Sunscreen and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies

With summer around the corner and some parts of the country already in full sunscreen mode, many of you have questions about what sunscreen is safe for your child with peanut or tree nut allergies. I'm happy to share some of my findings and suggestions with you as we head into the sunny season!

First, an important note: I'm speaking as someone who is not required to avoid coconut or shea butter for my child. Coconut (a tropical fruit, not a nut) has been labeled a tree nut by the FDA, but it's still usually not a problem for tree nut-allergic people. Shea is likewise thought to be low in allergy reactions.

That said, skin care and skin sensitivity tends to be very individual, so please let your own needs be your guide when determining skin care and consult your allergist if you are concerned about any ingredients--food-derived or otherwise. Many ingredients in skin care products can cause hives and rashes that have nothing to do with tree nuts or peanuts. That's why it's so important to know your child's skin and call the doctor if you see any problems.

For more information about either coconut or shea, here are some helpful articles on shea butter and coconut.

Another sunscreen concern that many parents of kids with peanut allergies have is regarding these two ingredients: arachidyl glucoside and arachidyl alcohol. Why? "Arachis" refers to peanut and "arachis oil" and its derivations refer to peanut. If arachidyl glucoside and arachidyl alcohol are in the sunscreen you want to use, I would recommend using something else until you can consult with your allergist. For some people these ingredients might not be a problem and for some people they might. Again, your individual needs will be your guide. In my case, I just avoid anything related to peanut.

Because of my daughter's allergies, I limit the brands we will try, but there are a few brands we've used without problems: some Neutrogena product,  Coppertone Water Babies and Vanicream. Click on each of these links for a list of ingredients; you can also call companies or e-mail them if you need more info.

If you are looking for organic products, the California Baby brand is widely available and a favorite among readers.

Another widely available and popular organic product is the All-Terrain brand. They make sunscreen and insect repellent, but be aware that coconut oil is used. Click the link for the company web site

Note: None of the products mentioned in this article reflect any endorsement of my blog on the part of said products. As with any product mentioned on this blog,the consumer bears responsibility for product choice and usage. If you have any questions about ingredients that are safe for your child, please consult your allergist. Thank you!

Food Allergy Tips for Spring Break!

Lots of you are heading out for Spring Break soon, or maybe you are already contemplating a summer vacation. Food allergies add some stress to travel, but if you plan ahead and know what you're dealing with in advance, you can help things to go much more smoothly.

We've flown and traveled several times with our severely peanut and tree nut-allergic daughter and I've covered this topic quite a bit over the years. The important thing is to use all of the same caution you would use at home. For example, check out the restaurants before heading to your travel destination and do your homework on them so that you have an idea of where to go ahead of time. And if you're heading to a warm climate, take advantage of the outdoors and have picnics! If every meal doesn't have to be in a restaurant, it's always more relaxing (and hey, you might even save some money).

And have your medication on hand at all times and be ready to use it, especially if you haven't dealt with a reaction in awhile. Having your meds on hand is crucial no matter where you are.

I have many more strategies that have worked for my family, so click the links below to read more. And happy, safe travels to you all!

Spring break air travel tips

Dining out tips when you are away from home

Food Allergy-Friendly Recipe for the March Heat Wave: Pasta with No-Cook Sauce

Are you part of the "March Madness" heat wave that is sweeping the country? If so (or if you are lucky enough to live in a warm climate), I've got a great family recipe to share.

Usually, I don't make this recipe until the summer, but with 86 degree high temps in Chicago today, this is making an early appearance on the family menu.

No-cook pasta sauces taste fresh and delicious and they are SO easy. What more could a busy parent ask for?

Please note that you can alter this recipe to accommodate additional allergies, such as dairy or wheat by using gluten-free pasta and skipping the addition of mozzarella. The combination of fresh tomatoes, olive oil, garlic and basil is so delicious all on its own.

I find that this sauce is a great way to get kids to eat some healthy vegetables (well, tomatoes are officially a fruit, but you know what I mean.) Enjoy this "summer" recipe before the heat wave is over!

Nut-Free Mom's No-Cook Pasta Sauce
About 6 medium ripe tomatoes, chopped
Fresh basil leaves to taste (but don't be skimpy, they add so much flavor)
8 oz. fresh mozzarella cheese, cubed, or boccacini (fresh mozzarella balls), optional
A couple of good dashes of olive oil (I use Colavita)
Dash of wine vinegar (or I sometimes use apple cider vinegar, which can be more appealing to kid palates)
Fresh garlic to taste, 1 or 2 cloves, pressed
1 tsp. fine sea salt (Morton's makes this) or regular salt
Coarse black pepper to taste
Freshly shaved Parmesan to garnish, optional

16 oz. package pasta of your choice--penne is especially nice

Combine all ingredients except pasta in a large bowl and let sit at room temperature for at least 20 minutes and up to an hour so that flavors can blend.

Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain, then toss immediately with "sauce" and serve.

Makes 4, good-sized main dish servings.

Food Allergies at School? "Safe" Easter Party Strategies

Spring has sprung and Easter will be here soon, bringing with it more opportunities for parties at some schools.

Based on my own experiences and my own observations at numerous school parties over the years, I have some suggestions about how to make parties safe for everyone, fun for everyone and definitely less stressful for parents, teachers and kids.

1. Speak to your child's teacher now. If your class has a party and wants to include lots of candy, now is the time to discuss it. Don't wait--if you act now you may have a chance to have a positive influence that will make the party more food allergy-friendly.

2. Keep the sweets list simple. If your school absolutely will not be swayed away from serving candy, then ask the teacher if you can supply a very short list of candies that are appropriate for nut allergies (or whatever allergy you are dealing with. This works best if there are not multiple, differing allergies in the classroom). For example, Gimbal's brand jelly beans are free of the top 8 food allergens and available at Walmart. Sweet Tarts candy eggs are safe for nut allergies (but check for other allergens). Other items for my short list include Yummy Earth lollipops (free of top 8 food allergens) and Surf Sweets gummy candies (check their web site for coupons). Smarties candies are always a standby, too--they are free of the Top 8 food allergens. I try to avoid chocolate treats simply because the nut allergy risk is always high for chocolate; calls to companies are usually required, so it's a good idea to keep the chocolate to a minimum for the school parties. (Plus, the kids with dairy allergies have problems with most chocolate, too).

The idea is to limit the choices or it gets too confusing and leaves too much room for error. DO give other parents some direction, though, so that they know what they can bring in, and not just what they can't. Your child's allergies, along with any other allergic classmates, will determine what is appropriate and safe.

3. Emphasize non-edible activities. There is too much food at school and frankly, most teachers are probably not enjoying the sugar buzz that the candy creates in the classroom. What about some fun, creative crafts? Younger kids love to make things! For example, this adorable bunny basket that I found on the web site for Family Fun magazine would make a great class craft for up to 4th grade. (Above that grade, the crafts aren't so appealing to kids, from what I've seen, anyway). Most parenting magazines will have fun kid crafts to do for spring, so ask your child's teacher if you can limit the food to one or two items (or nothing at all during class time) in favor of games and crafts. If you can, it's really helpful to offer your time preparing the crafts or supplying some of the materials.

4. Pool your resources and designate shoppers. Is there a great chance that someone is going to bring in something unsafe if multiple parents are shopping for the party? In my experience, yes, and that creates two problems. One: you now have unusable candy to deal with and screen and two, you are probably going to risk making some parents angry who took the time to buy food that isn't being used. That does not help food allergy parent PR! Instead of sending food, see if you can ask parents to send in a few dollars and then figure out who will shop for the party. Less is more.

5. Try not to segregate the allergic kids. Some schools deal with food allergies by allowing unsafe candy in the classroom and then limiting kids with allergies to designated areas. While I appreciate that they don't want the kids with allergies to come into contact with allergens, hence the segregation, this sends a terrible message to not only the allergic child, but the entire class. Basically, you are telling kids that a specific type of food (that may be eaten at home or any other time) is more important to include than their classmate. If your school tries to do this, please supply them with some of the suggestions I include above such as a short list of candy and non-edible crafts. Having kids with food allergies in the classroom can be a time to teach tolerance to the other kids. But segregating kids says otherwise. Think about it.

What has always worked best for me is lots of communication and being willing to step up and provide food, resources or supplies and/or showing up in the classroom if the teacher needs extra help. Things won't always go the way that we want them to, but by asking for change and advocating for less food-centric parties, you are making things safer for future parties.

What challenges are you facing as school party season heats up once again? What is your approach to parties?

Nut-Free St. Patrick's Day Must-Have: Nut-Free Irish Soda Bread!

When you have a peanut or a tree nut allergy, Irish soda bread from the bakery is off-limits due to cross-contact risk, but that's OK because I prefer the wholesome goodness of baking my own.

Here is a link to my St. Patrick's Day post from last year, that included two delish nut-free recipes for soda bread. I hope you enjoy them!