Food Allergy Living Blog Tagged Results

Some little ones, like Rachel’s son Baby E from our guest post last week, are allergic to the dairy proteins passed along in their mother’s breast milk.  This can often result in a cow’s milk allergy and a confused mom.  Fortunately this doesn’t mean the end of breastfeeding, but rather the start of an elimination diet.

When starting an elimination diet the breastfeeding mom removes all dairy including “hidden” dairy from her diet.  Because this can be such an adjustment, it’s important to make sure both mom and baby get the nutrition they need, so we recommend having the supervision of your doctor for this diet.

Keep in mind, children being not breastfed will also need to go on an elimination diet if diagnosed with a food allergy.  Any elimination diet will need to be supervised by a Registered Dietitian to ensure all the important nutrients are being met in the diet.  Studies show that children on elimination diets are often lacking in Protein, calories, Vit D, and Calcium.¹

In addition to our blog and cookbook, once you begin your elimination diet we recommend checking out these great websites for more information and recipes. 

• Kids With Food Allergies: In addition to helping families cope with dietary restrictions and lifestyle adjustments, they also host a breastfeeding with food allergies forum which provides support for mothers on allergy elimination diets.  
• Go Dairy Free: Is an informational website for dairy-free living and the goal is to provide honest, unbiased information about going dairy free. 
•  AllergyMoms: Provides support for parents of kids with food allergies.  They provide dairy-free allergy recipes as well as the latest news and research on breast-feeding, eczema, reflux and anaphylaxis.
• KellyMom: This site is run by an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant who provides lots of helpful information and articles on breastfeeding. 
• The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network: Provides educational information, recipes and support for the many parents who need help managing food allergy.
• CoFAR(Consortium of Food Allergy Research): Provides a wealth of information for families and HealthCare professions.  This consortium was provided by a grant from the NIH.

Hopefully you’ll find these resources helpful and not just for eliminating dairy but also for eliminating the top eight allergens including egg, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat.

If you’re already on an elimination diet what do you think of these websites?  Do you have any other websites you’d recommend?

- Christine

1. Henriksen C, Eggesbø M, Halvorsen R, Botten G. Nutrient intake among two-year-old children on cows’ milk-restricted diets. Acta Paediatr. 2000;89:272–278 

As we’ve mentioned before, mixing food allergies and birthday parties requires a bit of effort.  This includes both hosting a birthday party (with guests with food allergies) and sending your food-allergic child to a birthday party.

We wanted to round up a few recipes that could provide a potential solution. It would also be great to have an allergen-free dessert, whether you’re hosting the party or sending your little one to a party.  This way everyone can safely enjoy a treat.
 

Cakes & Baked Goods

Most cakes and baked goods call for dairy, eggs, and wheat, which are three of the top eight allergens.  In fact, fish and shellfish are the only two of the top allergens that do NOT regularly appear in baked goods! Here are a few alternatives to a traditional birthday cake that could make a great stand-in.

On page 14 of the Neocate Food Allergy Cookbook, there’s a great recipe for a frosted birthday cake, made with a cake mix from Cherrybrook Kitchen – free of dairy, nuts, and eggs. But don’t count out serving cookies, brownies, bars, cupcakes, or cobbler, all of which appear in the same great cookbook. Another great place to check is the Kids with Food Allergies website, which offers a variety of recipes.

Not interested in handling the baking yourself? There are several companies that can bake a great, safe alternative and have it shipped straight to you, candles not included. A few places whose treats are allergen-free to varying degrees are Divvie’s Bakery, Home Free, Liz Lovely, and Betsy & Claude Baking Company.  You can also check grocery stores that cater to special dietary needs, such as Whole Foods.
 

Delicious Desserts

Who says that an equally delicious dessert can’t make a stellar stand-in for cake? Not us! Here are some ideas for other great foods that most kids would never refuse.

See our Neocate Nutra Recipe Guide for allergy-friendly ice creams and puddings.  Also check back into the Neocate Food Allergy Cookbook for great shake and smoothie recipes, many submitted by parents.  Top suggestions include the Banana Chocolate Shake or Chocolate Covered Strawberry Slushy.  If you really feel like going all-out, you can use one of these frozen desserts alongside a baked good, in place of the usual cake and ice cream.

Feeling REALLY adventurous? Try your hand at a homemade ice cream cake by combining recipes for an allergen-free ice cream, cookies, and frosting.

What have you used in the past when the traditional birthday cake wouldn’t do? Let us know in the Comments section below.

- Rob

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