You are NOT alone in MFPI!

Hello, to all the Mommies out there... This post is simply to give you some hope... I have met several women recently in my learning/education of nutrition and dietetics for children with that painful and down right difficult diagnosis of MFPI (multiple food protein intolerance). I feel like we have all had something in common, and that's the feeling of being alone in our journey of keeping our children happy and healthy. But I'm going to tell you something now: You are NOT alone, not by a long shot. Our community of food intolerance's is ever growing, and at a scary quick rate at that.  Most of us have seen dozens of doctors, had hundreds of blood/lab tests performed, and have spent countless hours cleaning up vomit and diarrhea from a dear sweet darling that ingested something that just didn't work in their sensitive bodies.  If you are new to our community, there are a few resources I feel that every mom here should read (and re-read 10 times haha).  If you do not have the means to purchase the books some of them can be found at your local library (if they are a good and decently large library). The cookbooks are typically not at the library, but you want to always have these on hand anyway. Alright, here's the list (and please, if you know of any books out there that are informative, and fact/study based, please share so that we all can learn more).

1. Whats eating your child This is my absolute FAVORITE book, it's a must read for our community.
2. The art of baking with natural yeast This is a great resourse to help start making your own safe breads.
3. Cookies for everyone cookbook Treat cookbook for top 9 allergens by Enjoy Life (my fav safe brand)
4. Food Allergy Great book for adjusting and thriving in your new lifestyle
5. Learning to bake allergen free Another great resource for baking without our sensitivities. 
6. Food allergy vs intolerance article at mayo-clinic. This is short, but good for those of you who are just delving in to this new lifestyle. A few tips on what to look for, what is an emergency and what is just going to be uncomfortable for a bit.
7.  http://www.food-allergy.org/  has some good tips, and helps to normalize the process in the beginning

I hope these help you, and as always I hope this helps you on your journey to a "Food Free" lifestyle that leaves you wanting more of what you have, and craving less of what you shouldn't!

Love, The Allergy Mommy

The frustration with Doctors... and finding a new one!

Hello Mommies, I have had a few different emails lately about the frustration of Doctors, and their unwillingness to actually help. Before we moved to our current location for school, I had the best doctors on the face of the planet. I simply LOVED them. AND for anyone in the Sacramento, CA area that is having these issues... You should try to get on with them. Dr.Yinka Davies (pediatric gastroenterology) and Dr.Laura Sorgea (Pediatric PC)... Anyway, they were the most proactive, loving, and devoted Doctors. BUT, we didn't come by them easily, and replacing them now that we are in a new place, has proved nearly impossible. We really lucked out, and have an incredible pediatrician here. She cares, and is really good at what she does. So, what I wanted to do with this post, is talk about what to look for in a doctor, and why these things are so important, especially when you're trying to find a specialist in pediatrics, as children depend on us to advocate for them... So, here we go.
1.When you go to the doctor because your child is having trouble keeping food in, whether they are losing food through vomiting or diarrhea, or if they are refusing food all together you should never accept "That's ok, this is normal, it will subside".. or "The child weight is fine, so they should grow out of this"... or my personal Favorite "this happens with a lot of children we see", plus any other myriad of responses here. A vomiting child, a child with constant diarrhea, or a child that does not eat is NOT normal. Nor is a child with constant constipation, excessive gas or burping, or a child that constantly cries.  If a Doctor you see tells you this, to me it is there way of saying "I've seen it, don't know what to do to fix it, and I'm not about to do anything to figure out how I can". You as their Mother, or father, know things the doctors do not. You may not have been through years of medical school, rotations, and a residency, but you're not brain dead either. If you are reading my blog, than you must at very least have an inkling that something isn't quite right. There is a chance that there is absolutely nothing wrong but a slightly finicky digestive system, but as a mommy I'm not willing to take the chance until every resource has been tapped, and every scan has been run, every test has been proven, and every option tried. These are our babies, and we have a duty to advocate for them. To fight when they need help, and not take the easy route, because it's less expensive or more convenient.
I'm here to tell you, our road is not always an easy, but I promise you 10 times over, it will ALWAYS be worth it. Your child will always be worth the extra effort, and they will always be grateful you did everything you could to give them the best possible life and comforts you could afford them.
So, in this long, arduous, and at times painfully discouraging, journey we are on, find each other! Be there for one another, and help when you can. It lightens the load and burden to know that you are not alone, and as long as you don't want to be, you never will be. I'm grateful every moment of my day for the tender mercies a loving Heavenly Father has so sweetly blessed me with. I will never completely understand each individual circumstance that comes my way, but I promise, I will always have love and empathy for your struggles, and do all that I can to lighten the load this new life may bring! As always, may this help you on this journey to a "food free" lifestyle that leaves you craving more of what you have, and less of what you shouldn't!
Love, The Allergy Mommy!

Peanut Butter to melt in your mouth!

So a friend of mine that I visited with today, who has a sweet little man that is allergic to soy dairy & egg, spoiled me with a few new ideas for treats today. One of which is this lovely little jar of sweet wholesome goodness! In her words "it's like eating a Reese's Peanut butter cup!" Now, I don't know about you, but SIGN ME UP! Now, one thing you do need to be aware of is that this DOES contain cocoa butter (chocolate), so if you have a chocolate allergy as well, you should steer clear.  If not, by all means, eat up and Enjoy!  You can find info on all of there products HERE, or if you want the info on this actual little delight, click the jar!

I'm thinking a batch of peanut butter cookies with this is in my VERY near future! Recipe on that to come! As always, may this help you on your journey to a "food free" lifestyle that leaves you craving more of what you have, and less of what you shouldn't!

Love, The allergy Mommy!

Almond flour Blueberry Pancakes

While searching on the net today for a yummy recipe for better pancakes than I have been making, I stumbled on this recipe! The only downside to this recipe is that it contains egg, but I'm sure with some tweaking I will be able to get the perfect pancake, especially after some trial and error. :) This Lovely recipe is brought to us by The Urban Poser, who has tons of great recipes might I add. So, thank you Urban poser for creating a wonderful recipe for us to share. Ladies, please check out her blog, there are TONS of other recipes that I think you would all find very helpful in making good food, that is safe for all. Happy eating!
Love,
The Allergy Mommy

Perfect Dairy Free Almond Flour Pancakes (Grain/Dairy Free)

by:The Urban Poser

1 1/2 cups  fine ground blanched almond flour 

1/2 tsp baking soda.

1/4-1/2 tsp  salt

1/2 tsp   cinnamon(optional) 

3 large  eggs (or equivalent pastured eggs)

4-5 Tbls full fat coconut milk(Natural Value has a guar gum free version or try subbing any liquid here)

2 Tbls  honey

1 tsp vanilla or juice of half a lemon
1/4 cup fruit (optional)

Oil for frying

In a medium bowl, sift and/or mix together the almond flour, baking soda salt and optional spice.

In a separate bowl, blend together the eggs, coconut milk  honey and vanilla.

Add the liquid ingredients to the dry and mix well. Let rest for a few minutes.PrePre-heat your pan over medium heat(I use cast iron). Watch the heat closely, it likes to climb. If it gets too hot, not only will the pancakes burn, they will be badly shaped and hard to flip. This will vary depending on your stove top and pan. I like to use cast iron.

Add batter to pan.  If you have trouble flipping the pancakes, try making them silver dollar sized.

Fry the pancake till it starts to bubble and the edges just start to form(and dry a bit). If they start cooking to quickly (burning before it's time to flip) then adjust the heat. Every stove top is different. Flip over carefully using a THIN METAL spatula. Continue to cook till the pancake firms up.

Makes about 25-30 silver dollar size pancakes

If needed, keep pancakes in a warm oven. There pancakes freeze and reheat well. I like to make them ahead of time, freeze them then put them in the toaster to reheat!

Top with honey or your favorite natural sweetener and or cold coconut cream. 

Hidden names of Soy... and one way to replace soy sauce!

This post is to address the dangerous forms of hidden soy. For us, soy is one of our worst allergens. Even the most insignificant amount of soy lecithin wreak havoc on my youngest daughters digestive system.  For us, soy causes Blood in her diapers, vomiting, crankiness/fussiness, inability to sleep/rest, teething like symptoms (drooling, chewing on finger etc), unquenchable thirst, and diarrhea. So, we take soy very seriously in our home, along with dairy. We are grateful that her reactions are not anaphylactic, but we still have to take every precaution to keep it at the greatest distance possible. Now, as she is getting older, her reactions are getting less severe and last a shorter period of time. We are unsure of whether or not she will grow out of these reactions to the greater extent, like our older daughter has, or if hers will be lifelong struggles, but it's safe to say that we stay away for now.  Soy is one of the hardest ingredients to steer clear of, as it is an additive in everything. Why? you might ask... Because it's cheap, and sustainable. Now, I promise not to jump on my anti-soy soapbox here, but my own opinion here, soy wreaks havoc on every body... it's just some are more easily noticeable.  Like in our little ones. Soy has MANY hidden names, so this is the most comprehensive list I could find (of course at my favorite allergy site for the basic info like this www.kidswithfoodallergies.org )

The following ingredients found on a label indicate the presence of soy protein. All labels should be read carefully before consuming a product, even if it has been used safely in the past. 

Contain Soy:

Edamame (soybeans in pods) Hydrolyzed soy protein Kinnoko flour Kyodofu (freeze dried tofu) Miso Natto Okara (soy pulp) Shoyu sauce Soy albumin Soy bran Soy concentrate Soy fiber Soy flour Soy formula Soy grits Soy milk Soy miso Soy nuts Soy nut butter Soy protein, soy protein concentrate, soy protein isolate

Soy sauce Soy sprouts Soya Soya Flour Soybeans Soybean granules Soybean curd Soybean flour Soy lecithin* Soybean paste Supro Tamari Tempeh Teriyaki sauce Textured soy flour (TSF) Textured soy protein (TSP) Textured vegetable protein (TVP) Tofu Yakidofu Yuba (bean curd)

*Products that are covered by the FDA labeling laws and contain soy lecithin must be labeled "contains soy".

May Contain Soy:

Artificial flavoring

Asian foods (e.g. Japanese, Chinese, Thai, etc.)

Hydrolyzed plant protein
Hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP)
Natural flavoring
Vegetable broth
Vegetable gum
Vegetable starch 

So, if you are anything like us, you like a good stir-fry. Yummy, filled with veggies and quick on those busy nights... That's where this lovely little gem comes in to play. It's called coconut aminos, and info on it can be found HERE.  You can find it at most health food stores like whole foods, good earth, sprouts and nugget market (I'm sure many other stores carry it, I just know I've found it at these store before).  It costs between 6.50 and 10.00 for the bottle, It's around 7.00 at sprouts market! It is the closest thing to tasting like soy sauce to make a lovely stir-fry from scratch. Word to the wise, this is VERY potent, and takes only a tiny amount to get some serious flavor, so use in small amounts and add more if more flavor is desired.  Outside of this, I have yet to find something that tastes like soy sauce, but doesn't contain soy.  

I hope this will help you to more easily solve your puzzle in ridding your diet of soy.  It is a difficult journey, but well worth the hard work when you get results worth working hard for.  Good luck, and as always, if you have any questions comments or extra info to add, I'm always an email away.

Hugs, The Allergy Mommy

Hidden names for Egg...and how to replace them!

This is a great list from kidswithfoodallergies.org on the "hidden" names for egg. Most of us are avoiding so much more than egg, but here is a list you need to study and memorize so that if you have rare ability of buying food right off the shelf, you know what to be aware of. 

Albumin Apovitellin  Cholesterol free egg substitute (e.g. Eggbeaters®) Dried egg solids, dried egg Egg, egg white, egg yolk Egg wash Eggnog Fat substitutes Globulin Livetin Lysozyme Mayonnaise  Meringue, meringue powder

Ovalbumin Ovoglobulin Ovomucin Ovomucoid Ovotransferrin Ovovitelia Ovovitellin Powdered eggs Silici albuminate Simplesse Trailblazer Vitellin Whole egg

May Contain Egg:

Artificial flavoring
Lecithin
Natural flavoring
Nougat

Just a side note here, if you are wanting to bake something that calls for egg, our favorite egg sub is Ener-G Egg replacer. It seems to come the closest to what the product would be like if it actually had the egg listed in the ingredients. Some great substitutes for egg can be found HERE, as well as some great info on when egg subs will and will not work. Again, this list and info can be found at the website listed above.

1. For recipes which use eggs primarily as a binder (such as drop cookies), possible substitutions for one egg include: 
• 1/2 of a medium banana, mashed 
• 1/4 cup of applesauce (or other pureed fruit) 
• 3-1/2 tablespoons gelatin blend (mix 1 cup boiling water and 2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin, and then use 3-1/2 tablespoons of that mixture per egg) 
• 1 tablespoon ground flax seed mixed with 3 tablespoons warm water; let stand 1 minute before using 
• Ener-G egg replacer

As always, I hope this information helps you along your arduous journey of find food that is safe for your kiddo and family. If you ever have any questions, or need help finding foods/substitutions for something you are making, I'm always an email away (and I'm happy to help). Best wishes and hugs!

~The Allergy Mommy 

Soy/dairy/gluten/egg free Mango Ice cream

Hello Mommies!  Yesterday I was on a mission to make some ice cream for my kiddos... I set our to do some avocado ice cream, and had the idea to add some mango to it... When it came to making the ice cream, I decided that I wanted guac more than avocado ice cream, and experimented with making straight Mango ice cream... The results were LOVELY to say the least, and my lil ones LOVED it! So, here I am to share another yummy, and safe, treat to make any time of the year...

Doesn't it look yummy!

Mango Ice cream

Ingredients:

1 container of So Delicious brand "original creamer" (it's the red one)

1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar (add to taste, as sweetness depends a lot on the mango)

Flesh from 3-4 ripe mangos (These NEED to be ripe)

1/4-1/2 tsp of Xanthan Gum

Directions: Start by putting all mango flesh in a blender and blending till smooth.  Depending on how ripe your mangoes are, you may need to add part of the creamer to keep it moving around so that it will get creamy smooth. Add remainder of creamer and sugar, then blend for about 7-10 minutes. Add xanthan gum and continue blending for 2 minutes more. Have your ice cream maker ready, and pour mixture in to ice cream maker. Mix in Ice cream maker till thick and frozen.

This is my Nifty Cuisinart Ice cream maker!!! Less than 20 min start to finish!!!

One note about it, you need to have room in your freezer for the container you see

that the ice cream is in. It has to sit in the freezer for 1-2 days prior to use to work!

 Put in to a freezer safe container, and let freeze for about 2 hours. Open the container, and make sure it is not getting "solid". If it is starting to be more solid, instead of creaming like ice creaming, mix around. Then.. Enjoy!