Make sure those kiddos get off to a great start at school this year.  Leave those preservative-laden “100 calorie” packs on the shelf and include delicious, healthful, allergy-safe Indigo Rabbit cookies in their lunch boxes instead.

Get yourselves over to Donelan’s Market in Littleton for $1 off on each box of Indigo Rabbit cookies!  The promotion is running through the beginning of school.

I have a friend who is pregnant now and is REALLY concerned about preventing her little one from developing food allergies. Alas, avoiding the big 8 allergens during those 9 months doesn’t make a significant difference.

The American Academy of Pediatrics makes the following recommendations for infants with strong family history of food allergy:

1) Exclusive breast-feeding for 6  months

2) Use of hypoallergenic formulas when not breast-feeding

3) Maternal dietary avoidance of peanuts and tree nuts during lactation and consideration of avoiding eggs, cow’s milk, and fish

4) Delayed introduction of cow’s milk until 12 months of age, eggs until 24 months of age, and peanuts, tree nuts, and fish until the age of 3

5) No maternal dietary restriction during pregnancy, with the possible exception of peanuts.

To read more, visit http://foodallergies.about.com/od/foodallergybasics/f/infantallergies.htm

Free food once again.  Get yourselves to the Whole Foods Market in Medford, MA this Sunday, August 9 from 12:00-3:00 to grab a taste of your favorite Indigo Rabbit cookies.

See you there!

I have just discovered a fantastic cookbook authored by two extraordinary women, Mary Harris and Wilma Nachsin.  It’s called “My Kid’s Allergic to Everything Dessert Cookbook”.  What a lucid title!  (Some used versions are available on Amazon now, revisions available Spring 2010).

In honor of the second of the series (due Fall 2010), “My Kid’s Allergic to Everything Main Meals and Side Dishes Cookbook”, I’d like to share a fantastic dessert recipe from book #1.

Mini-Chocolate Chip Cake

1/4 cup softened butter or softened margarine or mild-tasting oil

1/3 cup water or cow’s milk or soy milk or almond milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup light or dark brown sugar, packed

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon Ener-G Egg Replacer powder

1 cup oat flour

1/2 cup barley flour

1/2 cup rice flour or soy flour

10 ounces mini-chocolate chips or mini-carob chips

Preheat oven to 375.  Grease one 8-inch cake pan.  Combine butter or margarine or oil, water or milk, and vanilla and mix well.  Add brown sugar, baking powder, and Ener-G Egg Replacer powder; mix well.  Add the flour 1/2 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition.  Add mini-chocolate or carob chips; mix well.  Pour into cake pan.

Bake for 30 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.  Cool, frost if desired, serve.

We want your feedback!  Is there an allergy-friendly recipe you’ve been searching for?  Or a favorite allergy-free recipe worth sharing?  Mary and Wilma are working on the next edition - YOUR comments, questions and feedback with have an impact!

We know calcium is a must when it comes to building strong bones.  Unfortunately, many kids, teens and adults aren’t getting enough.

What if I can’t stand the taste of milk?  What is I’m lactose intolerant?  What if I milk allergy?  Will milk products make me fat?

Learn clear answers to these and many other questions, plus a guide to calcium rich foods, at http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_fit/nutrition/calcium.html.

Let’s all get our bones safer – even those of us over 30 who are watching bone density!

Come on down to the Whole Foods Market in Providence on Waterman Street on Sunday, July 19 from 12:00-3:00.  Indigo Rabbit will be there with free cookie samples from 1:00-3:00 as part of the annual block party!

They’re closing down the street and featuring RI Rock Gym’s rock wall, watermelon eating contests and so much more.  We hope to see you there!

If you don’t find yourself in Providence on Sunday, come eat FREE cookies at Roche Bros, West Roxbury on Friday, July 17  from 4:00-6:00 and at the Whole Foods Market in Hingham on Saturday, July 18 from 12:00-2:00.

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!