I have celiac and am gluten-free, so I knew I could eat it, but I wondered about my son.  I shared my concerns with Charles and he was more than happy to explain Luce’s products to me.  Fortunately, most (if not all) of Luce’s products are gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free, and soy-free.  How’s that for being allergen friendly?

My only reservation was that Luce’s sometimes includes chia seeds to top the bread with.  Charles was quick to point out that the chia seed topping is optional and included white rice flour for me to top the bread with in its place.  If nothing else, I’ve been impressed with Luce’s customer service!

My bread mixes came in the mail on Monday and today I decided to give them a whirl.  After all, how can you not get excited about allergy-free bread that you only have to mix with water to bake?  And there aren’t any pans to clean.  Now, THAT’S my kind of cooking! 

This morning I made the Italian and Sour Dough Bread Loaves.  As both mixes only require that you mix with water, stir, form into a loaf, and smooth, I figured I would bake both loaves at one time.  Once the loaves are assembled they are baked in a parchment-paper type bag, leaving you with no messy pans to clean.  I’ll admit I was concerned about putting the bags directly on the oven rack, but they cooked the bread beautifully and made no mess in the oven.

When the timer dings, the directions have you place the bread loaves on a cooling wire rack and let cool before serving.  The smell and my hunger got the better of me and I pinched a little here and there to sample.

Both loaves were a little crispier than I personally like my bread, but in my opinion that is more of a personal taste problem than a product issue.  Next time I bake the loaves, I will most likely try reducing the baking time by a few minutes.

The Italian Bread Loaf tasted totally authentic and savory and would be perfect if paired with a lasagna or pasta-based dish.  Although the outer crust of the loaf was crispy, the inside was perfectly moist and looked and tasted like the real gluten-filled bread I remember.  The Sour Dough Bread Loaf yielded the same delicious results.

Bottom Line:  This product is indeed something I would recommend for families with multiple food allergies.  You might need to bake a loaf or two to cook the crust to the consistency of your liking, but it will be well worth it.  I also preferred the bread hot out of the oven, but it tastes great when warmed in the microwave as well.

Thanks to Charles and the folks at Luce’s Gluten-Free Artisan Bread for making a tasty and allergy-friendly product!

*Disclaimer:  Luce’s sent me three loaves of bread to bake and review.  The above strictly reflects my personal views only.  No compensation was provided.*

Many thanks to Mike Lade, Volunteer Chair of the FARE Walk for Food Allergy in Houston for the below update on Houston happenings!  Please take a minute to scroll through and see how you can help!  You can even support or walk with The Food Allergy Mom Team!

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On THIS Saturday, May 18th, your Houston FARE Volunteer Committee is holding special outreach events to help promote awareness.  Please stop by and see us at one of the below locations where we will be handing out save-the-date postcards for the walk, talking about our 2013 FARE Houston Kid Poster Contest, and handing out coupons and samples (while they last) from Enjoy Life Foods:

• Pearland – Kroger Signature Store (11003 Shadow Creek Pkwy at McHard., Pearland, TX 77584 – Phone: 281- 669-1230) – Join us from 9am to 1pm
• The Woodlands – Red Robin Gourmet Burgers (19433 Interstate 45 South, Shenandoah, TX 77385 – Phone: 281-465-9896)– Join us from 12pm-2pm
• Tomball – Red Robin Gourmet Burgers(22455 Highway 249,  Houston, TX 77070 – Phone: 281-251-7033)  –  Join us from 11am to 1pm.

If you can’t make it, but want to pick up a stack of Save-The-Date postcards, please contact Mike Lade at mike@thelades.com.

Register Now For the Houston FARE Walk For Food Allergy!

Commemorate Food Allergy Awareness Week by doing one of the most supportive things you can do for the cause – registering now for the 2013 Walk.  Registration is open.  Register today.

Act Now to Recruit Your School to Form a Walk Team:

With school winding down, now is the perfect time to recruit a school team before letting out for the summer.  Here are some tips!

• Take a stack of Save-The-Date postcards to your school nurse.  As school ends and the nurse is returning Epinephrine to parents, ask the nurse to hand parents a postcard about the walk.
• Even better…. Work with your nurse to set up a walk team for your school and encourage food allergy families from your school to register on the team.

Bullying and Food Allergy – New PSA and Resources:

• Watch the new FARE Public Service Announcement about food allergy any bullying at: http://www.foodallergy.org/its-not-a-joke
• If you want to find some cool images to share on social media, check out: http://www.foodallergy.org/its-not-a-joke/share

Important Challenge – 4 Things to Do Now:

I attended the FARE Leaders’ Summit recently.  One of the speakers had a slide that offered the following:

It could be that you have nothing to offer.

Or it could be that you are the exact right key for a specific lock of change which will remain tightly shut without your part.

Which is it?”

We are all busy.  That is a given.  But what is more important than keeping our kids safe and finding a cure?  Support FARE’s mission – to ensure the safety and inclusion of individuals with food allergies while relentlessly seeking a cure.

What can you do to help?  What will you do to help?  Start with four things:

1. Register for the Walk today – go to www.foodallergywalk.org/houston
2. While you register to Walk, make the 1^st contribution to your team.
3. Send an email to your friends and family and simply ask them to join your team and donate to your team.
4. Last, if you are not a FARE Member, JOIN TODAY.  We need a larger common voice.  Join us at https://www.foodallergy.org/membership.

If you are hungry to do more – to be the exact right key that is need – simply reply to this email and we can help find volunteer opportunities that fit with your interests!

All my best on behalf of the Houston Volunteer Committee, Mike

Mike Lade, Volunteer Chair

FARE Walk for Food Allergy in Houston

Thanks so much to Mike and Nancy for this fabulous post!

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A Guest Blog Post by Mike Spigler, Vice President of Education of FARE

Greetings! I’d like to thank Kimberly for the opportunity to be a guest blogger during this momentous week – the 16^th Annual Food Allergy Awareness Week!

We’ve come a long way in raising awareness of this potentially deadly disease that affects 15 million Americans, including 1 in 13 children. But there is still so much work to be done to increase understanding of food allergy as a serious public health issue.

As the vice president of education at FARE, I have the opportunity to be a part of a growing movement to ensure the safety and inclusion of all those affected by food allergies and anaphylaxis.

I’d like to share with you just a few of the things we’re working on this year:

• We’ve just wrapped up our first Food Allergy Conference in Oak Brook, Ill., and will be hosting our second spring conference in Arlington, Va., on May 18. If you’re on the west coast, I hope to see you in Anaheim, Calif. on June 1. Every conference is packed with sessions intended to help you live well with food allergies. If you haven’t yet attended a conference and you’re nearby, I encourage you to register today!
• This week, we launched a national public awareness campaign aimed at raising awareness about the potentially life-threatening nature of food allergies and curbing food allergy bullying – a serious issue that is becoming more common and has potentially dangerous consequences. I encourage all of you to watch and share the “It’s Not a Joke” PSA (available in 30- and 90-second versions). We have already gotten tremendous feedback on this campaign. It’s a moving piece, intended to spark discussion and help others understand the impact of their actions.
• We will be launching a series of educational webinars later in the year, with guest experts on wide-ranging topics. FARE members will have the opportunity to receive priority placement for live webinars, which will later be archived on our website.

These are just a handful of the exciting activities on the horizon this year at FARE. Stay tuned for more exciting news throughout the year. We also hope you’ll also join us at a FARE Walk for Food Allergy near you!

Mike Spigler

Vice President of Education, FARE

No caregiver can ever REALLY say that they know everything there is to know about food allergies because the learning curve is ever-changing.  In addition to a FARE membership, one of my favorite ways to continually educate myself and stay connected is to follow the blogs of fellow food allergy moms.

Today, I’m beyond thrilled and so very proud to present to you one of my favorite bloggers, Lauren of Our Life as an Epi-Family.

Seriously, LOVE this talented lady!  Her positive attitude and faith-based encouragement are positively contagious and a delight to read!

Please grab yourself a nice, cool glass of lemonade, take a seat, and settle in for a good read.  Then be sure to click on over to Lauren’s blog and share the love!

Thank you, Lauren, for helping spread the food allergy love this week and all year long!

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A Bowl Full of Lemons

I’m sure you’re familiar with the phrase, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”

I’ve always loved the image that this phrase creates, especially because it involves lemons.  I love lemons!   They are the most beautiful yellow color and a totally unique shape.  Have you ever drawn a face on one?  Do it, I guarantee it will make you smile!  I love bright colors and I always try to surround myself with them {tastefully, of course}.  It’s probably why I love fresh flowers so much.  Their vibrant colors awaken my soul and with one look can turn any bad day into a good one.  Just writing about the color of lemons, I find myself grinning from ear to ear.

As mentioned above, this phrase is one that I’ve always liked but up until a few years ago {2 ½ to be exact}, it didn’t truly resonate with me.  You see, 2 ½ years ago our food allergy journey began.  My oldest, now four, was eating scrambled eggs for the first time.  As he does with nearly everything he eats, he was dipping each bite into the 7^th food group known as Ketchup, so his face was already covered in a red mess.  But it wasn’t long before I noticed the red welts that were beginning to appear around his mouth.  I hurried over and cleaned him off and sure enough his whole face, hands and wrists were swollen and covered in large, raised hives.  He seemed okay aside from the itchy hives.  I quickly gave him some Benadryl as instructed by my pediatrician and proceeded to watch him for the next few hours.  All was good.  It wasn’t long after that we were able to see a pediatric allergist and an egg allergy was confirmed.  I was told what to watch for, shown how to use an EpiPen and sent on my way.  I was a bit overwhelmed but I thought to myself,

“How hard can egg be to avoid? This isn’t too bad.  After all, {cue the Destiny’s Child music} I’m a survivor. I’m gonna make it.  I will survive.  Keep on surviving.”

What I didn’t know was that it was only going to be a matter of months before my youngest {8 weeks old at the time of my oldest’s diagnosis} was going to have an anaphylactic reaction that would change my life forever.  To brief you on my youngest’s first 8 months of life, I tried to supplement with formula when he was four months old as he was still demanding to nurse every 3 hours.  We used regular {dairy based} formula and everything the formula touched swelled and he was soon covered in hives from head to toe.  Five weeks later we tried a soy-based formula.  He took down the whole bottle but shortly after began projectile vomiting followed by head to toe hives.  With each newfound allergy, I continued to nurse and removed the new allergen from my diet.  By the time he was eight months old, I had removed dairy, soy, wheat, gluten, fish, shellfish and egg from my diet.

On that fateful day of my youngest’s first anaphylactic reaction, I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch and rinsed my hands but didn’t think to wash them with soap and water.  Not long after, it was time for my youngest to nurse.  After he finished I began to notice that his face appeared to be swelling.  Soon his body was bright red and the hives were creeping down his torso.  I quickly called 911 while I fumbled with the Benadryl bottle.  As I went to administer the medicine he began to gasp for air.  The paramedics were at our door in no time at all and he was a bit better.  He was still bright red, crying and covered in hives but he appeared to be breathing okay.  We were incredibly blessed because there have been a number of families in the past few months whose stories ended quite differently.

Needless to say, after my youngest’s diagnosis, the egg allergy that my oldest son had truly seemed like a walk in the park in comparison.  My youngest was diagnosed at 10 months old with a dairy, soy, and peanut allergy.  We were also told to avoid tree nuts, fish and shellfish.  Since that diagnosis, we’ve also added all tree nuts, including coconut and sesame.  I’d like to say that we’ve been reaction free but that’s just not the case.  Both boys have had a pretty severe reaction since their diagnosis.  My youngest’s most recent reaction to sesame was the scariest yet, one I relive from time to time in my dreams.

Following my youngest’s first anaphylactic reaction and his food allergy diagnosis, I found myself truly understanding what it meant for life to hand you lemons.  I had more lemons than I truly knew what to do with.  The sourness was seeping into every cut that I had and caused me to cry out in pain.

“Why God, why?  Why me?  Why my family?  Why my precious little men?”

I soon found myself wallowing in my circumstances {food allergies} and fears {loss of a child}.  Just a few short months prior I was ready to tackle the food allergy diagnosis with gumption and optimism.  Where was my “I’m a survivor” attitude?  Where had that gone?  This wasn’t me.  I’d forgotten just how good lemonade was on a hot summer’s day.  So recognizing that I wasn’t alone on this journey, I decided to roll up my sleeves, put an apron around my waist and dancin’ shoes on my feet because God teaches us to be joyful in all things {1 Thessalonians 5:16-18}.

I taught myself how to become an expert food label reader, I converted old, favorite recipes into allergy free ones, I found new ways to label foods in the fridge and pantry to help keep my little men safe and I slowly began to trust others to care for them as well – allowing myself to slowly venture out for a little, much needed “me” time.  It wasn’t long before I found the joy that was once lost.  Helping other families following a food allergy diagnosis learn to read labels, grocery shop and cook was the chicken soup for my soul.  What about you?  Are you stuck in the sourness or have you begun to taste the sweetness that’s waiting for you?

“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” It’s more of a mantra for me now.  A phrase that I’m dying to put up in my kitchen.  A constant reminder that things in this life may be sour but we shouldn’t let the source of the sourness define us.  Instead, we should look for the sweet moments and victories that lie in the mix.  Because when carefully stirred together – it becomes delicious lemonade remembered by everyone who stop by to have a taste.

A little taste of the “lemonade” that we’ve created…Our famous Mint Chip Chocolate Cake

No caregiver can ever REALLY say that they know everything there is to know about food allergies because the learning curve is ever changing.  In addition to a FARE membership, one of my favorite ways to continually educate myself and stay connected is to follow the blogs of fellow food allergy moms.

Today, I am honored to share a guest post from Jenny Kales, a freelance writer and author of the blog The Nut-Free Mom.  Jenny has been writing about food allergies and sharing her journey with other moms and caregivers for several years now.  I am so excited to share her guest post today about the importance of being a “plugged-in” member of the food allergy community.

Thank you, Jenny!

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By Jenny Kales

“I feel alone.” That’s the number one thing that I hear from parents who have just begun navigating the world with a child who has life-threatening food allergies. I understand that feeling. In fact, it was that sentiment of feeling alone and wanting to connect that prompted me to begin writing my blog “The Nut-Free Mom.”

My family’s food allergy story is probably similar to many of yours. When my daughter was four years old, she ate one bite of a peanut butter sandwich and suffered an anaphylactic reaction that quickly became life-threatening. It was a truly frightening experience.

I was lucky that my allergist pointed me towards FAAN (now FARE). This group provided a huge amount of information and support to me at a time when I had a lot of questions. I also discovered Kids with Food Allergies Foundation and their corresponding web site, another great source of info.

In the early days of dealing with my daughter’s life-threatening food allergies, no one in my circle was in my same situation, but I knew others had to be out there. Being a writer by profession, writing about food allergies seemed like a natural way to connect with others while also spreading awareness. I began with Chicago Parent magazine who published my article about navigating play dates and parties.  Then, to connect even more directly with food allergy parents and inspired by the struggles of my daughter, I decided to start a blog.

Eventually, I found readers who had their own food allergy blogs, and we became a source of support and information to new food allergy parents, as well as to each other. All of us can now benefit from a devoted parent-to-parent network of information and support that was unavailable to me when I first started writing my blog five years ago. The many writers, readers and advocates with online forums continue to be a wonderful source of food allergy news, recipes and product info for both me and my fellow food allergy parents. Perhaps most important of all, connecting online allows us to find helpful emotional support about the sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking situations we find ourselves in as parents of kids with life-threatening food allergies.

Especially rewarding to me is when readers tell me that the information and support I’ve shared has helped give them courage as they approached their schools, family and friends with their food allergy needs. But it’s a two-way street. Hearing from others – readers, other bloggers, food allergy advocacy groups – gives me a boost too, because every time I’m faced with a difficult situation with regard to food allergies, I know I’m not the only one.

Raising a nut-free kid in a nutty world is not easy, but it certainly helps to know you’re not alone. Thanks to all of you who have helped create this online parent support network! And thanks to Kimberly for hosting me today on The Food Allergy Mom.

It seems as though this week holds different meanings for different people.  Some celebrate their family or friend living with food allergies and pay acknowledgement to the struggles they face each day.  Some are fundraising for their local FARE walk so there will be more funding for education, advocacy, and research.  Some are taking the opportunity to simply educate others about food allergies.

For my family, we are celebrating my son and his success at not letting food allergies define him!  He lives every day with a smile and seldom, if ever, complains about his diagnosis.  Our family has registered The Food Allergy Mom Team for the Houston FARE walk and are already fundraising.  Want to support us?  Please make a donation or register to walk with us here.

What will you do this Food Allergy Awareness Week?  Need a few ideas?

• Register for your local FARE walk
• Make a donation to support a friend walking for FARE
• Make a new allergy-friendly recipe for your loved one
• Write your state representatives to let them know where you stand with food allergy legislation
• Give your family/friend with food allergies a hug and tell them how proud you are

Want to educate others with some fast food allergy facts?  Check out the below statistics and share with others.

• 1 in every 13 children has a food allergy. That’s two in every classroom.
• Every 3 min, a food allergy reaction sends someone to the ER – that’s more than 200,000 visits per year
• 8 foods account for 90% of all reactions: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish and shellfish www.foodallergy.org/allergens
• Food allergies can begin at any age and affect children and adults of all races and ethnicity. Learn more: www.foodallergy.org
• There was an 18% increase in food allergy from 1997-2007. Learn more about research on new therapies www.foodallergy.org/research

Have a fabulous idea you want to share with others?  Please comment below or on our facebook page to share with the food allergy community.

Stay tuned for a wonderful guest post on Tuesday from one of my fellow food allergy bloggers!

But for today, I’m writing a personal post (something I don’t do very often) that has been on my heart for a while and I’m finally putting my thoughts to paper.  I hope you’ll stick with me long enough to read it all the way through.

Mother’s Day is fast approaching and I’ve had quite a few fellow mothers on my mind:

• A mother whose three-year-old has been diagnosed with leukemia and has quite literally lived at the hospital for the past two months while chemo ravaged her son’s little body causing complications no doctor anticipated
• A mother whose sweet baby unexpectedly left her arms far too early to go live with the Father in Heaven
• A mother who has been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and is defying the normal outcome of chemo with her amazingly positive attitude
• Mothers of the injured and dead from the terrorist attack in Boston
• Mothers of the injured and dead from the devastating plant explosion in West, Texas
• Mothers who bear unthinkable family, medical, emotional, and financial burdens every single day

As a whole, it’s overwhelming to think about much less to imagine experiencing it first hand.

It’s not something I’m proud of, but I’ll admit to sometimes getting so caught up in my own burdens that I can’t see past my own problems to the mother standing next to me who silently carries the weight of the world on her small shoulders.  She shouldn’t have to carry them alone.

This Mother’s Day week, do something to honor all mothers.  Be simply PRESENT and AWARE of those around you.  Take time to comfort a fellow mother whose Mother’s Day won’t be filled with the joy of her child’s or her own health.  Say a prayer of comfort for those who have lost a precious child and miss their hugs and kisses every day.  Celebrate with a mother that has endured a hardship and is now crossing the finish line.  Hug your own babies tight and thank God for blessing you with their little hands and hearts.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you.  May your lives be filled with much love and laughter and may you be a source of love and laughter for others.

Blessings,

Kimberly

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. (NLT)

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Mylan Specialty L.P. Announces 25th Anniversary Celebration of EpiPen^® (epinephrine) Auto-Injector

Marketer of EpiPen^® Auto-Injector, the No. 1 prescribed epinephrine auto-injector, announces additional efforts to increase anaphylaxis awareness, preparedness and access to treatment for those affected by life-threatening allergies

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., April 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ – Mylan Specialty L.P., the fully integrated specialty pharmaceutical business of Mylan Inc. (Nasdaq: MYL), is celebrating the 25^th anniversary of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of the EpiPen^® (epinephrine) Auto-Injector. This innovative epinephrine auto-injector, the first of its kind, was developed for the emergency treatment of severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). Today, with more than 46 million EpiPen Auto-Injectors dispensed, it remains the No. 1 prescribed epinephrine auto-injector.

In recognition of this important milestone, Mylan Specialty recently introduced the 25^th anniversary “$0 Co-Pay Offer.” As is consistent with Mylan’s commitment to providing people access to high quality medicine, this co-pay card is available to both cash-paying and commercially insured patients. Certain restrictions apply. Additional information about the co-pay card is available online at EpiPen.com, and the coupon is available to patients through physicians across the country. The “$0 Co-Pay Offer” is valid for up to three EpiPen 2-Pak^® cartons or EpiPen Jr 2-Pak^® cartons per prescription, as patients may need to access two EpiPen or EpiPen Jr^® (epinephrine) Auto-Injectors in multiple locations. Eligible patients can use the offer with an unlimited number of prescriptions until the coupon offer expires on December 31, 2013.

“Mylan has a long-standing dedication to increasing access to epinephrine auto-injectors through innovative access solutions such as the EpiPen4Schools program, and we’re pleased to continue that commitment by introducing our $0 Co-Pay Offer,” said Heather Bresch , CEO of Mylan.

To read more of this press release, please click here.

When I’m making my own pizza, I prefer to use the Kinnikinnick frozen pizza crusts.  If I’m making a pizza from scratch, you can count me in for King Arthur’s Gluten-Free mix.  For delivery, despite all the critics, I love a cheesy gluten-free Domino’s Pizza.  But a really good frozen pizza always seems to elude me, except for maybe a Conte’s pizza every now and then.

There is a new Trader Joe’s next to my husband’s office, and he stops by occasionally to grab a few of their “awesome” granola bars for himself.  Usually, that trip turns out pretty good for me because he’s nice enough to bring me some kind of gluten-free treat!

This time, he brought home a Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Pizza and simply said, it was a-m-a-z-i-n-g!

It even comes out of the oven looking like a gluten-filled pizza.  The cheese melts nicely but the pizza isn’t too greasy.  The texture of the crust is fabulous…chewy, doughy, and full of flavor.  I also like that the pizza serves four pieces which is enough for one person to stretch out over two meals and not have tons extra that they have to eat or freeze right away.  (I’m the queen of baking and freezing, but pizza never seems quite the same after it’s been baked and then put in the freezer.)

Although this pizza isn’t low on fat or calories and can put a dent in the diet, if it’s a tastes-like-the-real-thing grocery store pizza you’re craving, I highly recommend Trader Joe’s gluten-free version!

What is your favorite delivery, grocery store, or from scratch pizza?

FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) is the newly formed food allergy power house organization.  The new entity was formed as the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network and Food Allergy Initiative organizations merged.

If you cruise through my blog, it won’t take you long to find out that I was a huge fan of the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network.  And after learning more about FARE and their mission and vision for the food allergy community, it’s “fair” to say that I’m a FARE fanatic!

The following is from a FARE news release:  “FARE’s mission is to ensure the safety and inclusion of individuals with food allergies while relentlessly seeking a cure.  We will serve this mission by focusing our work in four key areas:  Providing evidence-based education and resources; Undertaking advocacy at all levels of government; Increasing awareness of food allergies as a serious public health issue; and Funding world-class research that advances treatment and understanding of the disease.”

Now that’s one heck of a mission statement, but I think my favorite blurb out of the whole thing is “while relentlessly seeking a cure.”  I love their use of “relentless.”  As a mom, that’s exactly how I fancy myself when it comes to advocating for my child.  The folks at FARE get food allergies, they get kids, and they get their parents.

I joined yesterday and have to say that I LOVE the membership benefits and that there’s a price point for everyone.  Options include a $40 individual membership, an $80 family membership, or a $100 research advocate membership.

Because the individual and family memberships are so similar, I’ll do a quick summary of individual memberships here.

• Inside website navigation tips
• Quarterly newsletter
• Discount on subscription to Allergic Living magazine
• Discount on FARE purchases
• Invitations to FARE’s regional and local events
• Discounts on allergy-specific products from their corporate partners
• Special registration rates for FARE conferences
• FARE member wristband
• FARE membership card

I mean, really!  How can you go wrong?  You can’t!

Regardless of if you’re new to food allergies, have someone in your family with food allergies, or just want to learn more about them…visit FARE today and become a member!  No really...join NOW and don’t waste another minute!!!

Easter eggs // Ostereier (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you’re ten or under around Easter, you can bet there will be at least one egg hunt in the weeks preceding the religious holiday.  For families with food allergies, Easter can bring food-related fear because of all the allergy-laden candy that fills those plastic eggs.  So what is The Food Allergy Mom to do?

Here are a few suggestions to make your Easter more egg-citing for the whole family!

Allergy Friendly Easter Candies

How To Dye An Egg If You Have Egg Allergies

Allergy-Friendly Easter Egg Hunts

Happy Easter!

~John 3:16

Today’s guest blogger is Jilly Lagasse, co-author of The Gluten-Free Table with her sister Jessie Lagasse.

And, yes, these lovely ladies are Emeril Lagasse’s daughters.  Jilly and I have corresponded a number of times by email in the past few months and I’m amazed at her devotion to sharing her personal story and delicious gluten-free recipes with others.  Her heart is as warm as the recipe for jambalaya she shares below!

Instead of wasting your time with a big intro here, I’m just going to turn it over to Jilly and let her inspire you!

Thank you, Jilly and Jessie, for all that you do!  I am honored to have you guest posting here at The Food Allergy Mom and can’t wait to make this allergy-friendly jambalaya!

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A Special Note from Jilly Lagasse:

“I have been gluten free and loving life since my diagnosis in 2004. I wasn’t properly diagnosed with Celiac (or Coeliac as it’s spelled in the U.K.) Disease until I moved abroad to London, England and registered with a new doctor there. He ran through the usual medical hoopla and queries before asking if I had any concerns or symptoms he should be aware of. I had been ill for years with terrible tummy troubles, hair loss and a lack of energy that could rival lethargy on most good days! After explaining these symptoms he immediately said “Oh dear, it sounds like you have Celiac Disease or at least a strong allergy to wheat and gluten…..we’ll do a simple blood test and check.” All I could think of was…..”Me… A disease?! And to….wheat…like the flour? How bizarre….he must be mistaken.”

A simple blood test came back positive only days later and from that moment on I have strictly followed and adapted to a gluten and wheat free diet. For me, the diagnosis was gratifying. A relief to know that there really WAS something wrong with me….I wasn’t just going mad. Then the relief quickly turned into fear and anxiety……what will I possibly be able to eat now? Will I ever be able to eat in a restaurant again? How?! How CAN’T I, for the whole of my life food and restaurants are all I knew growing up with my father, Chef Emeril Lagasse.

He has instilled in us that one of life’s true joys for myself and my family has always been food….the shopping for it, the preparing it with love, the joy and pleasure you get from sharing it with the ones you love. The thought of all of this vanishing from my life became too much and for the first few days after my diagnosis I didn’t accept it! It felt like someone had stolen my baby blanket and everything I took comfort in was gone!

After talking to my sister on the phone, who had been diagnosed with a gluten sensitivity in 2001, she made me see it as something to be excited about.  The thought of actually feeling better and perhaps having a bit of energy was enough of an incentive for me to give this whole gluten-free thing a go. That is how we both looked at our diagnoses, that it isn’t a curse or hindrance, but a wonderful new culinary journey that you get to embark upon and one that should leave you feeling inspired and excited, not debilitated with fear and reaching for the nearest slice of white bread!

After just 2 weeks of following a strict gluten-free diet, my whole life began to change….I felt alive!! I felt energy, happy, healthy, my hair even started to grow a bit!! Things that I hadn’t felt or experienced in years. I must admit I was VERY lucky to have been living in a country at the time where Celiac Disease was a much more known about, researched and an aware topic and medical concern. It seemed like every grocery store I went into be it London or Berlin, there was a wide variety and more often than not a whole dedicated section to gluten and wheat free products. Europe was and had been much farther ahead of us here in America with that.

But, I can’t tell you just HOW wonderful it is to now be able to go into pretty much any grocery store in America and to be able to find Gluten Free products now and have all food properly labeled as such!!! Gone are the days of meticulously reading through each and every label!  Just in the past few years I think it has come on leaps and bounds here. People are more and more aware of what they’re putting into their bodies and making the connection that YES….that bread might BE the reason you’re feeling so horribly. The more awareness we can spread the more doctors will also be forced to adapt their thought process and immediately correlate certain symptoms with possible food allergies and the more people will be properly diagnosed!

It is a very exciting time in the gluten-free community and one that we’ve all been waiting for for years! I think and hope that we will see much more to come in the future with advances on possible treatments. This isn’t a fad diet. This is a very real and serious medical condition. And with people’s help we can keep spreading the message and the Gluten Free Love!! GO TEAM GLUTEN FREE!!! wooohooo”

JESSIE AND JILLY’S JAZZY JAMBALAYA

(Recipe from The Gluten-Free Table available at book retailers everywhere)

Serves 8 – 10

PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER

For anyone raised in Louisiana, this dish is pure New Orleans nostalgia in a pot. All the smells and tastes bring back wonderful memories of being children, attending Mardi Gras Parades and warming up with a bowl of hot jambalaya when we got home. If Andouille or Cajun Sausage is not available to you, substitute any gluten-free smoked sausage you can find, such as Polish Kielbasa. The colors of this dish, let alone the smells, will surely entice you to eat on up!

INGREDIENTS

•             ¼ cup olive oil
•             1 LB. fresh raw shrimp, medium-sized, cleaned, peeled and de-veined
•             2 tsp. Emeril’s Original Essence Seasoning
•             1 ½ LB. Gluten free Andouille Cajun sausage, sliced into bite size rounds
•             1 cup yellow onion, chopped
•             1 cup celery, chopped
•             1 cup red or yellow bell pepper, chopped
•             3 cloves garlic, minced
•             3 bay leaves
•             ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
•             2 tbsp. fresh thyme leaves, roughly chopped
•             ½ tsp. oregano
•             6 Ounce can of tomato paste sauce
•             14 Ounce can of diced or chopped tomatoes
•             1 tsp. celery salt
•             4 cups vegetable stock or water
•             2 cups uncooked white rice
•             salt and pepper to taste
•             4 stalks green onions, finely sliced for garnish

STEPS

1.     In a large 10 Quart soup pan or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium heat.

2.     In a small bowl, combine the shrimp and essence seasoning and coat all sides evenly. Set aside.

3.     Add the garlic and sausage to the pot and cook for 5 minutes to allow the sausage to brown.

4.     Add the onions, celery, bell peppers, bay leaves, cayenne, thyme, oregano and the tomato paste to the pot. Stir well, turn heat down to low and simmer for 5 minutes.

5.     Add in the diced tomatoes, celery salt, stock, salt and pepper to taste into the pot. Stir well and cook a further 5 minutes.

6.     Add the seasoned shrimp to the pot, cover and simmer for 3 – 4 minutes.

7.     Add the rice to the pot, stir well and bring heat up to a gentle boil over medium high heat, uncovered.

8.     Once boiling, return heat to low and cook 25 minutes covered until the rice is cooked through, stirring frequently to keep the rice from sticking on the bottom of pot.

9.     Uncover, add the green onions, stir well and cook a final 5 minutes.

10.  Taste and re-season if desired. Turn off heat and let sit covered for 10 minutes.

11.  Remove bay leaves if possible before serving in bowls with a sprinkling of sliced green onions on top for garnish.

*Note from The Food Allergy Mom:  I have my own copy of The Gluten-Free Table cookbook and will be reviewing it soon!  Be sure to subscribe to our feed so you don’t miss it!  Meanwhile, the Lagasse gals are already crafting their next book.  I can’t wait to see what gluten-free love they are cooking up!*

A couple of weeks ago he bought me some Trader Joe’s pre-made chocolate chip cookies (you can read my review of them here) and that was all it took to get me interested.  The cookies tasted great and the price was positively fabulous for a tasty gluten-free product.

Next up was a Trader Joe’s do-it-yourself brownie mix which was a total bust.  I’ll allow full disclosure here…my husband made these for me all by himself.  He swears to following the directions to a tee and I’ll admit, he’s usually a rule follower.  Bottom line, the brownies came out crusty and a bit oily and pretty much inedible. 

This past week he scored some Trader Joe’s pre-made, gluten-free pancakes in the freezer section.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little leery.  Can you blame me after the brownie debacle?  But I was pleasantly surprised!

The pancakes were amazing!

They had a light and fluffy texture similar to that of their gluten-filled counterparts.  The texture alone made these fabulous because so many other pancake mixes I’ve tried were heavy and thick instead of the light and airy taste usually associated with pancakes.  Each bite had a soft, buttery taste and simply melted in my mouth.  I don’t remember the exact price we paid for them, but I can tell you they were a steal!  I will most definitely be buying these again!

Do you have a Trader Joe’s in your area?  What is your favorite gluten-free goodie?

I am BEYOND excited about a celebrity guest post that will be debuting here on The Food Allergy Mom Blog on Friday.  That’s right…I said it…celebrity guest post.  I get giddy just thinking about it.

Technically it’s two celebrities that really know their way around the gluten-free scene, but that’s all I can   say for now without giving too much away!

To learn more about these amazing people, their contributions to the gluten-free community, AND an   amazing recipe, be sure to stop by Friday.

I can hardly wait…  

I think we in the food allergy community can expect to see some truly great things from this organization.  Take a minute to read the below press release and then stop by at their new site and check it out!

*********************************************************************************************************

New Site Features Easy-to-Use Navigation and Critical Resources for Food Allergy Management

McLEAN, VA (March 11, 2013) – Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), the nation’s leading food allergy organization, is pleased to announce the launch of its new website, which provides knowledge and resources to help individuals and families who are managing food allergies stay safe and live well. The site also offers information designed to help institutions and organizations ensure the safety and inclusion of individuals with food allergies. FARE works on behalf of the 15 million Americans with food allergies, including all those at risk for life-threatening anaphylaxis.

FARE’s website, www.foodallergy.org, has been eagerly anticipated since the completion of the merger between the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) and the Food Allergy Initiative (FAI), which was announced in November 2012. The new website combines the best content previously available from FAAN and FAI, including highly respected educational resources and advocacy materials, as well as information on clinical trials and advancements in research.

Visitors to the website will immediately notice a new, dynamic look and improved navigation designed to easily lead them to the information they seek. With special sections designed for a variety of audiences and targeted tips for managing food allergies in different situations, the site ensures FARE’s best resources are tailored to users and readily available.

“We have made great strides in raising awareness about food allergies as a serious public health issue in recent years, but we know food allergies continue to be widely misunderstood,” said John L. Lehr, chief executive officer of FARE. “Having a comprehensive website with evidence-based information that helps educate people about food allergies is absolutely critical to our mission. The new www.foodallergy.org  will help us continue to advance food allergy education, advocacy, awareness and research on behalf of the food allergy community.”

Visitors to the website will find it easy to become a member of FARE online or to provide a donation to support the 15 million Americans with food allergies. Website visitors can also use the site to connect with FARE’s new regional offices, enabling individuals and families to learn more about advocating in their communities and supporting food allergy education and research programs by participating in regional events.

Additional features on the new site include personal stories, content for kids and teens, and resource pages designed specifically for individual audiences such as the newly diagnosed, parents, college students, adults with food allergies, schools, camps, colleges, restaurants and more, allowing them quick and direct access to the information they need. FARE will be updating the site with new content throughout the year.

About FARE
Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) works on behalf of the 15 million Americans who have food allergy, including all those at risk for life-threatening anaphylaxis. This potentially deadly disease affects 1 in every 13 children in the U.S. – or roughly two in every classroom. Formed in 2012 as a result of a merger between the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network and the Food Allergy Initiative, FARE’s mission is to ensure the safety and inclusion of individuals with food allergies while relentlessly seeking a cure. We do this by funding world-class research that advances treatment and understanding of food allergies, providing evidence-based education and resources, undertaking advocacy at all levels of government and increasing awareness of food allergy as a potentially life-threatening and a growing public health issue. For more information, please visit www.foodallergy.org.

The plot goes something like this:  Nutley the squirrel is diagnosed with a nut allergy.  Once he understands what is making him feel bad, he and his doctor set up a plan.  Part of the plan is for Nutley to share the news of his allergy with his friends.  Nothing could ever prepare Nutley for what he hears when he breaks the news.

The book is well done and a great read for a newly diagnosed child or even a classroom read to raise awareness of food allergies.  Stephanie Sorkin did an amazing job of telling the story for a child’s point of view which will make it a win with young readers who can sometimes feel as though no one understands.  Tim Warren’s illustrations are whimsical and precious, bringing the story to life for a child.

I would highly recommend this book for families, schools, churches, and more.  It is a great tool for raising food allergy awareness, but that’s not even the best part…

Stephanie Sorkin is donating 100% of the proceeds of this book to FARE (previously FAAN), an organization dedicated to food allergy research and education.  That’s right…100% of the proceeds!  That means your literally touching hundreds of lives with a single purchase of this book.

Please consider purchasing this book today!  Don’t have young kids?  Buy one to donate to your allergist’s office.  Buy one to donate to your school/church library.  Buy one to give as a gift.  How else can you impact hundreds of lives with the purchase of one delightful children’s book?!

Happy reading!

Road sign merging (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It seems that a merging of the minds is the latest trend in fighting allergies and asthma.  Not long ago, The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network merged with Food Allergy Initiative to found FARE.  The merger is allowing FARE to create regional offices throughout the nation and creating an even stronger ally for families with food allergies.

This week it was announced that the Kids With Food Allergies Foundation is merging with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA).  The new alliance is expected to make it the “most comprehensive nonprofit source of education, advocacy, research, social networking and support” for families living with food allergies and asthma.  To learn more about the merger, read the full press release here.  Do you have questions about what this merger means for you?  Take a minute to review some frequently asked questions here.

When I think about all of these agencies coming together to make a stronger presence in the community, I can’t help thinking about that old adage, “There is safety in numbers.”  It certainly seems to hold true here.

I can’t wait to see what FARE and AAFA have in store for us 2013.  God willing, it will be the road to a cure!  God speed!

The simple fact is, Valentines needs to be discussed with children that have food allergies…regardless of age.

Just the other day, my youngest (she has no food allergies and is only in preschool) was walking out of class to greet me at pick up when a very sweet boy she hadn’t seen in a while leaned over and gave her a precious little kiss on the cheek.  At that age, it’s sweet, endearing, and totally not filled with implications.  But it got me thinking…

What if that had been my son who does have multiple food allergies?  What if it had been an innocent kiss but the person giving the kiss had eaten some sort of nut just an hour earlier?

I DON’T think this is something you should sit and fret about all day.  I DO believe it’s something we should all have a conversation with our children about…no matter their age. 

Keep an open dialogue with your kids and don’t be afraid to tackle difficult subjects with them.  Review your child’s food allergy action plan with them and remind them the importance of keeping epinephrine on hand at all times.  It could save a life.

Give your kids a hug and tell them they’ll always be your valentine! 

Happy Valentine’s, from The Food Allergy Mom!

Navigating food celebrations can be challenging on any holiday, but Valentine’s is one of the biggies in my family.  There are the parties at school, the baking at home, and gifts from friends.  I want the whole family to enjoy Valentine’s (after all, it is a day for love) and I show them my love by keeping safe treats on hand to substitute out for those that they can’t have.

There are a few companies that get my vote when it comes to Valentine’s goodies:  Jelly Belly, Tootsie, Hershey’s, and Divvies.

While I’m widely familiar with Hershey’s and some of the other companies, Divvies is rather new to us.  I’d sampled something of theirs at a FAAN walk a few years ago, but nothing recently.  The folks at Divvies were kind enough to send me a special Valentine’s care package.  It didn’t disappoint!

The chocolate-covered rice krispy heart was nut, peanut, and gluten-free.  The mini solid chocolate hearts were nut and peanut-free.  Talk about a treat!  My son’s eyes lit up like Christmas with pure glee that this special Valentine’s treat was all for him.  He LOVED it!  I am gluten-free and did sneak a bite of the rice krispy chocolate heart and thought it was good too.

Hershey’s is also a personal favorite for my family!  Especially their Hersheyettes.  They are like m&ms, but are peanut-free!  Kudos to Hershey’s for this product.  Currently it is only available at Christmas and Valentine’s, but I sure would like to see it back for the duration of the year.  (Visit the Hersheyettes link to find out how to email them and ask to have the product year round!)

Happy Valentine’s!

The low prices alone make you drool at the bag of gluten-free cookies he bought me, but a bargain price isn’t worth anything unless the product is good, so the final verdict was a taste test.

These chocolate chip cookies are very crunchy (think Enjoy Life’s crunchy cookie line) and have a deliciously sinful buttery texture that simply melts in your mouth.  Although it was a bit crunchier than the gluten-filled cookies I remember, it was the real deal in every other aspect!

The price is right,there is a generous quantity of cookies inside, and the product tastes absolutely fabulous!  You can bet I’ll be purchasing these cookies again.  Thank you, Trader Joe’s!