Thursday, April 30, 2009

Thriving with Food Allergies

Last month, Chicago was the host city for the first ever THRIVE Allergy Expo at the McCormick Place the weekend of April 18-19, 2009. THRIVE’S mission is to bring together people with life threatening food allergies, environmental allergies, gluten intolerance and Celiac disease and provide one place to come together, become informed, live better and thrive! THRIVE is the only allergy and gluten free expo in North America, but similar shows have taken place in Europe. The expo was focused on the education and simplification of lives affected by food allergies through product sampling, seminars, expert panels and cooking classes.

My dairy, egg, tree nut and peanut free bakery Sweet Alexis attended the two day expo. We provided samples and information regarding our products and were able to meet hundreds of families across the region suffering from life threatening food allergies. In addition, THRIVE invited me to sit on their national advisory board to provide them with insight and expert knowledge of the everyday accounts of living and raising children with multiple food allergies. This is an incredible honor as I am able to share information on how we are raising happy and well adjusted children with the help of community and school support and offer this as hope to other families struggling with this issue.

In addition, I was asked to sit on MedicAlert’s panel of experts comprised of MedicAlert members and professionals. Here we shared stories and personal experiences on how life threatening food allergies has affected our lives and the crucial lifesaving service MedicAlert provides to us. As a member and supporter of MedicAlert, it is part of my mission that anyone with a hidden disability utilizing this amazing service.

As a MedicAlert member, first responders are able to call a 24 hour hotline to be provided with all the critical information pertaining to one’s hidden disability. If you are in an accident and not able to respond to questions, the information provided can be the difference between life and death. In addition, MedicAlert will notify a designated family member if an accident has occurred. This type of security has offered Alexis a priceless sense of independence and freedom.

Other companies in attendance included Angel Service Dogs represented by Riley and her dog Rocco. Riley suffers from life threatening peanut allergies and her dog Rocco is trained to alert if any peanuts are in her presence. Also there was Peanut Free Planet which is an online store of all things allergen free. This is excellent for the consumer as one can purchase products from various companies such as ours and Vermont Nut free Chocolates, for example, with one shipping charge.

In addition were two of the nation’s first “brick and mortar” allergy free shops, Free From in Chicago and Allergy Free Shop in Miami. Both stores provide not only allergen free foods, but apparel, bath and body items, household items and all things necessary for the allergen and gluten free communities.

Next year, THRIVE plans to be in Atlanta, Georgia and Denver, Colorado. For more information you can go online to the THRIVE website at www.thriveallergyexpo.com or to www.sweetalexis.com. Together we can provide awareness, simplify our lives, be happy, well adjusted and thrive!

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Allergy Article April '09

Easter time is great for family and friends to gather to share a meal and make fun art projects. For the food allergic child this can be a time of anxiety and stress - but it doesn’t have to be. With a little imagination and a search or two on the Internet, one can find great projects the entire family will enjoy.

For example, a fun alternative to coloring Easter eggs, try painting wooden or foam eggs instead. You could also make eggs from construction paper, paper mache or even colorful pipe cleaners. Cut pictures of eggs out of magazines and make a collage or create a beautiful Easter hat. My kids love anything to do with glitter and glue…the messier the better. Let your imagination run wild and have fun!

Don’t want to put candy in the Easter basket - that’s okay. Here are few suggestions that don’t involve all of that sugar and allergen risk. Try a garden theme basket with gloves, hat, shovel and seeds. Or, a beach theme with a chair, towels, sun screen, new bathing suit and a kite. My family has been known to fill plastic eggs with coins, raisins and even allergy free marshmallows. Don’t want to spend a lot of money - you’d be surprised what is available at your local dollar or art store.

Is family coming for dinner? Here is a fantastic diary free alternative to the traditional potato bake by my friend Barb Nicoletti at www.godairyfree.org.

Dairy Free Potato Bake - Ingredients:
6 - 8 pieces of bacon cooked crunchy and crumbled. Reserve 4 Tablespoons of bacon fat or us 4 Tablespoons of olive oil.
1 small onion, minced
2 heaping Tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon pepper
½ teaspoon salt
1 - 1.5 cups broth or water
2-3 Tablespoons of milk alternative
3 lbs. potatoes peeled, cubed and parboiled (partially boiled to finish cooking in later process).

Cooking instructions:
Using the skillet you cooked the bacon in, heat the pan on med-low and add minced onion. Saute until soft. Add flour and stir until roux forms. Slowly add broth, garlic powder, and continue stirring until desired thickness occurs (approx. 4-5 minutes). Stir in milk alternative; turn off heat to prevent scalding.

In a treated casserole dish, place potatoes on the bottom of the dish and pour “cream” mixture over the top. Sprinkle the crumbled bacon bits over the top and bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender. Garnish with slivered green onions. Enjoy!

Just a reminder, “THRIVE Allergy Expo - the only Allergy and Gluten Free Expo in North America” is coming to Chicago April 18th - 19th at Chicago’s McCormick Place. THRIVE activities will include allergen and gluten free cooking classes, seminars including cutting edge information on Celiac detection from the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center, exhibitor demonstrations, product sampling of allergen free foods and much more. For more information, go to www.thriveallergyexpo.com.
Another great event - “Angel Service Dogs” is a non-profit organization dedicated to help children with ‘Hidden Disabilities’, including Seizure Alert Dogs. Now, they are successfully training dogs to detect food allergies - known as Allergy Alert Dogs. A graduation of the first Allergy Alert Dog group is scheduled at Disneyland this June. There is a week long schedule of seminars and events with major preparations being done for the food allergic community at numerous Disneyland restaurants. This would be a great time to safely visit the park! For more information, email angelservicedogs@gmail.com.