If I Had An Allergic Reaction...

Click the link below to watch a very informative video of Dr. Robert Wood, MD, talk about what to do if your child has an allergic reaction.

http://www.insidermedicine.ca/archives/If_I_Had_-_An_Allergic_Reaction_-_Dr_Robert_Wood_MD_1951.aspx

A Special Video from Trace Adkins and The Doctors

Country music star Trace Adkins has been a wonderful advocate for children with food allergies. His little girl, Brianna, is allergic to nuts, dairy and eggs.

Party Tips for Children with Food Allergies, So All Guests Feel Included


** elmo cake is egg, dairy, peanut, tree nut free**

Over 12 million people in the United States have to choose their foods carefully because they have severe food allergies. One out of every
twenty five kids has food allergies. Strictly avoiding allergens is the
only way to stay safe. Food allergies should not hold anyone,
especially kids, back from having fun and feeling included!

If it is your child with the food allergy or one of the other children attending, there are steps you can take for a safe and inclusive party:


Communicate with parents and guests directly in advance. Being prepared
as best you can, will eliminate a stressful situation during the party.

Work together so everyone feels safe and included. Understand what
foods must be avoided, and which are safe so there are no surprises.

Being prepared by speaking directly with your guest or parent will make
you a better host. Ask for assistance if necessary, but do all you can to
make your guest feel "welcome, expected and included".

Many times, people with food allergies are served last because their meals
must be prepared separately. You will really touch someone's heart if you
go the extra mile to make sure this does not happen!

While planning your party, ask your guest's parents for delicious,
safe menu ideas.

Welcome your guests with food allergies to bring along their own food,
and encourage them to bring enough to be shared. This way your other
guests will learn that allergy-free foods can be delicious, too.

Make sure your guests do not trade food. When guests leave and return
to their seats, ask that they do just that -- return to their own seats!

If a child is food allergic, make sure a responsible adult is watching out
for that guests' safety during the party.

There are recipes and bakeries that can make cake with-out dairy, eggs, nuts and even wheat. Do some research, and even some experimenting ahead of time.

Likewise there are "safe" candies, and non food related goodies that can be used as party favors.

Anaphylaxis More Common Than Previously Thought

According to a Mayo Clinic study published this month, Anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening reaction, is twice as common as has been previously reported.

"Based on the new study, it’s estimated that food allergies cause 50,000 emergency room visits per year, with overall anaphylaxis cases approaching 150,000 annually."

http://www.foodallergy.org/media/press_releases/anaphylaxisstudy.html

Wyatt Decker, M.D., the lead author of the study, discusses anaphylaxis and the study findings in the video below.

Gingerbread House Alternatives

Whether your gingerbread house looks like an elaborate Gingerbread Manor…


Or more like a cozy shack made from graham crackers…

Who doesn’t enjoy spending a fun-filled afternoon of quality time with their children building a gingerbread house every year? That is, of course, unless your little one is allergic to some or all of the goodies that go into baking and decorating that house! How about thinking outside that cookie (or graham cracker) box and tying one of these alternatives?

Twinkle-Kids makes a felt Gingerbread House Kit that includes “over 60 felt candy decorations that magically stick to a plain brown felt house” that you and your little ones can decorate over and over again.

http://www.twinkle-kids.com/GINGERBREAD%20HOUSE.html

Oriental Trading offers many different Gingerbread House ideas to choose from including a foam kit, a felt kit that requires sewing, a 3-D Gingerbread House made of card stock paper, or even a mini GB house ornament kit.
http://www.orientaltrading.com/ui/search/processRequest.do?Ntt=gingerbread+house&requestURI=searchMain&Ntk=all&Ntx=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&N=0

Or maybe you still have your heart set on making your gingerbread house out of actual gingerbread cookies? A&J Bakery now offers Egg, Dairy, and Nut-Free Gingerbread House kits! You can order the kit to put together and decorate yourself or even order a predecorated house.
http://www.aandjbakery.net/Gingerbread_House.html

And if you are looking for a Gluten-Free option, I’ve heard The Sensitive Baker offers a kit just for you! You may need to email to ask specifically for it though.
http://store.thesensitivebaker.com/

If you’d prefer to bake the gingerbread yourself. Here is a wheat-free recipe using Pamela’s Products Wheat-Free Bread Mix.
http://www.pamelasproducts.com/recipes/gingerbreadhouse07.html
For an egg-free gingerbread house icing you might want to try the following recipe. Boil together 4½ cups sugar, 1 cup water, and 1/3 cup light corn syrup until hardball stage (until golden brown and when you drop a little in cold water it turns hard). It won't give you the "snowy" look, but it will hold the house together!


No matter what type of gingerbread house you choose to build, spending quality time with your family is really all that matters. Enjoy!

CD about Food Allergies

Kyle Dine is a Canadian musician who is a bright star in the flourishing "allergy music" genre. His CD - You Must Be Nuts! contains 14 tracks that are meant to educate and empower those dealing with food allergies. His live shows raise school wide allergy awareness through his fun, interactive and zany puppet filled performances!

I am the President of the Food Allergy Association of Wisconsin. We are a group of over 300 families in the State of Wisconsin who want to talk about life with Life threatening food allergies. I am hoping to meet others that also live with food allergies and hear what works, doesn't work, and what great products you have found to make life a bit easier.