Allergic Living Magazine--U.S. Version, Just Launched!

For those of you new to the world of food allergies and even to those of you who have been dealing with food allergies for awhile, I have to tell you about Allergic Living magazine. This amazing resource for people living with food allergies, environmental allergies and asthma, is chock-full information about all aspects of life with allergies. Unlike some other publications, it does not focus mainly on gluten-free living, but delves into life-threatening food allergies in greater detail than you'll find anywhere else. What's more, Allergic Living recently issued a U.S. edition (they are based in Canada) to deal directly with the many aspects of life with food allergies in the U.S.

Allergic Living's latest issue, the new U.S. edition, focuses on one of the toughest aspects of living with food allergies: dining out. With a feature article by Sloane Miller of Allergic Girl (the blog and the book), you'll find page after page of awesome advice and support, so don't miss out! This article also features tips from top chefs including Ming Tsai and Top Chef Masters' Susur Lee.

In addition, you'll find new monthly columns from FAAN CEO Julia Bradsher and also a column from Gina Clowes of AllergyMoms.

I had the pleasure of finally meeting Gwen Smith, editor of Allergic Living, (after e-mailing, Facebooking for months) at the recent FAAN conference in Chicago. (I'll post my conference recap later this week.) She is such a warm, bright and knowledgeable advocate for people living with food allergies and we had a great time chatting in between sessions. Gwen has food allergies herself so she knows what she's talking about!

It's rare that I've found a resource as complete as Allergic Living so I just wanted to share it with all of you. I hope you'll check it out! Let me know!

Food Allergies and Family Fights: Part 1

Many of you have contacted me recently or posted on this blog about how food allergies have created family strife. Some common reasons for this are that relatives don't believe that a child or other family member can be seriously harmed or have their life threatened by a seemingly innocent food. Other times, the emotional ties to tradition holiday or celebration foods that contain potentially harmful allergens causes family to butt heads. For me, one of my biggest challenges--and it's one many of you struggle with as well--is explaining cross contact issues. For example, we're often told "this doesn't have nuts in it, you can have it." Well, no, because we don't know the environment it was cooked in (or we do know and have deemed it unsafe due to allergenic foods also present there.)"

The list goes on. I wish I could give you a one-size-fits-all solution to these disagreements involving food allergy and family, but since each family is different and each allergy is different, this is not always possible. I'm not a therapist, I'm just a regular parent who has had to face many of these same issues. Based on my experiences over the years, I can tell you what's worked for me. This topic is too important to be covered in one post--for one thing it would be too long. :) So here is Part 1 of my suggestions for dealing with food allergies and family.

Evaluate each situation individually. You probably have discovered that certain family members are more open to dealing with food allergies than others. You are going to have to take this into account when saying yes or no to foods and events. For example, an aunt may have removed all nut-containing foods from her home and be a meticulous label-reader. She may consult you before serving certain foods. Obviously, attending events hosted by this person are going to feel better to you, though you still have to check up on things. Another family member may insist on serving the peanut butter blossom cookies she's always served on Superbowl Sunday along with bowls of trail mix and peanuts in the shell, despite your efforts at trying to minimize these foods. You will have to deal differently with this person since they may not be hearing you. In these extreme cases you may have to skip the party. It really depends on how much the other person is open to the situation and this may vary depending on the person and/or event.

Be honest about your concerns. In the case of food allergies and families, as in so many others, honesty is the best policy. If you feel that someone is not "getting it" or you are worried about a menu, speak up, politely, please. :) Let's face it, no one is going to be as concerned about food allergies as you are. They may not consider some things that you feel are obvious. Speaking up (directly to the person you have the issue with) in an honest and straightforward way, helps to prevent not only allergic reactions but hard feelings later on.

Accept that not everyone in your circle will adapt as you hope they would. This is a tough one, I know. You may have some terrific support from most family members, but one or two folks just won't accept, understand or accommodate food allergies. You can't control that, but you can control your exposure to them and any food they may offer. It's sometimes better to quietly feed a child a safe food from home and go on with the party rather than taking a big stand over and over. Some will accept food allergy needs in time; some never will. Best to be cautious and move on.

Don't feel apologetic about food allergies. I find that many parents are really shame-faced when asking for reasonable accommodations for their child. Some people feel guilty about having menus altered or about bringing a safe food for their child even if they've been told things are "safe." This is not your fault so stay upbeat and do what you have to do. Can you imagine feeling guilty over other medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or asthma? Probably not, but food allergies invoke a guilt fest. I think one reason is that food allergies are a "hidden" condition for the most part and those who have them look perfectly healthy. You may feel like others think you are making a big deal over nothing, even when you know you're not. Stay firm about staying safe -- it's just something you have to do.

New Year, New Food Allergy? Here's What To Do

As we ring in 2011, I have noticed a huge increase in the number of e-mails and posts I've received from parents facing new nut allergy diagnoses in their kids and I've even heard from several young adults with new nut allergies.

The most frequent word I hear is "overwhelmed." This is so understandable. It is overwhelming. The wealth of information alone (often conflicting) can be hard to absorb. Plus, you may wonder if you'll ever have a normal life again, if you will ever learn to decipher food labels and if your child can even go to school. You wonder if every food has the potential to harm your child and/or you. Life can seem very scary and very surreal.

I've been there and I can tell you that things improve. But I can't sugar coat the facts: your life will change, sometimes in ways you may not even foresee now. Some of the changes will be hard to deal with; some may even be positive in the long run. I can think of two positive changes: becoming healthier in our family eating habits and learning to be more assertive in life and ask for what we need. I also have a truly compassionate daughter whose own struggles have made her want to be helpful to others facing different challenges.

Food allergies are never welcome and they make life more difficult at times. But you can live well with them. Here are some things that have helped me and my family:

Seek expert medical advice from an allergist. I've found the best people to handle the medical aspects of food allergy have been our allergists. Find a board-certified allergist and then follow their advice. Keep up on yearly visits, appropriate testing and keep in contact with them about medications. An allergist will be more knowledgeable on food allergies than most pediatricians, not to knock them because they're helpful, too. But an allergist will be more up-to-date on the constantly changing aspects of food allergies and this will be invaluable to you.

Always stand firm about food allergies. You'll meet people who don't take food allergies seriously, who may even blow them off completely. Sometimes those closest to you won't accept the situation. Be prepared for it. Usually, ignorance about food allergies is the key reason. If you know that something is not safe then avoid the food, situation or if need be, the person until they "get it." Risking an allergic reaction to preserve any relationship is never worth it. As we saw recently in Chicago, food allergies can be fatal when not clearly understood or properly respected.

Be informed but don't overload on random info. This is the hardest thing because Internet access can uncover some crazy stories and information. Stick to respected resources such as The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, Allergic Living magazine and The Food Allergy Initiative for research and facts. (And I hope you'll visit me for lifestyle tips and food allergy news.) Overloading on stories of food allergy deaths or unproven medical information is never helpful and may be harmful.

Knowledge is half the battle. The good news is, if you're reading this you probably have received medication, medical advice and are just generally prepared to face a reaction if it occurs. Witnessing an allergic reaction without any knowledge of what may be causing it or without any medication to treat it is much, much worse. If you know what you're dealing with, you can avoid or safely adapt to potentially harmful situations and cut down on risk.

I want to wish a healthy and Happy New Year to you all! Let's be safe together and please continue to share your input and comments!

Food Allergy Resources Make Great Holiday Gifts!

For those of you looking for holiday gifts for the allergic people in your life, (or if you would like to drop a few hints for your spouse or family), here's a short list of some of the best food allergy books/magazines out there.

I've had the pleasure of meeting all of the authors below, either in person or online, and I can tell you that they are completely devoted to helping food-allergic people and their families enjoy a better quality of life.

The Food Allergy Mama's Baking Book by Kelly Rudnicki. Just awesome. Kelly provides delicious recipes for things like apple doughnuts, birthday cakes and a myriad of cookies and quick breads that are egg-free, dairy-free and nut-free. If you ever thought it was impossible to bake without eggs, dairy or nuts, Kelly will set you straight! Your kids will be the envy of their friends with these yummy treats. Full-color photos accompany each recipe. You also get to see Kelly's cute kids hard at work baking! You will love this book! Check Kelly's website to order. I've also found this book available at my local Borders book store.

The Allergen-Free Baker's Handbook by Cybele Pascal. Martha Stewart featured this book as one of the best baking books out there and once you flip through it you will see why. This book is so gorgeous and filled with delicious-looking photos that make you want to roll your sleeves up and get baking. Cybele offers dozens of recipes free of all top 8 food allergens and gluten. A simply beautiful book! You can visit Cybele's website to order or visit your local bookstore. I got mine at Borders!

Food Allergy Books by Linda Coss. Linda Coss is a pioneer of food allergy parenting and cooking. She has wonderful cookbooks as well as a book of advice on how to live with food allergies. Her cookbooks are also free of dairy, egg, peanut and tree nut and she has some really awesome family-friendly meals. Don't miss her books! You can order them by visiting her website.

Enjoy Life Foods: Cupcakes and Sweet Treats for Everyone! and Enjoy Life Foods: Cookies for Everyone! Enjoy Life Foods offers great baking ingredients free of the top 8 allergens and then some. They bring their delicious approach to allergy-friendly eating to you with two beautiful books that will solve your allergy-free baking problems. I've found these at my local bookstore but you can order them from their web site, too.

Allergic Living magazine. I highly recommend a subscription to this amazing lifestyle guide. Besides tackling food allergies with wit, wisdom and tons of practical advice, editor Gwen Smith and her talented team also address seasonal and environmental allergies. Published 6 times a year, you will wonder how you ever got along without Allergic Living. Visit the website for subscription details.

I hope you'll check out each of the resources above. And thanks to the talented people behind them. You make a difference!

CBC News - Canada - What teachers and parents should know about severe food allergies

As many of you already know, I really love Allergic Living magazine. The editor, Gwen Smith, recently shared her expertise in this story for Canadian news. CBC News - Canada - What teachers and parents should know about severe food allergies

Even if you don't live in Canada, the tips included in this story are excellent, including ways to discuss food allergies with non-allergic families. From suggestions on communicating with schools to grocery shopping when you're handed a list of restricted foods, Ms. Smith covers it all.

Also, my inbox is filling up with back-to-school questions as the Big Day draws closer. If you do a search on my blog using keyword "School" many previous posts filled with tips will come up for you. I've written on preschool, daycare and elementary school, so I hope there is info that you can use. If not, please let me know and I'll be sure to address your questions!

I also know that many people are anxious right now (and believe me, I always am too. Though it gets a little better each year.) I believe that anxiety can work for us, forcing us to make sure we have the things we need to protect our child. So use your anxiety to your advantage! You're going to experience it anyway, might as well get something positive out of it. :)

I'll post more about coping with food allergy parental anxiety at a later date, but first let's get through the beginning of the school year! Good luck everybody and keep checking back for more school year tips and advice.

Food Allergy News: Allergic Living Responds to Joel Stein

I promise I am not devoting this blog to the people who denigrate food allergies, but I wanted to share this link to Allergic Living Magazine's response to Joel Stein's latest Time Magazine article. In my Tuesday post, I shared the news that Mr. Stein wrote a story that discusses his baby son's recent nut allergy diagnosis. Turns out he found out the way most of us find out--by rushing to the ER watching a child in the middle of an anaphylactic reaction. When applied to other parents, this event was hilarious to him just a year and a half ago, but not so much now that he's taken a trip to the ER with his own precious child.

Read what always enlightening editor Gwen Smith has to say.

And of course, here is the link to Joel Stein's recent Time magazine article: "Aw, Nuts!" Ironically, Mr. Stein is now in the target audience for this blog--his son apparently has a tree nut allergy, not sure about peanuts, but definitely tree nuts including pistachioes. My daughter is also severely allergic to pistachioes and my blog is devoted to all types of nut allergies, not just peanuts. Wow. Who woulda thought we'd have something so vital in common?

Tomorrow I will return to my regularly scheduled blogging. But I thought an update was appropriate, since many of you have strong feelings about the Stein articles and their fallout.

Food Allergy Backlash Again!--A Great Rebuttal by the Editor of Allergic Living Magazine

This article by Gwen Smith, editor of Allergic Living magazine, discusses the latest food allergy backlash that is based on news articles and faulty reporting. It is a must-read--but be aware, it wasn't published in Allergic Living. Many commenters at the end of the story are horribly ill-informed and they make the case for Ms. Smith's story with their ignorant remarks.

To all the parents out there: if your kids have had a serious reaction and they've had positive tests for food allergies, stay strong and don't let yourself be challenged by people who don't believe you. Ms. Smith has the right idea. You can't "tough out" a food allergy. You can't "make up" an allergic reaction involving swelling of the face and wheezing. You don't "imagine" dangerous drops in blood pressure or closed airways.

One thing many commenters complain about is that they are limited in their ability to send peanut butter (and in some cases, tuna fish) because of "one student." Usually it's more than one, these days, but one way we can help is offering lunch suggestions to our classrooms. What do you send with your child? If we have some options for school lunches that are allergy-friendly, that will help quiet down some of the parental objections to limiting certain foods.

For many people who have been recently diagnosed with peanut allergies or food allergies, I apologize in advance for the people who will not believe your child has a serious medical condition. Don't let it throw you. Gwen Smith's article makes some great points and I'm so glad she wrote it!

The Future of Food Allergy from Allergic Living Magazine!!!

I am big fan of Allergic Living magazine, a Canadian-based 'zine that covers everything you need to know about living with allergies of all kinds and they devote a great deal of time to food allergies. Unlike some other allergy magazines out there, they don't dwell on gluten-and dairy-free eating--they always include nut allergies as a primary focus. It's the only magazine I know that really does this, so I love them for that. They also have a chart for air travel with peanut allergy that guides you on which airline to choose. Check their web site for details.

Right now, they have a 5th anniversary issue available--on newsstands in Canada, but if you live in the U.S. you may need to order it. I truly recommend a subscription! You can't afford to miss Allergic Living and what the awesome editor Gwen Smith brings to you. Follow Gwen and her magazine on Twitter!

The anniversary issue covers the future of food allergy--everything from a study of a hypoallergenic peanut to the use of Chinese herbs and their role in raising the threshold for allergic reactions. They also examine schools, workplaces, airlines and all public arenas and future policies for dealing with food allergy.

I hope you'll give Allergic Living a try. I realize that some of you may not know about it--so now you do. Let me know how you like it. I think you're going to wonder--as I did--how you lived without it!

HomeFree for the Holidays...Allergen-Free Cookie Gift Baskets

If you're looking for something sweet and allergy-friendly for the holidays, you've gotta try HomeFree treats. Many of you are already fans of this great company, but I've just received word that they now offer cookie gift baskets that are perfect for holiday gift-giving.

Click this link to check it out!

The Home Free Cookie Gift Box contains 2 boxes of mini chocolate chip cookies (my absolute favorites!) as well as three individually-wrapped large cookies including oatmeal and chocolate chip.

The Home Free Cookie Gift Basket contains all of the above as well as an additional box of mini oatmeal cookies.

HomeFree is made with all organic ingredients and each product is certified whole grain. They have no trans fats, are kosher pareve and are also vegan. Plus, the treats are baked and packaged in a dedicated nut-free, dairy-free, egg-free facility. Clearly, there is something for almost everyone. Plus, they taste really good.

I know my daughter is really happy to receive a big basket of nut-free treats--it's rewarding when an allergic kids gets to have something you know is absolutely safe and delicious.

Please visit http://www.homefreetreats.com/ for more products and information. Just so you know--they've also got nut-free, dairy-free baking ingredients!

If any other allergy-friendly food companies have special deals going for the holidays, please let me know and I'll be happy to post about your offerings.

One more thing. Tonight Dec. 4th is the Food Allergy Buzz/Best Allergy Sites Twitter Party. The topic is coping with food allergies at the holidays and editors from the wonderful Allergic Living Magazine will be on the panel! Go to http://www.foodallergybuzz.com/ for more details!