts! If you like this blog, I'd love your vote. And THANK YOU!




Food Allergy Awareness Gets a Boost from American Girl with Lunch Kits for American Girl Dolls!

Parents of kids who don't play with dolls-- please bear with me for a minute. This is news I simply have to share!

My daughters have been big American Girl ®fans nearly their entire lives and we've visited the AG Cafe in Chicago several times -- given advance notice, they've always been great with nut allergies. So imagine how thrilled I was to find food allergy awareness is now on the menu with regard to the American Girl accessory line for dolls. Check out this all new kit above!

 For those of you visiting an American Girl store this summer, this makes a wonderful treat for a doll-lover with food allergies. (Of course you can also order online. See link below.) Called the "Allergy-Free Lunch," the accessory kit pictured above contains cute doll-sized items that show what a "safe" lunch may look like. You get:

 - A pretend berry smoothie, container of vegetables and two sandwich skewers

 - A medical bracelet and allergy stickers to keep her safe while she snacks

- A faux allergy shot, just in case

- A fabric lunch bag to hold it all

Price: $28.

                                                          

Here's the link to this item on the American Girl website.

Late last year, American Girl® introduced a school lunch for dolls that had food allergy-awareness stickers and a healthy meal guide. I included that product in the gift guide I wrote for Allergic Living magazine this past winter; maybe you saw it. That one is adorable too; check it out. It's called "School Lunch Set for Dolls."

This kit has:

- A pretend croissant sandwich, raisin box, and container of applesauce
- A sheet of allergy stickers your girl can use to help her doll stay safe while she snacks

 - Healthy lunch tips, plus a sturdy lunch bag with a zippered compartment to hold it all

  Price: $28

I love both of these accessory kits and kudos to American Girl for making these available for their customers who deal with allergies each day.

What I love about the newer "Allergy-Free Lunch" (the first item pictured) is the doll-sized epinephrine shot and medical ID bracelet. This is a great way to demystify allergies for a young child and help them accept what can be a scary part of their lives -- that is, the possibility of needing a shot. You can even use this to demo how to use an epinephrine auto-injector on your child's doll (but of course, explain to your little one that it isn't the real thing.)

It may be only doll accessories, but to me this speaks volumes in how far allergy awareness has come. I couldn't have imagined anything like this 8 years ago when my daughter was first diagnosed. I remember my daughter asking me about something like this back then and I even e-mailed the company about it. Maybe it worked! I'm sure many of you had the same thought and may have gotten in touch with the company about offering these types of items.

When my daughter got Molly's (1940s American Girl®) lunch box for Christmas one year, it had a peanut butter sandwich. She called it a SunButter sandwich and that's how she referred to it. But to have something specific for kids with food allergies--that's something special, and I thank American Girl for their food allergy awareness. Could a "Girl of the Year" doll with a food allergy be far behind?

Note: No endorsement of this site by any third parties is intended or implied; this is my personal view of these products.

In the News: Food Allergies and Restaurants

Lately, the news has been full of stories that touch on food allergies and restaurants. I wanted to share some of them, because dining out with life-threatening food allergies continues to be a stressful experience. We can never be 100% certain that we are being heard in a restaurant regarding allergies -- or that life-threatening food allergies are completely understood by restaurant staff and chefs. That said, there appears to be a growing awareness, so I wanted to share some stories and links that are interesting and/or helpful as we strive to find "safe" places to eat.

A family member forwarded me this recent Wall Street Journal article about how restaurants are coping with diners who have food allergies or food restrictions. Much of the article deals with gluten-free issues, but there is some significant mention of life-threatening food allergies. Click here to read the story.

The Allergic Living Facebook page recently shared this link about a new bill in Rhode Island that proposes each restaurant should have mandatory training on food allergies, to the point that at least one person on staff must be expert at dealing with them. This bill was led by a teen with nut allergies. Currently, Massachusetts is the only state in the U.S. that has any kind of enforced food allergy law with regard to dining establishments. You can read this news story here.

This next article has nothing to do with food allergies, per se, but I wanted to include this link because many times, I have heard from those of us who are being perceived as "over the top" with regard to restaurant caution. Restaurants can be great, but they can also be hazardous to your health for basic food safety/hygiene/management reasons. (Those of you who watch Kitchen Nightmares know that they can fill an entire show with this topic!) Now add severe food allergies: caution is definitely required! Click this link to read about general dining out rules for health and safety.

I wanted to offer a great link from a dining out with allergies expert, Sloane Miller of Allergic Girl. She wrote a wonderful piece for Allergic Living magazine about dining out with food allergies/intolerance and she shares some wonderful tips and reassuring advice. Click here for the article.You can find so much allergy advice in this publication, so go to their web site to find out how to become a subscriber. I'm an associate editor and before that, I was a devoted reader/subscriber. And I still am, of course. :)


Finally, I hope those of you who are coping with nut allergies and feeling overwhelmed by a new diagnosis will check out my e-book : " The New Nut-Free Mom: A Crash Course in Caring for Your Allergic Child, available on Kindle and on your computer using a free Kindle App. You can also download to your iPad. Here is the link to my e-book, available on Amazon. Here is what Susan Weissman, author of "Feeding Eden", a parent's memoir about raising a child with food allergies, had to say about my e-book.

Store-Bought Ice Cream and Nut Allergies: Here's the Scoop

With summer around the corner and warm weather taking over, lots of us are thinking about ice cream. Those of us dealing with nut allergies are wondering what ice cream we can possibly buy because store-bought ice cream offers an allergy label minefield. In fact, ice cream labels with regard to nut allergies (and other food allergies) are some of the most diverse and inconsistent out there. It's crazy! So how do you know what is safe for your situation and what isn’t? In the last couple of weeks, I’ve taken another look at ice cream labels from several different brands.

Here’s the scoop (forgive the pun): some labels are changing to include allergy statements and some brands simply have no allergen information on them at all. In fact, this is true for most of the “big name” brands. When you call or e-mail (Häagen-Dazs, Ben and Jerry’s and Edy’s are three I’ve contacted) they may tell you that the ice cream is made on the same lines with allergens but that a wash-down is done between batches. For severely allergic people, the chance of an allergen remaining, even in trace amounts, can be problematic, so personally I avoid these altogether. However, you might feel OK with the wash-down; that's certainly up to you.

Some brands (Cia Bella gelato, for example) have clear allergy warnings as follows: Made on equipment with eggs, wheat, peanuts and tree nuts.

Blue Bunny brand will tell you detailed allergen information on their web site and packaging. Click here for a list.

A very few (like the coconut milk-based So Delicious brand) give an allergy statement on their packaging that explains a wash down system/allergen testing they do for each flavor, even though some of their flavors contain common allergens like peanuts. While I appreciate the information, I don’t want stuff made on shared lines, period. So I’ve skipped brands with those types of labels too, though I know some people don’t and haven’t had a problem. Like so many other foods or situations, this one is personal call based on your doctor's advice, child's past reactions and general comfort level with the product.

What about Popsicles and Italian ice frozen treats? I’ve had better luck with many of those over the years, simply for the fact that most aren’t sharing lines with ice cream that contains peanuts or tree nuts. Luigi’s Italian Ice and Popsicle brand are two I’ve used without problems for years. However, I recommend calling to check each year—because the labels are changing and production practices change often. So if you see something you like and there is no allergy info, it's a good idea to call or send an e-mail to the company.

What if the customer service lines are closed when you want to call? I stick to the when in doubt, do without rule. It's always better to at least know the facts when serving a food, so if you don't know if it's safe, skip it. I find that it helps to be armed with cookies, fruit treats or other goodies when attending parties or family member's homes so that you always have something to offer your child in case the "house ice cream" is off-limits.

Sometimes it just seems easier to make your own frozen treats, especially if you are dealing with multiple food allergies. I love having an electric ice cream maker (from Cuisinart, about $50 but I use it a lot) because you can choose whatever ingredients and flavors you like. You can make sorbet, ice cream, frozen yogurt—all without worry and with a lot less of the bad stuff like chemicals and additives.

What if you want a quick treat and don't feel like waiting hours for your dessert to freeze? Have you seen the Zoku?  This fun little device makes ice pops and other frozen treats in minutes. These are so fun for kids and adults love them too—I’m thinking of picking one up this summer. They are sold at places like Williams-Sonoma and other home stores—if the kids are driving you crazy over summer break, this makes a fun project for them besides a healthy snack.

And then there’s the good old-fashioned way of creating a frozen treat. My kids still love helping to make homemade frozen Popsicles. If we have to avoid some of the store bought stuff, let’s use it to our advantage, parents, and keep the crappy stuff out of the house! Use real fruit, yogurt (if you can have it—if not, use extra fruit or juice or even a dairy-free substitute) and just a little sugar and you will give your kids a taste for healthy foods—without them even knowing it.

Here’s a favorite and easy recipe to try. Use ice pop molds or even sturdy cups, treat sticks that you pick up at the craft store and your kids’ favorite fruit for these.

Homemade Fruit Ice Pops

Ingredients:

About a cup of your kids favorite fresh fruit or a combination: strawberries, bananas, blueberries and mangos are all favorites around here.

About 1/3 cup white sugar or to taste; you can also use honey to taste.

2 cups plain Greek yogurt (or add fruit juice, more fruit or non-dairy yogurt substitute)

Method:

Blend fruit in food processor or blender with a couple tablespoons of sugar until smooth. If you want to remove fruit seeds, skins, etc., press the mixture through a fine sieve into a bowl. Set aside. (If you are making all-fruit pops, add addtional juice and/or pureed fruit, then place half of the fruit mixture in the molds before putting in the freezer for an hour. Add popsicle sticks  into semi-frozen pops and rest of fruit mixture before going on to the final freezing step).

In a separate bowl, stir together yogurt (or yogurt substitute) and the remaining sugar until dissolved. Divide this mixture into 4 ice pop molds or cups and put in the freezer for one hour.

Add the fruit puree into the semi-frozen yogurt and swirl to create a pattern (but don’t blend thoroughly). Place your popsicle stick or the cover of your ice pop (the stick portion) and freeze for at least 2 more hours until solid.

To serve, take them out of the freezer for about 5 minutes, then remove from the molds or cups.

Note: I personally avoid ice cream shops due to cross-contact risks from scoops, other flavors, toppings and the tainted scoops going into all of the various flavors, increasing the risk of cross-contact. A lot of ice cream shops (like Baskin Robbins) now carry nut allergy warnings in the store; this post is intended to help tackle ice cream we buy at the supermarket. If you have any questions or concerns about any product, please contact companies/shops directly so that you can get all the details and be an informed consumer--that's the best defense against reactions! Thank you.

Food Allergy Awareness Week Giveaway from Lauren's Hope Medical IDs!

To help us kick off Food Allergy Awareness Week, our friends at Lauren's Hope Medical IDs are offering a terrific giveaway: allergy ID bracelets for kids!

Lauren's Hope offers a great selection of jewelry for men, women and kids. Nut-Free Mom readers now have a chance to win one of these cute bracelets.

Girl’s Clementine medical ID bracelet http://www.laurenshope.com/product/2204/B257/clementine-medical-id-bracelet 

Boy’s Zodiac medical ID bracelet http://www.laurenshope.com/product/2173/C286/zodiac-medical-id-bracelet

All  Lauren's Hope bracelets have a prominet ID tag and medical symbol. In fact, customers have asked them over the years to make these smaller but they won't -- they want them easily visible to EMTs if necessary.

Here's what you need to do for your chance to win:

Please post a comment on my blog only--not my Facebook page. Please include your name and first initial.

You should also check out Lauren's Hope social networking -- it's your best chance to hear about their frequent sales and constant stream of great new products that help protect allergic kids in an emergency.

 Here are some ways to connect with them online:

1. For new product alerts, sales and promo codes subscribe to Lauren’s Hope email alerts http://blog.laurenshope.com/sign-up-for-exclusive-offers-today/

2. Become a fan of Lauren’s Hope on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/LaurensHopeID

3. Follow Lauren’s Hope on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/laurenshopeid

4. Follow Lauren’s Hope Food Allergy board on Pinterest http://pinterest.com/laurenshope/food-allergies/ and/or follow all of our boards on Pinterest http://pinterest.com/laurenshope/

You have until this Wednesday at 10 pm to enter to win! Remember, comment on my blog and please include your name and first initial. We will get full info from our winner after a random drawing.

Thanks Lauren's Hope for this generous giveaway to help celebrate Food Allergy Awareness Week!

Thought for Mother's Day: Food Allergy Parenting is Like "Finding Nemo"

Mother's Day is coming up, but I want to talk about the father from "Finding Nemo" that fabulous Disney film that is being re-released in 3D to celebrate its 10th Anniversary. (OMG...it was out that long ago????)

"Finding Nemo" was the first film I ever took my daughter to. She was two years old and at that time we had no idea she had a life-threatening food allergy--she hadn't had a reaction yet (though she was repelled by peanut butter for some reason????). In fact, before the movie I took her to Noodles and Co. for macaroni and cheese--a place we no longer visit because of the nut allergy warnings on the door. She claims to still remember going there--maybe because it was one of the last times.

But getting back to Nemo, little did I know that the story of Nemo, his dad and Dory would become a parallel to my own parenting journey.

Most of you are familiar with the movie's plot: Nemo loses his mom in a terrible way, causing his already uptight dad to spend most of his time trying to keep him safe from harm. When Nemo is trapped by ocean divers looking for exotic fish, his father begins a quest to find him and bring him home.

The film is one of my favorites: it's funny, poignant and has exciting animation. The message is also touching to any parent: you have to let kids go at some point, even when there is danger -- and danger is always going to be there. In other words, sometimes parenting is really painful.

Here's the kicker: Nemo's dad is right when he tells Nemo not to go too far into the ocean. His overprotective dad fears, in this case, are 100% warranted and accurate. While we laugh at Nemo's dad and his "silly" worries, we also have to admit: the guy was right to have fear. But it's how you channel it that makes all the difference. At the end of the film, Nemo is a lot wiser and a little more cautious and his dad is a little less worried. They reach a happy medium.

What does all of this have to do with food allergies? I think a lot of us feel like Nemo's dad. We know the dangers are out there but other's aren't always seeing it. Still, we want our kids to live life as best as they can. So we have to find that balance of what works for us, our kids and our family situation. That's what I try to do and that's what many of you are trying to do, especially as you first enter the role of "food allergy parent."

And there is the Dory factor. Her famous line "Just keep swimming" makes her invaluable to Nemo's dad who relies on her to keep him going through the tough times. Dory's chipper attitude is helped by the fact that she has no long-term memory! So she doesn't even recall that danger is there and just does things. Now, as parents of kids with a serious medical condition we don't have the luxury of throwing caution to the wind whenever we want, but a little forgetfulness in terms of "what if? what if? what if?" can help us achieve more of a healthy balance as long as we know we've done everything we can in terms of taking precautions and preparing our kids.

When I talk to moms and dads who are new to dealing with nut allergies, sometimes I feel like an annoying "Dory" in the sense that I want people to "just keep swimming." But believe me, I've been on the other side. I didn't start out feeling confident about my daughter's allergies--it kicked the breath out of me and at  times it still does. I do understand what you guys are going through and while I do try to keep positive, that's not to say I don't think food allergies are a huge challenge that is often distressing. A lot of the time I'm more "Nemo's dad" than Dory if that's any consolation for those of you who think that parenting a child with medical challenges comes naturally to a lucky few. It doesn't--you have to work at it and it takes time to adjust, something I talk about in my e-book.

It's not always easy. But, annoying though it can sometimes sound (especially if you are in the thick of dealing with all of the life adjustments) let's all do our best to "just keep swimming." Our kids will thank us someday.

I want to wish all of you a beautiful, safe and Happy Mother's Day!

Food Allergies and School: Stress Less by Planning Ahead

I know we are getting ready for summer, but if you are sending a child with food allergies to a new school next year or even updating your information at your current school, now is the time to get the ball rolling. We received pre-registration forms a  week ago from our school  district; some of you might have gotten the same.

I've learned the hard way: if you wait too long school offices are closed and doctor's office appointments are filled. Sending a child with life-threatening food allergies is stressful enough -- who wants to be shut out of school offices and unable to get in to see the doctor?

You might be wondering what you can do for next year while schools are focused on wrapping up the current year. The answer is: a lot more than you think.

If you  are new to a school or a district, you might need to do some fact-finding. For example, what  is the school's policy regarding food allergy management? You'll want to know the rules for lunch time, snack time (if they have one), parties and field trips. Finding this out now is important because you can anticipate what areas will need the most care and attention from you.

If you are brand new to the school or district, you will also want to introduce yourself to the school principal  and the district nurse. You may discover that you will need to set up a meeting just prior to the school year or complete extra medical forms. If they don't know about you in advance, you could miss out on these important communications so it's a good idea to check in and see what you need to do. They may tell you that this will be taken care of in August, but it's a great idea to get in the loop and onto the school  administrators' radar well before then.

Depending on the district and your child's needs, some  parents may decide that they would like a 504 Plan for their child. These can take a long time to complete, so start finding out what your district requires on your end. A good place to begin is with a call to your district's special needs coordinator. You can find out some more information on 504 Plans by following this Food Allergy Initiative link that provides excellent and detailed information.

In addition to basic registration forms, most schools require several additional forms completed for any child with a chronic medical condition. Our school requires separate forms for asthma  and allergies; your school may want specific and/or extra medical documentation especially if you are requesting allergy-free eating areas in the cafeteria or you would like your child to carry their epinephrine auto-injectors with them during the school  day.

So even though we all have summer fun on the horizon, if you do your homework now, you not only get a more peaceful summer break, you get a smoother school transition in the fall. Sounds good to me!

Food Allergy Memoir: "Feeding Eden" by Susan Weissman

"Feeding Eden," by Susan Weissman is a new memoir that speaks to the heart of what it means to parent a child with severe food allergies, everything from finding safe foods to exploring medical care, and ultimately, learning to live with your new normal.

When her young son Eden is diagnosed with multiple food allergies (peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, soy, eggs, fish, shellfish and several fruits), a new world of complications and parental fears are awakened for Weissman and her family. Ms. Weissman shares with us the terror of watching a child having anaphylaxis, the fears of what dangers he may face during "normal" activities like school and birthday parties and many other things that only food allergy parents will recognize as their own experience.

One of my favorite anecdotes was when Weissman described "cheating", not as extramarital, but as eating allergenic foods with her husband when Eden isn't around. (Show of hands for anyone else who has ever done this? I feel guilty for days if I go to a Thai restaurant on date night.)

So much in this book is validating for the food allergy parent, who is often ridiculed or taken to task for their cautious approach to what others think of as harmless activities. Says Weissman in her book, "When I break from routine, there is always a risk particular to Eden. Whether I hire a new baby-sitter, purchase a new brand of tortillas, or plan a family day trip by ferry, I chance the unforeseeable." Well said and truly understood only by another parent facing food allergies.

In a warm, humorous and engaging style, the author explores her family's struggles and ultimate triumphs in a way that really spoke to me as a parent who faces the same concerns. I appreciated Weismann's honesty about her battles, some of them quite poignant and some very humorous, such as her experiments with allergy-friendly baking (not always successful and joy-inducing). She even takes on those "surprise" classroom treats that are the bane of a food allergy parent's existence in a story that will have you laughing and maybe even crying if you've ever had to deny your child "what all the other kids are eating."

And what about food as love? When you have a child with multiple food allergies, this can seem impossible, yet Weissmman describes coming to terms with this notion, despite her son's many allergies: "Loves comes out of my hands when I cook...my food safety habits are my love."

I must share one other note about the author. A few years ago, Ms. Weissman wrote a terrific guest blog post for "The Nut-Free Mom." Here is the link: it explores the ups and downs of how she found a "safe" restaurant for her son.

Any parent of a child with life-threatening food allergies will find much to savor in "Feeding Eden." If you want more information on author Susan Weissman including how to buy her book, visit her author web site.

Nut-Free Christmas/Holiday Cookie Giveaway (and Egg-Free, Dairy-Free)

\Here's a sweet way to combat holiday stress--with a cookie giveaway from Sweet Alexis nut-free, dairy-free and egg-free bakery! My friends at Sweet Alexis would like to give Nut-Free Mom readers a special chance to win their delicious and beautifully decorated cookies just in time for the holidays. The winner chooses from either red and green Christmas cookies or beautiful blue and white!

For your chance to win, simply post a comment on this blog post with your name --first name and last initial is fine. It's hard to deliver a prize to Anonymous. :)I will contact the winner privately for their mailing info. If you like, you can also share your favorite sweet treat that you make for the holidays. After a random drawing, the winner will be announced Wednesday. You can comment today and tomorrow until 11 pm.

For those of you who don't know much about Sweet Alexis, they have a storefront in California and a thriving mail-order business. They offer a wide variety of quick breads (like zucchini and banana) and cookies that are free of nuts, dairy and eggs. It's great stuff and it arrives fresh and tasty--my kids and I have tried many of their products and we love them all.

For product info and a full ingredients list, please click this link.

Thanks to Sweet Alexis and good luck everybody!

Note: While these cookies are egg-free, peanut-free, tree nut-free and dairy-free and made in a dedicated bakery, they may contain other allergens. Contest participants are responsible for fully vetting the ingredients of these cookies before offering them to an allergic person.

Food Allergy Tips for Memorial Day Weekend and All Summer Long

I love summer. Living in Chicago, I've learned to savor the heat and humidity. Those January winds make a lasting impression so no complaints here as the temperature rises!

Summer also means having to adjust how we cope with nut allergies and all food allergies. For the non-temperate parts of the country, food is being prepared in different ways and in different venues than winter.

Many of us will be heading out to Memorial Day Weekend festivities, so now's the time to get ready to handle summer's new food allergy challenges.

Here are a few things to look out for:

Grills. While grilled foods are some of the safest options for all food-allergic people because of their simplicity and lack of sauces, outdoor grills present a HUGE cross-contact risk. Marinades may contain many types of allergens including nuts and the shared grill presents many risks for reaction. Thorough cleaning of a grill is required before use.

If you love grilled foods and want your allergic family members to enjoy them at a party, consider bringing your own portable grill (but be sure to keep it only for your family's use.) A Smokey Joe grill is easy to transport to any location. Memorial Day sales are an ideal time to pick up one of these. You can find them at most stores that sell grills and barbecue equipment.

Barbecue sauce. I love, love, love barbecue sauce but it can present a high risk for nut allergies and some other food allergies as well (wheat and soy come to mind.) Check the labels--some are OK for nut allergies but always read the label carefully. (Just so you know, "natural flavoring" must list nut allergens if they are present due to current FDA laws.)

The following is my recipe for nut-free barbecue sauce. Homemade BBQ sauce tastes great and is surprisingly easy to make. I use Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce in my recipe--be aware that Worcestershire may contain anchovies. If you deal with allergies to these ingredients, substitute some extra salt and a shot of lemon juice.

Nut-Free BBQ SauceThis sauce must be heated for a short while to mellow the onion and garlic--it keeps up to a week when refrigerated. Brush it onto meat or chicken at the last minute or it may scorch.

2 cups ketchup (I always use Heinz)
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (I use Lea and Perrins) or soy sauce (I use Kikoman)
1 tbsp chili powder or to taste
1/2 cup dry red wine or water
1/4 cup vinegar, either wine vinegar or rice vinegar
1/2 cup minced fresh onion
1 tsp minced garlic
Salt and black pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring often, for 10 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary. When not in use, keep covered in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Dips and dressings. Chip dip and salad dressing may contain nut oils or ingredients. Always read labels if they are store-bought before serving to an allergic person. If homemade, avoid them unless you were involved in the preparation. You have no real way of knowing if cross-contact occured or what's really in it. When in doubt, do without.

Desserts and ice cream treats. Unless you made these yourself, steer clear of these at a party because desserts (from a bakery or homemade) are some of the most high risk foods for many allergies including nut allergies. Ice cream is also high risk for nut allergies because commercial brands are generally made on shared equipment--a fact not usually reflected on the label. It's better to bake your own desserts and bring them to a party. If you bring a great dessert, you'll be a hero, so try it! If you're not a baker, fresh fruit salad or other summer fruits like watermelon make a welcome treat.

Food Allergy and Summer: Nut-Free, Egg-Free Ice Cream Recipe

I've had so many questions about ice cream lately that I thought I would share (once again) a very easy and delicious homemade ice cream recipe. You need a Cuisinart electric ice cream maching or the ice cream maker of your choice.

Homemade is always safer than store-bought, so enjoy! And have your kids make this with you.

Nut-Free, Egg-Free Vanilla Ice Cream
Break out the ice cream machine for this great basic vanilla ice cream recipe! Also known as "Philadelphia" ice cream, this traditional recipe does not contain eggs.

1 vanilla bean or 2 tsp pure vanilla extract (McCormick brand is what I usually use--Nielsen Massey is also great.)
4 cups heavy cream or heavy cream mixed with half-and-half for a lighter flavor
3/4 cup white sugar, preferably superfine
Pinch salt

If using a vanilla bean, split in half and scrape out the seeds. (Keep the pod to make vanilla sugar, basically a vanilla bean placed inside a closed container of sugar for about a week. Wonderful in everything from cakes and cookies to coffee drinks.)

Combine all ingredients and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Churn in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's directions. Serve immediately or freeze about 2 hours for a firmer consistency. For optimum flavor, allow to soften slightly in the refrigerator about 30 minutes before serving.

Food Allergies and School Parties: Be Prepared and Have Fun!

As the school year comes to a close, many schools are planning end-of-year celebrations. Also, a lot of school clubs. sports and activities will have their end-of-year parties. Of course, that means food! Now's the time to plan so that your child can safely enjoy any end-of-year school celebrations.

1. Give the teacher a heads-up now. Don't wait until the week of, or even a few days before. Speak to the teacher, send an e-mail, pick up the phone, your choice, but make it a point to find out what is going on with regard to food. Does food have to be offered? If it is, offer to send in a safe treat and then emphasize that your child sticks to that and that only.

2. Check the crafts. Are any edible crafts being done or is food being used for inedible crafts? Ask now. These are a bad idea unless everyone is on the same page about what is safe and what isn't. I've found that is usually not the case, so suggest an alternative craft if you must. The store Michael's has tons of craft ideas; so does Target.

3. Discuss with your child the possibility of "extra" food. Some parents like to send in homemade treats at the last minute as an added "surprise" for the class. While this is well-intentioned, it can undo the careful planning you and other room parents may have done to ensure "safe" party foods. Communicate with the party organizers to find out what food will be present and then discuss with your child a few items that they can safely eat. To stay on the safe side, make sure that your child understands that anything outside of that zone is off-limits.

4. Send home a note a week before the party. Ask your child's teacher to send home a reminder note of what to avoid sending. If you have a dairy-free, nut-free classroom, for example, be sure to include some suggestions of safe brands and treats. If people are intent on bringing food, at least they will have some idea of what is OK for the kids with allergies.

5. Role play with your child. This may be the most important point. It's never too early to teach a child to refuse food they are not sure of. Our rule has always been: "When in doubt, do without." Teach your child to be polite but firm when offered food that may not be safe. This would pretty much include all candy and baked goods you have not sent to school, but pretzels, chips and popcorn brands can also be unsafe. Our daughter has always refused food since she we knew of her allergy and your child can learn to do the same. They will need this skill their entire life; why not start now?

Food Allergy Awareness Week: Check Out FAAN's Guest Bloggers!

I'll admit I'm going to be a little lazy today (because it is my birthday) and let others do the blogging for me today. :)

Have you checked out FAAN's new blog? This week, in honor of Food Allergy Awareness Week, FAAN featured five bloggers who I am lucky to have met personally and/or communicated with online. Each of them shares their perspectives on living with food allergies, both from a parenting perspective and a personal one. You'll even find yummy recipes from Kelly Rudnicki of Food Allergy Mama and cookbook author Cybele Pascale!

You'll also hear from Sloane Miller of Allergic Girl, Gina Clowes of Allergy Moms and Jennifer B of Food Allergy Buzz.

I enjoyed each entry and I think you will, too.

I hope everyone has spread awareness in some way for FAAW and remember, it's something we do all year. So be proud of what you've accomplished in terms of educating your friends, family and communities about food allergies.

Next week, I've got a new product review from Enjoy Life Foods. I can give you one hint: Chocolate!

Happy Friday the 13th everybody!

Food Allergy PSA from Dr. Oz

As many of you might now, Dr. Oz has featured food allergies on his popular TV show, including a demonstration of how detect the signs of anaphylaxis. This show was a wonderful public service. I especially appreciated it since I did not know what the signs of severe food allergy reactions were the first time my daughter experienced one.

Did you know that he also filmed a public service announcement for FAAN?

When public figures like Dr. Oz take the time to speak out about food allergies, it can have a very positive impact on the general public's awareness and acceptance of food allergies, besides giving them crucial health information.

Have any of you seen this PSA on TV before? I like the way he talks about the unexpected nature of food allergies and how they can happen anywhere at school. People think they can only happen in the cafeteria or lunch room, but they can happen anywhere. Awareness is the first step in making schools or any public venue much safer for allergic kids and adults.

Thanks, Dr. Oz, for your support of food allergies!