The Art of Baking with Natural Yeast... new book, check it out!

Hello Allergy Moms, and friends alike! Just thought I would share a new book with all of you. I'm still learning more about this, but felt really good about sharing a way for us to make our "safe" foods completely from scratch.  All while possibly eliminating some of the reactions we or our kiddos have been having due to a very common, and mischievous culprit. I'm sure I've got you wondering now, what on earth I'm talking about. Well, allow me to introduce Natural yeast. Now, as we all know, baking our safe breads at home is time consuming, expensive, and not always result yielding. I can't tell you how many times my amazing husband has made bread for me and the kiddos, when I am hungry and wanting something that required no effort on my part, and bless his sweet soul he always delivers!! Even making the breads at home, there were still store purchased items that were going in (yeast, and egg replacer by Ener-G) that one could not guarantee were safe for my bubble children. Recently, a lovely friend of mine asked me if we had been using "natural yeast". Admittedly, I had never heard of it, which is an absolute shame considering we made so much food from scratch. She told me about a book she picked up for about 6.00!!!!

The Art of Baking with Natural Yeast: Breads, Pancakes, Waffles, Cinnamon Rolls and Muffins

Now, the 6.00 book is the kindle edition, but you also have the option of purchasing the actual book for just over 12.00 on amazon as well, which as we all know, is not too shabby for cook-book. Anyway, I have to admit, I have not yet tried this out. I am so excited to delve in to my world of baking with a whole new option. Though our cookies and treats do not typically call for yeast, this is going to be a great way to not only make our breads that much safer, but it's also VERY inexpensive to make. With how much it costs to eat "food-free", I don't know a single one of us moms that doesn't hope to save even a little bit somewhere. So, when it all comes down to it, check it out! I'm learning about it, and I think we should all learn out it... I'll do a post soon on any changes in my kiddos eating/reactions and keep you all updated, but for now, safe eating and happy days!

Love,

The Allergy Mommy

Great finger food/snack for 1-2 yr olds!

This new treat recommendation goes out to all my Mommy friends, with little kiddos on limited diets, that need a yummy snack to help get their tummies from one meal to another.  Now, I'll be honest here. I'm not typically a fan of Gerber. It seems like a lot of their snacks and foods have LOADS of unnecessary crap (ahem!) in them, and I am NOT a fan of processed food. With how sensitive my youngest is, this snack was a SERIOUS gold mine when she can only have very small amounts of fructose, in addition to the no soy-no dairy-no gluten/wheat- no egg issues. Well, gerber FINALLY managed to pull through for me this one time, and I am beyond grateful for it. My little one LOVES these new snacks, and they get her a wide variety of fruits and veggies in tiny bite size amounts, that are super easy to control.


Now, since we have some issues with berries as well, we only get the tropical ones typically, but we did try a bag of the very berry blend, and they were SUPER YUMMY! Both are great tasting, especially considering what we're used to tasting in foods that aren't home made, that are allergy free. HAHA!

In any event, you've gotta give them a try. If not for sanity sake, so you have a snack. Then for your sweet little ones sake, so they can have something that is truly yummy for a treat! Hugs and best wishes as always...
Love,
Allergy Mommy!

Our New Sensitivity! Fructose!

         I know, I know, sounds awful doesn't it? Our little darling, the youngest, after having practically everything but breast milk and fruits/veggies removed from her diet, was still having some serious "digestive" (ahem!) issues. 8-10 diapers a day, and at times vomiting. I mean, I can change diapers all day long, but when you get in to the skin falling off the bum because of rubbing from wipes and acid eating away at it to boot, something has GOT to be done. After another round of fecal testing, and a full blood work up, we figured out our darling has fructose mal-absorption and lactose intolerance, on top of the other things we already knew about our first.
         Now, I'm sure you're wondering at this point how on earth we didn't know that she was lactose intolerant. It's simple, our older daughter didn't have lactose intolerance, she just had milk protein (casein) intolerance, and she wasn't breast fed past 3 months. Our younger daughter was nursed from day one till she was 15 months old, and never was exclusively on neocate like our oldest. Alright, so continuing on...
         Avery needed to have lastase (the enzyme that breaks down lactose, that most bodies typically make on their own) drops put in to her breast milk, the let to sit overnight to break down the lactose. On top of it, we had to figure out what fruits and veggies she was going to be able to handle, and in what quantities. In the end, she can have about 1/2 banana, or 1/2 cup of blueberries. No apples, peaches, pears or any of the other yummy, nutritious, fruits she so dearly loved. We also are only able to give her avocado, cooked and pureed carrots,  celery, and corn(of all things).  In any event, after all of the testing, she had a reducing substance level that was frighteningly high, and yet no iron deficiency or protein deficiency either. Once was got all of the labs back, it was clear as crystal what her new problems were, and we were finally able to nip this in the bud.
           Though our dear darling was even lower on the possible foods list, we had an answer, and were able to work towards getting things better under control. If you feel like this is something that is giving your child or yourself some grief, one of the easiest tests you can do is a methane/hydrogen breath test. There are several things they can test for in these breath test, fructose and lactose are just 2 of them.
          We give our daughter vitamin drops containing iron, in a dose specified by her doctor as she needs more to meet the needs of her dietary restrictions.. She drinks coconut milk, almond milk, and flax milk, and we are going to start a supplement called "Metagenics ultracare" under the advisement and care of nutritionists & doctors. Always run changes you are making and problems or concerns you are having by your doctor. They have more experience, and a much better education (they are doctors after all)... If you don't trust your doctor to help make these decisions with you, you need a new doctor. :)

New off the shelf "safe" treat!

In my grocery shopping this week, I stumbled upon a lovely new little treat! Chewy granola bars, in four flavors, of course by my favorite "food free" brand, none other than... Enjoy Life! I LOVE THESE GUYS! This company also has an Amazing cookbook that I've ranted and raved about a few times, that I tell every allergy mommy to buy "Cookies for everyone"... In any event,we only chose 1 flavor because of what tastes I know my little ones likes (and other food allergies to coco and berries), but I of course bought all the boxes they had of the caramel apple, even before tasting them, knowing that they would taste great... Because lets be honest, that's just how Amazing Enjoy Life foods are!

They are on sale for 2.99/box right now at my local grocery store, but are regularly priced at 3.99/box. They taste oh so yummy, and we are so grateful to have yet another yummy snack for my allergy prone darling. Thank you a million times Enjoy Life. You've saved us so many times before, and never seem to let us down. We're "Lifers", I just know it! Enjoy!

Great book for Mommies that have children with allergies/MFPI

I was reading my regular "living without" email. By the way, if you do not get the "Living without" magazine yet, you should. It's great! They also send out regular emails with helpful tips and great info and food for those who are "living without". You can find info on them HERE. In any event, I got an email from them talking about a great book, that I somehow had never stumbled upon. "Whats eating your child" by:Kelly Dorfman. I immediately went to my amazon page, and purchased one. Everyone needs this book. Especially those who are new to this style of eating. For just over $10 I got myself a new one, knowing I would read it a million times, finding new insight and ideas with every read. Totally worth $10 or even $15 in my opinion. Most barnes and noble bookstores have it, and it's cover cost is 13.99, so all in all not too shabby. Check it out! As always, if you ever have questions or comments feel free to leave them in the comments section.

Top 10 great allergy-free store-bought Snack ideas for kiddos

So, a dear friend of mine asked me to do a few different posts on good foods for kiddos that are needing food that tastes good, but is allergy free... So, here we are. I hope this helps in some way! This is a top 10 list of our favorite, "Tried-n-true" foods and snacks that are ready for you right off the shelf. Some of these are a bit pricey, but they are great for when you are out of an ingredient/time, or just need something available in a pinch, or when you need something to bring to a gathering (like a BBQ). All of these are free of dairy/casein, egg, wheat/gluten, and soy. I hope it helps! If you know of any on great snack we could add to our ever growing list, we would LOVE to know! Please email us, or leave a comment, and we'll add it asap!! WE HAVE UPDATED THIS LIST for new choices, and that can be found HERE

1. "Enjoy Life" Snicker-doodle cookies. These are typically found the gluten free section at the store (walmart does have them in the GF section), but not every store carries them. Also give the ginger-bread cookies a try, they are great too! Check out the whole cookie line HERE They are very soft & chewy!
2. "Annies Organic" peanuty granola bar (the only downside to these is QQ. We've had entire boxes of them that were so rock hard, we had to throw them all out, arg! Target carries these at most stores)
3. Fruit shredz by Plum Organics. These are a favorite around our house. They are perfect for throwing in the diaper bag, and both my 1 yr old and 4 year old LOVE them. They taste great, aren't sticky, and are easily picked/vacuumed up if spilled.  
4. Little Cremes by Plum Organics & Gerber Fruit and Veggie Melts , these are the "safe" alternative to the yogurt melts many little kiddos get...
5. Crunchmaster GF multi-grain crackers
6. Enjoy Life Chewy Bars, these are a soft chewy "granola bar". They are a bit small, but very filling and great for little hands
7. "So delicious" coconut milk ice creams & treats. Please make sure you read the label on these as some of them have soy products in them!
8. Plum Organics Mashups (do not mix these up with plum organics as those have dairy)
9. Enjoy Life Plentils!!!! Tasty snack in a small snack pack! If you're looking for something packed with flavor, and crunch, you've got to get your hands on these!!!
10. "Amande" almond milk yogurt. Our favorite flavors are strawberry and peach, or SoDelicious coconut milk yogurts. Our favorite flavors are plain and strawberry..

A few of our other favorite things to make snacks include some of these handy dandy items... Happy snacking!!!

• "Naked" fruit drinks. We love the mighty mango and green machine. Make sure you get the "Naked" brand, as Odwalla brand tends to use soy in a lot of their products! EEKS!
• "Al Fresco" sausages (the healthier and safe version of a hotdog, haha". The sweet apple chicken one is what we get, and we LOVE it. Aidells also has some chicken sausages that are safe. We love these sausages, especially when we're going to a BBQ with friends, and want to be able to eat something.
• "Stretch Island Fruit co." fruit leathers & welches fruit snacks (all flavors)
• "Olivio" coconut spread (It's butter, made from coconut oil, and it's soooooo good. Especially in oatmeal) is amazing if you make fresh popcorn, and use this instead of butter!!! 
• "Tostitos Natural" organic blue corn tortilla chips w/Herdes mild salsa
• "Dole" Fruit cups. We typically do pears as they are easier on the digestive tract than many fruits
• Corn Tortillas (Not all brands are soy and wheat free, so make sure you read the label) for tacos.
• Candies:  There are lots of candies that are safe, but the easiest ones to find are Skittles, starburst, Mentos!, and "Haribo" brand gummies. Not all of their gummy stuff is safe, but a large majority is, so take a look at their stuff next time you're at the store. We normally get the gummy bears, gummy worms, & frogs, so I know these ones are safe.
• If you're not having to do the gluten/wheat free Rolls Gold pretzels are otherwise safe, just don't get the flavored ones, as most of those have some sort of dairy.
• Morning Muffins Oatmeal. It's super yummy, and super healthy (though the sugar content is pretty high). They can be found at target and many other health food stores too. They are great for when you're on the road. Just bring a cup that can be microwaved or withstand very hot temps, and a spoon!
• Fresh home made popcorn is a great snack for peeps older than 2 (chocking hazard for lil ones)

I'll be doing an actual Gluten post here in the next few days. We're in the process of moving right now, so bare with me!!! In the mean time, go pic up some treats and relax! With love and admiration, for your willingness to work hard and make food still taste good!
Love, The Allergy Momma

Avocado Ice Cream!! Heavenly, I promise!

Ok, so I've been dreaming of creamy ice cream since day one of the "food free" diet for nursing my youngest little darling. There were a few that came close, but I had to stop eating even those, when we figured out she couldn't tolerate soy at all either. So, I've been living off of sorbet for the last 8 months. Don't get me wrong, it's good, and I'm very grateful to have at least this, but it was still leaving me yearning for MORE... MUCH MORE! See, I love the creamy delight of thick and rich ice cream. Two days ago, my dear friend Shannie was a sanity saver and brought me over a container of home made Avocado ice cream, that is FOOD FREE! YAY! I couldn't believe it. Something THIS GOOD, there is NO WAY it is free of dairy/soy/egg/gluten/chocolate etc etc etc... But it is true!!! It is! I thought I saw a little glimpse of Heaven when I took my first bite. CREAMY, RICH, Decadence! So, here I am to share the recipe... So, Thank you Shannie! Not only a wonderful friend, but a life saver as well!

(This is just a random pic of avocado ice cream from google to show what it looks like)

Coconut Avocado Ice Cream:

Ingredients:

*1 cup So Delicious brand Coconut Creamer (french vanilla flavor)

*1/2 cup So Delicious brand Coconut milk

*2 ripe, pitted, pealed Avocados

*3/4 to 1 cup granulated sugar (depending on how sweet you like it)

*3/4 tsp lemon juice (I think I may try lime too)

Directions: Puree milk, coconut cream, sugar, avocados, and lemon juice in a blender until smooth. Pour into a bowl, cover, and refrigerate for several hours until cold.

Once it's sat in the fridge most of the day, throw it in your ice cream maker, and follow the "freezing" instructions of your maker. Once it's creamed and frozen, store in your freezer, and stir a few times while it's in your freezer and freezing. This will keep it from becoming a hard block of ice cream, and make it easier to scoop out like regular ice cream you buy at the store.