Category — Food Allergies

It’s Christmas time and for those of you who prepare for the holidays with food allergies in mind I have a fun recipe for you to try: Holiday Honey Cake.  This recipe comes to us from “My Kid’s Allergic to Everything” Dessert Cookbook.  This cake keeps for weeks and it toasts up great!

1 cup rye flour

1 cup spelt flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/3 cup honey

1/2 cup sugar

3/4 cup water

1/3 cup softened butter OR mild-tasting oil

Preheat oven to 350.  Use one 5″-9″ loaf pan, ungreased and unfloured.

Mix rye and spelt flours with the baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon; set aside.  In a microwave-safe dish or in a small saucepan, mix honey, sugar, and water; heat slowly until small bubbles begin to appear.  Remove from the microwave or stovetop; in the dish or saucepan add the butter or oil; beat until well mixed.  Pour this into the flour mixture and beat for 10 minutes.  Pour batter into loaf pan.

Bake for 40 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean and the top of the cake has begun to crack.

For the best flavor, cool completely after baking, place in a plastic bag, and refrigerate for three days before serving.

Variation: You may use samll amounts of soy, barley, or millet flours in place of some of the rye and spelt flours for a silkier cake.  You can also make this a spice cake by reducing the cinnamon to 1/2 teaspoon and adding 1/8 teaspoon each of ginger, allspice, and cloves.

May your holidays be bright, healthy and safe.  Many blessings to you from “Rainbow On Your Plate” and Indigo Rabbit.

There are few who need more evidence that food borne allergies in children are on the rise.  For those of you who enjoy seeing real data to support your suspicions, take a look at this recent piece on HealthDay.com.  

Researchers question whether the data reflects an increase in food allergy awareness or an actual increase in prevalence.  Either way, I still like seeing a growing appreciation of the issues within the scientific community.

Parenthood provides plenty of opportunities for panic.  At least in my house, I’m the panicky one while the hubby is the more “Oh, they’ll be FINE” sort of partner in our duo.  Whatever the dynamic in your house, someone’s going to be on edge on Halloween night if there’s a little lovely running around with any kind of food allergy. 

KidswithFoodAllergies.org has published a fantastic FREE “pamphlet” sharing wonderful tips for surviving this holiday while keeping that parent-of-an-allergic-child stress to a minimum.  Check it out at http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/KFA-Celebrates-Halloween.pdf.

And another tip, Smarties, Dots, and DumDum suckers are all milk, egg, soy, peanut and treenut free.

A recent article in the Los Angeles Times highlights new research suggesting that early exposure to certain allergens could help protect kids from developing food allergies.  Click here to take a look.

A survey administered jointly by the International Food Information Council (IFIC) and the School Nutrition Association (SNA) in 2008 found that 21 % of polled schools did not have a plan to address food allergic reactions.  An additional 13% reported uncertainty in dealing with an allergic response at school.

If you have a child with a food allergy, how do you handle lunch time and other food related activities taking place during the school day?

I was standing at the counter of a favorite local ice cream place yesterday with my kiddos and a man in the line next to me ordered a cone for his son with the words “And my son has a nut allergy”.  The clerk nodded in an understanding way which seemed to give the dad a sense of calm.

I couldn’t help asking how he handles such situations.  I’m wondering if he scrutinizes the scooper’s moves to make sure she uses a cleaned ice cream scoop.  I’m noting to myself that there’s no way he can control what nut contaminants might have already been introduced to his son’s favorite flavor before they even stepped up to the window.

The man smiled, shrugged his shoulders and gripped the Epipen he carries around all the time just in case.  It’s summer; it was hot; he wanted to enjoy an ice cream cone with his son.

For those of you with a nut allergy at home, how do you manage the marvelous trip to the ice cream counter in the summertime???

I know the school year is coming to a fast close, but for those parents who have a little one entering school for the first time in the fall or for those whose kiddo has recently been diagnosed with a food allergy, the start of school (or summer camp, for that matter) can generate serious and legitimate concerns.

Take a look at helpful tips for parents at allergicchild.com.  You’ll also find up-to-date information on the food allergy community and new public policy advances.

I’ve just become aware of a wonderful blog out of Toronto called allergysense.com.  While you’re there take a look at what they’re saying about Indigo Rabbit!

Ming Tsai, owner of Blue Ginger in Wellesley, MA offers us another joy that is safe for those living with food allergies. 

You will love this recipe (along with accompanying video) for his Turkey Fried Rice – how2heroes.com!

Happy Memorial Day – the unofficial start of the long-awaited summer season.  It’s also when we all try to not just imagine, but actually try to execute, a family vacation.

Family travel when a loved one has a food allergy, especially to foreign destinations, does not have to be daunting.  Take a look at this piece on deliciousbaby.com for excellent advice on how to take some of the stress out of travel abroad.

Have a fantastic AND safe trip!