The writing life of a Maryland-based writer and editor. Writings inspired by books, fitness, food allergies, social media and travel.
I’m blogging over at Mom It Forward today. Please visit their blog and check out my food allergy friendly Cookie “Cake” Pop recipe. Here’s a photo to entice you.
And one of my baking inspiration enjoying this treat.
To get the recipe, visit Mom It Forward. If you give the recipe a try, leave a comment here or there and let me know how it turns out. Got questions? Leave those in the comment section too or email me. Enjoy!
The first time someone referred to my son as special needs it struck me like a slap across the face. It wasn’t intended that way; I just don’t consider him special needs.
But I guess his food allergies are special needs. I just don’t want them to be. I want him to be normal, whatever than means.
Food allergies are an invisible disability, which might be why I don’t think of them as special needs. I don’t see my son’s food allergies when I look at him. I see an adorable three year old who melts my heart. Of course I would see him that way; I’m his mother. But others don’t see his food allergies either. They just see a toddler.
And therein lies the threat.
Last fall, before my son had any awareness of his allergies, we went to a parade where participants were throwing candy into the crowd. A well-meaning grandmother (no relation) kept handing candy to us. I didn’t have the energy to explain to her why our son couldn’t have the candy. Thankfully, at two, he wasn’t all that interested; he was more into the fire trucks.
This year, we went to the same parade and he delighted in collecting candy (we came home with a bagful) but now he understands that some foods, candy included, make him sick. For the most part, he’s happy with whatever safe alternative we provide. And he doesn’t get upset when he’s eating a Popsicle while all his classmate get to enjoy ice cream.
I hope that one day this won’t be the case. I hope that one day he won’t have any special needs. But, for now, food allergies are our reality and the only label I care to deal with is a nutritional label.
Disclaimer: This post was inspired by Expecting Adam: A True Story of Birth, Rebirth, and Everyday Magic
This post is intended for first-time food allergy moms and for anyone who is not a mother to a food allergic child.
Of my son’s food allergies – milk, eggs and peanuts – milk has been the hardest to manage because it hides in so many products on the grocery store shelves. I’ve had to become an expert at reading labels.
It was really hard and overwhelming in the beginning. When he was first diagnosed, he was exclusively breastfed and it was my diet that had to change. I struggled with it. Sometimes I resented that I couldn’t just buy what I wanted to at the grocery store and that a normal shopping trip took twice as long. When I learned that his allergens could hide in medicines, lotions and other products, too, my frustration boiled over.
Two years later, checking labels has become second nature. I have discovered a lot of alternatives to substitute in place of his allergens – and found a support group to deal with my frustrations. His food allergies are now just a part of our everyday. They no longer consume us.
My advice to moms who are just beginning to deal with food allergies is to know that it gets easier. It may seem overwhelming now but it will soon get better. Reach out to other food allergy moms. It really helps knowing other moms who “get it” and can guide you through the dark days.
For anyone who is not a mother to a food allergic tips, I offer these tips:
Are you a food allergy mom? What tips can you share?
I love soup, especially in the winter, but I stopped buying it when my son was diagnosed with food allergies. I couldn’t find a soup that did not contain a milk product.
It was probably for the best given the amount of sodium in most soups.
I never thought about making soup myself until this fall when a plethora of butternut squash from the CSA begged to be pureed into a hearty soup.
Making the soup was easier than I imagined and the end product was delicious. I was hooked!
So when I checked out Kitchen Play’s progressive menu for December, sponsored by My Spice Sage, I knew right away I was going to give the Spicy Pumpkin Soup Shooters a try.
I, of course, had to put my own twist on it. (Translation: adjust the recipe to accommodate the ingredients I did and did not have).
I used less than a full can of pumpkin puree (hubby had used some for a cheesecake); I substituted soy milk for 2% because we don’t have cow’s milk in our house due to allergies; I added a little bit of sugar to sweeten it up; I opted out of the bacon garnish; and I made it all for myself, i.e. served sans shooters; hubby doesn’t like soup anyways.
Now, maybe it was because I used less pumpkin, or maybe its the combination of spices, but the pumpkin flavor was not nearly as strong as I was expecting – a pleasant surprise actually. Instead of tasting like a warm harvest soup, it tasted like a fiery Indian appetizer. And I liked it!
Here’s a link to the original recipe. If you give it a try, let me know what you think.
I haven’t written about food allergies in awhile. That hasn’t been on purpose. I’ve been making a list of posts; I just haven’t had the time to write them all but I need to.
At the end of September, there seemed to be a flood of food allergy stories in the news (one from CNN and one from MSNBC on the same day, for example). I’m not sure what prompted the big release but many of them were tied to bullying. Its not an issue I’ve thought much about, at least not since I was in middle school, but its one I keep seeing and it breaks my heart.
Here’s the thing that I’ve found so far on this food allergy journey: the day-to-day battle is such a struggle that its hard to see down the road to the issues we might face. I haven’t thought about the food allergy bully because we haven’t encountered him yet. But I should think about him; he’s right around the corner.
Earlier this month, I read an article in Washington Family Magazine that gave me some hope. It offered tips for dealing with bullies (any bully, not just food allergy bullies). The tip that resonated the most with me was “make sure she’s prepared.” At this point on the road, we have the time to prepare for what may lie ahead. I may not be able to stop the food allergy bully but I can help my son stand up to him.
Have you faced down the food allergy bully? What was your experience?
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