My Plant-Based Family

Feeding My Family a Whole Food, Plant-Based Diet, On a Budget

allergies

Allergy-Friendly SunButter Cookies

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It’s been a really long time since I’ve shared a dessert with you. I don’t make dessert often. With my little guys food allergies I have to use specialty ingredients. Thankfully they are becoming more mainstream and I can find SunButter at most grocery stores.

I first made these allergy-friendly SunButter Cookies last year. It’s taken me a long time to share them but I hope the wait is worth it.

SunButter Cookies that are Vegan, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, nut-free

I still prefer to buy most of my “special” items on Amazon. I have an Amazon Prime membership so they are delivered to my door so I don’t have to take the kids in the store. Win-Win. I’ll share links to the products I buy if you are curious. I buy them in bulk but you can purchase smaller amounts.

SunButter Cookies that are Vegan, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, nut-free

Sunbutter Cookies

Ingredients

Do

  1. Preheat oven to 350° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or use a Silpat Non-Stick Baking Mat.
  2. “Cream” first four ingredients together in a medium bowl.
  3. In a separate bowl (I use my measuring cup) mix warm water and chia seeds together. Allow them to sit for a few minutes while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
  4. In a large bowl mix the remaining dry ingredients together.
  5. Dump all of the wet ingredients into the large bowl with the dry ingredients and mix well.
  6. Use your hands to scoop out ping-pong sized cookies and roll them into balls. Roll them in sugar. Use wet hands to keep the dough from sticking to your hands.
  7. Flatten them onto the prepared cookie sheet.
  8. Bake for 12 minutes. Allow to cool before eating.

Serve

This recipe makes about 12 cookies. They will be soft in the middle but firm on the edges, the best of both worlds. They are great for lunch boxes too!

For a little change try adding a 1/2 cup Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips.

SunButter Cookies that are Vegan, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, nut-free

Substitutions:

I haven’t made this with peanut butter or other nut butters but if you do please let me know how they turn out. You could use a Gluten and Wheat Free Baking Mix instead of using the flours mentioned above. Be sure to read the labels to check for allergens.

If you like these allergy-friendly SunButter Cookies you should try my Brownies!

This page contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase I may earn a small percent at no extra cost to you.

Don’t Miss The Top 8 Allergen-Free Recipe Collection

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This week is your last chance to get The Top 8 Allergen-Free Recipe Collection.

Remember Gabriel? He is a handsome little guy who lives with multiple life threatening food allergies. You can read his story here. He has had over 20 anaphylactic reactions.  He is one tough kid. He also has an incredibly brave Mom who tirelessly advocates for him.

All proceeds of the sale of this book will benefit Gabriel and his family.

I’m doing my part to help and have created The Top 8 Allergen-Free Recipe Collection. It will only be available through the end of August. We have raised almost $60 to send to their family to help offset the expense of their trip to Mayo Clinic. I have also donated money personally and wouldn’t ask you to do something I wasn’t willing to do myself.

Help Me Help Gabe

Would you partner with me? You can give on their Go Fund Me Page or buy this cookbook. It contains 40 Recipes that are free of the top 8 allergens and it’s vegan. The Recipe collection is only $2.99!

There isn’t a lot of pop and circumstance awarded for buying this cookbook and making this donation. You will have my thanks and appreciation. You will be part of making a difference in Gabriel’s life. You will give other food allergy families hope. That is a lot for only $2.99.

Thank you for joining me. Now click here or here to buy the book.

Keeping Kids with Food Allergies Safe at School

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Please note I am not a doctor or attorney. I do not give medical or legal advise.

As you know it’s back to school month here at My Plant-Based Family! We are celebrating all month, well I’m celebrating and trying to make your back to school transition a little smoother.

Back to School Month

Today I want to address all of those families that have kids with food allergies but please stick around even if your family isn’t touched by food allergies.

If you are new to the Food Allergy scene I’m sure you are a nervous wreck about sending your kid to school. Rightly so. It can be very scary. I’m in a number of food allergy support groups online and the stories I hear are heart breaking. The purpose of today’s post is to equip and hopefully encourage you as you send your kids with food allergies back to school.

 

Does a 504 plan keep your kids safe

What is a 504 Plan?

Did you know that severe, life threatening food allergies are considered a “hidden disability” by the U.S. Department of Education? Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (and American with Disabilities Act amendments) prohibits discrimination against children with disabilities at schools that receive federal funding. Essentially it assures that students with disabilities receive the same education in the least restrictive way.

A 504 Plan is a cooperative plan put in place at your child’s school designed to keep them safe from food allergies. A student with severe peanut allergies may have a 504 Plan that prohibits peanuts being brought into the classroom. They typically address any area of the school where the student has access.

How to get a 504 Plan

If your child needs a 504 Plan you should contact your child’s school. I recommend you write an email so you have a paper trail. You will need proper documentation from your child’s doctor. Your job will be to prove that your child is eligible for the plan. I’ll include more resources at the end of the post to help you.

If your child is eligible a 504 Plan there will be meetings where you and various people at the school typically administrators, teachers, cafeteria managers, school nurse, etc. will attend.

We do not have a 504 Plan and I’ve never had to go through the 504 Plan process. I’ve asked other food allergy moms about their experiences though.

What really happens

I asked a couple of food allergy moms to share their experiences with me. Meet Jeannette and Rachel!

Do you feel like a 504 Plan keeps your child safe?

Jeannette says,

Unfortunately, the answer is no.  I had a talk with our allergists who has never been a big advocate of 504’s about this. He told us “A school will either do what is right for your child or they won’t.  A 504 won’t change that”.  After having talked with several special education professionals, I got the same answer.  If we look at human behavior, we see that simply having something on paper does not determine behavior (if that were the case, no one would ever drive over the speed limit).  A 504 can provide understanding and clarification, but it will not keep your child safe.  The only thing that keeps your child safe is educators committed to the inclusion and safety of all students.

Rachel says,

I think Molly’s  504 keeps her safe when it is followed.  I have had two different experiences at two different schools.  The biggest issue for us was not safety but exclusion.  As Molly has gotten older being excluded or different has been hard for her to deal with, at times it’s heartbreaking.  Bullying was an issue at one school but not the other.  That is something that I will always be sure to address, how will you handle bullying?

Do you have advice for families considering a 504 Plan? As parents what issues should we address?

Jeannette says,

The best strategy to ensuring safety of food allergic students is to ensure that school staff understand the concepts of community, inclusion, and safety of all students and have the ability to engage in collaborative conversations about how we balance conflicting needs and interests.  As parents of food allergic students, we clearly have a lot of “skin in the game”, that being said, success and safety for food allergic student’s requires all members of the team (principal, nurse, teacher, education assistant, etc.) all see that they also have a vested interest.

Rachel says,

Don’t let small things slide.  If they aren’t following the plan on ANYTHING let them know, nicely.  Little things not being followed turn into big things.  I always address inclusion: classroom, field trips, extracurricular activities, bullying, parties and programs, absences, self carried emergency medication, Epi action plan, cleaning in the cafeteria, school bus safety, recess and PE.  I make sure that I can take her on all field trips because we once had an asthma attack on a field trip severe enough to go to the ER.  I also request permission to be at every classroom party.

Another thing to mention is substitute teachers/staff.  The one time Molly had to have Epi at school was when they had a substitute.  To me it is a HUGE safety issue.  I also had a substitute tell her once she could not take her Epi bag with her.  She has self carried since she was four, so she stood her ground.  

I firmly believe that every student with a life threatening food allergy should have a 504 Plan. It provides a set of guidelines that everyone needs to follow. Never the less, students and parents must remain vigilant to keep food allergic children safe.

Helpful Resources

Two of the best things I’ve read about 504 Plan’s can be found at Nut Free Wok and Multiple Food Allergy Help!

Visit FARE for more info about 504 and Written Management Plans along with lots of other helpful information.

The US Department of Education’s Q&A Page for the ADA Amendments of 2008 and their explanation of the civil rights of children with  hidden disabilities .

Special Thanks to Jeanette Baxter and Rachel Reed!

Jeanette is a passionate advocate for the Allergy, Anaphylaxis, and Asthma community, mother of four, one of which is a brave little girl with peanut allergies, asthma, and Mast Cell Activation Disease.  Follow her work in Oregon to help those living with Allergies, Anaphylaxis, and Asthma at http://oregonaaaalliance.blogspot.com/, on Facebook, or Twitter (@Oregonaaaalliance).
 
Rachel Reed is mom to Molly, peanut, tree  nut, peaches, banana, coconut allergic.  They have been conquering ANA allergies, eczema and asthma since 2 weeks old.  They are currently in an OIT program in Dallas, Texas and you can follow them at www.mollyoit.blogspot.com or on twitter @prissymomtoo.  
 

Do you have experience with 504 Plans or kids with food allergies going to school. Please share!

The Elimination Diet Workbook GIVEAWAY

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Yesterday I wrote about allergies, intolerances and sensitivities. There is often confusion, dare I say frustration and misunderstanding when it comes to this world. Yes, those living with food allergies (and intolerances) often feel like they are in their own world that doesn’t make sense to those on outside.

food allergies food intolerances and food sensitivitiesBecause we live in that world I am always on the lookout for information and products that make living with food allergies easier. When I find things I like I try to tell you about it. I spend way too much time reading books, researching lunch boxes and medical ID bracelets along with lots of other items. If you find good stuff feel free to email me about it.

One of my recent discoveries is The Elimination Diet Workbook: A Personal Approach to Determining Your Food Allergies by Maggie Moon. I was given a free copy to review and a copy to giveaway.

The Elimination Diet Workbook

This Book Is Not For

This book is not for someone who has experienced anaphylaxis or children! It does not cure food allergies but it can help you understand which foods may be making you sick. The author strongly encourages people to seek medical guidance and use this to supplement information from their doctor.

Allergies and Intolerances

I learned a lot about food allergies from this book. It goes into a lot of detail on the common food allergies (think big 8 plus nickel, corn, banana/latex) and food intolerances that I wasn’t really familiar with like sulfites, benzoates, tartrazine, monosodium glutamate, lactose, and others. Each item discussed is written as a stand-alone section (within a chapter) explaining the allergen and how and where you would come into contact with it, what typical reactions could look like, how to diagnose an allergy or intolerance, and how to get the nutrients you could be missing after eliminating the offending food.

The Elimination Diet

The book walks you through how to prepare for an elimination diet and helps you determine what type of elimination diet is right for you. It’s important not to rush the process. As you eliminate foods then later add them back in you should be able to get a clear picture of which foods are causing problems.

For example, I noticed when I would eat Italian food I would feel bad. Headaches, achy joints, and other random symptoms. I assumed I had a problem with wheat, after all my son had a known wheat allergy. I later learned that I have an intolerance to basil (among other things). Since I would eat wheat pasta and basil together I blamed the wheat without thinking about the basil. By eliminating wheat and still experiencing the same symptoms I can deduce that wheat wasn’t the problem.

Meal Plans and Recipes

This book stresses the importance of meal planning. You know I completely agree the Meal Planning is important and everyone can benefit from it.

They try to make it easy for you by including meal plans (and recipes) you can follow but they include a lot of meat and would not work for us. Since I’m a Meal Planning Extraordinaire (self-proclaimed) I can create a Meal Plan that would work for me but you may need a little help if you are a meal planning novice.

Helpful Tips and Worksheets

There is also a lot of helpful information to help you avoid foods that make you sick. For example, if you need to avoid corn this book has two pages of foods that may contain corn including cough drops, luncheon meats, spaghetti sauce, etc.

The Elimination Diet Workbook takes a lot of the guess-work out of navigating an elimination diet to discover food allergies. I think it is a great first step for those who have experience chronic systems with no known cause.

Win a Copy

You can win a free copy of The Elimination Diet Workbook: A Personal Approach to Determining Your Food Allergies by entering this Rafflecopter Giveaway. This is open to residents in US and Canada. The winner will be notified by email.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I am not a medical professional and do not give medical advice. Seek help from a medical professional if you are ill.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book to review. This page may contain affiliate links.

Food Allergies, Intolerances, and Sensitivities

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If you suffer from seasonal allergies, hives, eczema, digestive issues, painful joints, chronic headaches, reoccurring ear infections or a host of other issues you could have food allergies, food intolerances or food sensitivities.

food allergies food intolerances and food sensitivities

Food Allergies, Food Intolerances, and Food Sensitivities

Food Allergies are characterized by an abnormal or inappropriate response to specific foods that are triggered by the immune system. These range from mild responses to life threatening anaphylaxis. Food allergies can only be managed by avoiding the food.

Food Intolerances are generally less severe than food allergies but can cause similar symptoms. Typically food intolerances are thought to cause mostly digestive issues. Food intolerances are often related to the amount of food eaten. For example someone with a wheat intolerance may be able to eat a cookies but would become sick from a large bowl of pasta.

Food Sensitivities means a person has a negative reaction to a food but that reaction could vary with each exposure. Food sensitivities are largely misunderstood. Food intolerances and food sensitivities are usually grouped together.

Aren’t They the Same Thing?

People often use the terms food allergy, food intolerance and food sensitivity interchangeably.  Many people in the food allergy community get very upset if people say allergy instead of intolerance. While I understand that they are different I don’t get upset. I have a dairy intolerance, if I eat something that contains a lot of hidden dairy I could be in severe pain for days. Dairy won’t kill me but it will cause serious joint pain that will prevent me from taking care of my kids.

If you suspect a food allergy or intolerance it’s important to find a doctor and/or an allergist who can help you learn the extent of your issues. Medical professionals often take food allergies seriously but not all understand or believe in food intolerance. It’s important to find a doctor that will listen to you and help you make sense of your symptoms.

The Giveaway

Tomorrow I’ll have a very special giveaway for The Elimination Diet Workbook: A Personal Approach to Determining Your Food Allergies. If you have a lingering feeling something in your diet may be making you sick check back for my full review and your chance to win your own copy.

If you are interested in allergy-friendly recipes check out my Recipe Page! All recipes are dairy and egg-free. Most recipes are wheat and nut-free as well.

Top 8 Allergen-Free Cookbook

Don’t forget that the Top 8 Allergen-Free Cookbook is available for only $2.99 for a very limited time. All proceeds will benefit Gabriel Schock who is at Mayo Clinic due to food allergies. This book contains 40 delicious recipes!

You can also read more about my son’s Adventure in Allergies. We see an allergist on Thursday so I’m sure we will be updating it soon.

Do you (or someone in your family) deal with food allergies, intolerances or sensitivities?

This post contains affiliate links.

An Open Letter: To the Couple eating nuts on our flight

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This post was written about our recent trip and flight but the feelings behind it play out every day for families with food allergies. I’ll admit that it’s tone is much more serious and maybe even desperate. It was written from a mother’s heart. I was sitting across the aisle from the rest of my family and this letter details what I observed.  open letter to the couple eating peanuts

To the couple eating nuts sitting behind my son on the airplane,

You don’t know me. I’m the hyper-vigilant momma on board your flight who is more than slightly nervous you may kill her child. I saw you hide your ginormo bag of nuts when the flight attendant came over the speaker and announced that “a person with a peanut allergy” was on board. That person is my son. He is sitting directly in front of you.

I also saw you hide the bag of nuts every time I looked back at you and AGAIN when the flight attendant asked you to put them away.

You know it’s wrong or you wouldn’t hide it. Trust me, I have little kids, they don’t hide what they are doing unless they are breaking the rules.

Did you hear that? It was my heart pounding, not because of the “flight” but because of your snack. What if my son has a reaction, or worse?

A food allergy momma doesn’t just see a bag of nuts, granola or candy bar. We see a loaded weapon.

I know that may sound a little dramatic to you. Every 3 minutes someone experiences an allergic reaction that sends them to the ER. What do you think happens if you can’t get to the hospital?

The airline (Thank you Southwest) was nice enough to offer nut-free snacks. From where I’m sitting I could see you have several other bags as well. As a Food Allergy Momma I had a whole backpack full of snacks I would have happily given you for the added peace of mind of keeping my son safe.

I may be a little extra cautious. The night before the flight  my son’s face was covered in hives, his face was swollen and red from an unknown allergen. He has never had that reaction. I wondered if his immune system is overburdened already.

My husband thinks I’m crazy for never deleting pictures or videos of my kids. This is why. One person, not following the rules, could cause me to lose my baby. I’ll admit, I didn’t give food allergies that much consideration before I found out my kid was allergic. However I was always accommodating. I would ask questions and go out of my way to keep people safe, I call it being considerate or human.

In case you are wondering, it’s not the sight of peanuts that will hurt people with food allergies (hiding them doesn’t make a difference). For some people just being in the same room as a peanut will cause their throat to swell shut. Other people have to eat them to have a reaction. We don’t yet know the severity of my son’s allergy. He seems ok when in the same room as peanuts. The last time he ate something with peanuts his face and neck turned red, he started crying, and scratching his neck. He was 1-year-old and we’ve been diligent to keep him away from nuts.

One in 13 children have food allergies. There is no cure. I don’t want my son to be a statistic. More than 200 deaths occur each year due to food allergies. We carry two Epi Pen’s everywhere we go. Epi Pen’s are life saving during an allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). If you watch the news you know that some people don’t survive even when they use multiple Epi Pens.

My son and the 6 million other children affected with food allergies are delightful, precious, beautiful, talented and brilliant. They deserve to grow up without fear of getting sick or dying. Even though my son is only 3 years old he is very careful about what he eats. I hate to say it but he has had bouts of anxiety about food. Sadly, that anxiety keeps him safe.

We are not so different, you appear to be health conscious and natural minded people. I’m only guessing that because of your snack choices like nuts, seaweed and dry roasted veggies. We may even shop at the same stores or read the same blogs.

Truthfully I don’t think you were being malicious. I think that you just didn’t realize how dangerous your actions could have been. My hope is that now you do. Next time please realize that my son’s life is more important than your snack.

Sincerely,

Holly, a food allergy momma