Support the Work

If you have found the information on this blog useful, enjoyable, candid, or inspirational ... help keep it reader supported, journalistically driven, available to all, and advertiser-free. If you are able and inspired to do so, please consider a subscription to this blog. You can drop a dime or two every month, every year, or whenever you feel moved.

It will keep me writing, gathering facts, and interviewing the experts.

Love,

Elisabeth

CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE WORK

Parent / Sponsor

 

 

NEED TO FIND SOMETHING?
Join The Email List

Get Tastiness to Your Inbox

* indicates required

A blog about all things allergen-free and delicious

Entries in Holiday (14)

Thursday
Nov102011

Aimee's Story: Second Thoughts About Thanksgiving.

Welcome to Aimee B. Smith, our new guest blogger and parent of a food allergic child.  This post is part of a series about dealing with food allergies in social situations -- this series will discuss handling Thanksgiving.  

Upon Arrival

From the moment I step out of our car on-to the snow-packed drive of my aunt’s house, my nose catches a whiff of the delicious aromas of roasted turkey, baked stuffing and homemade pumpkin pies.  The smell takes my mind and taste buds back, evoking all the warmth and nostalgia of Thanksgiving. But before my belly has a chance to rumble with the anticipation of gorging on the holiday spread, a sharp pain stabs my gut. Anxiety overtakes me: Will we be met with sly glances or unpleasant teasing again?  Will my daughter’s food intolerances consume the dinner table discussion? Will I be slammed repeatedly from every direction with questions like, “I forget, what gluten is exactly?” and, “Now tell me again, why can’t she eat this?” The knot wrenching my stomach tightens. Am I prepared to handle the slew of well-meaning but perpetually clueless references of, “I don’t understand…” and “Don’t worry so much, a little won’t hurt her.”?

Second Thoughts

I am having second thoughts about being here. Maybe our family’s dietary baggage is too great a burden to others.   Should we even have come to this dinner? This is as bad as, maybe worse than taking Raina to her friend’s pizza party or attending a neighborhood picnic. I’m scared for her safety, afraid she may ingest the wrong foods.  But it’s not just the allergens, disguised in mouthwatering dishes and desserts that I fear. My concern goes deeper –what if my daughter feels like an outcast, or that she feels somehow less of a person because she can’t eat what others are indulging in? 

Giving Thanks

My eyes turn to find Raina. She’s skipping up to the steps with glee. My Uncle Bob opens the door as full of high spirits as my little, bouncing girl. My aunts push him aside and run out with open arms and wide, glowing smiles to welcome and hug Raina tightly. I relax for a minute; my fears are subdued watching everyone’s joy. 

I remember the lessons that Melanie Potock, Raina’s feeding therapist, taught us: Eating should be enjoyable and relaxed.  It’s as much about the act of sitting down and enjoying each other as it is the food.  We aren’t here just for the food. 

I take a deep breath, allowing myself a break for just that instance from the overbearing stress I put on myself to manage these sorts of situations. As I let out a deep sigh, I remind myself of the pressure I place on myself to ensure Raina’s safety and that I’m doing a great job.

As I waddle up to the steps, laden with bags of my own allergen free pumpkin pie, gluten/egg/dairy free, green chili cornbread and homemade gravy I think perhaps this year can be better. I inwardly repeat my daily mantra, “It’s getting easier each day.  It’s getting easier each day…”  

Aunt Margie jolts over to grab a bag and, peaking in, says, “Oooh, look as these goodies! Your cousin, Lizzie, will be so happy. She’s on some crazy diet, off the dairy and gluten as well.” 

“Really!” I reply in shock then burst out a big smile, eager to greet my cousin, our new comrade on our allergen-free team. 

While I can’t always have faith that my family or friends will understand Raina’s needs or bend over backwards to accommodate her, I can hope that each year will improve as we all grow. I’m certain Raina will someday grow to be her own advocate and we, as a family, will find improved ways to cope with our stresses. Now that, is something to be thankful for!

 

About Aimee

Aimee B. Smith is a mother to four year old Raina, her miracle girl who was born a micro preemie at 24 weeks gestation. Aimee and her family embarked on an allergy-friendly journey after discovering Raina suffered from multiple food intolerances. The process has opened up a whole new adventure of cooking, shopping, dining and socializing for her and her husband. She is an avid writer, who finds inspiration for her art through her strong spirited daughter and the challenges and triumphs of motherhood. 

 

 

Tuesday
Oct252011

Fun Ideas to Keep Your Trick-or-Treaters Safe from Food Allergies

Welcome to guest blogger, Melanie Potock, MA, CCC-SLP, of www.mymunchbug.com

Melanie is speech language pathologist who specializes in feeding.  Her work brings her into the homes and schools of her clients, kids, who for various reasons have difficulty with food or with eating. She works with kids and their parents to develop effective strategies that help children become “more adventurous eaters”.  At least 50% of her clients have food allergies or intolerances, and for them, “adventurous eating” takes on a special meaning.  Her last post, "How Can Parents Feel Less Stress with a Food Allergic Child in School", was a major hit with readers.  Welcome, Melanie!

 

Trick or Treat Nirvana (What'a a Parent to Do?)

My neighborhood is a child’s Trick or Treating nirvana; street after street of tightly packed  houses, much like enormous Pez candies crammed inside a spring-loaded Casper the Ghost container. It’s the perfect setting for little fists holding giant plastic pumpkins to collect as many pounds of sugar as humanly possible in the shortest amount of time.  The neighbors are obsessed with decorating their homes to the hilt and consequently our sidewalks are packed with little Batmans, Disney Princesses and giant Rubik’s Cubes negotiating their way to each and every over-the-top decorated home and loading up on anything the neighbor’s offer when the kids shout “TRICK OR TREAT!”

So what’s a parent to do when their child with food allergies so desperately wants to join in on the door to door fun? 

  Well, keep this in mind: For the kids, Halloween is about ringing a doorbell, shouting “TRICK OR TREAT”,  remembering to say “thank you” as they scurry off to the next house and most of all – giggling non-stop with their friends.  It’s truly about the social experience, and not so much about what gets thrown in the bag.  But for parents, what ends up in their bags is vitally important for safety reasons. Here a few strategies to consider.

 

Enlist the help of a few neighbors

…and be sure to send them a thank you note in November!


1.    SECRET PASSWORD:  Nobody wants a child to miss out on the big night.  Most friends and neighbors will be thrilled to stash your candy alternatives by their front door.  If your alternative treat needs to be kept separate from other food substances,  be sure to let them know.  If your child is old enough and/or you are not present,  just tell them that  Mrs. Smith needs to hear the secret password (e.g. “monster mash”) because she is saving something just for them.  The last thing you want is Mrs. Smith accidently giving some random fairy princess your child’s special allergen free treat!

2.    Create a “TREASURE HUNT” with clues that lead your little pirate to the buried treasure where X marks the spot.  Give ten clues to ten neighbors; use brown grocery bag paper, black ink and even singe the edges for that authentic “treasure map” look.  Each piece of paper provides the next clue on where to go:  “Yo ho ho, ye pirate gents! Go to the next house with the white picket fence!”  Little do they suspect that the 10th clue will send them back to their own house, where they will discover a giant X and a special treasure buried beneath, just for them!

Tangible Alternatives to Candy


Whether you are planting a few of these with your sweet neighbors or giving them away to the little creatures knocking on your door that night, here are a few tangible alternatives to traditional candy:

1.    Eyeballs (and other spooky treats):  Google that Michael’s coupon or head to your favorite craft store to stock up on creative options for candy.  Whether you are trying to avoid sugar or the top 8 allergens, bringing home a pillow-sack of party favors such as blood-shot super ball eyes, miniature magnifying glasses, Halloween stickers or a tiny decks of cards is still a nice pile of loot for your little goblins to dump on the living room floor when they get home!

2.    My favorite treats are glow-in-the-dark bracelets.  We activate all of them just before the doorbell starts to ring and put them in a clear plastic bowl so they give off an eerie glow when we open the front door.  Little munchkins pop them on their wrists and run off to the next house, literally glowing.  Because my nick-name is “safety-mom”, I feel better knowing that everyone’s kids are a bit more visible running around in the dark.

3.    Think outside the box.  Most toy or craft stores have bins of whistles, harmonicas and bubbles to use in replace of candy.  Don’t forget small packets of origami paper, craft buttons, jewelry kits and beads, etc.  There are isles and isles of wonderful candy substitutes that will keep your child busy long after the other kids’ candy is eaten.  Believe me, parents all over town will be eternally grateful to see something creative in their children’s sacks rather than yet another pack of sour gummy worms.  Create a little karma for yourself!



Allergen-Free Candy

 

A spectacular list of allergen-free candy (many, free of the top 8 allergens) is available on The Tender Foodie blog.  Be the “good house” that the kids rave about with the really cool candy.



Got Candy?  (Too Much)  Here’s how to get rid of it FAST!


1.    Hold a Candy Auction:  Dig into that Monopoly game and grab those pastel paper bills!  Here’s your child’s chance to hold a candy auction! When all the bidding is over, he gets to count out how many paper bills (dollar amount is now a moot point) he received and trade those in for real money, but half goes in his savings account.  

2.    Worth Their Weight in... Dollars:   Finally, a chance to use your bathroom scale and rejoice as the numbers go UP!  Kids get to weigh their loot and get paid $5 for every pound.  The next day, extend the family fun by going to the toy store or a favorite “haunt” to buy something together.


Safety Considerations


In addition to the general safety considerations for all trick-or-treaters noted at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/hallow.html, there are additional safety considerations for children with food allergies:

1.    SEPARATE CANDY:  Make it clear to other adults if alternative treats need to be separate from other food substances due to cross-contamination.

2.    Bring an EPI-PEN and if you are not accompanying your child, make sure his friends know where the pen is stored.

3.    Trick or Treating in groups only.  As for any child, stay together.

4.    Give your child a fully charged CELL PHONE with emergency numbers on top; make sure her friends know how to use it, too.

5.    Make sure your child is wearing an ID bracelet that is visible despite her costume.

6.    Ask the other children to WAIT to eat their candy until it can be inspected at home.  This is a general safety rule for all kids, but also prevents accidental contact via another child during the excitement of trick or treating.


A final thought…


Consider your own expectations and how those may define your child’s expectations for Halloween.  Lori Lite of Stress Free Kids has a few words of wisdom applicable to any holiday:

“It is not necessary for children to have the full blown experience in order for them to have a good time.” _Lori Lite (Stress Free Kids)

Ask your child what they would like to do.  Perhaps he just wants to be in charge of passing out the glow bracelets and while the two of you wear matching glow-in–the-dark Vampire teeth!  So often as parents, we try to do make a huge production out of a holiday because we feel we owe it to our kids.  Funny thing is, most of the time, the kids are just thrilled to be a small part of it as long as they are sharing it with you.  

So enjoy and be in the moment.  Wear a funny hat.  Tell a spooky story.  Take LOTS of pictures and video, too.  Stick a plastic spider on someone’s chair at dinner.  Don’t be afraid to scream – it’s the one night you can do so with abandon!   Happy Halloween everyone!

 

 

 

Tuesday
Oct182011

Tender Halloween Candy List (Allergen-free & Vegan)

 

If you are reading this post, and are a parent of food allergic kids, you don’t need me blabbering on about what a pain in the buttocks Halloween can be.  It must be tough to tell your kids that they can’t go trick or treating or that they can’t trade candy with their friends. Your kids just want to belong.  And Halloween is a huge social event.

For some children, however, even the very presence of allergens like peanuts, dairy or wheat could be deadly, so even wrapped, allergen-free candies mixed in a bowl with other candy can cause a reaction.

To help with the candy part of Halloween, we are compiling a “living list” of candy and other treats that are free of the most common allergens.  If you have a favorite that isn’t here, send me an e-jingle.  I’ll research it and add it to the list as appropriate. 

Stay tuned for more from Melanie Potock on creative (and practical) ways to deal with the social side of Halloween.  Read my Interview with Melanie on reducing school & food allergy stress...

NOTE:  Please remember to look at EVERY label to double check that each product is safe for you or your child.  Also, if you see something you like, order it soon! 


Free of the top 8 allergens

The candies in this section do not have any of the top 8 allergens (eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, dairy, fish or shellfish)

 

INDIE CANDY

Indie Candy really goes the extra mile to make not only safe, but delicious candy.   I've tried several of their sweets.   Their chocolate truffles are delicious and their gummies are fantastic. 


Indie Candy Lime Frankenstein Lollipop (big 8 allergen free)
Indie Candy Orange Jack O' Lantern Lollipop (big 8 allergen free)
Indie Candy Pineapple Ghost Lollipop (big 8 allergen free)
Indie Candy Orange Jack O' Lantern Gummies (big 8 allergen free)

 

Additional Information on Indie Candy:

  • Kitchen free of Big 8 allergens
  • Cater to a variety of special diets - GFCFSF, vegan and Feingold
  • Kosher certified.
  • Majority of our ingredients are organic.

 

 

Enjoy Life

 click image to go to coupon.Chocolate Bars

  •  Big 8 free
  • Made in a dedicated nut- and gluten-free bakery     

 

 

Yummy Earth Organic Candies 

They sell wholesale allergen-free and organic hard candies with names like "Roadside Rootbeer Barrells" and Pomegranate Pucker".  None specifically for Halloween it seems, but they are in retail stores like Whole Foods, Baby's R Us and many Marriotts around the country. Thanks to NourishMD.com for this suggestion.

  •  Big 8 Free
  •  No High Fructose Corn Syrup
  •  Free of MSG
  •  100% Natural Colors
  • No chemical dyes
  • Real Fruit Extracts   
  • 100% Natural Flavors
  • Kof-K Kosher Parve
  • Processing Plant: no tree nuts or peanuts allowed in the facility.

 

 

Gimbal's Gourmet Candies 

The gourmet jelly beans look great, and they make those and their other flavors without the Big 8 allergens.  We haven't tasted them yet, but we like their ingredients and their philosophy.  Their Honey Lover's flavors support a project that keeps the ever-important honey-bee healthy, alive and pollinating.  Gimbal’s donates 5% of Honey Lovers proceeds to the University of California Davis Honey Bee Research.

  • Big 8 free
  • Gelatin-free
  • Kosher-Pareve
  • No High Fructose Corn Syrup
  • Facility is free of big 8 allergens

Sold online through Candy Direct.

 

Free of Many Common Allergens

 

These candies are free of some of the most common allergens.

 

Premium Chocolates 

Thanks to Audrey Depenbrok for this suggestion.  Audrey has good taste in vegan cupcakes, is a dairy-free Tender Foodie contributor, and a chocolaholic like myself.  So I respect her judgement here.

Located in Lakeside, NJ, or order online:  http://www.premiumchocolatiers.com/

  • Soy-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Dairy-free
  • Vegan
  • Kosher-Pareve
  • Nut-free
  • Testing:  Random testing for dairy & nuts

 

Goody Good Stuff

Gummies, is what I would call these candies, and I heard of them through Saffron's Gluten-free MarketDeb, from Saffron's calls them "gummie-type thingies". 

  • Vegetarian
  • Fat-free
  • Meat-free
  • Dairy-free
  • Nut-free 
  • Gluten-free
  • Egg-free
  • Gelatin-free
  • Soy-free   

 

 

 

Fancypants Bakery

 

Fancypants makes the cutest nut-free cookies.  Just too cute to eat.

  • Peanut-free
  • Tree nut-free
  • Facility:  Nut-free

 

 

 

 

Divvies Bakery

Divvies (and their jelly beans) gets mentioned by fans on the Tender Palate Facebook Page every so often, and Halloween has been no expection.  Divvies is a bakery, and they make candy as well.  Including ghosts, goblins and dinosaurs.  Rahr.

  • Peanut-free
  • Tree Nut-free
  • Egg-free
  • Dairy-free
  • dedicated facility where no peanuts, tree nuts, milk or eggs "enter the doors". And Divvies uses ingredients that are certified allergen-free.
  • Divvies conducts routine testing to minimize the risk of any cross-contamination in their certified allergen-free ingredients.

 

 

 

Potential Mainstream Candies

I say “potential” for these, since there is no testing or processing information on the web site.


Dove Chocolate

Rockford Allergy Food Network, a support group for food allergies in Michigan, gave me the heads up that many Dove Chocolate products are now produced in a tree-nut- and peanut-free facility.  Bravo, Dove!  Since they went nut-free in 2009 or 2010, there may still be products on the shelves that were produced with nuts.  So read the label carefully for the "May contain" labeling.

  • Peanut-free
  • Treenut-free
  • Allergen-free facility since 2010 (so read your labels carefully)
  • Testing information not available.

 

 

Tootsie Products

It would be great if Tootsie offered facility, allergen testing, and processing information - but they don't.  They have so many options that are gluten- and nut-free.  I have two emails into the company to request further information, but have not heard back.  (They are Kosher-certified, which, in my opinion, is a good sign that they are testing oriented.)

  • Gluten-Free (All Tootsie products are gluten free except Andes cookies.)
  • Peanut-Free
  • Nut Product-Free
  • “Tootsie does not use wheat, barley, rye, oats, triticale, spelt, or any of their components, either as ingredients or as part of the manufacturing process.
  • Corn and soy products are used
  • No testing or facility information provided. 
  • Tootsie Rolls, Tootsie Fruit Rolls, Frooties and DOTS have become kosher-certified by the Orthodox Union (OU).

 

 

Monday
Apr112011

Food Allergies? Easter Bunnies That Kick the "Big 8" in the Tail.

Easter is April 24. 

 

In my search for candy makers with allergen-free Easter bunnies, gummies and jelly beans, I haven't found any that do it better than Indie Candy.  I gave their chocolate and yummy gummies a try before Valentine's Day, and I "heart" them (read the review).  Indie Candy balances their customers' food allergy needs with great candy making and taste.  And after speaking to the owner, I have a feeling that their passion and knowledge for allergen-free sweets will bring them to new taste heights as their company grows.

The chocolate is high qualit and free of all 8 big allergens (peanuts, treenuts, dairy, wheat/gluten, soy, seafood, shellfish, and eggs).  They even have treats that adhere to the Feingold diet - developed for those with ADHD.

Find them at www.indiecandy.com.

 

Our Tender Readers Recommend

We've started a list from our readers.  Keep them coming!!


Premium Chocolates

To get guaranteed delivery by Easter, orders needed to be in by April 7.  But the chocolate looks great!  Thanks to Audrey for this suggestion.

Located in Lakeside, NJ, Online ordering available.

 

Yummy Earth Organic Candies

They sell wholesale allergen-free and organic hard candies with names like "Roadside Rootbeer Barrells" and Pomegranate Pucker".  None specifically for Easter it seems, but they are in retail stores like Whole Foods, Baby's R Us and many Marriotts around the country. Thanks to NourishMD.com for this suggestion.

In Grand Rapids, MI:  Harvest Health

 

Gimbal's Gourmet Candies

The gourmet jelly beans look great, and they make those and their other flavors without the Big 8 allergens.  We haven't tasted them yet, but we like their ingredients and their philosophy.  Their Honey Lover's flavors support a project that keeps the ever important honey-bee healthy, alive and pollinating.  Gimbal’s donates 5% of Honey Lovers proceeds to the University of California Davis Honey Bee Research.

Sold online through Candy Direct.


Fancy Pants Bakery (Nut-free only)

Though the cookies are NOT gluten or dairy free, they ARE nut free.  They also have adorable easter bunny shapes for a great alternative to candy. 

Sold online directly through www.fancypantsbakery.com.

 

Jules Gluten-Free Easter Basket Cupcakes

Found this recipe through flour guru and gluten-free labeling activist, Jules Shepherd.  It contains several fun gluten-free candies as well.  The recipe looks fun and definitely worth a try!

Find the recipe here.

 

Who's Your Favorite Allergen-Free Candy Maker?

If you have a favorite candy maker with Easter treats - Give an E-jingle and let me know who they are!  I'm always looking for the folks who do it well.  The only rule:  they must produce their products in an allergen-free facility and test for at least one allergen (and must test for all allergens they are claiming to be free of).   Remember, "Vegan" does not mean "Dairy-free".  "Non-Dairy" also does not mean "Dairy-free".  And "traces of..." can be quite harmful for those who have food allergies.

 

This post does not constitute medical advice of any kind.  Please speak to your doctor and understand your own body and its food allergies.  Please read each product label carefully to be sure that it is safe for your or your child's unique situation.

 

 

Page 1 2 3