Happy Nut-Free Holidays! Tips for Navigating Holiday Parties, Baking Resources, Class Parties and More!

Have a sweet holiday by planning ahead for
potential food allergy pitfalls.

We're in the heart of the holiday season and if you have kids with food allergies, that can mean extra stress. Everything from holiday parties to visiting Santa at the mall takes on a new dimension when dealing with life-threatening nut allergies, but you don't have to let food allergies stand in the way of enjoying the holidays! True, food is everywhere but if you plan ahead and are prepared for it, you can keep the allergic family members healthy and happy and best of all, keep yourself healthy and happy.

If you are just starting out with severe nut allergies, finding a balance can sound impossible, especially dealing with holiday parties. Take a deep breath, realize you can't do it all and then check out my best tips for a nut-free, stress-free holiday including advice on navigating holiday parties.

Here's one tip I didn't include in that post but realize I should have. When you attend a cookie exchange, potluck, or really any holiday party with food of unknown origin, I do not recommend the following: asking everyone in the room whether or not the food has nuts in it as a basis for evaluating whether or not you should feed it to your allergic kiddo.

Why? Because, even if the food doesn't have nuts in it, cross-contact could have occurred during the cooking/baking process. Or the cook or baker could have used ingredients that have a cross-contact warning. Or the cook/baker's kitchen might have a lot of the allergen present and cross-contact can occur that way. Or one of the kids could have eaten peanut butter and stuck their finger in the batter when Mom or Dad or Grandma wasn't looking.

I could go on, but I think you probably get the gist: you have no way of knowing if a food is safe if it's unlabeled and made in another kitchen where the family does not deal with allergies. I know it's hard but it's best to avoid these home baked items of unknown origin.

What if Santa is giving out candy?

Recently, a reader wrote to me regarding how to deal with Santa at the mall when he's handing out candy and such after the kids visit him. This is a tough one because kids believe that Santa knows everything about them, so why would he give them unsafe candy?

Ideally, you have taught or are in the process of teaching kids to question any candy they get -- even if given to them by a trusted adult. Santa is no exception and you can tell the kids that he is very busy and occasionally makes a mistake. If your child gets candy from Santa and you can't determine if it's safe or not (for example, it has no label), one thing you can do is to immediately switch it with something from your own pocket. If your child questions you, you can say, "Oh, Santa gave you the wrong thing by mistake. One of his elves gave me this candy. I checked it and it's safe for you." Or whatever works for your situation -- you're a parent, I'm sure you're creative.

A lot of us will be baking, so if you have vanilla extract questions? Click here for baking tips and ingredients info. For those of you with general baking questions, this post has some thoughts for those without allergies who want to bake for us, while this post is geared to the families personally dealing with nut allergies.

Need nut-free Christmas dessert recipe ideas? This archived post has some good ones, plus check out my Pinterest board, "Christmas Sweets (Nut-Free)."

For some general advice on nut allergies and the holidays, check out these 6 excellent tips from SunButter sunflower seed spread: they quoted me and shared some of my fave tips for parents.

Looking for nut-free candy finds at the supermarket? Here are some that you will see on store shelves.

School parties this week? Click this link for an article about food allergies and school parties that I wrote for Chicago Parent magazine.

Please feel free to share your holiday solutions in the comments below. All best wishes for a very happy holiday season!

For more parent-to-parent advice on successfully navigating nut allergies, click here.

Nut-Free, Homemade Halloween Treats, Plus Last-Minute Ideas on Pinterest

These shortbread cookies can even be made dairy-free. Delicious!

Halloween is just a few days away so I want to post some links to two reader-favorite Halloween recipes that I created for my family:

Frankenstein Monster Toe Cookies

Candy Corn Cookies

These two recipes are pretty easy and definitely festive. I hope you enjoy them!

I hope you'll also check out my Pinterest boards -- I have nut-free Halloween recipes and fun Halloween ideas from a variety of sources.

Halloween Candy Exchange

What to do with all the Halloween candy you can't have? If you live near Chicago-area bakery, Nutphree's, bring your unusable Halloween candy to their bakery and they'll give you a free cupcake. They will send any unusable candy overseas to the military, so it's a win-win situation for everyone.

What do you do with the Halloween candy you can't use? Any candy exchanges like this in your area? Please share them! We'd love to hear your ideas.

Food Allergy News: We've Got the Auvi-Q (TM) Epinephrine Auto-Injector

I swear the fact that the purse matches the Auvi-Q (TM) is completely coincidental.

Ever since the Auvi-Q (TM) epinephrine auto-injector was introduced to consumers several months ago, my 13-year-old daughter with severe food allergies has been curious about these new compact devices. She liked the idea of a small auto-injector that would fit easily into a purse and she liked the fact that the device "talks" to you and guides you through the process.

 

It all sounded pretty awesome. However, we still had our pen-shaped epinephrine auto-injectors and they hadn't expired yet, so I suggested we wait until our next allergist appointment to ask for a prescription. Let me state up front that I have never been asked to review or endorse these products (and I'm not looking to do so), I am only speaking as a fellow consumer and giving my consumer opinion (and sharing my daughter's thoughts on the device).

 

OK, back to the allergy appointment. When we asked about it, our allergist was enthusiastic about the Auvi-Q (TM). She said it was a great choice for a teen. I was a little bit skeptical at first because we've been carrying a different auto-injector for so many years. 

 

After seeing the compact size of the Auvi-Q (TM) AND hearing how it guides you through the process, my daughter and I both agreed -- we wanted to carry it. It really is a great little device!

 

The allergist brought up some good points about the Auvi-Q that I hadn't considered, such as the fact that it might be a good choice for grandparents, teachers or other caregivers, given the fact that it has voice-guided instructions. (Please don't rely on those alone, though. For anyone caring for your child, of course you want to personally train them in how to use the device. Each package comes with a trainer for that very purpose.)

 

As the person with allergies who would ultimately need to carry it and/or use it, my daughter saw some other benefits. The small and convenient size is a huge bonus for her, because she self-carries her epinephrine everywhere she goes. She's  a girl, so she wants to be able to fit her epinephrine in a cute little purse. OK, that may sound trivial, but if kids feel good about carrying the epinephrine they are more likely to carry it. For boys, this device fits easily in a pocket. Here are the dimensions of the Auvi-Q, taken from the company web site: 3 3/8 inches wide, 2 inches high and 5/8 inches thick. It's smaller than a cell phone, for example.

 

 

Two Auvi-Q devices are inside this small purse, with lots of room
left over for a cell phone and other stuff.

The other point my daughter brought up was that the Auvi-Q does not seem "scary" to her. I get that.  This small, compact, card deck-shaped device is non-threatening to look at and my daughter thought it might encourage her to be less afraid in an emergency. She also said that the voice instructions were comforting and reassured her. Apparently, she's been afraid she might forget what to do in an emergency. This makes sense as any of us might go blank -- even if we are well-versed in epinephrine usage -- when faced with having to self-inject or having to inject our child in an emergency. 

 

Again, even with voice instructions, my doctor said to practice using the device via the trainer and to have an emergency plan available to caregivers. Just an FYI, the most recent food allergy emergency action plan from FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education) has instructions on how to use the Auvi-Q (TM). Click here to find that document.

 

Now for the cost. It's basically the same as other epinephrine auto-injectors but your doctor can give you a $0 co-pay coupon that will also knock $100 off the price of a set of two auto-injectors if you are paying for prescriptions out-of-pocket. Again, read the fine print on the coupon, but it is effective until December 31, 2013. As with any new prescription, make sure your insurance covers these before ordering! You can access a coupon by clicking this link and registering on the site.

 

To find out more and to see a demo on how to use an Auvi-Q, visit the company web site by clicking this link. Many readers of this blog have been curious about the Auvi-Q (TM) device. If any of you have any questions about the best epinephrine device for your particular situation, I encourage you to speak to your doctor.

 

Whatever epinephrine auto-injector that you choose, be sure to carry at least two at all times. Epinephrine can't work if you don't have it with you!

 

Note: Please contact your allergist or physician with any questions about epinephrine, anaphylaxis and your specific medical needs. 

Father's Day and Food Allergies: Let's Hear It for the Guys

With Father's Day around the corner, I wanted to celebrate the dads, stepdads, grandfathers, uncles and all of the special men in our lives who help our kids with food allergies. Even though this blog has "mom" in the title, I do hear from many dads who are concerned about their food-allergic kids.

These guys deserve to be celebrated for the special things they do to make sure that their kids with food allergies are protected, healthy and loved. So I asked my Nut-Free Mom Facebook page readers to share their stories. I have collected several heart-warming snippets here. To read the Father's Day stories in full, please visit and "like" my Facebook page. The stories are scattered throughout the Wall on my FB page. Please share your own stories in the comments below or visit my page.

Of course I need to start with my own husband, who is the most wonderful dad ever. As soon as we found out about my daughter's nut allergy following an anaphylactic reaction, he immediately decided that the house would be peanut and tree nut-free. As someone who loves peanut butter and almonds, etc. this was tough for him, but he never once complained. He is now a big fan of SunButter. :) My husband calls restaurants, helps out on field trips and has visited the school with me during our yearly health meetings with school staff. He also encourages our daughter to do everything she wants to do in life. We are lucky to have him.

I also want to mention another friend and neighbor who is a chef by trade. He volunteered to make all of the fresh food for our school's 6th grade end-of-year party and he also baked a large, decorated cake for the class. This was all so that the many kids in our class with nut allergies could enjoy the food without worry. He also volunteered to serve the food and help chaperone the party, along with a bunch of other people including his wife and daughter. The party was a huge success and the kids were in heaven. In general, we just cope with not being able to have bakery cakes and much of the food at parties, but that day my daughter didn't have to. It meant a lot to her and to us. Thanks to Tom F.!

Shannon G. from Facebook told us about her husband's efforts to help her 8th-grade daughter with life-threatening peanut allergies:

"Bill (her daddy) has gone above and beyond! ... He is very particular about who comes around her while we are at the races or out in public,he even had yard signs and stickers for the front door made that say NO PEANUTS OR PEANUT PRODUCTS! He is a truly awesome dad and advocate for his children! :) We try to keep her busy and let her have as much of a social life as possible. She wanted to learn gymnastics, Bill enrolled her....she wants to learn the violin. ...shes got a new one!!!! Anything shes interested in Bill does his best and works his tail off to provide it! She couldn't ask for a better dad!!!! Bills the best! :)"

Christi P. had this to say about her husband and also her kids' grandfather (her dad): 

"My husband reads everything meticulously. The first thing he did when we were informed of all their allergies was to find a way to make, wheat-free, dairy-free (and nut free of course) pancakes to keep up with his weekend pancake tradition.

My father, their grandpa (Papa) with my Mom, has been known to drive 2 hours to the Vermont Nut Free factory in order to procure Halloween and Easter treats. He (with my mom) has also driven an hour and a half to babysit my kiddos. It's not always easy to find babysitters when we inform them of their allergies."

Kamisha Y. shared this touching story about her recently deceased dad:

"Our daughter Peyton was two years old when we found out she was allergic to peanuts and tree nuts. Peyton ate a half of a half of a cashew and went into full blown anaphylaxis, by the grace of God we was at one of my son's doctors appointments....so she was able to be treated and rushed to the local children's hospital. Our lives have taken a 360 having a child with food allergies, not only is she allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, but she has a mild dairy allergy also. But my daddy...oh gosh...first let me say he past away Jan 10, 2012 from leukemia. But, before he got sick with cancer he loved all of his grandchildren, but he and my Peyton had a special bond. When he found out that she had food allergies he made it a point to educate himself on reading boxes, and what foods she could eat. Papa (that's what the grandchildren called him) wanted Peyton to be able to feel normal even though her life had changed (she was to young to understand it). My dad made it a point to make sure that everything that came in his house that was eatable was not going to cause an allergic reaction to his granddaughter...and I will forever love him for that."

Lily's Little Gems said:

"I am lucky that Lily's dad is an A& E nurse so he was able to spot what was happening when Lily had her first anaphylaxis from eating some crunchy nut cornflakes. We didn't know at this point that she had such a severe nut and peanut allergy. Since then, we have lots of EpiPen (R) auto-injectors and he has "trained" all of Lily's nursery staff in how to use the EpiPen (R) and how to spot a reaction and what to do etc... He is my rock!"

Joyce B. shared this story:

"My husband has never once complained that we've had to give up all peanut butter products, even though he really misses it and would love to eat it all the time. He's been a real support to me as well, and I've learned to read food labels and as I've been the watchdog at the gate, so to speak, making sure our home is safe for our son. He never looks at it as "things we can't have" but rather, a new opportunity to live a bit differently."

From Tiffany T.:

" My husband sometimes doesn't understand about cross contamination( as I have more time for research), [but he] is very supportive of decisions that I make and guidelines i put into place for her. Her first attack he listened, didn't question, did what I asked ... After the ambulance and hospital and me remaining calm, I put our daughter to bed, scared to leave her and fell into his arms crying. He just hugged me; I asked why are you so calm? He said i knew you had it under control and trusted you every step of the way."

Kimberley B. said:

"My husband has gone to the school and talked to the classes about my son's allergies. He was the one to get the awareness posters approved for the cafeteria. he even drops by to eat lunch at school with my son at the peanut free table, where he always gets to answer the questions about food allergies the other kids have."

 

Jerri K.:

"My husband goes on so many of the class field trips to make sure our Jake is never excluded and always is accommodated in every activity...he is our sons biggest fan."

 

Along with the Father's Day theme, I want to introduce you to a new site sponsor: Skeeter Snacks. This nut-free cookie company was started by two dads! Visit Skeeter Snacks to find out more.

Thanks so much to everyone who shared their stories with us! Please let the guys know how much this support means.

Happy Father's Day!

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!

Busting Food Allergy Myths, Plus Our Sweet Alexis Giveaway Winner!

Thanks to all who entered the Sweet Alexis bakery cookie giveaway! We had a huge response and after a random drawing, our winner is Chew Chew Mama! Congratulations! You will receive 30 chocolate chip cookies (peanut-free, nut-free, egg-free and dairy-free). Please e-mail me your name and address at nut-freemom@sbcglobal.net so that we can send you your prize!

Thanks to Sweet Alexis for your generous giveaway! For those who didn't win, please check back often for future giveaways and don't forget to visit the Sweet Alexis website to order. It's great to find a place that allows you to treat your family to some allergy-friendly goodies that you didn't have to bake yourself. I wish I could send cookies to you all -- it's wonderful to have such great readers who support each other and share their knowledge.

Yesterday I asked my Nut-Free Mom Facebook readers to open up about the food allergy "myths" they've been confronted with when trying to explain food allergies to others, including how to keep allergic people safe.

Based on the large number of responses, it seems that food allergies remain a largely misunderstood condition, despite the increased level of awareness and media attention.

Food allergy myths are more than just occasionally annoying--they can be dangerous because if misinformation persists, it can endanger a life.

Myth 1: Food allergy and food intolerance are the same thing. Food allergy differs from an intolerance (such as celiac disease, i.e. gluten intolerance or lactose intolerance) in that a food allergy reaction creates an immediate and sometimes full body response that can be life-threatening, also known as anaphylaxis. An intolerance can cause serious health problems, but won't result in the emergency situation that anaphylaxis creates.

Myth 2: People with food allergies are simply "picky eaters" who don't enjoy eating. Food allergies are not a food preference, they are a medical condition that can cause death. People who avoid certain foods due to food allergies are doing so for medical reasons. Food-allergic folks enjoy food just as much as anyone; the caution they exercise about some foods is due to necessity, not choice.

Myth 3: Giving small amounts of a food allergen to an allergic person at home without a doctor's supervision will cure them of the allergy. NO! Please don't try this at home. Much media attention has been given to clinical research studies and trials that are trying to build up subjects' immunity to certain food allergies such as peanut allergy by introducing small amounts of food allergen. Participants in these studies must meet very specific criteria that is evaluated by an allergist. Plus, some people have reacted severely during these studies even though others have shown improvement. Currently, there is no widespread, FDA approved treatment for food allergies although research has been growing rapidly and experts hope to have a cure in the not-too-distant future.

Myth 4: People with food allergies are weak, sickly and unable to participate in sports or other strenuous activities. Tell that to the following professional athletes with food allergies:

• Superbowl champ Jerome Bettis (shellfish allergy)
• Tom Poti, NHL Hockey player (multiple food allergies)
• Olympic Skier Steve Omischl (severe peanut allergy)
• Tennis star Serena Williams (said to have a peanut allergy)

Food allergies don't hamper physical strength. Because asthma and food allergies sometimes go hand in hand, athletes with these conditions will have to follow treatment and other protocols, but their abilities are not altered.

Myth 5: Children with food allergies will always outgrow them. Recent research has shown that young adults are outgrowing food allergies less than was previously believed. While not impossible to outgrow them (speak to your doctor), the following allergies tend to be lifelong, especially if they are severe: peanut, tree nut and shellfish allergies. Emphasize to caregivers that whether your child outgrows the allergy or not, they have it right now and current precautions need to be maintained. The future may bring something different but we have to live in the present.

If you encounter these myths or others, take it as an opportunity to educate your circle of family and friends about food allergies. Many people are trying to be helpful or comforting (not always, I know, but if you don't know, give them the benefit of the doubt), so keep that in mind. If you keep a cool head and state your facts, you are helping to raise food allergy awareness and education, one person at a time.

Food Allergy and Family Fights: Part 2

After my previous post on food allergy and family fights I heard even more stories about family strife revolving around food. Some of you have shared that you feel a lack of respect from family. Many of you have experienced a lack of communication with family members with regard to food they are serving. Others find that family members get angry about food restrictions.

These are very common occurrences, unfortunately. However, I don't believe that most people want drama and bad feelings. The best way around this is to be clear, consistent and positive.

This is not always easy. As I've mentioned in other posts, food allergies can bring out bad feelings simmering below the surface that may have more to do with existing relationships and less about the food allergies themselves. For example, if you never really got along with one of your in-laws or they are critical of you to begin with, expect friction. Many people don't understand food allergies and love to imply in subtle and not-so-subtle ways that they don't respect your parenting. Ask yourself if food allergies are really the cause of the friction. If not, you may be better equipped to handle hegative comments and actions when they occur.

From my own personal experience, here are a few suggestions on coping with some common food allergy scenarios that may cause fights:

Provide concise factual information. I think the number one reason for trouble is lack of understanding. Please give your close relatives any relevant brochures or medical information that you have (perhaps provided by the doctor) and suggest web sites to them such as The FAAN website for more information. Be honest about the seriousness of food allergies and keep it simple. Explain that you must protect your child and that they need to do certain things to protect your child as well. This is not an opinion; it's a fact. So be factual and businesslike when explaining the situation.

Describe the allergic reaction. Many of us have the "moment" when we first witnessed our child in the throes of a serious allergic reaction. If others (such as grandparents or siblings-in-law) weren't present for this, give them the details. Likely, they will be appalled. Explain that no allergic reaction is predictable and that you must do what you can to avoid one in order to avoid a life-threatening scenario. A lot of people mistakenly believe that food allergies result in a hive or two and a stomach ache. The people I've shared our allergy story with come away with a much better understanding of why I handle it the way I do.

Once you've made a decision, don't keep explaining or apologizing. Let's say that you just don't feel safe serving your child from a large dinner menu because you question the way the food was cooked. You decide to bring your child their own meal or maybe you greatly restrict what you allow them to eat at that meal. Some people are going to want to talk about it. They'll want to know why you're doing this ("it doesn't have nut in it"), they'll start asking about how your child copes at school, they'll question your logic, you name it. It's human nature and simple curiosity in some cases; in others, people may be angry that you don't want your child to eat their food.

While educating and explaining has its place and I certainly advocate for those things, I don't advise making this the main meal topic, especially in front of your child. For one thing, many kids really dislike being focused on in what they view as a negative way. For another, discussing life-threatening reactions to foods isn't exactly appetizing table talk. If you are getting peppered with questions about what your child eats, simply say: "My son has food allergies. We need to restrict his diet." And then change the subject. If they keep it up say, "I'd love to explain this to you later, but for now let's enjoy our meal."

Family relationships with regard to food allergies may take years of adjustment. Or, you may find that some accept it immediately and some are really skeptical. You can't let your own actions be swayed either way. It's your job to protect the health of the allergic person whether it's your child or yourself. Do what you have to do and be as upbeat as possible but don't let it get you down if you can't convince everyone.

There's another thing I've learned and that's that food allergies aren't for the faint of heart. Neither is parenting, for that matter. Hang in there, everyone. And please, keep sharing your stories here!