Food Allergy Mom Blog Contest - Please Vote for Food Allergy Buzz!

Food Allergy Buzz was nominated--along with many of my favorite food allergy blogs--to the Top 25 Food Allergy Moms - 2012 on Circle of Moms. There are more than 50 blogs nominated so far, so there's a fair amount of competition! The prize is making the "top 25" list.

Please consider voting for Food Allergy Buzz. You can vote once every 24 hours, and voting ends October 17. Here is the link. You have to scroll down till you get to Food Allergy Buzz. Last time I checked, it was around #14.  

Thanks so much for your support! 

Food Allergy Book Review - Allergic Girl: Adventures in Living Well with Food Allergies

photo courtesy of @aixelsyd

One of the best food allergy books I have read is Allergic Girl: Adventures in Living Well with Food Allergies by Sloane Miller. I would recommend Allergic Girl to parents and caregivers of children with food allergies, to young adults with food allergies, to adults newly diagnosed with food allergies, and others who feel food allergies are causing them stress on a daily basis. I've read her book twice and plan to give a copy of the book to my younger son (he has life threatening allergies to peanuts and tree nuts) when he is in high school. 

I love Sloane's tone and style; it's familiar and accessible. When I read the book, I felt as if I was talking to my very own personal food allergy coach. Allergic Girl is wonderful because she shares some of her own experiences, including her mistakes and her triumphs. She gives examples and suggestions on how to handle various social situations and shows that individuals with food allergies don't need to live life in a bubble or in fear. Sloane is particularly well-known for her advice on how to dine out with food allergies and enjoy restaurants. She shows you can manage food allergies successfully with grace and ease. In essence, Sloane advises individuals with food allergies to arm themselves with knowledge, be strong and take care of themselves, and enjoy life!

Allergic Girl: Adventures in Living Well with Food Allergies is available online and in bookstores. If you haven't visited her blog--I've been a fan for years--you really should. By the way, Sloane does food allergy coaching as well, so it really is possible to benefit from some of her advice and strategies customized just for you. She and her book (and her blog too!) are fantastic resources for the food allergy community.

image courtesy of louisgray.com

Asthma Inhaler Carriers and Cases for Kids

As you know, so many kids with food allergies also have eczema and asthma. Managing these conditions seems to be a constant learning process. My son's having an asthma flare-up and this caused me to google asthma inhaler cases and carriers. I see there are just as many choices for asthma inhaler cases as there are for epipen carriers! There aren't that many options for carrying both Epi-Pens and asthma inhalers; they just are bulky and there's no getting around it. I thought I would share some of my findings here. I'm going to need to purchase at least one, so if anyone has a favorite asthma inhaler carrier they'd like to recommend, I'd appreciate it.

Active Inhaler - Puffer Sports Pouch $14.95. can be worn as leg band, arm band or on a waist belt 

Allergy Apparel Allergy Apparel offers stylish carriers for epinephrine and asthma inhalers. Asthma/first aid pouches sell for $8-$20, depending on the style, and Jumbo Epi-Pen carriers which accommodate 2 Epi-pens and an asthma inhaler are $50.

AllergyPack has a variety of carriers and cases for Epi-Pens and inhalers. Their Penpal Combo costs $33.95 and accommodates two auto-injectors of epinephrine and an asthma inhaler

Bushmates Series Medical Holder $38.50 for children in cute animal designs, holds auto-injectors and asthma inhalers

Fit & Healthy Inhaler Case $20.27 zip case, clips to belt

InhalerWear $7.99. cover for inhaler with key ring and carabiner

Onespot Allergy has an Epi-Pen belt which has optional add-on pockets for asthma inhalers. The belt is $25.00 and each add-on pocket is $15.00.

Puffminder MEDREADY Tote (Asthma COPD) Inhaler Carrying Case $19.95 on sale.

has an emergency card, key ring and carabiner to attach to backpack or purse

Skinhaler (Asthma Inhaler Case) $13.50 inhaler cover

Have I missed any asthma inhaler carriers or Epi-pen/asthma inhaler combo carriers? What's your favorite carrier?

Food Allergy School Tip

Do you have a child with food allergies who is in school? I was reminded recently, when I visited the school cafeteria, that the allergy lunch tables should be cleaned with a different cloth than the non-allergy lunch tables or at least, cleaned first. This helps prevent cross-contamination from the non-allergy lunch tables. For example, if your kiddo is eating a the peanut-free table because of a peanut allergy, it doesn't help if the custodian cleans tables where the kids eat PB&J or peanut butter and crackers and then uses the same cloth for your kid's peanut-free table. Same is true for other allergens. If you haven't checked in with your school caf in a while to see what the cleaning procedures are, now might be a good time to get an update. School staff can change from year to year, and cleaning procedures too. It's always good to check in and make sure things are the way they should be, as much as that's possible.

Food Allergy Consumer: Homefree Treats

Homefree Treats--a New Hampshire based company founded by a food allergy mom-- graciously offered some of their new mini vanilla cookies (as well as some of our old favorites!) to Food Allergy Buzz for review. I must admit I was already a longtime fan of Homefree Treats before enjoying the samples they sent. About 5 years ago, Homefree cookies helped get my son--who has life threatening allergies to peanuts and tree nuts--through preschool. At the time, the preschool did not have much experience, if any, with children who have life threatening food allergies. They were more than accommodating, however, and I was able to supply the preschool with "safe" snacks for my son to enjoy during snack time. The only catch was that they had to be in a clearly labeled package from the store and also had to be Kosher. Homefree Treats came to the rescue!

I was able to find Homefree cookies easily at the local supermarket and they were a tasty store-bought treat my son was able to enjoy. At certain times during the year, each child was able to bring in a treat to share--following those requirements I mentioned above-- and my son's friends were very happy to enjoy Homefree cookies. The chocolate chocolate chip cookies were a real hit!

The newest addition to the Homefree line of cookies are tasty gluten-free vanilla mini cookies. My sons and I thought they were a fantastic new flavor. We especially enjoyed their miniature size and were sad when we had finished them all. Thankfully, we can still get our Homefree fix down the street at the local supermarket.

Homefree's flavors include: chocolate chip, chocolate chocolate chip, oatmeal and vanilla. Many of the flavors are also certified gluten-free. They also make coffee cakes, which I have yet to try but will one of these days. I've noticed there are no coffee cakes at the supermarket that are made in a dedicated peanut-free, nut-free facility, and Homefree's coffee cakes are also dairy-free and egg-free to boot! That seems like a perfect treat to splurge on for a family gathering. 

A word or two about Homefree's dedicated manufacturing facility. One of the things I love about Homefree is the effort they go through to maintain a dedicated facility. Homefree invited me to visit their new manufacturing facility a few years ago but I had some sort of scheduling conflict and wasn't able to attend. My friend Ruth, of www.bestallergysites.com, was able to make the trip and I remember hearing how thoroughly impressed she was by the Homefree staff and facility. She mentioned that you even have to don special clothes to enter the facility so you don't track in any cross-contaminants. I recommend reading about Ruth's visit to Homefree's facility; it's really impressive. Kudos to Homefree Treats for being such a great food allergy friendly company!

The FAB Review 

Dedicated facility: Yes. Manufacturing facility is free of peanuts, tree nuts, eggs and dairy

Appearance: Perfect round cookies (in regular and mini size) 

Taste: In a word--delicious!

Texture:  Crispy and crunchy

Convenience: The individually packaged cookies and bags of mini cookies are super-easy for packing in your lunch bag or handbag. 

Price/value: Consider buying in bulk! A case of 12 individually wrapped chocolate chip cookies is $14.90 online. A 5 ounce box of mini vanilla cookies containing about 32 mini cookies is $5.49 online.

Homefree kindly shared a few photos of the facility and staff members.

Food Allergy Friendly Shampoo and Conditioner

courtesy of istockphoto

It's always dumbfounding to me how hard it is to find a new shampoo that does not contain my son's allergens-to-avoid and a long list of unidentifiable chemicals that could aggravate his eczema. The National Eczema Association has a "Seal of Acceptance" program for products that are particularly good for individuals with eczema. They do not provide information on food allergens in the products but do provide helpful links to each manufacturer's website where you can do your own research.

I've bookmarked the personal products directory to do my own exploring. If you manage eczema and food allergies too, take a look! You may find your new favorite shampoo or other personal care product.

Do you take matters into your own hands and make your own bath soap or shampoo? I'd love to hear more about it! I think it's an intriguing and very tempting idea, but it sounds daunting. Is it as difficult as it sounds?

EpiPen Training

When managing life threatening food allergies, I don't think it is possible to be over-prepared in terms of knowing how to recognize a potentially life threatening allergic reaction and how to administer an EpiPen or other epinephrine injector. Here are a few helpful links which review EpiPen administration and symptoms of a serious reaction requiring an epipen. Among these links are a few videos which would be perfect for sharing with friends, family, caregivers and/or school staff. If you know of other online resources that address EpiPen administration and recognizing serious allergic reactions, please share in a comment below!

How to Use EpiPen downloadable copy of the EpiPen patient insert, on the EpiPen website

EpiPen Administration Powerpoint Presentation This is a powerpoint presentation for Hampden Wilbraham School District staff, in Massachusetts.

Learn How to Use an EpiPen -- It Could Save a Life This one and a half minute video is from National Jewish Health

When to Use an EpiPen One minute video from National Jewish Health

Video from Nationwide Childrens Hospital

Food Allergy Consumer: Vermont Nut Free's TANABAR

When my son's peanut and nut allergies were first diagnosed years ago, the nurse handed me a very short list of resources. One of the few resources on that sheet was Vermont Nut Free and it remains one of our nut-free go-to resources today. 

My sons and I were very excited to have the opportunity to try Vermont Nut Free's TANABAR. We tried all three flavors: chocolate chip, triple berry and sweet raisin. Our favorite flavor was chocolate chip. The most outstanding thing about these granola bars is that they are extremely satisfying. Have you ever had a granola bar that's almost like a teaser? It didn't really satisfy your urge or need for a snack? That won't be a problem with TANABARS. They are a very satisfying snack made of high quality ingredients, and you can enjoy them knowing they are made in Vermont Nut Free's dedicated nut free/peanut free facility. Kudos to Vermont Nut Free for making such generously sized granola bars! I thought the portion size was ideal. Moreover, if you like sunflower seeds or sunflower butter, you will absolutely LOVE these granola bars, as there is a slight sunflower seed undertone to each. Our 2 cents: if you are a fan of granola bars and are managing peanut and/or nut allergies, you really ought to try TANABAR.

The FAB Review
Dedicated facility: Yes (peanut/nut free)
Appearance: Attractive, easy-to-open wrapper. Generously-sized granola bar.
Taste: Nice natural flavor; distinctive sunflower seed tones
Texture: Great chewy granola bar texture
Convenience: Perfect for your lunch box, pocket or handbag. Very satisfying portable snack.
Price/value: Box of 12 for $24 on www.vermontnutfree.com; that's $2 per bar.
Buy again? Unsure only because my sons and I aren't fans of sunflower seeds/butter (tastes too much like peanut butter for us!)

Food Allergy Friendly Business News

Here are a few food allergy friendly specials to keep in mind this September!

A & J Bakery - Nut and gluten free candy corn and many other goodies for sale on the A & J Bakery website

Onespot Allergy - 10% off Back to School sale ends on September 14.  Hurry! (I am a huge fan of Onespot's Best Epipen Belt.)

Vermont Nut Free - Many adorable nut free chocolates available for Halloween and Thanksgiving

Buzz Around New England: Tasterie

I am very excited about a new food allergy friendly business here in Massachusetts, Tasterie. Founded by pediatrician and mother, Lama Rimawi, Tasterie provides unique curated snack collections for the following restricted diets on a monthly basis: Top 8 Allergen Free; Dairy Allergy; Dairy & Egg Allergy; Egg Allergy; Gluten & Wheat Allergy; Gluten, Wheat & Dairy Allergy; Gluten Allergy, Wheat Allergy and Vegan; Healthy & Nutritious; Peanut & Tree Nut Allergy, Soy Allergy; and Vegan. For a reasonable subscription fee, you can enjoy a box of snacks and foods that are thoroughly checked for allergy friendliness and are pediatrician approved.

When I spoke with Lama, she explained how she came to found Tasterie after experiencing what so many food allergy moms experience--the challenge of trying to find "safe" foods and variety in the limited choices that exist. Lama gets food allergies because she is a food allergy mom, and she also has patients with food allergies. Personally, I always feel a little better when I know allergy friendly products are coming from a company owned and run by someone who has experienced managing food allergies firsthand. It makes a difference.

I asked Lama for additional information about how in-depth Tasterie's selection process is. Each manufacturer must complete a detailed questionnaire that asks for information about the manufacturing process in the facility as well as the supply chain and risk for cross-contamination. If equipment is shared, Tasterie looks at whether appropriate allergen testing is done. Lama noted that nut-free products in Tasterie Boxes are manufactured in nut-free facilities.

My sons and I enjoyed snacks from a lovely complimentary Tasterie Box in June. We got to try some snacks we hadn't tried before, and that's saying something, because Food Allergy Buzz is constantly receiving requests for product reviews! We especially enjoyed the Yoga Vive apple chips and ELF's Seeds and Fruit Mix; and the Divvies popcorn; and the hummus; and...well, everything was just delicious!

The Tasterie Box was so nicely packaged. "Safe" snacks filled the pretty Tiffany blue box to the very top and were surrounded by matching blue tissue paper and a bit of raffia. It was both eye-appealing and mouth-watering, a fantastic treat for a food allergic individual.

Please take a moment to visit Tasterie's website. The Tasterie Boxes come in two sizes, the smaller box is only $15 and the larger one is $20--too tempting not to try! 

Food Allergy Friendly Cooking Classes for Kids

photo courtesy of nyfifth.com

I keep receiving emails from PR and marketing people for everything and anything remotely food allergy related and sometimes things that just have no connection at all--like sunglasses! I've noticed a couple of emails lately about cooking classes for kids in Boston. I have to admit, I don't usually pay much attention because over time I found they are always unsafe for any food allergy. I guess things have changed since I last read one of those messages from top to bottom, because this one was regarding a nut-free cooking class for kids. Well, that caught my attention, and I thought you might find it intriguing as well!

Marisa Ioco, Chef/Owner of Genarro's in Boston's North End, is conducting a one hour cooking class for children entitled Kids' Celebrity Chef through the Boston Center for Adult Education. It is a one session after-school class for 6 to 9 year-olds, and according to the class description, "All classes are nut-free." The next class is scheduled on Monday, October 22, 2012, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

I would love to hear from anyone who has attended any of Ms. Ioco's kids cooking classes or from anyone who is familiar with other similar food allergy friendly cooking classes for children. I think it's a great idea!

Food Allergy Consumer: Soyummi Pudding

Soyummi of Montreal graciously offered us coupons to try Soyummi pudding for free. With coupons in hand, I picked up two of the only flavor the local Hannaford store had on hand--dark chocolate pudding. Poor me, stuck with dark chocolate! (kidding)

photo courtesy of soyummi.com

Soyummi's pudding comes in cute 14 ounce hexagonal boxes of 4 pudding cups. There are 5 flavors: Dark Chocolate, Tapioca, Rice, Cherry, and Lime. The puddings are labeled as "gluten-free", "dairy-free", "nut and peanut free". I learned from Soyummi that the puddings are manufactured in a dedicated facility in Ontario and they are free of all of the "big 8" except soy. They are also organic, non-GMO and all-natural. There are no trans fats, artificial flavors or preservatives. The puddings have quality ingredients and are naturally sweetened. Talk about an ideal treat for big and little kids!

I tried the dark chocolate puddings with my two sons. Our verdict? We'd like more!

The FAB Review

Dedicated facility: yes
Appearance: Cute hexagonal box. Easy to open pudding cups. Looks tasty!

Taste: Great chocolate taste. Definitely a good chocolate fix.

Texture: Smooth. Perfect and easy to eat for any age. Similar texture to Jello mousse. As expected for a non-dairy pudding--not creamy.
Convenience: Very portable snack, needs refrigeration.

Price/Value: $3.79 at Hannaford Supermarket for 4 pudding cups. That comes out to $0.94 per cup. 

Buy again? Yes