With an eye on the food allergy community as a unique group of consumers since 2008, we're on a quest to find and share ways to continue enjoying the good things in life.


31 May 2014

Food Allergy Friendly Frozen Treat


Last weekend, we spotted a frozen treat labeled peanut-free and gluten-free that we hadn't seen previously: SoBe lifewater. There were a few different flavors with exciting names, and we chose Yumberry Pomegranate. This new frozen treat is made by PhillySwirl, but it is a bit challenging to find information about it online.

Here is a photo of the side panel. I apologize for the photo quality. I took the photo with my cell phone (it is not an iPhone) and the box was something of a moving target in my son's hands!

We enjoyed them! They were sweet and refreshing!

22 May 2014

Food Allergies: Back to Basics in the Kitchen


This post contains a sponsored link to Viners Cook & Dine.

Have you ever noticed that people spend a fortune on the latest jazzy kitchen appliances/gadgets and they just sit at the back of the cupboard collecting dust? Another habit is buying stuff out of panic and then realising you have several of the same items.

The basic kitchen necessities you actually need cost next to nothing and can be used regularly to cook everyday meals. So, it may be worth investing

 more in a couple of items that you will use all the time, but stick to the basic ranges you can find online and save yourself the time and money.

You don’t need that to buy that many items or spend much money in your kitchen to cook tasty meals. For example, kitchen essentials such as baking dishes and roasting tins which are purchased from the right place can be both cheap and durable. If you stick to the bare necessities you can save precious cupboard space to keep your kitchen tidier or to fill up with items on a big shop!

Websites such as Viners Cook & Dine offers a wide range of affordable Cookware and Bakeware from known brands that can help you buy the kitchen necessities that you need.

The Most Important Kitchen Utensil
The kitchen utensil that is most important to your household is the kitchen cleaner that you use. Remember that the most vital part of making a meal when living with a person who has a food allergy is ensuring that everything is thoroughly cleaned and washed properly to avoid contamination.

People living in the same household generally cook different meals at different times of the day, so everyone needs to employ the same procedure for cleaning pots and pans and food preparation equipment otherwise there will be a chance of contamination.

Even the smallest amount of an ingredient can trigger a food allergy reaction so having a pristine cooking area is the best approach. Look on the FARE website for more advice and information about how to clean a kitchen if you or a person you’re living with has a food allergy.

If you introduce a cleaning regime that suits everybody in the house then you will find it easier to manage if you only have a few pots/pans. You may also consider purchasing items that will be easier to clean as oppose to those jazzy kitchen appliances that have a lot of parts and edges!
Guest post by Alisan McCallum

18 May 2014

Food Allergy Awareness Week Twitter Party Thank You

Thank you to the food allergy friends who participated in this year's Food Allergy Awareness Week Twitter Party and the businesses who showed their support for the party by donating prizes: Allergic Living Magazine, AwareAbouts ID and Peanut Free Planet. Thank you also to FARE and KFA for participating; it was wonderful to share a virtual chat with food allergy advocates near and far!

16 May 2014

Food Allergy Fundraiser TODAY!

TODAY! 5% of all sales on Peanut Free Planet will be donated to Kids with Food Allergies.
All customers ordering on TODAY receive a FREE gift bag with a dozen special Allergy Friendly products!

05 May 2014

Mourning the Loss of Whole Hearts Cereal

The other day I tweeted @Quaker in the hope that I would find my beloved Whole Hearts Cereal.

 
I was so sad to learn that Quaker has stopped manufacturing it! I first learned of Whole Hearts Cereal in a blog post on The Nut-Free Mom Blog. The post no longer exists but I remember those Whole Hearts. Tasty little sweet oat hearts which were such a nice comforting alternative to Cheerios. I feel more confident about Quaker's labeling for possible cross-contamination.

Am I the only one who wants Whole Hearts again?

02 May 2014

Fun Allergy Blogger Opportunity Through MomSelect

MomSelect asked me to help spread the word: MomSelect and Claritin are looking for moms to join the Children's Claritin Mom Crew. Who better to apply than moms who read Food Allergy Buzz? There must be quite a few moms in the Food Allergy Buzz community who would make good "crew members" for Children's Claritin. I really like the fact that MomSelect and Claritin are casting a wide net to find just the right "crew members"!

Below is the info I received from MomSelect:

We're Looking for Moms Who are Passionate about
Helping Other Moms who Face the Challenge of Children's
Seasonal and Indoor Allergies
Perhaps you have a child with seasonal allergies?
Maybe you've combated allergies your whole life?
Even better you're a loyal fan of Children's Claritin® Allergy Products?
 
Kids should be kids, living vibrant lives filled with play. If you’re a Mom with a child who suffers from allergies, you know firsthand the effects they can have on your child’s daily activities. You might also spend a lot of time learning about children’s allergies or speaking to other Moms with the same allergy concerns. Children’s Claritin recognizes a mom’s need to alleviate her child’s allergy symptoms, so they can get back to their vivacious and energetic lives.

Children’s Claritin, invites you to be considered for membership for the 2014 Children’s Claritin Mom Crew. The Mom Crew is a group of Mom ambassadors who are not only loyal to the Children’s Claritin brand, but are passionate in sharing their knowledge about children’s allergies with Moms online and offline. This exclusive crew "meets" in an online community created for Moms of allergy sufferers. We are looking for Moms who are passionate about sharing information and experiences with other Moms of children with allergies.

Children's Claritin products provide 24-hour, non-drowsy allergy relief. Plus, it is the #1 Pediatrician Recommended Non-Drowsy Allergy Brand. However, Children’s Claritin recognizes while they provide a great solution, Moms still have questions about the issues they face when it comes to their child's allergies. Since its inception in 2012, the Children’s Claritin Mom Crew have served as a resource for hundreds of moms sharing education, information and support in dealing with children’s allergies. The existing members of our Children's Claritin Mom Crew have done such a great job, that we want to continue the circle of knowledge, sharing and ideas by expanding our group!

We are currently evaluating Moms interested in joining the Children's Claritin Mom Crew. When Moms are empowered with valuable information to help their families, they like to share and that is exactly what we'd like to continue:

Children's Claritin Mom Crew members will receive exclusive benefits throughout the year such as:
  • Electronic assets, such as blog buttons
  • Exclusive event kits, including:
    • The opportunity to get moms together for a fun outdoor play date in the Spring time
    • A fun and engaging program for Back-to-School
  • The chance to share your thoughts with the Claritin brand directly
  • The ability to contribute to materials that will educate other moms and families
Since we face the challenges of allergies every season, we'll be engaging Children's Claritin Mom Crew members year round, with many more opportunities!
Although there will be some time requirements involved for contributing to the community, we want to make sure this is a fun and valuable experience for all participants! Children's Claritin Mom Crew Members will be asked to:
  • Actively participate in discussions in an online forum
  • Host offline events with friends and peers
  • Report feedback via regular online surveys
  • Disclose they are a member of the Children's Claritin Mom Crew
More details on the participation will be provided after the initial selection process.
If you are interested in applying to be a member of the Children's Claritin Mom Crew, please click here to register. If you are selected to participate, we will be in touch with more details.

Thank you for your time and consideration,
Your Friends at Children's Claritin® and MomSelect
 
*I received no compensation for sharing the above information.*