Food Allergy Living Blog Tagged Results

As a reminder for all of our customers who are currently on Neocate One+, we would like to inform you that Nutricia North America has discontinued Neocate One+. Although patients may still find Neocate One+ in circulation, Nutricia’s inventory is being totally depleted.

We encourage our Neocate One+ users to transition to Neocate Junior or Neocate Junior with Prebiotics. Neocate Junior provides the same if not better nutritional support than Neocate One+, including higher vitamins and minerals. Neocate Junior also meets nutrient requirements at a lower volume and is more cost efficient.

As always, be sure to consult with your physician before switching formulas. If you have further questions or need assistance with transitioning, please feel free to contact us at 1-800-365-7354, Mon.-Fri., 8:30 am - 5:00 pm EST and ask to speak with our nutrition specialists.

-Sarah

For all of our customers who are currently on Neocate One+, we would like to inform you that Nutricia North America will be streamlining its Neocate portfolio and will be discontinuing Neocate One+ on or around December 15, 2010.

We are encouraging Neocate One+ users to transition to Neocate Junior or Neocate Junior with Prebiotics. Neocate Junior provides the same if not better nutritional support than Neocate One+, including higher vitamins and minerals. Neocate Junior also meets nutrient requirements at a lower volume and is more cost efficient.

As always, be sure to consult with your physician before switching formulas. If you have further questions or need assistance with transitioning please call 1-800-Neocate to speak with our nutrition specialists.

- Sarah

There has been a lot of buzz lately about the benefits of dietary fiber and the need to eat more. So, what is dietary fiber anyways? Dietary fiber is a complex carbohydrate that is not completely digested in your body. Unlike other food components such as fats, proteins or other carbohydrates that get completely broken down and absorbed in your body, dietary fiber passes relatively intact through your stomach, small intestine, colon and out of your body. So it might seem like fiber does not do much, but it has several important roles in maintaining health.

Why eat fiber? While fiber has no nutritional value, it can have a big impact on health, lowering the risk for certain cancers, lowering cholesterol and minimizing the complications of diabetes. Also, it may aid with appetite control since it expands after you eat it and is more filling. In general, good sources of fiber include many fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole wheat breads, and fiber rich cereals.

Insoluble & Soluble Fibers

Fiber can be classified into two categories: soluble and insoluble. The two categories differ because of their ability to bond with water molecules. Soluble fiber dissolves in water and forms a gel substance which slows digestion. Soluble fiber (such as gums & pectin) molecules are able to pick up water as they pass through the digestive system. It is then broken down in the colon by bacterial flora. Research shows that soluble fiber lowers cholesterol and delays glucose absorption.

Insoluble fiber(such as cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) does not dissolve in water. It is not digestible and passes through the digestive system rapidly and intact. This helps to increase bowel movements and improves constipation. In addition to being able to bond with water, fiber molecules also bond with substances such as hormones, bile acids and potential carcinogens and help to carry them through and out of your digestive system. Because of this, fiber plays an important role that benefits you.

Most adults and children do not get enough fiber and usually take some form of supplement to meet daily fiber needs. Usually eating a variety of enriched fiber foods can help you meet the daily fiber requirements. But for some children with food allergies this can be difficult because of their limited diet.Neocate Junior with Prebiotic Fiber is a good option to help boost the fiber in their diets.

Is your family getting enough fiber in their diets? What are some of your favorite fiber-rich foods?

- Renee

Grocery shopping is always a hard task, but it is even harder when you are shopping for someone with food allergies! Worse, the ingredients your little ones may be allergic to can be hidden within the food label. With our latest series, we will aim to uncover some of the sources of hidden allergens.

New food labeling laws require the top eight food allergens to be listed on food labels. This is really helpful for those reading food labels; however, sometimes allergens can be hidden in the long words in the ingredient list.

Dairy is one of the ingredients which tends to be hidden in foods that you may have otherwise thought were safe. I wanted to share with you a list of some ingredients to watch out for. Some of these definitely contain diary, while others only possibly contain diary.

When viewing the list below, it’s important to always err on the side of caution. If you think there may be traces of dairy in something, call the manufacturer of the product you would like to purchase and inquire. If they cannot guarantee that the product is free of dairy, avoid it!

Foods with dairy ingredients:

• Milk and milk products(including condensed, derivative, dry, evaporated, goat’s milk and milk from other animals, low-fat, malted, milkfat, milk protein hydrolysate, nonfat, powder, protein, skimmed, solids, whole)
• Butter, butter fat, butter oil, butter acid, butter ester(s), buttermilk
• Casein, casein hydrolysate, caseinates (in all forms)
• Cheese
• Cream
• Diacetyl
• Ghee
• Lactalbumin, lactalbumin phosphate, lactoferrin, lactulose
• Pudding
• Recaldent®
• Rennet casein
• Sour cream, sour cream solids, sour milk solids
• Tagatose
• Whey (in all forms), whey protein hydrolysate
• Yogurt

Foods with potential dairy ingredients:

• Artificial or natural flavorings (anything which is derived from butter, cream and egg flavors)
• Chewing gum
• Deli meats
• Fat replacers
• Many types of chocolate (although dark chocolate is often free of dairy)
• Margarine
• Prebiotics (galactooligosaccharides, also known as GOS, are derived from dairy sources. Don’t worry, Neocate Junior with Prebiotics only contains prebiotics in the form of fructooligosaccharides, also known as FOS, which are derived from vegetables.)
• Salad dressings

For a more complete list of foods to avoid when accommodating for a dairy allergy, visit the Food Allergies and Anaphylaxis Network website or check out Alisa Marie Flemming’s book Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance, and Casein-Free Living and website for more resources.

Can you share any foods you have found that have surprising hidden dairy ingredients?

- Nita

You may have heard that we recently launched a new product: Neocate Junior with Prebiotics. You may wondering, “what exactly are prebiotics?” so I wanted to take the opportunity to explain in this blog post, which I’ll call “Prebiotics 101”.

Understanding Fiber:

Prebiotics are a special form of fiber but before we get into the details, let’s start with an overview of fiber in general. Dietary fiber is a carbohydrate that our bodies can’t digest. It is found in plant foods that we eat each day such as fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes. Among its many important functions, fiber adds bulk to the diet, makes us feel full, aids in digestion and prevents constipation.

There are two types of dietary fiber: soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber is highly fermentable and dissolves in water, forming a gel during digestion. Insoluble fiber is not generally fermentable and does not dissolve in water, traveling through the GI system unchanged.

Soluble Fiber:

Prebiotics are a special kind of soluble fiber that is resistant to digestion and selectively feeds the “friendly bacteria” in our digestive tracts. These bacteria are beneficial to our health. By nourishing the growth of friendly bacteria, prebiotics inhibit the growth of the “bad bacteria”. Studies show that prebiotics can help:

• Promote normal bowel function
• Strengthen the protective layer of the GI tract and help restore a healthy gut
• Decrease the incidence of diarrhea, constipation, vomiting and gas

The Difference Between Prebiotics & Probiotics:

Many people are confused about the difference between prebiotics and probiotics. Probiotics are live strains of beneficial bacteria that increase the number of beneficial bacteria in our guts when we consume them. Prebiotics, on the other hand, are a special type of fiber that support the growth of the beneficial bacteria already present in our guts.

It helps me to think about it with this analogy: You can increase the growth of your lawn in two ways:

1) you can plant grass seedlings, or
2) you can add fertilizer to stimulate the growth of the present grass.

If we think of the beneficial bacteria as grass, probiotics would act like seedlings and prebiotics act like the fertilizer.

Still confused about prebiotics? Ask away! That’s what we’re here for.

- Mallory

From time to time, parents of children with allergies, who use our products, ask me if I’ve ever tried the Neocate formulas. We here at Nutricia have certainly tasted them all, but tasting and consuming are two different things. After lots of questions from parents about what their little one is feeling and whether or not it’s normal, and given my indiscriminate palate, I decided it was time to really give Neocate a try.

My plan? To go on a nothing-but-Neocate diet for two days. What, exactly, would be allowed? Neocate: specifically any of the Neocate products, the flavor packets, and the flavors straws. What wasn’t allowed? Anything else. Well, almost anything else. I decided I would still be allowed tea (lack of caffeine could be a real problem!). I also decided that, given my usually high fiber intake, I would also be allowed to supplement my Neocate diet with fiber. I found an inulin fiber supplement: the same type of fiber that’s included in Neocate Junior with Prebiotics. Some folks might say this is cheating, but I took the advice that I (as a Registered Dietitian) would give anyone: to avoid a sudden and drastic change in fiber intake, up or down. 

With these rules in mind, I used my approximate calorie needs to design a “meal plan” and dove right in.

Day 1 Menu: 

• Morning Snack: Neocate Infant with DHA and ARA
• Breakfast: Neocate Infant with DHA and ARA
• Lunch: Neocate Infant with DHA and ARA + Lemon-Lime Flavor Packet
• Dessert: Neocate Nutra + Neocate Junior Chocolate (“Chocolate Pudding”)
• Afternoon Snack: E028 Splash Orange-Pineapple
• Appetizer: Neocate Junior with Prebiotics + Grapefruit Flavor Packet
• Dinner: E028 Splash Grape + Neocate Junior Chocolate (“Chocolate Covered Raisin”)
• Dessert: Neocate Junior with Prebiotics + Cookies ‘n Cream Flavor Straw

Day 1 Experience:

The day started with Neocate Infant with DHA and ARA. Does this taste like standard infant formula or milk? Nope. Because the Neocate products have amino acids instead of whole protein, Neocate Infant with DHA and ARA has a different taste and a thinner texture. To me it has a grassy undertone, which isn’t so bad, and is something most infants either don’t notice or get used to after a few days. Smaller amounts were fine, but a full 350 calories of plain Neocate Infant was a bit much, even for me: by my last “meal” of Neocate Infant at lunch I decided I could use the help of our Lemon-Lime Flavor Packet. So far, so good. I was surprised that I wasn’t ravenous as the day progressed – I had my doubts that an all-liquid diet would keep me satisfied, but it really did. I managed to go to bed without having any real cravings that day. No stomachaches and nothing out of the ordinary.

Day 2 Menu:

• Morning Snack: E028 Splash Tropical Fruit
• Breakfast: E028 Splash Orange-Pineapple + Neocate Junior + Strawberry & Banana Flavor Straws (“Fruit Salad”)
• Lunch: Neocate Junior Tropical
• Dessert: Neocate Nutra + Neocate Junior with Prebiotics + Cherry Vanilla Flavor Packet (“Chocolate-covered Cherry Pudding”)
• Snack: E028 Splash Tropical Fruit
• Appetizer: Neocate Junior with Prebiotics + Strawberry & Banana Flavor Straws
• Dinner: E028 Splash Orange-Pineapple + Strawberry Flavor Straw + Junior with Prebiotics
• Dessert: Neocate Nutra + Neocate Junior Chocolate + Strawberry Flavor Straw (“Chocolate-covered Strawberry Pudding”)

Day 2 Experience:

This day started with some definite hunger, but the morning snack took care of that. When I arrived at work I found a donut on my desk – so began the cravings for solid food. It was definitely difficult to avoid the snacks around the office that day, but I made it through. The toughest part was probably dinner time. I usually handle food preparation in our house, so having to cook dinner and not partake in enjoying it was difficult.

By the end of the day all of the different flavors began to taste pretty similar to me, probably because I tried to do too many flavor mash-ups. I will say that I definitely found the EO28 Splash an easy option. It seems silly, but it was so much nicer to grab a Splash instead of having to prepare a meal.

All things considered, the Neocate diet wasn’t nearly as difficult as I thought, and actually made life easier. I really appreciated having all of the different flavor options and the simplicity of Splash in a ready-to-go format. That said, a third day might have gotten a little routine, so I have a great deal of respect for the patients who have to stay on an elemental diet for an extended period of time, especially those children who have had “real” food, know what it tastes like, and have to give it up.

And the question many parents would like to ask: How did I feel after two days of Neocate? Pretty normal, actually. My stomach felt a bit more “active” at times, but I never felt queasy, had diarrhea or constipation, or really felt any different than I usually do. I didn’t experience any big swings in hunger or fullness, and it was nice not worrying about whether or not I was getting a balanced meal: Neocate took care of that for me. For parents of children who are going from a more typical diet to Neocate (such as those with EE who are starting an elimination diet) you may want to check with your child’s healthcare team about using Neocate Junior with Prebiotics, which has fiber to help maintain gut health. 

How about you: have you ever tried a full serving of Neocate? If so, what did you think? Feel free to share any questions you have about my experience!

- Rob

If you’ve ever tried to prepare a meal for a picky eater, you know that the process can be a handful. But what do you do when your little one has a very limited diet and they do not find the things they can eat appetizing? That’s just one of the many things we here at Nutricia have in mind, so we try to offer as many options to our customers as possible. Our goal is to make meal time as stress-free as possible for a diet that is difficult, but necessary. One of the easiest solutions we offer is our Flavor Packets.

What makes our Flavor Packets so great? They come in 3 flavors (cherry-vanilla, grapefruit and lemon-lime) that are different from the Neocate Junior and Splash flavors. Each packet adds only about 15 calories and contains no protein, making them perfect for an elemental diet. This gives more variety to a formula-based diet for children over one year.

The best feature of the Flavor Packets is that you can use as little or as much as needed to match your child’s flavor preference. For instance, some children who start using Neocate Infant at a young age and then transition to unflavored Neocate Junior make the switch with no problem. However, as they get older and experience new tastes (like fruit juice) they may not like the taste of an unflavored elemental formula as much. But it’s also possible to find one of our flavored formulas a bit overpowering. In this case, you can add just enough flavor to help mask the taste of the amino acids, but not so much that the flavor or sweetness is overwhelming.

Not sure how much of a flavor packet to use? Each flavor packet is designed to mix with about sixteen ounces (or two cups) of prepared formula. For a child who is accustomed to unflavored formula, a good suggestion might be to start out at half-strength and see what they think. If your child is old enough, you could set up a blind taste test “experiment” for them with a few different concentrations and flavors to see what they like best and make the experience more fun! Also, for children over a year old you can use Flavor Packets with Neocate Nutra. We suggest experimenting to see how much flavor is right and a good place to start might be ⅛ or ¼ teaspoon per serving of Nutra.

Have you found the Flavor Packets to be helpful with keeping your little one interested in their elemental formula? Let us know in the comments section below.

- Rob

 Earlier in the year Karen Adams shared her Neocate YouTube videos as well as her son Israel’s story as a guest blogger on our blog.   As a reminder, for months  Israel would scream, cry and vomit for hours on end.  His parents tried everything, but he didn't find relief until they switched him to Neocate. 

Recently Karen recorded another video about Israel and his first birthday.  He is still allergic to milk, but they’ve transitioned to Neocate Junior and it is helping him continue to grow and thrive!

Also, feel free to check out our NeocateUS YouTube channel for videos from Karen as well as our Nutricia team! 

- Sarah 

We’ve written a few blogs in the past relating to fiber and prebiotics. One of them discussed what fiber is, and why it’s good for us and another touched on prebiotic fiber. In a previous blog that I wrote, I mentioned that I decided to supplement my all-Neocate diet with fiber. If you feel your child might benefit from a fiber supplement, we have some tips to help you choose the right one!


Know what your child needs

Before exploring the options, make sure to check with your child’s health care team to be sure that additional fiber is needed. As we’ve mentioned in previous blog posts, fiber can help to improve gut health. For many folks, adding fiber can mean being more “regular,” which would be a decrease in constipation, diarrhea, or both. Your child’s health care team will consider the symptoms your child has, his or her medical condition, the amount of fiber he or she is getting, and whether or not more fiber might be helpful. Nutricia already has the only amino acid-based formula with fiber (Neocate Junior with Prebiotics), which can help meet your little one’s fiber needs.


Know what’s available

Fiber comes in MANY different forms, and is found in a variety of foods. The best sources of dietary fiber are fruits, vegetables, beans (or “legumes”), nuts, and whole grains. However, many children on an elemental diet are limited in one or more of these food groups. They may be especially limited in processed foods, or foods that might include fiber but also have an allergen (such as whole grain bread, which can often have dairy or egg ingredients). Again, be sure to check with the health care team to see if the foods your child is eating meet his or her fiber needs.

While there is a lot of variety in the types of fiber in whole foods, the types of supplemental fiber tend to be an isolated single type of fiber. For instance, many fiber supplements are bran-based. They use the outer husk of a grain to provide both soluble and insoluble fiber. Since insoluble fiber tends to speed digestion along, it may not be the best choice.

Another common form of fiber supplement is an isolated fiber, either soluble or insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber dissolves easily, so it mixes well into Neocate Junior, E028 Splash, or Neocate Nutra. It can help slow movement through the gut, and can help add bulk to stool. This is the type of fiber we include in Neocate Junior with Prebiotics. Many of these isolated fiber supplements are inulin, which is derived from the root of the chicory plant, which poses low risk for most children with allergies.

Know what questions to ask

One of the best questions to ask is what the source of the fiber is. For children with a wheat allergy, a fiber source which is derived from wheat, barley, rye, and possibly oat might not be appropriate. For those, a parent should look for a “gluten-free” claim or contact the company for more information.

Some fiber supplements carry the label “non-allergenic” or “hypoallergenic.” It’s always best to contact the company and ask them exactly what they mean with these terms. Also be sure to ask what the source of the fiber is and whether or not the product poses any risks for your little one’s specific allergies or sensitivities.

If your child’s health care team recommends supplementing fiber, make sure to ask how much to add and how to start using it. It’s best to introduce more fiber to the diet slowly and increase it gradually instead of adding the full dose all at once. This gives the body time to adjust to the change. Fiber should also be spread out throughout the day.

Do you have questions about choosing the right fiber supplement?  Let us know in the “Comments” section below.

- Rob

[Image Source – D Sharon Pruitt]

Crohn’s Disease (CD) is a type inflammatory bowel disease.  It may occur in any part of the GI tract but usually it affects the small intestine and/or the colon.  Individuals with CD have periods of improvements and periods of “flare ups” when symptoms present.  Symptoms may include abdominal pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, fatigue, weight loss and in children, growth delay, etc.

CD is thought to be caused by an abnormal immune system.  One theory is that the immune system mistakes its own friendly gut bacteria and foods traveling through the GI tract as pathogens and triggers an immune reaction to attack them.  Treatment usually is with drugs (such as steroids and immune system suppressors) which are used to manage symptoms and to prolong the periods between flare ups as long as possible.

Nutritional Management of Crohn’s Disease: 
Nutrition is an important factor for patients with CD.  During flare ups, inflammation of the GI tract may disrupt the normal absorption of nutrients.  This can cause serious nutrient deficiencies so it’s important to assess the need for nutritional supplements.  During periods of severe symptoms, intestines may be unable to absorb enough nutrition to sustain life, so the physician may prescribe an alternate way to provide nutrition, such as temporary intravenous nutrition or enteral nutrition.  With enteral nutrition, the patients may consume an elemental formula, a nutritionally-complete liquid formula that provides all nutrients in the simplest form which makes it easy for the GI tract to absorb.  This allows the GI tract to rest and repair itself, while ensuring the patient is still receiving adequate nutrition.

Crohn’s Disease in Children: 
Long-term steroid use can have serious side-effects.  In children, the growth impairment associated with steroid use is a serious concern, especially combined with the fact children with CD are also more prone to consume inadequate calories.  Some families choose to treat flare-ups and prolong remissions using nutritional management rather than steroids.  An elemental diet or even a half elemental diet can help manage flare ups, prolong remissions and ensure proper nutrition & growth for children with CD.  E028 Splash and Neocate Junior may be useful for children with CD who are following dietary therapies.

 If you are searching for more information on the use of diet to manage CD, many families find the book “Beat Crohn’s” helpful.

 - Mallory

Image Source: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/crohns/images/Digestive.gif

National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse  

As summer winds down and the school year approaches, parents of children with allergies might be wondering “What will my child eat for lunch?” If you have a child for whom school lunch is not an option, here are some ideas for balanced and nutritious meals that are free of the top eight allergens. They take some time to prepare, so you might consider serving them for dinner and sending leftovers for lunch the next day. If your child drinks our E028 Splash or Neocate Junior, you can use these menus to get ideas of items or dishes that can supplement their meal-time drink.

Monday
Black Bean and Rice Burrito Bowl
                with Guacamole
Hummus and Cilantro or White Bean Garlic Dip
                with Carrots and Celery
Vanilla (Coconut Milk) Pudding or Nutra Banana Maple Pudding
 

Tuesday
Turkey Chili
                with Rice Cheese
Sweet Potato Casserole
Green Beans
Peach Slices
Cranberry Apple Cobbler or Banana Muffins
 

Wednesday
Grilled Chicken Breast
                with Mango Peach Salsa
Steamed Broccoli with Rice Cheese
Watermelon Cubes
Gelatin Dessert or Chocolaty Nutra Pudding
 

Thursday
Sautéed Sausage
                with Peppers and Onions
Oven Fries
                 with Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce
Apple Sauce
Pineapple Rice Milk Smoothie or Chocolate Peppermint Smoothie
 

Friday
Veggies and Meat Pasta Sauce
                with Corn or Rice Pasta
Salad greens
                with Cucumbers and Dressing
Frozen Fruit Bar or Frozen Neocate Treats

 

My Top 5 Breakfast Picks from our Neocate Food Allergy Cookbook

• Wheat-free Pumpkin Muffins (Page 6)
  I chose this recipe because it will be a great breakfast for fall mornings! I also love it because pumpkins are a great source of beta carotene (Vitamin A), Vitamin C, Potassium and dietary fiber! Be sure that you get canned pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling.    
• Healthier Breakfast Cookies (Page 4)
  It might sound strange that a nutrition specialist is recommending that you give your kids cookies for breakfast but these are not your average cookies! They are high in fiber, protein and healthy fats. There are also “optional additions” for the recipe that boost the nutritional value even more. You can skip or cut down on the sugar and chocolate chips to make them an even healthier breakfast choice.
• Neocate Fiber-full Smoothie (Page 22)
  This recipe is not actually in the “breakfast” section of our cookbook but I love smoothies for breakfast! They are packed full of nutrients and a great way to take breakfast on the go. I chose this particular smoothie recipe because it is a good source of dietary fiber, which most kids do not get enough of. (Tip: If you are having trouble getting your little one to take a medication or supplement that your doctor has prescribed, try mixing it in their smoothie before serving. The fruit does a great job of masking the taste.)
• Baked Oatmeal (Page 2)
  This will be a warm, filling breakfast for cold days as we head into fall and winter. Add some fresh fruit and this is a delicious, balanced, and healthy recipe that your little one will love.
• Allergy-friendly Banana Bread Muffins (Page 6)
  Banana bread is a classic comfort food. Your kids will love this allergy-friendly version.

Remember that you should always check the ingredients of these recipes to make sure they are appropriate for your little one’s food allergies.

What are your favorite allergy-friendly breakfast recipes? They can be from the cookbook or some of your own!

-Mallory 

We’re excited to introduce you to our newest product — Neocate® Junior with Prebiotics, Vanilla!  This is the first and only flavored amino acid-based medical food with soluble prebiotic fiber for children with GI conditions.  Neocate® Junior with Prebiotics, Vanilla will help fight flavor fatigue and provide digestive support for a balanced gut for manychildren who suffer from milk or soy allergies, multiple food allergies or allergy-induced gastrointestinal disorders.

Just like Neocate® Junior, Chocolate and Neocate® Junior, Tropical, Neocate Junior with Prebiotics, Vanilla is an aspartame-free, hypoallergenic and nutritionally complete medical food for children over the age of one.

Children who use Neocate Junior should be under the care of a healthcare professional. Families with questions about Neocate Junior with Prebiotics, Vanilla or the whole Neocate family of nutritionally complete amino acid-based medical foods, please visit www.Neocate.com or call the toll-free number at 1-800-365-7354, Monday through Friday, 8:30 am – 7:00 pm EST.  

Q: My son has severe allergies and his pediatrician recommended Neocate. I see that it’s expensive and isn’t available at the store. I’ve also been online and see that similar products exist. Can you tell me what makes Neocate so special?

A: We get this question often. Not only have most parents never heard of Neocate, there are still some health care professionals who aren’t familiar with Neocate either.

Setting the Bar

Neocate was the first of its kind, and we set the bar high. The Neocate products are amino acid-based formulas, which by nature makes them special. The fact that Neocate is made with amino acids instead of protein is what sets it apart and allows it to help so many children to feel better. With Neocate, Nutricia is committed to producing the best amino acid-based formulas possible.

First, we ensure that our customers get a product that will not cause a typical allergic reaction. To start, none of the Neocate ingredients are derived from milk, and we mix the Neocate powders in a facility that is 100% dairy protein-free: no cows allowed! We also test every batch of Neocate for dairy, just to be sure. And with E028 Splash, we also test for gluten to ensure it’s gluten-free.

Specialized Products for Special Kids

Because many children need Neocate for more than just a few weeks, we want their Neocate experience to be as easy as possible. We do this by offering more options. For instance, Neocate Nutra is the only amino acid-based semi-solid food available. We also make Splash, the only ready-to-feed (no mixing needed) amino acid-based formula. On top of this, we offer lots of flavors in Neocate Junior, E028 Splash, as well as Flavor Packets. To top it off, Neocate Junior with Prebiotics is the only amino acid-based formula available with prebiotic fiber, which can help improve regularity. We think all of these make Neocate great and help children to stick with an elemental diet.

Extensive Research

Lots of work has gone into making Neocate the best product possible. Since the 1980s, we’ve supported over 50 publications involving Neocate, spanning over 240 pages in scientific journals. In fact over 1,000 people, mostly children, have participated in research that involved Neocate: that’s a lot of research! And while Neocate has been extensively studied in cow milk allergy, we’ve also supported research with Neocate in other conditions such as eosinophilic esophagitis(EoE), short bowel syndrome(SBS), multiple food protein intolerance(MFPI), food protein induced enterocolitis syndrome(FPIES), and others.

We’ve gotten to work with lots of researchers, many of whom are leaders in their field. And not just in the US – plenty of our research has taken place internationally on five continents! This research has helped to improve the way medicine is practiced, including diagnosis and treatment. We’re pretty proud of that! We even have a team of researchers based here in the US working on current Neocate studies. This is just one example of our dedication to advancing medical research.

Customer Support

Neocate wouldn’t be Neocate if it didn’t come with a lot of great “add-ons” for our families. For instance, we have great resources for parents on our website, blog, twitter, YouTube channel, and Facebook page. We (the Nutrition Specialists) also are available to answer questions for parents, caregivers, and health care professionals by phone, by email, and online. We even get to help develop new recipes to keep things interesting.

Finally, families new to Neocate often feel like they’re in unfamiliar territory. This is why we offer lots of reimbursement support, which is incredibly helpful for many of our customers.

The most important factor that makes Neocate special? Neocate kids! We love getting to talk to parents about their little ones every day, especially when they tell us how helpful Neocate has been and share good news. Hearing how special they are just makes our work that much more important.

For the next three weeks, we’ll be posting some allergy-friendly meal ideas, starting with breakfast. While it can be difficult to come up with meal ideas for standard diets or choosy children, a diet that has allergy restrictions is even tougher! Here are some breakfast ideas that might help you add variety. As always, check with your little one’s health care team to make sure they are appropriate.

Neocate-Only Breakfast Ideas

For children whose diets are strictly limited to amino acid-based formula, it’s helpful to have ideas that add variety. For instance, mixing some of the flavors and formats that Neocate offers can help fight the formula monotony. One of our favorite ideas for children over one year is mixing Neocate Nutra with Neocate Junior Tropical, Neocate Junior with Prebiotics Vanilla, or Neocate’s E028 Splash Grape. A ratio of about four scoops of Nutra powder to every one ounce of a prepared Neocate formula provides you with what we like to call “almost-yogurt.” You can of course adjust the ratio to your child’s tastes. For children older than six months but below one year, you might try mixing Neocate Nutra with a pasteurized fruit juice that they tolerate.

Top Eight Allergen-Free Breakfast Ideas

If your child is on an elimination diet for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) or is avoiding all of the eight major allergens, you can try mixing a Neocate product with pureed fruit. By mixing Neocate Junior with fruit you can come up with some great breakfast shakes and outstanding flavor combinations. Or by mixing Neocate Nutra with pureed fruit you can come up with a great alternative to oatmeal. If you want to serve it warm, we still recommend against using a microwave: start with warm juice instead to avoid the hot spots and lower nutrient levels microwaves can cause.

Less Restrictive Breakfast Ideas

For children who avoid dairy and only one or two other allergens, we have some great breakfast suggestions in our online Neocate Food Allergy Cookbook, a compilation of recipes submitted by families. Mallory posted her top 5 breakfast ideas from the cookbook, many of which use wheat, in a previous blog. One great thing about a lot of these recipes is that many can be made in a large batch, portioned, and frozen or refrigerated for later use. The Apple-Oat Muffins on page seven would definitely be in my top five! We’ve also had a few breakfast recipes appear in blog posts, such as Banana Bread Muffins.

If your family has a favorite “standard” breakfast recipe that involves milk but is otherwise allergy-friendly, you may be able to substitute Neocate formula for the milk. While this might change the final result a little bit and may require some experimenting, it will provide the high levels of most nutrients from Neocate that other milk substitutes (such as water or rice milk) can’t provide. Just be aware that the high heat from cooking will lower some of Neocate’s nutrient levels, especially some vitamins. Again, check all recipes to be sure that the ingredients are safe for your child and ensure that the health care team is on board.

What allergy-friendly breakfast ideas have helped your family in the morning?

Rob

The topic for today’s post in our allergy-friendly meal idea series is lunch! Just like with breakfast, a lot of the go-to lunch options for most children aren’t suitable for children on a diet that has allergy restrictions. Here are some lunch ideas that might help you add variety. As always, check with your little one’s health care team to make sure they are appropriate.
 

Neocate-Only Lunch Ideas

For children whose diets are strictly limited to amino acid-based formula, the same formula one lunch after another can become very routine. One great option Nutricia offers is the multiple flavors of Neocate’s E028 Splash. Many children find restrictive diets less of a struggle if they have a say in the flavor. On top of this, Splash is packaged in kid-friendly drink boxes so that nobody knows their drinking a special medical formula. Another option is to send your little one to school with a great Neocate-only pudding recipe such as Chocolaty Nutra Pudding. But why stop with chocolate pudding? Experiment with mixing the different flavors of Neocate Junior and Splash with Neocate Nutra to come up with different flavors. My favorites are Grape Splash with Junior Chocolate (“chocolate covered raisin”) and Tropical Fruit Splash with Junior Vanilla (“Dreamsicle”).
 

Top Eight Allergen-Free Lunch Ideas

If your child is on an elimination diet for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) or is avoiding all of the eight major allergens, you can offer some different food options along with one of the Neocate formulas. It may seem difficult at first, but you can still put together a lunch that looks pretty normal, even without the top 8 allergens. A few months ago we posted a week’s worth of ideas for allergen free lunches. Bear in mind that while most processed foods have ingredients derived from the top 8 allergens, dining on whole foods makes the top 8 much easier to avoid. You may even be able to find convenience foods in natural or organic food stores that are free of the top 8, such as soups or frozen items. Even though we first shared a lunch post from Allergy Moms in 2008, it’s still relevant and has some great ideas!

Less Restrictive Lunch Ideas

For children who avoid dairy and only one or two other allergens, we have some great lunch suggestions in our online Neocate Food Allergy Cookbook, a compilation of recipes submitted by families. Mallory posted her top five lunch ideas from the cookbook, many of which use wheat, in a previous blog. One great thing about a lot of these recipes is that many can be made in advance and frozen or refrigerated for later use. The Turkey Meatloaf on page twelve would definitely be in my top five! We’ve also had a few lunch recipes appear in blog posts, such as Dairy-Free, Egg-Free Chicken Pasta Salad.

As always, we recommend that you check any recipes on our websites or from other food allergy resources to be sure that the ingredients are safe for your child and ensure that the health care team is on board.

Do you have any allergy-friendly lunches that have helped you that you’d like to share with other families?

Rob

Today’s post in our allergy-friendly meal idea series is the final topic: dinner! While breakfast and lunch may tend to be rushed or eaten out of the house, a lot of families still prefer to have dinner together at home. On top of this, the restrictions and rules that come with food allergies can make dining out very difficult.  Here are some dinner ideas that might help you add variety to the evening meal. As always, check with your little one’s health care team to make sure they are appropriate.
 

Neocate-Only Dinner Ideas

For children whose diets are strictly limited to amino acid-based formula, the same formula breakfast, lunch and dinner can be difficult for some children, especially older children. As we’ve mentioned in the previous two posts in this series, Nutricia offers multiple flavors in both Neocate Junior and Neocate’s E028 Splash. Many children have an easier time with restrictive diets when they have some input. Keeping a few flavors on hand can help kids to stay satisfied with an elemental diet. Try letting them chose their dinner flavor. Just like with breakfast and lunch, experiment with mixing different flavors of Neocate Junior and Splash with Neocate Nutra to come up with different flavors and textures. One of the easiest ways to offer variety is to use a blender. Mix one part Neocate formula with one part ice, blend well, pour into a fancy container or dish, add a straw or spoon, and enjoy! Neocate Junior Vanilla lends itself especially well to this shake format, and can be mixed with the other flavors or even with a fruit juice your child tolerates.
 

Top Eight Allergen-Free Dinner Ideas

If your child is on an elimination diet for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) or is avoiding all of the eight major allergens, you can offer some different food options along with one of the Neocate formulas. For younger toddlers, you can mix unflavored Neocate Junior with pureed foods that they tolerate. Vegetables and citrus flavors blend especially well with unflavored Neocate. If you’re putting together a full meal for the family, it may not be as difficult as you think to avoid the top 8 allergens and come up with something everyone can enjoy. You can easily build off of our ideas for allergen free lunches. Remember, while most processed foods have ingredients derived from the top 8 allergens, dining on whole foods makes the top 8 much easier to avoid. You may even be able to find family-sized convenience foods in natural or organic food stores that are free of the top 8, such as soups or frozen items.

Less Restrictive Dinner Ideas

For children who avoid dairy and only one or two other allergens, we have some great dinner suggestions in our online Neocate Food Allergy Cookbook, a compilation of recipes submitted by families. Mallory posted her top five dinner ideas from the cookbook, many of which use wheat, in a previous blog. One great thing about a lot of these recipes is that many can be made in advance and frozen or refrigerated for later use. If you decide to dine out, it’s a good idea to do some planning ahead with these tips we shared in a previous blog post.

As always, we recommend that you check any recipes on our websites or from other food allergy resources to be sure that the ingredients are safe for your child and ensure that the health care team is on board.

Do you have any allergy-friendly dinner ideas that have helped you that you’d like to share with other Neocate families?

Rob

[Image source: http://www.bonappetit.com/blogsandforums/blogs/bafoodist/2009/03/5-tips-for-handling-a-bad-wait.html] 

Ingredients:

• 8 scoops Neocate Nutra
• 2 fl oz Neocate Junior with Prebiotics, Vanilla (mixed at standard dilution)
• ¼ tsp Cinnamon

Directions:

Pour Neocate Nutra into bowl; add Neocate Junior with Prebiotics, Vanilla and blend till evenly mixed.  Add cinnamon, mix and serve.

Serving size: about ½ cup

Nutrition Information per serving:

Calories 236 Pro: 5g CHO: 32g Fat: 9.6g Fiber: 0.7g

Neocate Junior with Prebiotics, Vanilla is an aspartame-free, hypoallergenic and nutritionally complete medical food for children over the age of one.  And as a reminder, be sure to consult your healthcare professional to determine if this recipe, ingredients and consistencies are appropriate for your child.  

Ingredients:

• 4.25 scoops (35g) Neocate Junior with Prebiotics, Vanilla
• 3 fl oz Old Dominion®Root beer (Diet Root beer may be used)
• ¼ cup of ice (may water down taste a bit)

Directions:

Add ingredients to blender and blend.  Pour and serve.

Serving size: about 12 fl oz

Nutrition Information per serving:

Calories: 205 Pro: 5.5g CHO: 29.5g Fat: 7.3g Fiber: 0.9g

Neocate Junior with Prebiotics, Vanilla is an aspartame-free, hypoallergenic and nutritionally complete medical food for children over the age of one.  And as a reminder, be sure to consult your healthcare professional to determine if this recipe, ingredients and consistencies are appropriate for your child.

As some of you may know, we have recently launched our newest and most flavorful Neocate Junior product, Neocate Junior with Prebiotics, Vanilla.  One concern we have heard from some families is the use of artificial sweeteners in products. Some families have asked if our new Neocate Junior with Prebiotics, Vanilla product has any Aspartame. The answer to that is ‘no!’  Families will then inform us that another Vanilla flavored elemental formula on the market actually uses three different types of artificial sweeteners in its formula!

Neocate Junior with Prebiotics, Vanilla only uses one type of artificial sweetener, Sucralose (Splenda®), as well as natural table sugar.  There are a few sweeteners on the market in the US and have been approved by the FDA. Here is a list of some of those sweeteners:

·         Aspartame -  Equal®

·         Acesulfame Potassium – Sweet One®

·         Sucralose -  Splenda®

·         Saccharin – Sweet ‘N Low®

We will turn our focus to Sucralose, which, based on the Center for Science in the Public Interest is the safest of all the sweeteners listed above. Sucralose passed all safety tests in animal studies and has the least amount of reports of intolerances.

You may also note that in Neocate Junior with Prebiotics, Vanilla, Sucralose is toward the end of the ingredients list meaning very little is used in the product.

In developing the Neocate Junior with Prebiotics, Vanilla, Nutricia North America was conscious not to pack it full of artificial sweeteners. The majority of the sweetening we used comes from natural table sugar, which you can see in the ingredient list towards the top.

Have you tried Neocate Junior with Prebiotics, Vanilla yet? How did you like the taste? We always enjoy hearing!

Christine

Source:

http://www.cspinet.org/nah/05_04/sweet_nothings.pdf

Picture source

Ingredients:

• 8 scoops Neocate Nutra
• 2 fl oz of Neocate Junior with Prebiotics, Vanilla (at standard dilution)
• ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon

Directions:

Add Neocate Nutra powder to a bowl. Add 2 fl oz of Neocate Jr, Vanilla. Blend till evenly distributed. Add cinnamon and stir. Using a small spoon, place 5 cookie sized dollops onto a flat plate or tray. Place tray in freezer for over 3 hours. Use spatula to remove patties from tray. Serve right away as they may defrost quickly.

*Leave out the cinnamon if desired for a different taste experience.

Serving size: makes about 6 patties

Nutrition Information per serving:

Calories: 236 Pro: 5g CHO: 32g Fat: 9.6g Fiber: 0.7g

Neocate Junior with Prebiotics, Vanilla is an aspartame-free, hypoallergenic and nutritionally complete medical food for children over the age of one.  And as a reminder, be sure to consult your healthcare professional to determine if this recipe, ingredients and consistencies are appropriate for your child.

Image Source

ManyMoms and Dads come to us with questions about how to properly mix Neocate products.  This is why in addition to the preparation instructions on our website, our nutrition specialists have created videos explaining how to properly mix Neocate products for our blog and NeocateUS YouTube channel! 

We are excited to share with you our most recent mixing video for Neocate Junior with Prebiotics, Vanilla.   

Neocate Junior with Prebiotics, Vanilla is the first and only flavored amino acid-based medical food with soluble prebiotic fiber for children with GI conditions.  Neocate® Junior with Prebiotics, Vanilla will help fight flavor fatigue and provide digestive support for a balanced gut for many children who suffer from milk or soy allergies, multiple food allergies or allergy-induced gastrointestinal disorders.

 Just like Neocate® Junior, Chocolate and Neocate® Junior, Tropical, Neocate Junior with Prebiotics, Vanilla is an aspartame-free, hypoallergenic and nutritionally complete medical food for children over the age of one.

Also, if you’re interested, we have different vanilla recipes in our Neocate® Junior with Prebiotics, Vanilla cookbook!

Have you tried Neocate Junior with Prebiotics, Vanilla?  Do you find this video helpful? What other mixing videos would you like to see? Let us know by posting a comment in the comment section!

Today, as part of our Neocate Product Series, we will take a look at Neocate Junior with Prebiotics.  As you saw in our previous series posts about Neocate Infant DHA ARA, Neocate Nutra, Neocate Juniorand  E028 Splashwe will be taking a look at the product description, preparation instructions and the nutrient/ingredient profile.

Neocate Junior with Prebiotics is a nutritionally complete, powdered amino acid-based medical food for children over the age of one for the dietary management of cow milk allergy, multiple food protein intolerance(MFPI) and food-allergy-associated conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD), eosinophilic esophagitis(EoE), short bowel syndrome(SBS), malabsorption and other GI disorders.

Neocate Junior with Prebiotics contains prebiotic fiber to help promote digestive health and extra vitamins and minerals especially helpful for children with GI-related malabsorptive conditions.  Also, it is available in unflavored and vanilla, which happens to be the first and only flavored amino acid-based medical food with soluble prebiotic fiber!

How to prepare Neocate Junior with Prebiotics

How much Neocate Junior with Prebiotics you give your child should be determined by a healthcare professional and is dependent on the age, body weight and medical condition of the patient. 

For oral or tube feeding:

1. Measure the required amount of warm or cool water into a container.
2. Add the prescribed amount of Neocate Junior to the water.
3. Cover and shake until the powder has dissolved.

Neocate Junior with Prebiotics is best served chilled.  Once prepared, the formula should be stored in a refrigerator and kept no longer than 24 hours from the time of preparation.  Shake or stir Neocate Junior with Prebiotics immediately before use.

The recommended dilution is 30 kcal/fl oz.  This can be achieved by mixing the following amounts of powder and water.  The scoop provided weighs 8.2 g.

Store unopened can at room temperature.  Once opened, reseal can and store in a cool, dry place (not in a refrigerator) and use within one month of opening.

Nutrient and Ingredients profile

Ingredients:

Unflavored:

Corn Syrup Solids (53%), Fractionated Coconut Oil (8%), Canola Oil (8%), High Oleic Safflower Oil (8%), L-Arginine (2%), L-Glutamine (2%), L-Lysine L- Aspartate (2%), and less than 2% of each of the following: Tripotassium Citrate, L-Leucine, L-Phenylalanine, Calcium Phosphate Dibasic, Fructooligosaccharide , Inulin, L-Proline, L- Valine, Glycine, L-Isoleucine, N-Acetyl-L-Methionine, Tricalcium Phosphate, L-Threonine, Mono And Diglycerides, L-Histidine, L-Serine, Sodium Chloride, L-Alanine, Magnesium Acetate, Choline Bitartrate, L-Tryptophan, L-Tyrosine, Diacetyl Tartaric Acid Esters of Mono & Diglycerides, M-Inositol, L-Ascorbic Acid, L-Cystine, Propylene Glycol Alginate, Taurine, Ferrous Sulfate, L-Carnitine, Zinc Sulfate, DL-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate, Niacinamide, Calcium D-Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Cupric Sulfate, Thiamine Chloride Hydrochloride, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Vitamin A Acetate, Folic Acid, Potassium Iodide, Chromium Chloride, Sodium Molybdate, Sodium Selenite, Phylloquinone, D-Biotin, Vitamin D3,Cyanocobalamin.

Vanilla:

Corn Syrup Solids (45%), Refined Vegetable Oil (Palm Kernal and/or Coconut Oil (7%), Canola Oil (7%), High Oleic Safflower Oil (7%)), Sugar (8%), L- Arginine (2.4%), L-Glutamine (2.3%), L-Lysine L-Aspartate (2%), and less than 2% of each of the following: Tripotassium Citrate, L-Leucine, L-Phenylalanine, Calcium Phosphate Dibasic, Fructo-oligosaccharide, Inulin, L-Proline, L-Valine, Glycine, L-Isoleucine, N-Acetyl-L- Methionine, Calcium Phosphate Tribasic, Artificial Flavors, L-Threonine, L-Histidine, L- Serine, Mono and Diglycerides, Sodium Chloride. L-Alanine, Magnesium Acetate, Choline Bitartrate, L-Tryptophan, L-Tyrosine, Diacetyl Tartaric Acid Esters of Mono & Diglycerides, M-Inositol, L-Ascorbic Acid, L-Cystine, Artificial Sweetener: Sucralose, Propylene Glycol Alginate, Taurine, Ferrous Sulfate, L-Carnitine, Zinc Sulfate, DL-a-Tocopheryl Acetate, Niacinamide, Calcium D-Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Cupric Sulfate, Thiamine Chloride Hydrochloride, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Vitamin A Acetate, Folic Acid, Potassium Iodide, Chromium Chloride, Sodium Molybdate, Sodium Selenite, Phylloquinone, D- Biotin, Vitamin D3, Cyanocobalamin.

Planning a summer vacation?  Taking Neocate with you?  We want to come along!  Mallory, one of our nutrition specialists created this great video explaining how you can share with us all the fun places Neocate visits this summer: 

To recap, while on vacation this summer take a picture of you and your Neocate can or Splash box while out having fun or at any landmarks your family visits.  Then, once you’ve taken your picture post it on our Facebook wall with a caption telling us where you are.  This way we’ll get to see all of the fun places Neocate visits this summer!

 So, where are you and Neocate spending summer vacation?  Let us know by posting a comment in the comment section!  

As you know, in 2008 we introduced Neocate Infant DHA & ARA.  DHA and ARA are two fatty acids naturally found in breast milk that have been shown to help promote brain and eye development.  The addition of DHA and ARA does not change the other properties of the formula (i.e. taste, texture, hypoallergenicity), but it does provide an extra boost to benefit your little one!  As a consequence, in October 2011, Nutricia North America announced and began the discontinuation of Neocate Infant original and over the past few months we’ve been proactively transitioning original formulation families toNeocate Infant DHA & ARA. 

We wanted to remind you of this and let you know that we have run through all of our stock of the Neocate Infant original.  We are no longer selling the Neocate Infant without DHA and ARA.

We encourage you to discuss alternative options such as, Neocate Infant DHA & ARAwith your child’s doctor or dietitian.  Or, if your child is over the age of 1 year, we have Neocate Junior Unflavored or Neocate Junior Unflavored with Prebiotic fiber.

If you have further questions or need assistance with transitioning, please feel free to contact us at 1-800-NEOCATE (Monday through Friday 8:30 A.M. – 7:00 P.M. EST)and ask to speak with our nutrition specialists.

-Sarah

As you know, in 2008 we introduced Neocate Infant DHA & ARA.  DHA and ARA are two fatty acids naturally found in breast milk that have been shown to help promote brain and eye development.  The addition of DHA and ARA does not change the other properties of the formula (i.e. taste, texture, hypoallergenicity), but it does provide an extra boost to benefit your little one!  As a consequence, in October 2011, Nutricia North America announced and began the discontinuation of Neocate Infant original and over the past few months we’ve been proactively transitioning original formulation families toNeocate Infant DHA & ARA. 

We wanted to remind you of this and let you know that we have run through all of our stock of the Neocate Infant original.  We are no longer selling the Neocate Infant without DHA and ARA.

We encourage you to discuss alternative options such as, Neocate Infant DHA & ARAwith your child’s doctor or dietitian.  Or, if your child is over the age of 1 year, we have Neocate Junior Unflavored or Neocate Junior Unflavored with Prebiotic fiber.

If you have further questions or need assistance with transitioning, please feel free to contact us at 1-800-NEOCATE (Monday through Friday 8:30 A.M. – 7:00 P.M. EST)and ask to speak with our nutrition specialists.

-Sarah