Great Finds at the Gluten Free Food Allergy Fest

When you have food allergies, trips to the grocery store can sometimes be frustrating as many foods you see contain allergens or are processed in a facility where cross-contact can occur.  Often times, I pick up a new package intrigued by what I see only to quickly replace it on the shelf after reading the ingredient list and realizing that it is unsafe for our family.  I had a totally different experience at the Gluten Free Food Allergy Fest hosted by Living Without’s Gluten Free and More- it was like an amazing trip to the food allergy friendly grocery store!

The Gluten Free Food Allergy Fest, held in multiple locations throughout the year, is a public show that brings together vendors, speakers, chefs and members of the gluten-free and food allergy community for two days of sharing, learning and tasting!  I was at the show in Indianapolis on October 24^th and 25^th.  Aisles of vendors touting gluten free and allergy friendly items filled the Indiana State Fairgrounds Expo Hall.  I talked to so many great vendors dedicated to making safe and tasty products.  Here are a few of my favorite finds from the Fest to help you Thrive On with food allergies.

I.M. Healthy Granola

We love granola at our house and I often make it from scratch since what I find at the store is unsafe for us.  I was so excited to see a nut-free granola option! We use I.M. Healthy Soy Butter as our go-to peanut butter alternative so I was intrigued when I saw other products at their table.  They now have granola and it comes in four different varieties: Original, Blueberry, Apple, and Raisin Cranberry.  In addition to granola, they are also making variety of gluten free cornflake crumbs- just like bread crumbs but gluten free!

I brought some of the granola home and after only a few days were out!  My daughters have been adding it to yogurt and eating it plain.  It is great to know we have a safe and yummy option for granola!

Living Now Mixes and Pasta

Now Foods offers a number of food products under a series of four different names and their Living Now line is gluten free and free of the top 8 allergens.  They offer boxed mixes, grains, flours and a new line of quinoa pasta.  I spoke to the rep and he said that while they do offer other products that contain allergens their Living Now line is produced in a dedicated allergy friendly facility, and their products are non-GMO.

I got to try the new quinoa pasta and it was delicious!

Freedom Foods Cereal and Granola Bars

I knew about Freedom Foods before I attended the GFFAFest in Columbus, OH earlier this year as they sell their free-from top 8 products at our grocery store.  While in Columbus, I fell even more in love with these products as I learned that they test multiple times throughout the manufacturing process for the presence of allergens and that they source locally for ingredients.  So in Indy, I was thrilled to see new cereal options – including All Round Goodness (think safe maple syrup flavored cheerios) and Fruity Rainbow Rocks (think a healthy and safe version of Fruity Pebbles).  Freedom Foods is now also offering granola bars- a great safe option for grab and go snacking.  All of their products are free from: gluten, wheat, nuts, dairy, eggs, soy and sesame.

Brooke’s Mixes

Brooke’s is an Indiana based candy company that offers a line of cake, cookie and brownie mixes.  All of their mixes are gluten and rice free.  I was intrigued by this brand because so many people I have met that cannot eat rice often have an issue finding safe options as a lot of allergy friendly options use rice flour as an alternative.   These mixes tout a small ingredient list and are so tasty!  If you are dealing with other allergens be sure to read labels as the mixes are produced in a facility where other allergens are present. 

I had such a great time in Indy finding new products and meeting others in the food allergy and gluten free community!  I also had the opportunity to speak at the Fest on how to celebrate the holidays safely with food allergies and Celiac disease.  I loved sharing tips and tricks for safely navigating the holiday season.  If you missed it, don’t worry!  I am offering a special session this holiday season on how to keep the holidays safe.  You get a 30-minute education session on staying safe during the holidays, a holiday allergy action plan template, and 2 allergy friendly recipes.  Contact me today to schedule your session and be ready to safely navigate the holidays!

If you find this post helpful learn more about Tami and her company, Thrive On Consulting, which helps families and individuals dealing with food allergies at www.thriveonconsulting.net and follow her on Facebook and Twitter

Teal is Terrific- But Safety Measures are Still a Must

Halloween is coming- a scary holiday in its own right, but when you add in food allergies it can make the night downright frightening.  The Teal Pumpkin Project has taken off like a storm, which is so fabulous.  But, the reality is despite the proliferation of teal pumpkins across the country there will still be candy- lots and lots of candy- on Halloween night (not to mention the numerous parties and events that occur before the actual night), and much of it will be unsafe for our food allergic kiddos.  

Three years ago, I had an awesome opportunity to write a post for the Kids with Food Allergies Foundation Blog about staying safe at Halloween with food allergies. My post for KFA was before teal pumpkins had hit the scene and so it was critical to discuss how to stay safe at Halloween. While I am thrilled that we will be visiting more and more houses this year that will be displaying a teal pumpkin and offering non-food treats, I know we will still have to be smart and safe to Thrive On this Halloween.

My Thrive On 3 features the three “tricks” that I provided in my KFA post to stay safe for Halloween. I hope that you will find them useful as you prepare for Halloween this year. 

Trick #1: Making School Parties Safe

Most schools celebrate the holiday with a class party.  This can be scary because of the unknown. The key to a safe party is partnership and advanced planning.  Be sure to contact the teacher/room parent/ party host well in advance to discuss plans for the event.

Encourage a focus on non-food items such as crafts, Halloween stories, or a spooky scavenger hunt if the teacher is planning a party.  If food will be involved, discuss safe options and/or offer to bring in the “big treat”.  I find myself volunteering to bring in the party snack often to ensure my daughter can enjoy the special party treat.  It is worth it to me to see her enjoy the same treat as her classmates and know she will be safe.  Another option that could work is to send in an alternate safe treat for your child so he/she can still have food at the party, but you know for certain it will be safe.  I have an individual cupcake carrier that gets its fair share of use as my daughter takes in her own cupcake for parties.  I try to talk to the party planner ahead of time so I can decorate her cupcake in the same color or theme as the party cake.  If you are sending in food for your child, make certain with the room monitor that this is the only food that your child will consume at the party.

If it works with your schedule, try to attend the party.  This will not always be possible, but can give you a little extra peace of mind to be there to ensure that things go smoothly.  If you volunteer to be there, you might also have an opportunity to have an active role in party planning and demonstrate broad advocacy for children with food allergies.

Trick #2: Trick or Treat, Smell My Feet, Give Me Something I Can Eat!

Trick or treating is, no doubt, complicated by food allergies.  Making the decision to go out trick or treating can be difficult depending on the number and severity of your child’s allergies and health in general.  So far, we have made the decision to go out, but we have a plan in place to keep our daughter safe.  First, we talk with her beforehand about the night and what will happen— including not eating any candy until we are home.  Setting expectations up front is always better— even with a preschooler! 

Second, decide whether you want to allow your child to accept treats from homes or if you would like your child to do something else like collect donations for a charity instead.  We do allow our daughter to collect candy while trick or treating, but we monitor her very closely to ensure that no candy containing nuts as an ingredient makes its way into her bag.

Third, once we are home we empty her bag and sort the treats. Even though we make sure there are not any treats with nuts in her bag, there are a number of other treats we know she cannot have because of risk of cross-contact. For example, we know that certain pretzels and chocolate candies are produced in facilities with nuts.  While she may get those in her bag, we want to separate them out from the other safe treats. 

If you do sort treats with your child, be sure to do some research ahead of time on what is safe for your child.  This is a great way to model for your child how to preplan for food events and always read labels. Sometimes candy that is normally safe is produced in different plants for the “holiday” version which may render it unsafe.  That is why we must read the labels every time. We then place the unsafe candy, into a special plastic pumpkin that we leave out on the front porch.  The “Great Pumpkin” visits our house overnight and exchanges the unsafe candy for a non-food treat.  It is a big deal at our house to get a visit from the “Great Pumpkin,” and we have yet to have tears about surrendering the unsafe candy.

Other tricks for keeping the night safe include sending safe treats to neighbors houses ahead of time so when you knock on the door you know there will be a safe treat waiting.  You can hit just those houses and then plan another fun event that evening.  Or, you can skip trick or treating all together and plan a fun night in with a Halloween movie, making a safe Halloween treat, or hosting your own Halloween party with safe treats.

Trick #3: Be Prepared and Bring Your Supplies

Whether you are attending a party or taking a stroll around the neighborhood to collect candy, it is imperative that you have your emergency supplies ready.  Do not leave without your epinephrine auto-injector and any medications that your health care provider recommends - even if you are only walking a few houses down the street.  Pack wipes for hands if contact issues may present a problem; or for friends’ hands and mouths if they consume candy containing allergens.

As we leave the house for Halloween or other events, we talk about the supplies we are taking to begin to educate our daughter about what we need to have with us.  Some day, when she is old enough to be on her own, we want to make sure the epinephrine auto-injector is a part of her natural routine when leaving.  We have a simple checklist that we verbally go over - keys, phone, epinephrine auto-injector, and any other items we may need for our outing (safe snacks, water, etc).  It is amazing how quickly she has picked up on the list, at just three years old.  She now sometimes asks me before we leave if we have everything before I even go through our list.

To read the full post as it appeared with KFA and access their great resources for staying safe at Halloween click here.

Wishing you a safe, happy and Teal-Pumpkin-filled Halloween!

If you find this post helpful learn more about Tami and her company, Thrive On Consulting, which helps families and individuals dealing with food allergies at www.thriveonconsulting.net and follow her on Facebook and Twitter

Stress Management- You Can't Thrive On Without It!

If you find this post helpful learn more about Tami and her company, Thrive On Consulting, which helps families and individuals dealing with food allergies at www.thriveonconsulting.net

Dealing with food allergies means that you are dealing with stress.

There is rarely a moment of down time when you are dealing with food allergies.  The cooking, the planning, the constant thinking ahead so that you or your child can stay safe, can take its toll mentally. 

This week I am feeling particularly stressed.   About a week ago, I was feeling like I could breathe a little easier – we had made the transition back to school and the new teachers and the new plans seem to be going well.  Our extra curricular activities are squared away, with awareness and education communicated, Epi training done and plans in place for safe snacks.  Things seemed to be as good as they could be and then, I open my Facebook feed to learn not of one, but two, deaths of food allergic teens.  My heart breaks for these families, and my stress level once again sky rockets as we are once again reminded how serious food allergies can be and the devastating reality that food can kill.

I can’t eradicate the allergies and I can’t change the fact that I will have stress about them, but I can take steps to manage my stress – we all can and should so that whether you depend on yourself or someone depends on you to help manage food allergies you can Thrive On.

I am not a psychologist or therapist, but I am a Type A food allergy mom who has worked to keep my stress in check the better part of my life.  The three stress management ideas I suggest are not new or ground-breaking.  They are simple things that you can do starting right now to make this food allergy life more manageable.  These are ideas for how to take a step back to regain the strength needed to carry on our daily attempts to stay safe. 

I encourage you to do one, do all, find some other strategy – but most importantly remember that stress management is a critical part of thriving with food allergies. Small steps taken each day, week or month to manage your stress will go a long way to keep you mentally strong for all of the inherent stress-inducing moments life with food allergies brings.

Breathe

As simple as it sounds, and is, taking a deep breath can help in moments of stress.  Breathing is free, can be done anywhere, does not require special equipment or a great deal of time to have an immediate impact on your stress level.  Years ago, I bought the book Instant Calm by Paul Wilson.  It offers great strategies for relaxing your mind and body.  In the book, he details many strategies for finding calm and one of my favorites is Power Breathing:

Take a deep breath through your nostrils.  Do this without exertion – neither raising your shoulders or puffing out your chest.  Hold it for a second.  ‘Force’ the oxygen into the extremities of your body – your  hands, feet, skull.  Slowly breathe out , noisily, through your lips.  Repeat a few times.   As you breathe out feel the tension melting from your body into the floor.  As breathing becomes more automatic, concentrate on the tension passing from your body, through the soles of your feet if you are standing, or through the skin of your back (if you are reclining) into the floor.

                                                                                  Instant Calm pg. 69

Find a Food Allergy Friend

Unless you have a food allergy it is very hard to understand the true day-to-day reality – constant vigilance, constant food prep and planning, constant exposure to potentially life-threatening situations.  Finding support with other food allergy friends can be a real relief.  Being able to talk to someone else who experiences life in the same way can go a long way to help you feel less isolated or alone.  Sharing strategies and stories and successes is great, but also having someone to vent to when things don’t go as you had hoped can be cathartic as well.

Online groups and communities can be a good source of connection.  But, there is something to be said for direct personal contact.   See if there is a support group in your area, both FARE and FAACT offer resources to find or start a support group in your area.  Also, seek out other food allergy families at school or in your community or neighborhood – 1:13  children have a food allergy so they are out there!

Find an Escape

Take a mental break – do  something fun, relaxing or challenging and let yourself become immersed.  Hit the gym, go for a run or walk, knit, read, try one of those new adult coloring books that seem to be all the rage.  Find something that does not have to do with food.  Something you can lose yourself in, even if it is only for 30 minutes.  Meet up with or call a friend and talk about something other than food allergies.  As wonderful as it is to have food allergy friends to discuss everything food allergy with, it is equally important to have a friend that you can talk with about anything but food allergies.  I often find that somehow many of my conversations come back to food allergies.  Make a point to talk about anything but food allergies.  The escape will help you realize that there is more to your life than food allergies.

Stress is a part of life, and even more so when you are dealing with food allergies.  Taking steps to manage stress are so important to maintain your mental and physical wellbeing.

After a stressful week I am off to find an escape.  What will you do today to manage your stress?

Fourth of July - Tips for Keeping it Safe

When you have a food allergy, attending a birthday party requires some extra planning to make sure you stay safe.  America’s birthday is no exception.  This Fourth of July, be patriotic and prepared with my three tips for thriving on this holiday. 

Grill Master

Burgers and hot dogs on the grill are a big part of Fourth of July festivities for many people.  But, grills can pose a risk for cross-contact.  Cross-contact occurs when proteins of two foods mix because they have touched.  Cross-contact is dangerous for those with food allergies, as even a trace amount of an allergen can trigger a reaction.  If you will be grilling for someone with a food allergy, be sure that their food is completely wrapped in foil while on the grill, and plate food allergy friendly grill items separate from those that have come in contact with the grill.  Be sure to also use separate utensils when handling allergen free foods.

Don’t Leave Potlucks to Luck

Another popular Fourth of July activity is the potluck picnic- bring a dish and share with all.  Potlucks are a minefield for those with food allergies.  So many questions about ingredients, how things were prepared, and again concern about cross contact.  If you have an allergy and will be attending a potluck, be sure to pack safe snacks in case you are unable to eat food offered at the party.  And of course, bring a food allergy friendly option to share.

If you are hosting a potluck, talk to food allergic guests about supplying a few safe dishes. I think I speak for most when I say that we are happy to bring safe foods and reaching out to us means more than you know.  Or, work with guests to ensure that a few allergy friendly options will be available.  For example, forgo the homemade cookies and provide an allergy friendly option like Enjoy Life cookies which are free of the top 8 allergens.  Stick with simple options like fresh fruit and veggies that may be safer for food allergic guests.  

Another food allergy friendly potluck tip, organize the food so that allergen free items are on a separate table so that serving utensils are not accidentally used in the wrong dish or inadvertent cross-contact happens from foods being dropped or spilled as they are dished out.

Medicine Musts

When you have a food allergy you must always have your emergency medications with you.  Be sure to pack emergency medicines in a way that will keep them easily accessible and in a temperature controlled environment, EpiPens® should be kept within 68° - 77°F.  

Never leave your medicine in a car.  Heading to a picnic or firework show, make sure your medicine goes with you- for two reasons.  First, you need to maintain the appropriate temperature and we all know how sweltering a car can become.  Temperatures inside a closed car can quickly climb and compromise your medicine.  Second, in an emergency, you want to be able to retrieve your medicines quickly so that you can get your reaction under control.  Seconds count in a food allergy emergency so have your medicines with you at all times. 

Also, be sure to inform your friends or family members about what to do in an emergency.  Most children will be under the watchful eye of a parent at events so will have assistance immediately if there is an emergency.  But, if you are an adult or teen with food allergies, make sure someone else knows the location of your medicines and how to respond should you need assistance.

Wishing everyone a safe and Happy 4^th!

Product Disclaimer:

Thrive On Consulting does not sponsor or endorse the products listed.  Nor has Thrive On Consulting been paid to include these products.  Products mentioned here are provided as ideas and suggestions to help you Thrive On with food allergies.

If you find this post helpful learn more about Tami and her company, Thrive On Consulting, which helps families and individuals managing food allergies, and follow her on Facebook and Twitter

Sweet Summer Treats

Coming off this long holiday weekend my thoughts are turning to summer, more specifically summer desserts.  One of my girls’ favorite things is a treat after a meal; this is no doubt my fault as I have the same need for a sweet treat.  My husband laughs as the three of us plot out what we will have, although he often willingly partakes.

As a family with food allergies, treats can be tricky as many dessert items contain Claire’s allergens or could have come in contact with her allergens while being processed.  While we are restricted there are still many things that we can have.  I have found that focusing on what we can have helps us thrive on despite the things we cannot eat.  As we head into summer, there are so many tasty traditional summer treats that we can enjoy, even if we have to modify them a bit. 

My Thrive On 3 this week- some of our favorite allergy-friendly summer treats:

Grilled Fruit

One of the things I quickly learned when we found out about Claire’s allergies is that minimizing ingredients and sticking to simple recipes is best.  There is nothing simpler, or more delicious, than grilled fruit.  On Memorial Day we grilled peaches.  They were sweet, delicious and a healthy way to feed our sweet-tooth (bonus!!).  We do not have a dairy allergy so we were able to top ours with a little whipped cream, but a simple sprinkle of cinnamon would be tasty too!  So many fruits can be grilled- try watermelon, pineapple or skewered strawberries.  We will definitely be grilling up some new fruits this summer!

Homemade Ice Cream

Ice cream and summer go hand in hand.  We have decided that going to the local ice cream shop or buying ice cream at the grocery store or from the ice cream truck poses too much of a cross contact risk, but we don’t want the girls to miss out.  We make our ice cream at home with our awesome Cuisinart Ice Cream maker.  With just a few simple ingredients it churns up deliciousness all through the year, but especially in the hot summer months.  It included a recipe book that has recipes for all different flavors of ice creams and frozen yogurts.  One of our family favorites is chocolate chip ice cream. We make the vanilla ice cream recipe and add in Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips- hands down better than any chocolate chip ice cream I have ever had at an ice cream shop!  If you are dealing with a dairy allergy you may think that ice cream is off the table, but there are many recipes out there for dairy-free ice creams and most stores offer dairy free options as well.  If you can’t find them in the regular ice cream section check the organic or natural foods section.

S’mores

Growing up, my family went camping each summer and S’mores by the fire were a given.  We still do S’mores, but now we have to be careful about the chocolate we use.  Soon after we were diagnosed with Claire’s nut allergy we discovered Vermont Nut Free Chocolate.  The company was founded by a mom with a son who is allergic to peanuts and their products are safe for those with a nut allergy.   At the beginning of the summer season I stock up on chocolate bars so we are ready for nights by the fire pit.  When we are making the S’mores I make sure Claire has a dedicated stick for roasting her marshmallows.  That way, there is no chance for cross contact as she makes her S’mores in case others are using different chocolate bars.

Enjoy all of the sweetness that summer has to offer- even if you have to modify it a bit!  Until next time- Thrive On!

Learn more about Tami and her company, Thrive On Consulting, which helps families and individuals dealing with food allergies at www.thriveonconsulting.net www.thriveonconsulting.net

Introducing Me and Thrive On 3

It is with great excitement that I write my first blog post.  As many of you know, creating food allergy awareness and assisting others with food allergies has been my personal mission since Claire was diagnosed five years ago.  It has now become my professional mission through my new food allergy consulting business, Thrive On Consulting. 

My blog, which launches during Food Allergy Awareness Week, will be an opportunity for me to continue to share our food allergy journey, help others as they also navigate their “new normal” with food allergies, and create awareness so that those with food allergies can thrive on!

Food Allergy Awareness Week is particularly important so that everyone, not just those living with food allergies, can learn about how to keep those with food allergies safe.  If you have heard me speak on food allergies, or seen any of the materials I have put together for our schools, you know I focus on how important and critical support from non-allergic families is to keeping those with food allergies safe and included.  We are so fortunate to have so many great supporters in our network.  We appreciate the sometimes seemingly small steps and gestures made to keep Claire safe- which in our book are always huge! 

There are many things you can do to help those with food allergies and I will be blogging about many of these, and other helpful tips for those living with food allergies, in future posts in something that I call the Thrive On 3.

My initial Thrive On 3 provides simple things you can do now to help those, especially young children (there are 1:13 children with food allergies), facing the daily challenge of living with food allergies.

1. WASH HANDS-Wash hands with soap and water after all meals and snacks. Hand sanitizers do not eliminate all allergens.
2. DO NOT SHARE FOOD- Teach children to only eat what their parents or teachers give them. Sharing food can unintentionally introduce allergens.
3. KEEP CELEBRATIONS SAFE- Focus on non-food items for parties or work with parents and teachers to determine a safe treat for all members of the class.

If you are reading this, thank you, you are taking steps to help those with food allergies thrive on.  I encourage you to share what you now know with others and stay tuned for more Thrive On 3s, helpful information, and insight into life with food allergies.

Louisville Area Readers: 

Did you know we have some great things happening in the food allergy community?  If you are an individual or family dealing with food allergies you may be interested in these cool opportunities in Louisville:

• Louisville Food Allergy Support Group- we have formed a support group for individuals and families dealing with food allergies.  Our next meeting is scheduled for May 18, 2015 at 7pm at the Jeffersontown Library.  To learn more about the group connect with us on Facebook.

• FARE Louisville Walk for Food Allergy- The third annual walk will take place on September 12, 2015 at Seneca Park.  To register for the walk or learn more about how to volunteer visit our walk  website.