Milk -  for drinking  Soy milk ( soy Vanilla flavor is a hit in my home ) , rice dreams, for baking and cooking try coconut milk 

Cereal - plain Cheerios , Multigrain cheeerios, rice krispies, i think corn puffs- it has been a while since i bought the corn base cereals.. but they do have some, rice cereal and oatmeal for babies.

Meals - Rice, pasta – Tinkyada rice pastas are allergy free, potatoes ( mashed, fried, baked), french fries ( watch out some fast food chains add wheat, or whey)  The Oreida brand from Sam’s club is milk free and egg free, sweet potatoes ( bake them or boil them),  carrots, meats, for meat balls  make your own,  hot dogs, soy butter/ jelly sandwiches ( sarah lee honey wheat  bread is dairy free) ,  corn on the cob, tater tots (Oreida brand), harsh browns, vegetables.

Snacks - soy icecream, frozen lemonades,  fruits, honey maid graham crackers ( dairy free), orio cookies ( some are dairy free but contain soy),  enjoy life cookies are allergy free, home made muffins and cupcakes, potato chips – classic lays,  some totilla chips, fritos, kettle popcorn with butter ( dairy free- they use palm oil)

For Nuts -  use raisins or dried cranberries

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Tue, Mar 17, 2009 (HealthDay News) — Researchers analyzing a survey on food sensitivities have found that black male children may have a greater risk of having a food allergy.

The national survey included 8,203 people, from infants to seniors, who tested positive for the allergen antibody linked to possible issues with eggs, milk, peanuts and shrimp. The sensitivity levels to these potential food allergens was then tested in all participants.

Based on their analysis, the researchers estimated that 2.55 percent of the general population has food allergies, most often to shrimp and peanuts. But they found that the odds were much greater among blacks, males and children — especially young black boys.

Males and children had nearly twice the risk for food allergy as others, blacks had triple the risk, and black children were four times more likely to have food allergies.

When looking at having just a sensitivity, rather than a more serious allergy, to foods, the most likely to have sensitivities were children, males, non-Hispanic blacks and people of lower income. About 17 percent had food sensitivities, the study found, with about 4 percent sensitive to eggs, 6 percent to shrimp or milk and 8 percent to peanuts.

The study was to be presented in Washington, D.C., at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology’s annual meeting.

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Today i am just talking food allergies. I have to remind myself, so i don’t forget  or get too comfortable. Julian is allergic to Milk ( cow’s), eggs, peanuts and tree nuts ( walnuts, cashews) , and fish ( Tilapia).   He used to be allergic to wheat and soy as well, but he outgrew by age 2. We have  had several months now so far where he has not been exposed to any of the allergens above, and it is a relief.

So i can  come here and tell you, yes you can help your child , friend, or family member  avoid exposure. I don’t dwell on what he can’t eat, instead i have used that time to find what he CAN eat. The way i see it, some of the foods above he has no idea what they taste like, so he really isn’t missing out. How can you miss out something you don’t have a clue  what it tastes like? Don’t feel too guilty that they can’t have that either there is a whole lot of alternatives out there. 

So yif you have been invited to a  birthday party, bake an allergy free cake at home and take it with you so your little one can have a piece at the party. Gluten free pantry have cake mixes that are allergy free. If your baby can have wheat, some of the Duncan Hines mixes are milk free we use the lemon cake mix for Julian. As far as snacks, There’s plenty of choices out there you just have to pick your favorites.  So there are a lot of choices out there, you just have to look.

I know i have talked about this in my other posting, but.. READ LABELS. We are in a country where Federal labelling law is in place. With this law, manufaturers have to say in plain English pretty much what allergens are contained in their products. Look at the product labels before you purchase. Know the  other names of your allergens like  for instance Milk = whey, caseine . Eggs = albumen, globulin etc.   If your child has been diagnosed with food allergies, your allergist will give you this list as well, if not ask.

What irritates me is those warnings ” This product was produced in a facility that also packages milk, or peanuts, or nuts…”, or ” shared same equipment”  or ” may contain “  They can be really vague.  It can be frustrating too. As a consumer you wish they can just come out and say it… My advice though… If your child is highly allergic to the foods mentioned in those precautionary statements, i would put that product down. You just never know.. It may really not contain the allergen, but again, it MAY contain the allergen and you do not want to take that risk.

I would lie to you, if i said i have never done it. I have, but everytime my son would take a bite, my tummy would be doing flip flops and my hands sweating, so why try to give myself a heart attack on this… The point is, adhere to the warnings so just stay away.  Also make sure you  have your antihistamines ( Benadryl, Epipen) close by so you can reverse a reaction. 

Bottom line, we can only do our part..too bad, but  exposures will happen. People eat foods and never knew contained the allergens. People find out for the first time they are allergic to something, even worse kids get into each other’s foods or snacks and get a reaction. It is the preparations that we have done that can make those times bearable. So do you have a prescription Epipen? Fill that prescription and carry that with you at all times, and always get a refill after using your current Epipen. Have Benadryl at home for some of the not so severe reactions and follow dosage recommendations. If your child is in a daycare facility, make sure you have an extra bottle of Benadryl and a dropper  there, and Epipen for him in his diaper bag or  for storage in  their first aid kit for your child. Get a marker and write on that Benadryl box the dosage  that they should  give  your child should a reaction occur. Please make sure the care givers know how to use the Epipen.. take time to teach everyone you live your child with how to use it, have them demonstrate, so you are sure they can administer it when that time comes.  Pay attention to the expiration dates on  the medications, i have a bunch of Epipens that have expired, i will be taking them to the allergist  for disposal on our next check up.

All this  may seem logical or common sense  to you, but we get soo carried away  and we forget. So i hope you get your little one or yourself safe…Don’t eat it, if it makes you sick , please.

Stay safe!

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There is a difference between  having a food allergy and having a food intolerance.  When i tell people that Julian has food allergies, anytime i mention milk , they ask me if he is lactoce intolerant, so i always say no, he has a milk allergy. 

food intolerance  occurs when the body lacks an enzyme to digest proteins in a specific food.  An intolerance can cause some of the same symptoms caused by food allergies and never life threatening . An allergy on the other hand involves your entire immune system and can be life threatening.

Symptoms of food intolerance can be see upto 6 hours after eating the specific food. With a food allergy, it can be a matter of seconds or upto 2 hours after eating the food.

So here is how you can distinguish between the two.

Food Intolerance symptoms are :
-Upset stomach
-Gas and bloating
-Abdominal cramps
-Vomiting
-Diarrhea

Food Allergy symptoms are :
-Skin redness and itching
-Rashes or hives
-Red, watery eyes
-Nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing
-Vomiting
-Diarrhea
-Swelling of the lips, face, or throat
-Wheezing
-Severe breathing difficulty
-Loss of consciousness

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