My Allergic Children

Struggling with the Corn Allergy

2010-01-09T18:33:00.000-08:00

I felt so accomplished last week as I finally managed to make an edible gluten free, wheat free, soy free, egg free and I thought corn-free pancake. I found great recipe for Gluten Free Pancakes on All Recipes and adapted it to fit our other allergic needs. It only took me a trip to 4 stores over 2 days to get this right. I did this only to discover today that my pancakes are probably not corn free. There is calcium lactate in the EnerG egg replacer that I used in the pancakes and since it explicitly states that it is not dairy derived I have the sinking suspicion that it may be derived from corn.

I have to say that the corn allergy has probably been the most frustrating of all of my childrens' allergies to manage. Corn is not one of the top 8 allergens so products do not usually state cleary weather or not corn is contained in their products. This means I must inspect labels even closer and look up ingredients that I am not 100% certain of such as calcium lactate. I will also aim to become more informed on ingredients that may potentially contain corn. I found a great list at CornAllergens.com to help me with identify these ingredients. CornAllergens.com is an in depth website that provides quality information on living with corn allergies. CornAllergens.com is written by Jenny Connors a fellow corn allergy sufferer. I have to remember that this process takes some patience and not to be to hard on myself. So now I will regroup and try to find a corn free egg replacer and press on with the allergy free cooking.

Soft Baked Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies by Enjoy Life

2009-12-14T08:17:00.000-08:00

Enjoy Life makes a diverse line of prepackaged cookies that cater to a variety of allergies. The are manufactured in a dedicated Nut and Gluten Free Facility and are rather tasty. The cookies are very sweet and are a little bit dry but I think they darn good considering have not wheat, dairy or eggs included. If you are looking for a quick snack for children with multiple food allergies these cookies are worth a try.

Product Name:
Soft Baked Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

What is it?
Prepared Cookies

Who Makes It?
Enjoy Life

What are the ingredients? Sorghum Flour, Grape, Apple and pear Juice Concentrates, Date Paste, Brown Pure Cane Sugar, Expeller-Pressed Vegetable Oil (Safflower and/or Sunflower Oil), Chocolate Chips (Evaporated Cane Juice, Chocolate Liquor, Non-Dairy Cocoa Butter), Water, Natural Rice Dextrin, Xanthan Gum, Baking Soda, Salt, Vanilla, Rosemary Extract

Where can I find it? Whole Foods

Special Features:
Gluten Free
Vegan
Pareve
Free of 8 Common Allergens (Wheat, Dairy, Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Egg, Soy, Fish and Shellfish)
Casein Free
Potato Free
Sesame Free
Sulfite Free

Price
$3.49

Soft Baked Double Chocolate Brownie Cookies from Enjoy Life

2009-12-14T07:19:00.000-08:00

Enjoy Life makes a diverse line of prepackaged cookies that cater to a variety of allergies. The are manufactured in a dedicated Nut and Gluten Free Facility and are rather tasty. The cookies are very sweet and are a little bit dry but I think they darn good considering have not wheat, dairy or eggs included. If you are looking for a quick snack for children with multiple food allergies this cookies are worth a try.

Product Name:
Soft Baked Double Chocolate Brownie Cookies

What is it?
Prepared Cookies

Who Makes It?
Enjoy Life

What are the ingredients?
Sorghum Flour, Grape, Apple and pear Juice Concentrates, Date Paste, Brown Pure Cane Sugar, Expeller-Pressed Vegetable Oil (Safflower and/or Sunflower Oil), Chocolate Chips (Evaporated Cane Juice, Chocolate Liquor, Non-Dairy Cocoa Butter), Water, Natural Process Cocoa Powder, Natural Rice Dextrin, Xanthan Gum, Baking Soda, Salt, Vanilla, Rosemary Extract

Where can I find it?
Whole Foods

Special Features:
Gluten Free
Vegan
Pareve
Free of 8 Common Allergens (Wheat, Dairy, Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Egg, Soy, Fish and Shellfish)
Casein Free
Potato Free
Sesame Free
Sulfite Free

Price
$3.49

Soft Baked Happy Apple Cookies by Enjoy Life

2009-12-13T12:13:00.000-08:00

Enjoy Life makes a diverse line of prepackaged cookies that cater to a variety of allergies. The are manufactured in a dedicated Nut and Gluten Free Facility and are rather tasty. The cookies are very sweet and are a little bit dry but I think they darn good considering they do not have wheat, dairy or eggs. If you are looking for a quick snack for children with multiple food allergies this cookies are worth a try.

Product Name: Soft Baked Happy Apple Cookies

What is it? Prepared Cookies

Who Makes It? Enjoy Life

What are the ingredients?
Sorghum Flour, Grape, Apple and pear Juice Concentrates, Date Paste, Brown Pure Cane Sugar, Expeller-Pressed Vegetable Oil (Safflower and/or Sunflower Oil), Water, Dried Apples, Natural Rice Dextrin, Natural apple Flavor, Ground Flaxseed, Spices (Cinnamon, Allspice, Cloves, Nutmeg, Ginger) Xanthan Gum, Baking Soda, Malic Acid (Natural Flavor Enhancer), Salt Rosemary Extract

Where can I find it?
Whole Foods

Special Features:
Gluten Free
Vegan
Pareve
Free of 8 Common Allergens (Wheat, Dairy, Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Egg, Soy, Fish and Shellfish)
Casein Free
Potato Free
Sesame Free
Sulfite Free

Price
$3.49

The Giant Cupcake Pan

2009-12-10T17:23:00.000-08:00

So yesterday we got my oldest daughters allergy test results back and they were worst than the little ones. Cheyenne is allergic to corn and shellfish in addition to most of what Nivea is allergic to. I really thought that it could get any worse but it seems like it just did. I tried to stay positive for her celebrating the fact that she was not allergic to cats or dogs like me and her sister and that she could have as many pets as she wants when she grows up but I was really angry.

To add insult to injury I actually got up this morning at 5:30 AM, for the first time in a long time, to work out. While on the treadmill I glanced up at the television and noticed a commercial for the Giant Cupcake pan. It is a cake pan that allows you to bake a ginormous cupcake. The kids looked so happy in the commercial and I really wanted my kids to enjoy the giant cupcake. It just didn't seem fair. With all of their allergies it seemed like this task would be to daunting. I know that I can learn how to bake a gluten free, egg free, chocolate free, soy free, corn free, dairy free cake but at that point is it even going to be fun. I know that I am just whining and that this is not going to benefit my children but I will regroup and be more positive tomorrow. The Giant Cupcake just pissed me off this morning.

I Want A Cookie Mama

2009-12-08T16:13:00.000-08:00

"I want a Cookie Mama" those are the words my little Nivea 2 with such innocence and sincerity uttered as she watched other members of the family indulge in a few duplex cookies one evening. My heart immediately sunk and I empathetically replied "You can't have a cookie, you are allergic." She looked at me with her sad little face and said "I lergic to cookies?" She posed it as a question almost implying that I could not be serious. I felt terrible, not just because she could not enjoy these particular cookies with her family but because I did not have an allergy friendly alternative to offer her. I haven't quite begun learning how to bake wheat, dairy, egg, soy and chocolate free which Nivea requires so I began to research if there were any commercially available cookies that would cater to her many allergies. I never thought I would find any product to accommodate her many allergies and if by some miracle I did that they would taste so nasty she would refuse to eat them. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised this week and found Enjoy Life products.

Enjoy Life whose slogan is Eat Freely makes products that are free of 8 common allergens: Wheat, Dairy, Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Egg, Soy, Fish and Shellfish. I started out hoping to find one at least one brand of cookie that may work for Nivea but Enjoy Life has 7 varieties of Cookies: Chewy Chocolate Chip, Double Chocolate Brownie, Gingerbread Spice, Happy Apple, Lively Lemon, No-Oats "Oatmeal," Snickerdoodle. Upon closer inspection only 5 of the 7 will work for Nivea as she is also allergic to chocolate but no complaints here. We are now beginning the taste taste phase and I will be letting her taste the different varieties over the next week or two to see which ones stick. I have tasted all of them and they are surprisingly delicious. My personal favorite is Snickerdoodle. These are truly miracle cookies and I am so thankful that Enjoy Life has created this fabulous product line.

In addition to cookies Enjoy Life also makes cereals, snack bars, granolas, trail mixes and bagels. All products adhere to the free of 8 common allergens premise. If you are the parent of a food allergic child with one or more allergies this company is so worth checking out.

Amazon Frosted Flakes - Nature's Path

2009-11-29T12:11:00.000-08:00

Commercially prepared cereals are such a staple in the lives of children. I have so many found memories of indulging in massive bowls of cereal and milk while watching Saturday morning cartoons. As an adult I have come to appreciate cereal for its convenience. I am hard pressed to find an easier breakfast to prepare. It is my single favorite thing to serve in the morning because it is quick and the kids love it.

Having children with numerous food allergies makes it increasingly difficult to serve this cereal. My youngest daughter is allergic to wheat which in turn eliminates about 98% of all commercially prepared cereals from her diet. After a lot of label reading I have targeted some cereals that she can still enjoy and that will give me the morning meal convenience that I so desparetly need. I will share all cereals that I find that are wheat, egg, soy and chocolate free as these are her other allergies.

I stumbled accross Amazon Frosted Flakes when I was looking to expand our cereal offerings for the morning. I decided to take a trip to Whole Foods as the really do have the largest selection of gluten free products in my area. I figured that since Nature's Path other cereals had been a hit I might as well stick with them. Amazon Frosted Flakes where so delicious and this is coming from someone who grew up and loved the Kellogg's version. I have to say that I like these equally if not more than their gluten filled, high fructose cousin.

Product Name:
Amazon Frosted Flakes

What is it?
Breakfast Cereal

Who Makes It?
Nature's Path - EnviroKidz

What are the ingredients?
Organic Corn meal
Organic Evaporated Cane Juice
Sea Salt
Where can I find it?
Whole Foods
Nature's Path Organic Online Store

Special Features
Gluten Free
Low Sodium
No Artificial Preservatives
No Artificial Additives

Price
$3.19

WholeO's - Nature's Path

2009-11-29T11:52:00.000-08:00

Commercially prepared cereals are such a staple in the lives of children. I have so many found memories of indulging in massive bowls of cereal and milk while watching Saturday morning cartoons. As an adult I have come to appreciate cereal for its convenience. I am hard pressed to find an easier breakfast to prepare. It is my single favorite thing to serve in the morning because it is quick and the kids love it.
Having children with numerous food allergies makes it increasingly difficult to serve this cereal. My youngest daughter is allergic to wheat which in turn eliminates about 98% of all commercially prepared cereals from her diet. After a lot of label reading I have targeted some cereals that she can still enjoy and that will give me the morning meal convenience that I so desparetly need. I will share all cereals that I find that are wheat, egg, soy and chocolate free as these are her other allergies.

When I found out that my 2 year old was allergic to wheat I immediately took away everything that she was eating that included this ingredients. She had to give up pretzels, cheeze crackers and Gerber Snacks. She eventually stopped asking for all of these things but one request persisted. She wanted her Cheerios. I was not sure how I was going to find and alternative but luckily there was one. Nature's Path Organic WholeO's are a great substitute.
Product Name:
WholeO's
What is it?
Breakfast Cereal

Who Makes It?
Nature's Path

What are the ingredients?
Organic brown rice flour, organic corn flour, organic evaporated can juice, organic pomegranate juice concentrate, sea salt
Where can I find it?
Whole Foods
Nature's Path Organic Online Store

Special Features
Gluten Free
Low Sodium
0grams Trans Fat

Price
$4.49

Gorrilla Munch Cereal - Nature's Path EnviroKidz

2009-11-28T10:45:00.000-08:00

Commercially prepared cereals are such a staple in the lives of children. I have so many found memories of indulging in massive bowls of cereal and milk while watching Saturday morning cartoons. As an adult I have come to appreciate cereal for its convenience. I am hard pressed to find an easier breakfast to prepare. It is my single favorite thing to serve in the morning because it is quick and the kids love it.

Having children with numerous food allergies makes it increasingly difficult to serve just any cereal. Both of my children are allergic to wheat which in turn eliminates about 98% of all commercially prepared cereals from their diets. After a lot of label reading I have targeted some cereals that they can still enjoy and that will give me the morning meal convenience that I so desperately need.

Gorilla Munch Cereal was the first Cereal I found that actually tasted good and would not trigger any of my children's allergies. I initially found it at Whole Foods but was thrilled to have recently found it at both Shoprite and Trader Joe's. This is truly a great product and Nature's Path has many more prepared cereals that I will be highlighting on this blog.

Product Name:
Gorilla Munch Cereal

What is it?
Breakfast Cereal

Who Makes It?
Nature's Path - EnviroKids Product Line

What are the ingredients?
Organic Corn Meal
Organic Evaporated Cane Juice
Sea Salt

Where can I find it?
Shoprite
Whole Foods
Trader Joe's
Nature's Path Organic Online Store

Special Features
Gluten Free
Low Sodium
No Artificial Preservatives
No Artificial Additives

Would Not Work for
Corn Allergy (My oldest can't eat this one)

Price
$2.89 - $3.99

Introducing Nivea - Allergic Child 2

2009-11-27T14:06:00.000-08:00

My youngest daughter Nivea, 2 has had allergies from what seems like day 1 of her life. I decided not to breast feed her because I was taking medication at the time and was worried about it being passed to her through my milk. I tried giving her the standard cow milk based formulas on the market but she began to have severe eczema and diarrhea. I then tried the soy milk based formula but the switch failed to alleviate her eczema and caused severe constipation. I then went to the very expensive hypoallergenic formulas and they did help for a few months but her eczema would continue to flare up every couple of weeks and could only be controlled with steroid cream. I was not certain that she was allergic to cow milk and soy milk but I did suspect it. I started to gather information on alternatives. I conducted what will forever be fondly remembered in my house as the Nivea milk taste test when she was 1. I bought goat milk, rice milk (vanilla and plain), almond milk and oat milk. I labeled 5 bottles and offered her one of these when she asked for a bottle. She slowly but surely gaged and chucked each and every bottle across the room. Each time she would come back asking for her bottle I would continue to offer her the milk alternatives. Eventually she began to come back for the almond and oat milks. In the end oat milk prevailed and that carried us through the next year. Her eczema did get better after that but continued to flare up. I again suspected other allergies. I requested that she be tested.

Nivea's results are in and she is allergic to the following:

Foods
Milk
Soy
Wheat
Peanuts
Pork
Beef
Eggs
Chocolate

Environmental
Dust Mites
Maple Leaves
A Bunch of Different Grasses