You will see some general information about food allergies ( cited from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
Food allergy is an adverse immune response to a food protein
Milk allergy is a food allergy, an advese immune reaction to one or more of the constituents of milk from any animal(most commonly alpha S1-casein, a protein in cows milk. This milk induced allergic reaction can involve anaphylaxis-potentially life threatening condition.
(I was medically advised to watch for casseinate and whey in products- This is Not medical advice for anyone else. Please contact your own health care provider)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egg_allergy
Egg allergy is a type of food allergy. It is a hypersensitivity to dietary substances from the yolk or white eggs, causing an overreaction of the immune system which may lead to severe physical symptoms for millions of people around the world.
I would like to share with you an allergy tip per week. These tips have been very helpful to me in managing my daughter's food allergies and to help keep them under control.
Week of 2/26-3/4 BE AWARE OF YOUR FOOD ALLERGIES!
Week of 3/4-3/11 ALWAYS READ INGREDIENTS EVEN IF YOU ARE USE TO BUYING A CERTAIN PRODUCT. WHEN THE NUTRITIONIST TOLD ME TO START READING INGREDIENTS, SHE TOLD ME THESE EXACT WORDS: IF AN INGREDIENT CHANGES ON A PRODUCT THAT YOU'RE USE TO BUYING, THAT PRODUCT COMPANY WILL NOT CALL ME AND SAY: MARILYN WE HAVE CHANGED THE INGREDIENTS, WHEN I FIRST HEARD THAT, KINDA FUNNY SOUNDING, I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT STATEMENT.
Week of 3/11-3/18 AVOID CROSS CONTAMINATION. BY DEFINITION CROSS CONTAMINATION IS WHEN WECARRY BACTERIA FROM ONE OBJECT TO ANOTHER OBJECT, FROM ONE OBJECT TO A PERSON, OR FROM PERSON TO PERSON.
http://www.essortment.com/cross-contamination-41360.html
WE ALSO HAVE TO BE REALLY CAREFUL IN OUR ALLERGY FREE WORLD OF CROSS CONTAMINATION. NOTICE IN THE PICTURE BELOW, I'M HOLDING A STORE BOUGHT CHOCOLATE COOKIE THAT CONTAINS MILK, EGGS, NUTS PROCESSED ON EQUIPMENT THAT MAKES PEANUTS.
I'M HOLDING IN MY HAND HOMEMADE BANANA RAISIN BREAD THAT CONTAINS NO EGGS, NO MILK, NO PEANUTS, AND WAS DEFINITELY NOT MADE ON EQUIPMENT THAT CONTAINS PEANUTS. THE LEAST BIT CONTAMINATION COULD START AN ALLERGIC REACTION IN OUR ALLERGY FREE WORLD, SO BE CAREFUL,
Do Not Cross Contaminate.
Week of 3/18-3/25 WHEN IN DOUBT, DON'T DO WITHOUT, ASK QUESTIONS. IF YOU'RE EVER UNSURE OF AN INGREDIENT IN A PRODUCT, YOU CAN ALWAYS CALL ABOUT THAT SPECIFIC PRODUCT AND THE COMPANY WILL GLADLY ASSIST YOU ON QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE CONCERNING ANY INGREDIENTS YOU MAY HAVE CONCERNING FOOD ALLERGIES. It Is Very Well Worth The Phone Call.
Week of 3/25-4/1 WHEN TRAVELING WITH SOMEONE WITH FOOD ALLERGIES, ALWAYS HAVE A PLAN. IF YOU STOP AT CERTAIN FAST FOOD PLACES, BE SURE TO MAKE CONTACT/CALL THE RESTAURANT AND ASK ABOUT THE INGREDIENTS THEY USE, YOU CAN TELL THEM YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT CERTAIN SPECIFIC FOOD ALLERGIES, I HAVE ALWAYS HAD GOOD RESULTS AND FRIENDLY COOPERATION IN THIS SITUATION. SOME HAVE EVEN TAKEN THE TIME AND LET ME SEE THE INGREDIENT LIST WHEN WE GET THERE.
I ALWAYS HAVE A BACK UP PLAN, I TRAVEL WITH DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF FOOD, THAT WAY I KNOW IT IS COMPLETELY SAFE TO GIVE IN OUR ALLERGY FREE WORLD. MAINLY, DON'T SHY AWAY FROM EATING OUT, JUST CHECK IT OUT! DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR YOU, AND WHAT YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH DOING.
Week of 4/1-4/8 It has always been very helpful to keep a separate shelf of goodies in our allergy free world. Keeping a shelf in the pantry just for the allergy free products makes life more simple and easy just knowing there is a shelf with just the allergy free products. Teach your child/children which shelf is strictly allergy free, let them help put groceries up at home, they will learn and have fun knowing their allergy free world is very important, this leaves them something to call their own.
Week of 4/8-4/15 Keep snacks around your household, especially try to keep fresh fruits. Find the fresh fruit that one likes in your allergy free world, it's just easy to grab and a great healthy choice.
Here are just one of the healthy fresh fruit snacks we like to keep in our household. Have some:
Red Delicious Apples!
Week of 4/15-4/22 Let your child/children help write the grocery list. Keeping them involved in helping with the grocery list also helps to keep them aware of the price of certain items. This may inspire them to be on the look out for coupons on that special item they like.
Week of 4/22-4/29 If your child is in school, teach him/her to only eat what is sent with them. I know it's hard, but accepting food from a friend, the friend's food may have some food allergens that your child is allergic to. Tell your child/children that it's ok to say they have food allergies and they can only eat their food. Once again these are tips that has worked for us to help control our allergy free world.
AT THIS POINT I WILL START POSTING MONTHLY TIPS INSTEAD OF WEEKLY TIPS. PLEASE CHECK BACK AT THE END OF EACH MONTH FOR THE MONTHLY TIPS. HOPE THESE TIPS HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL. :)
May 31, 2012
Since summer is just around the corner, school will be out, let's just do a quick review to enjoy a fun, safe summer:
1. Be aware of your food allergies!
2. Always read ingredients!
3. Avoid cross contamination!
4. Ask questions!
5. Have a plan when traveling with someone with food allergies!
6. Keep healthy snacks around!
Have a Great Start to a fun, safe summer! ;)
June 30, 2012
Well, summer is here, traveling, summer vacations, country fairs etc., when out enjoying just the good old summer time, taking safety precautions can lead to a fun, happy enjoyable summer! A safety rule in one's allergy free world would be to carry an Epipen.
An Epipen was prescribed in our allergy free world, if one has been prescribed for your food allergies, learn how to use it, be knowledgeable of what exactly it's used for, if in doubt, ask questions, always best to be better safe, than sorry. Check out this website for some general information that I'm sharing with you:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epinephrine_autoinjector
Remember Always Check With Your Own Healthcare Provider, These Are General Safety Rules That Have Been Very Helpful To Our Allergy Free World Lifestyle.
Enjoy the summer!!
July 31, 2012
Summer is just about to come to an end, school will be starting soon, hope everyone had a fun, safe summer! Now is the time to start thinking about school lunches in your allergy free world. If your child has food allergies and your child eats the cafeteria lunch, check with the school and/or school district's policy how safety concerns are handled in relation to food allergies. Teach your child/children to be aware of their own food allergies if being severed cafeteria lunches.
I would always send Moriah's lunch with her to school. If your child takes his/her lunch to school, make sure lunch boxes, other food items is labeled with their name, remember safety first!
Have a wonderful school year! :)
August 31, 2012
I'm sure school is well on the way by now, hope it is off to a very safe and happy start. During this time of the year fieldtrips are in the plans and and guess what, if your child has some food allergies, he/she can also enjoy some good treats on the fieldtrips. It may take a little more time, a little effort but well worth the time and effort.
You may want to prepare some treats a few nights before the fieldtrip, there are different recipe treats I have listed under 'my recipes' and 'shared recipes' or create a recipe of your own for your allergy free world. The key here is preparation, give yourself enough time to make that tasty, yummy treat. A recipe that I have shared with you: Arthur Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix is very easy, simple and delicious and mainly free of all allergens for our allergy free world.
Have fun with this tip, be safe and Enjoy!
September 30, 2012
I'm sure we're all starting to think about the up coming holidays. Next month, October, many people observe Halloween. Children dress up in costumes, go trick-or-treating and what a fun time of year! Please remember if your child/children go trick-or-treating, play it safe, check candies/treats for your child/children's particular food allergies.
In my household, we mainly make our own treats and have fun passing out treats to trick-or-treaters. If we do go trick-or-treating, we check and double check the treats for food allergies. One can never be to careful, whatever the case may be just play it safe, be careful, have fun! :)
October 31, 2012
The cold and flu season is slowly approaching upon us, we do all we can to stay healthy, eating the right foods, exercising, but living with a specific allergy to eggs one must be extra cautious when thinking about getting that flu shot.
If one has an allergy to eggs, please be sure to check with your doctor/ medical provider before getting a flu shot. Due to my daughter's allergy to eggs, she is advised Not to take the flu shot.
Remember what works for one person may not work for someone else, this is NO Medical Advice, just an important tip for the upcoming flu season.
Stay healthy and well! :)
November 30, 2012
Well, the holidays are here! Hope everyone had a Blessed and Wonderful Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving, a time for counting your blessings, good food, good company and good conversation, and during all the busy activities, those food allergies are still there.
There are ways to definitely work around those food allergies and enjoy all that good food. In my household I plan ahead, write the menu so you can satisfy your allergy free world, write the ingredients from your menu, make that shopping list! My daughter loves helping with the menu and shopping, this gets her involved in her allergy free food world, she also loves to cook with me!
I would say to keep a less stress time for the holidays, get everyone involved as much as possible, a lot of times my family enjoys eating the food allergy free menu. I love to cook, to please to satisfy everyone! Christmas is just around the corner, hope these tips can be helpful while you're planning for this next beautiful holiday!
Please Always Continue To Read The Ingredients, Different Products Change Their Looks, And Sometimes The Ingredients May Change!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!! :)
