Thursday, November 20, 2008

Excuse for being late to work: I was making chicken nuggets

I was very late to work this morning because I was making chicken nuggets. I was in the shower, and Bella woke up crying, because she wanted to take chicken nuggets for lunch like the rest of her friends. Holy cow!!! Soppy wet, I ran to the kitchen, and started defrosting chicken (could be allergy mom guilt). 24 minutes of defrosting, I finished my shower... I cubed 2 chicken breasts, breaded, and fried!!! They were so good. Her eyes lit up!!! I missed a meeting, sigh, but these could pass for fast food chicken nuggets!

2 organic chicken breasts
1 egg
½ c organic whole wheat flour
1 tbsp wheat germ
½ tsp organic poultry seasoning
½ tsp sea salt
¼ tsp pepper
dash paprika
organic corn oil

Cube the chicken breast into nugget size pieces. Mix all dry ingredients, and separate into two bowls, beat egg in separate bowl. Line up bowls: flour mix, egg, flour mix. Roll chicken in flour mix, dip in egg, and roll in flour mix. Fry in small frying pan. Approx. 10 minutes on each side.

Allergy Friendly Food Products

New parent resource from KFA!!!

New Allergy-Friendly Food Products Special Report:
November 2008
SOURCE:

http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/New_Allergy_Friendly_Foods_Fall2008.pdf

Condensed product list (peanut, tree-nut, soy free sites) For full list, please refer to source.

New Products for 2008-2009:

Enjoy Life boom Choco boom Bars
Company: Enjoy Life Natural Brands, http://www.EnjoyLifeFoods.com

Namaste Biscuits, Piecrust and More Baking Mix
Namaste Perfect Flour Blend
Namaste Frosting Mixes
Company: Namaste Foods, www.namastefoods.com

Eden Foods Red Quinoa
Company: Eden Foods, www.edenfoods.com

People Pops and People Drops
Company: Healthy People Products, LTD., www.peoplepops.net, www.Amazon.com

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Parent Warning: Hidden Soy Allergies

I am eliminating all soy from my daughter's diet because she has a severe peanut allergy. This is a great challenge because it means a lifestyle change... This is just not a risk I'm willing to take.

Here is what it boils down to:

SOURCE
http://www.allergies-asthma-sinus-relief.org/allergy/soy-allergens.php


1. If your child is allergic to peanuts, you must eliminate all soy as well as all peanuts from your child's diet. Your child's life may depend upon it.

2. Because the numbers of children with allergies to peanuts are increasing, we can expect to see greater numbers of children and adults reacting severely to soy. Peanuts and soybeans are members of the same botanical family, the grain-legume type and scientists have known for years that people allergic to one are often allergic to the other. Other children at risk for an undetected but potentially life-threatening soy allergy include those with allergies to peas, lima beans or other beans, a diagnosis of asthma, rhinitis, eczema or dermatitis, or family members with a history of any of those diseases. Reactions to foods in the same botanical family can be cumulative, resulting in symptoms far more severe than either alone.

3. Even Soy-Lecithin (which is considered hypoallergenic) can cause a reaction.
The industry newsletter The Soy Connection states that highly refined oils and lecithin "are safe for the soy-allergic consumer." Unfortunately, many allergic persons who have trusted such reassurances have ended up in the hospital. Highly susceptible people cannot use either safely. Adverse reactions to soy oils -- taken either by mouth as food or via tube feeding -- range from the nuisance of sneezing to the threat of anaphylactic shock.

4. There is strong evidence that soy allergies are on the rise because of genetic engineering.

5. The Mayo Clinic concurs that soy induced anaphylaxis is more likely to occur in those who have a peanut allergy. http://www.foodallergyangel.com/documents/FoodAllergy/Mayo%20Clinic%20Soy%20Allergy.pdf

6. The only way to avoid reaction is through avoidance.

7. In January 2006, the American Heart Association reversed its endorsement and position on soy.

Please read this: http://allergykids.wordpress.com/2007/10/29/soys-role-in-the-peanut-allergy-what-european-mothers-already-know/

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

What you may not know about peanut allergy

If your child has a peanut allergy s/he could react to soy as well. The news of this cross-reactivity was eye-opening and I've researched further and contacted my allergist. Everything points to eliminating all soy from her diet.

I copied the following from www.allergyware.com

How could soy cause an allergic reaction in my child with peanut allergy?In scientific terms, soybean allergens are “homologous” to known peanut allergens and can be recognized by 44% of peanut-allergic patients.
What that means is that a child with a peanut allergy can have an allergic reaction and even go into anaphylaxis after eating soy. Because this cross-reactivity is rarely mentioned in the press, many parents are unaware of the potential health risks that soy may present to children with peanut allergies.
What are the Signs of a Cross-Reaction to Soy?According to Ingrid Yman, PhD of the Swedish National Food Administration, these deaths initially appear as an asthma attack, with no or very mild symptoms for the first 30-90 minutes after the consumption of food containing soy. Then, the children suffer fatal asthma attacks.
What Can I Do to Protect My Child with Peanut Allergy?According to Dr. Yman, PhD of the Swedish National Food Administration, “If your child is allergic to peanuts, you should consider eliminating soy as well as all peanuts from your child’s diet, even if your child has never reacted poorly to soy in the past. Some sensitive children have “hidden” soy allergies that manifest for the first time with a severe – even fatal – reaction to even the low levels of “hidden” soy commonly found in processed food products. Those at the highest risk suffer from asthma as well as peanut allergy.”
The Swedish National Food Administration study analyzed severe food allergy reactions of children that died after consuming soy. These children had known allergies to peanuts but not to soy.
What products contain soy?Soy can be found in soy milk, tofu, soy sauce, baby formula and other soy products.
Soy is also used in many processed foods, as soy lecithin, soy lecithin, soybean oil and other soy derivatives.

Friday, November 7, 2008

What We Wish We Knew

Just when I think I have exhausted myself researching, reading, and thinking it through, I realize there is so much more...

I have learned so, so much from this wonderful community of bloggers. As I was looking reading through blogs I came across this site : http://www.foodallergyangel.com/WhatWeWishWeKnew.aspx

It was just completely overwhelming to me. Cross-reactivity can occur; people with peanut allergies should avoid soy.

Fairs & Festivals

I am struggling with how safe it is for us to attend fairs & festivals. The night before Halloween there was an animal festival for kids. They were to have booths of crafts, music, & fun and all the kids were to dress up like animals.

When I took B for her allergy testing they used a scale rating of 0-4 with 4 being most severe. She was a 4+. The peanut allergy we manage is severe. I was also told that she has a tree nut allergy, but it's not severe.

We went to the parade and I explained to her how she was not to touch anything without asking, and I stocked up on antibacterial wipes. I sometimes felt like a dope wiping down each table that we went to. I was very vigilant about our surroundings. At at the mask making table, I wiped down the table and the scissors. I don't want to explain it to every person at every booth because I don't think that it would be beneficial to B to have to listen to it over and over.

B participated in the parade, had a great time, and was really excited about the night overall. I want her to have the experiences, but am I being unsafe?

We also went to the Pumpkin patch/Corn Maze, which is also festival style with food booths, activities, hay ride, etc. The thing that got me here was the Turkey Leg... Before we knew of her allergy we'd shared many turkey legs at festivals, Disneyland...

I asked all the questions about ingredients and possible cross-contamination from on the grill, and he assured me it was plain turkey legs, showed me the package, and said he didn't grill anything else on there, ever. We kept talking, now about the weather, the view... I asked if he ever used BBQ sauce on the grill, he said no, it burned the meat. We continued talking, and then he casually mentioned that he used pecan wood to grill. I don't know if this could be dangerous or not, but I was shocked by the fact that had I not ever considered to ask what kind of wood was used to grill. Is using tree nut wood a danger when grilling?

Candy Girl






I was overwhelmed by October! I was trying to manage B's safety at her preschool, after a parent letter went out stating that "Halloween was all about candy". There was also a parent that was insistent about bringing in "goodies" for the class, because it was her daughter's birthday. The preschool owner couldn't see how it was fair to deny her the right to celebrate her daughter's birthday at school.

I was weighing the pros and cons of being out in public around that time. I want B to have all the "normal" childhood experiences... I sometimes feel like I'm being overprotective. B had this grandiose idea of what trick-or-treating is. When I explained why we couldn't, I was again awed by her mature acceptance.

I prepared a candy bag for her filled with jellybeans and chocolate from http://www.vermontnutfree.com/ Vermont Nut Free chocolates. I have to say that this is the best tasting chocolate. It is great quality, delicious, and a staple in our home. She especially loved the marshmallow pop.
I use the baking chocolate to make other treats. Smurtles were a HUGE hit!

Smurtles






Ingredients:
Rice Krispies
Vermont Nut Free Chocolate Candy Melts
Marshmallows
Caramel

Using a mini cupcake baking pan fill cups halfway. Melt caramel according to package directions. Pour one spoon full onto Krispies. Add two small marshmallows in each cup, and top with one chocolate candy melt. Place in oven at 275 for approx. 5 minutes or until chocolate melts. Let cool in refrigerator until chocolate is hard again.