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.