Food Allergy Living Blog Tagged Results

Not so many years ago, it was pretty common for kids to give classmates valentines with candy, bring in baked goods to share, and have a Valentine’s Day party at school. While a lot of classrooms have cut back on such activities, it’s still a great idea to play it safe this Valentine’s Day and avoid the risk of allergic reactions.

Preparing

Since Valentine’s Day falls on a school day this year, the best thing you can do is to remind your child’s teacher(s) of allergies ahead of time. If valentines are going to be exchanged or a party is planned, the teacher can help share information with other parents to ensure that everyone remains safe from potential allergens. Feel free to offer to send a “safe” treat in with your child if they won’t be able to enjoy other foods.

If your child is going to a friend’s house for a Valentine’s Day party, make sure to check in with the host parents to make sure they are aware your little one has a food allergy and ask what will be served ahead of time. Remind your child that they should keep an eye out for allergens: even if a party has a menu, there’s no guarantee other parents won’t send unplanned treats.

Hosting

Are you a teacher? If so, remember that the safest valentine for a child with an allergy is one that doesn’t include candy. You may find it easiest to institute a “cards only” rule if valentines are exchanged. A Valentine’s Day party can be great without the snacks by involving fun games or crafts. You could also keep the food and ensure it’s safe by purchasing or preparing snacks yourself that you know are safe and instituting a “no treats” rule for parents.

If you’re a parent who’s hosting a get-together for some of your child’s playmates, it’s best to check ahead of time with other parents to ask about allergies. Other parents may be more than happy to contribute allergen-free foods to the menu, or you can forgo food altogether and host the party away from mealtime with some fun activities instead.

Giving

Whether your child has an allergy or not, make sure he/she is giving valentines that are safe for other students in their class who may have an allergy of their own. Lots of valentine multi-packs include candy, which most kids enjoy. However, to keep the valentines your child hands out safe, you might consider sprucing up a “traditional” card-only valentine. You can add to the “cool factor” by including valentine-themed tattoos, stickers, or other approved favors in place of edible gifts.

Have a child that can’t enjoy chocolate or the usual treats? Try out our recipe for a knock-out knock-off of chocolate pudding. Also consider family-friendly activities that don’t involve food. Finally, a t-shirt, CD, game or even small vase of flowers could be the surprise gift your child wasn’t expecting!

What tips do you have to keep Valentine’s Day worry free?

- Rob

Now that football season is in full swing, there are lots of fantasy football and tailgate parties going on. I am a huge football fan (go Miami Dolphins!) and love the great food associated with football-watching. But when you have family members with food allergies, finding delicious and allergy-friendly foods at these fun parties can be a challenge.

It’s always a good idea to bring your own dish that you know is safe for your child to enjoy at the party. I wanted to share with you some allergy-friendly recipes from Kids With Food Allergies that would be perfect for a football or tailgate party.

Allergy-Friendly Recipes for Football Season:

• Baked Party Chicken Bites

• BLT Pasta Salad

• Moros Y Christianos (Black Beans and Quinoa)

• Spinach and Artichoke Tailgate Dip

• Buffalo Chicken Dip

• Potato Latkes

As always, please look at the ingredients in each recipe to ensure it is appropriate for your family. I hope you can use these for your next football party. You can find more great appetizers in the Neocate Food Allergy Cookbook. And after eating these great dishes, you can run it off by tossing the football around with your friends and family.

- Christine

[Image Source: Kids with Food Allergies]

With Halloween just a few weeks away, your little ones are probably getting excited about their costumes, class parties and trick-or-treating. And while these can be fun experiences for children, they can be potentially dangerous for those with food allergies.

Fortunately, with a little advance planning, you and your little ones can have a safe and spooky Halloween without the risk of an allergic reaction. Here are some tips and safe treats to help you prepare:

Halloween Parties

For Halloween parties (especially at school), it always helps to be involved in the planning process and to attend. You can also volunteer to bring your child’s favorite sweet treat for everyone to try. Some safe options include this recipe for Dairy Free Caramel Apples or these delicious dairy and gluten-free Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Trick-or-Treating

Most important when trick-or-treating is to examine your children’s candy before they eat any of it. Depending on the severity of their allergy, you may want to have them avoid putting their hands into candy bowls (since candy wrappers could be contaminated with allergens like nuts or dairy). Have neighbors drop the candies into their bags directly, or incorporate gloves into their costume design.

Consider creating a “swap-out” bag of allergy-safe treats, DVDs or books that they can enjoy at home. Divvies Chocolate Ghosts are delicious dairy, nut and egg-free treats. If there are other children in your neighborhood with food allergies, you can set an example by handing out non-food goodies like stickers.

For even more tips and ideas for an allergy-safe Halloween, check out the Kids with Food Allergies Halloween Guide. What tips do you follow for a safe Halloween?

-Mallory

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