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Allergies

Food Allergy Bloggers Conference

November 16, 2016 by Holly Yzquierdo 2 Comments

Food Allergy Bloggers Conference Instagram Giveaway

I recently attended the Food Allergy Bloggers Conference (FABlogCon) in Denver. This is my favorite conference and some of my best blogging friends attend each year.

There are many reasons I love FABlogCon and go each year.

  • Great session about blogging, social media and more.
  • Informative sessions from food allergies experts.
  • Meet the best sponsors that bring allergy-friendly products.
  • Discover the latest innovations in food allergy technology.
  • Connect with other bloggers!!!

I’ll admit that the last point is my favorite. I love connecting with other bloggers. Even though I’m primarily a plant-based blogger I jumped into the world of food allergies when my youngest son was small. He is no longer allergic but I had found my tribe. Plus, food allergy bloggers totally understand avoiding dairy, eggs and more.

We no longer have to avoid gluten or peanuts but I know many of you do so I continue to create allergy-friendly recipes and mention substitutions when needed. Plus, I’ve fallen in love with some of the allergy-friendly brands like Enjoy Life Foods, Zego, So Delicious, and more!

Food Allergy Bloggers Conference Instagram Giveaway

Who Should Attend FABlogCon?

There are three kinds of people who should consider going to FABlogCon.

  • Any blogger but especially food bloggers
  • Anyone wanting to learn more about food allergies
  • Brands wanting to learn more about food allergies, blogging or social media

There really is something for everyone.

In addition to all of the helpful sessions, the chefs accommodate even the most restrictive diet. I loved splurging on Daiya non-dairy yogurt every day. Their peach flavor is life changing! I also found another non-dairy milk option, Good Karma flax milk; and a gluten-free and vegan bread, by BFree Foods.

Food Allergy Bloggers Conference Instagram Giveaway

Want a Taste?

I know it’s hard to travel to conferences. If you’d like a taste of the what it’s like to travel to FABlogcon I’ve got some swag for you. (swag is all the stuff you bring home from sponsors.) I’ve picked some of my favorite products from the conference that would handle being shipped. I’ll also include some coupons for other products.

Enter to win a collection of some of my favorite products from FABlogCon on my Instagram! It’s easy as easy as 1, 2, 3.

  1. Follow me on Instagram.
  2. Like one of the contest posts (more will come until the contest ends).
  3. Tag a friend (up to 3) for extra entries and use the hashtag #FABlogConSwag

I’ll pick a winner on November 27th and ship a flat rate box full of swag to one winner in the U.S. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram.

*Please read the labels. Most products are allergy-friendly but may not meet your specific food restrictions.

Filed Under: Allergies Tagged With: allergies

Allergy-Friendly Halloween Treats

October 28, 2016 by Holly Yzquierdo Leave a Comment

Every year as Halloween approaches I’m conflicted about what to give out. First, I’m not a big fan of Halloween in general. Second, I’d rather not hand out pounds of candy or have my kids receive it.

I know Halloween will be a fun memory for the kids and the one day a year that Arizonans all come out of their homes at the same time, so we participate.

Since we have experience with food allergies I try to be sensitive about what I had out each year. This year we are handing out a special treat to kids with food allergies.

halloween-2016

I’ll have an assortment of allergy-friendly candy but the main treat is Sun Cups! Think about your favorite peanut butter cup but without peanut butter, plus the chocolate is dairy-free!

Fruit flavored candy seems to be the safest for food allergies and anything chocolate is usually out of the question. (See my friend Megan’s list of allergy-friendly candy.) Even if the chocolate candy doesn’t contain nuts, cross contact is always a concern. I’ve always been a chocolate lover so if I’m going to eat candy, I want it to be chocolate.

That is why I’m so excited about Sun Cups! I’ve enjoyed Sun Cups in the past but they are newly dairy-free and top 8 free. It’s a win-win for dairy-free chocolate lovers!

If you want to avoid giving out candy at Halloween you can always go with non-food treats for your trick or treat visitors too. I like glow bracelets, bouncy balls, and generic Halloween toys.

It may be too late to order your Sun Cups from Amazon but you can still find them in local stores. My Sprout’s, Target and Whole Foods carry them. I’m still ordering my glow bracelets using my quick Amazon Prime shipping. Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial to see what I mean!

What are your Halloween traditions?

Filed Under: Allergies

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Muffins

September 14, 2016 by Holly Yzquierdo 16 Comments

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Muffins with SoyNut Butter

Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between my breakfasts and desserts! I usually like a sweet breakfast and these Pumpkin Muffins makes them perfect for the morning.

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Muffins

This page contains affiliate links.

I’ve always had a sweet tooth. When I was a kid I’d often get donuts or sugary cereal for breakfast. I clearly remember going to the donut shop and getting a long John and a can of coke. Even when I make a savory breakfast, like my Breakfast Hash, I’ll want something sweet to follow.

I created these Pumpkin Muffins because I’m yearning for the cooler temperatures of fall. I didn’t want them to be super sweet and only appropriate for dessert. I wanted these Pumpkin Muffins to be a bit heartier and suitable for breakfast, even for people without a sweet tooth like me.

Pumpkin Muffins that are gluten-free

With or Without Chocolate Chips

With chocolate chips the Pumpkin Muffins are a decadent dessert. Without chocolate chips they are a delicious breakfast that pairs well with fruit and a cup of coffee (for the grown ups).

My husband is not a fan of chocolate so I’ll often scoop out half of the batter then pour chocolate chips into the remaining batter so we are both happy.

Allergy-Friendly Pumpkin Muffins

Allergy-Friendly

Like most of my recipes, these muffins are allergy-friendly. They are gluten-free, dairy-free and nut-free. I use a gluten-free flour blend from Jewel’s Bakery (but you can use your favorite gluten-free blend) and dairy-free chocolate chips. I also use a peanut butter substitute. It has the look and feel of peanut butter and tastes comparable considering there are not nuts. It’s perfect for families with a peanut allergy.

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Muffins

We’ve been enjoying these muffins for breakfast, after school snacks and desserts. You can’t really go wrong with these Pumpkin Muffins!

Ingredients

  • ½ cup Peanut Butter alternative (or peanut butter if you don’t have an allergy)
  • 1 15 oz can of pumpkin
  • ½ cup plant-based milk
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp ground cloves
  • ½ tsp ground ginger
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1½ cups gluten-free flour blend
  • ½ cup chocolate chips (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Measure out ½ cup peanut butter alternative into a microwave safe bowl and microwave it for 20 seconds.
  3. Pour in the 15 oz can of pumpkin and plant-based milk, stir very well.
  4. Dump in the sugar and vanilla then stir again.
  5. Sprinkle all of the spices, salt, and baking soda into the batter.
  6. Pour in the gluten-free flour blend and mix everything together. After everything is mixed together you may add chocolate chips if desired.
  7. Spray cooking oil into muffin pan and scoop batter into muffin cups.
  8. Bake for 30 minutes (you can test at 25) but allow to cool for 10 minutes at least.
Yield: 12 Servings

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Muffins

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Muffins with SoyNut Butter

With chocolate chips the Pumpkin Muffins are a decadent dessert. Without chocolate chips they are a delicious breakfast that pairs well with fruit and a cup of coffee (for the grown ups).

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • ½ cup Peanut Butter alternative (or peanut butter if you don't have an allergy)
  • 1 15 oz can of pumpkin
  • ½ cup plant-based milk
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp ground cloves
  • ½ tsp ground ginger
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1½ cups gluten-free flour blend
  • ½ cup chocolate chips (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Measure out ½ cup peanut butter alternative into a microwave safe bowl and microwave it for 20 seconds.
  3. Pour in the 15 oz can of pumpkin and plant-based milk, stir very well.
  4. Dump in the sugar and vanilla then stir again.
  5. Sprinkle all of the spices, salt, and baking soda into the batter.
  6. Pour in the gluten-free flour blend and mix everything together. After everything is mixed together you may add chocolate chips if desired.
  7. Spray cooking oil into muffin pan and scoop batter into muffin cups.
  8. Bake for 30 minutes (you can test at 25) but allow to cool for 10 minutes at least.

Did you make this recipe?

We'd love to see it! Tag us and use #MyPlantBasedFamily!

© Heather Mayes

Filed Under: Allergies, Back to School, Bread & Muffin Recipes, Recipes Tagged With: gluten free, Plant Based Diet, Recipes, Vegan

Handling Food Allergies at School

August 26, 2016 by Holly Yzquierdo 2 Comments

Food Allergies at School

If you have a child with food allergies, the beginning of the school year can be a scary time. If you don’t have a child with food allergies you probably don’t understand what the big deal is. Let me explain and offer some helpful tips for navigating food allergies at school (even when it’s not your problem).

For kids with food allergies, the smallest amount of their allergen can be life and death. Imagine for a moment having to be concerned about staying alive at school. I’m not exaggerating.  Between breakfast, snack and lunch time there are many opportunities for kids to come into contact with foods that could hurt them.

Food Allergies at School

Thankfully, or maybe I should say miraculously, my son outgrew his peanut allergy. I had been dreading the start of kindergarten because I was very concerned about him coming into contact with peanuts. Even if kids washed their hands, food comes in on clothes and faces (my kids can’t be the only ones who leave breakfast on their shirts).

Even though I don’t have to worry about food allergies any more I will always be aware of how food allergies impact families.

What You Need to Know About Food Allergies At School

Food allergies aren’t once size fits all. Some allergies are more common than others but without knowing which food allergies are in your child’s classroom it is hard to keep all the kids safe. Ask teachers if you should avoid certain foods due to food allergies. Some teachers will inform you on their own but some will not. [Read more…] about Handling Food Allergies at School

Filed Under: Allergies, Back to School Tagged With: allergies, Back to School

Chocolate Hearts

February 10, 2016 by Holly Yzquierdo 8 Comments

Dairy-Free Chocolate Hearts that are top 8 free.

I don’t really get into holiday decorating or crafts, but I love holiday food. Valentine’s day is all about the chocolate. At least my Facebook feed is all about chocolate.

When you avoid dairy, holidays like Valentine’s Day can become a little more difficult. I stress the word little because there are great products that make it easier.

Dairy-Free Chocolate Hearts that are top 8 free.

This year, I created my own Chocolate Hearts using mini chips from Enjoy Life Foods.

You only need two things, Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips and a candy mold. You might want to have some strawberries on hand too, you know, for the leftover chocolate.

How to Make Allergy Friendly Chocolate Hearts

Using Enjoy Life mini chips makes these hearts free of the top 8 most common allergens. This is so important if you have people with food allergies in your friends and family list.

Ingredients

½ cup Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips

Instructions

  1. Melt chocolate chips in the microwave for 25 seconds, then stir.
  2. Repeat until all the chips are melted.
  3. Carefully fill the heart mold and place mold in the refrigerator.
  4. Cool hearts for 15 minutes then remove from the mold.

How easy is that?!

I had some melted chocolate left and used it to dip my strawberries in. After dipping I refrigerated them until ready to serve.

Chocolate Hearts for Valentine's Day are free of the top 8 allergens.
Yield: 8 Hearts

Chocolate Hearts

Chocolate Hearts for Valentine's Day are free of the top 8 allergens.

Using Enjoy Life mini chips makes these chocolate hearts free of the top 8 most common allergens.

Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 2 minutes
Additional Time 15 minutes
Total Time 19 minutes

Ingredients

  • ½ cup Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips

Instructions

  1. Melt chocolate chips in the microwave for 25 seconds, then stir.
  2. Repeat until all the chips are melted.
  3. Carefully fill the heart mold and place mold in the refrigerator.
  4. Cool hearts for 15 minutes then remove from the mold.

Notes

You might want to have some strawberries on hand too for the leftover chocolate.

Did you make this recipe?

We'd love to see it! Tag us and use #MyPlantBasedFamily!

© Heather Mayes

Filed Under: Allergies, Dessert, Holiday Cooking, Recipes

When Food Allergies Change Your Life

October 9, 2015 by Holly Yzquierdo 7 Comments

When Food Allergies Change Your Life

A series of events over the last few months has completely changed our lives. I’m talking COMPLETELY!

If you have been following our journey you know that my youngest son was diagnosed with severe food allergies a few years ago. No matter what food you are allergic too, food allergies change your life.

He had a long list of foods that we needed to avoid but peanuts were the most dangerous. Although not life threatening wheat caused serious problems for him including digestive issues, eczema and more.

Over the years we added some foods back like carrots, melon, banana and others.

When Food Allergies Change Your Life

In the summer of 2014 we saw an allergists in preparation for preschool. He tested off the charts for peanuts. I still remember his doctor telling us he would NEVER outgrow his allergy.

Annual Allergy Check Up

This August we started the process for his yearly allergy appointment. We did the blood work and scheduled another appointment three weeks after that for the consult.

When that appointment arrived my husband and I both went. I dreaded the skin prick/scratch test and wanted support. I also wanted to inquire about oral immunology therapy and I had not been able to find a doctor in Arizona who practiced OIT.

Test Results

The nurse administered the test and it didn’t look too bad. I’m no expert so I just waited. She came back and said, he has NO FOOD ALLERGIES!

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!

allergy birthday party edit

The boy who sat out every birthday party, who had to leave the park when people came with peanut butter or trail mix, the boy who had never had all of the things that most people think are “normal” rites of passage has no food allergies.

The Oral Challenge

We scheduled an oral challenge for peanuts for the next week. An oral challenge is when you eat very precise amounts of an allergen at specific intervals to “test” for an allergy. This is done in a doctor’s office in case there is a bad outcome.

The day came and we nervously went to the allergists’ office.

FACT: You should never perform an oral challenge at home if you have a history of food allergies!!!

We had been telling our son that he was going to eat peanuts at the doctor to see if he was still allergic. He objected.

He has always been one of those kids who never tested his allergies. He was careful. He is the kid that when he saw food in a class, party, park, etc. he would say, “I have allergies, that will make me sick!”

We convinced him that we didn’t think he was allergic anymore. I think the thing that convinced him was when we told him he wouldn’t have to wear his bracelets anymore.

We were all really nervous. The oral challenge takes about 3 hours. We took peanuts and peanut butter. They prefer to use peanut butter but I knew he wouldn’t eat it. He isn’t a fan of the consistency.

After barely getting the first dose of peanut butter down they agreed to use the peanuts.

With each dose we held our breath. He played.

We stared at him. He grew bored.

We prayed. He ate his peanuts.

When all was said and done he passed his peanut challenge.

He is not allergic to peanuts anymore. 

Life After Peanut Allergies

Even with proof we were skeptical. Our Epi pen still hangs prominently in our dining room. It took weeks before we stopped carrying it everywhere we went. He is not allergic to peanuts anymore.

Do you hear me, HE IS NOT ALLERGIC TO PEANUTS!

Let me say that if you are not a food allergy parent (or family member) you won’t really understand the weight of that comment. Really, that is life and death.

If you have a child with food allergies you might be crying right now. I know I am. There are conflicting emotions and that is ok. On one hand you really get how BIG this is. On the other you know that your child is allergic and there may not be a chance to outgrow it. For the rest of your child’s life you will live the feeling that today could be the day that they have a reaction.

I told you…life changing.

Taking on Wheat

A few weeks later, we went on to the next part of our plan. We reintroduced wheat.

Our son had never had a severe reaction from wheat but it impacted the quality of life. He hadn’t had wheat since he was about 18 months old.

Slowly, cautiously we gave him wheat. We watched, we waited.

We couldn’t believe it. There were no noticeable reactions. None. He had already tested negative on blood and skin tests.

He has been eating wheat for over a month.

Two weeks ago he had his first donut. His teeth would chatter with excitement has he brought that pink, sprinkled donut to his lips. HE LOVED IT! My baby had his first donut.

Let me take a break and let out a loud sigh and take a deep breath.

When Food Allergies Change Your Life

Our son has zero food restrictions. Yesterday was a birthday party at his school. He got to eat a cup cake! I’m done restricting his food, he is not allergic anymore.

We don’t know how or why he got over his food allergies. Some people will insist he simply outgrew them, others will talk about healthy bacteria and the immune system, while others–those who have prayed for him believe it was divine healing. It may be all three.

I do know that every day is a gift. I thank God for every day with my kids. I thank God that we walked this food allergy journey and that at least for now it appears to be over for us.

A Changed Child

I’m thankful and still a little in shock. If he coughs weird or eats something new I watch him like a hawk. I’m not sure if this will ever end. I will tell you that he is more carefree now. I think the weight of the allergies kept him cautious. Now he is more daredevil.

Food Allergy Parent

Being a food allergy mom and a food allergy advocate was a big part of who I was. It is a weird feeling to be on this side of it. Even the subtitle of this blog is Allergy-Friendly, Whole Food, On A Budget.

Everything is different, our shopping list, the special stores or online orders, having to always be prepared with food when we leave the house, avoiding all but two restaurants, not to mention that a large part of my huge pantry is dedicated to gluten-free peanut-free products. I’m still trying to figure this out.

When I heard about the two kids who died recently from food allergies it hurt. I hope it always does. I hope I’m always this sensitive to the weight of food allergies. I will admit, there was a small amount of relief that my son is not allergic anymore. But I’ll always have the feeling this gift could be taken away.

Having a son with food allergies made me a more compassionate person. It helped me realize that there are children in every school in the country who live with food allergies. Many of those kids are constantly on alert because a food could kill them. How could you actually learn something if you were afraid?

If you have no food allergy connection thanks for hanging in this far!

I Need Your Help

I want to hear from you. I know some of you come here for the allergy-friendly recipes and meal plans and others are just here for the plant-based resources.  Please take 2 minutes to fill out this survey.

I want to know which foods you avoid. Before food allergies I baked with whole wheat, with food allergies I struggled with gluten-free baking, now I need to decide where to go from here

Your survey answers will help me decide what types of recipes to make. If the answers are overwhelmingly gluten-free I’ll avoid gluten, if they are split I’ll likely do a little of both (like I did in the beginning of this blog).

This short survey will help me immensely. I really need you to fill it out.

Now that that is out of they way, will you celebrate with me? Cry with me? Either way, I understand this is big. I’d love to hear from you. What is your story? Do you have food allergies? Do you fiercely advocate for your child with food allergies?

Filed Under: Allergies Tagged With: allergies

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