New Food Allergy site AllerRama.com rated the Sweet Alexis Chocolate Chip Cookie!

The new food allergy site http://www.allerrama.com/ rates the Sweet Alexis Chocolate Chip cookies. Log on to see what the panel thought about our dairy free, egg free, peanut free and tree nut free cookie. For more information regarding our cookies, log onto http://www.sweetalexis.com/!

Traveling...Translation cards by Selectwisely.com

For all of us with family members suffering from food allergies, traveling can be a major challenge even in our own towns let alone a different county. Thanks to a new website featured in the Los Angeles Times on July 9th, Selectwisely.com offers food allergy cards in more than 25 languages. There are also emergency cards for those who can not eat gluten, have diabetes, asthma, are lactose intolerant or are vegetarian. Prices of the cards vary from $6.50 to $9.50 plus shipping. According to the article, the site also has a "Travelers Tip" page that cautions folks about potentially hidden ingredients in preparations of foods.

PeaButter and Jelly Sandwiches at Last!

While shopping at www.peanutfreeplanet.com, I discovered our new favorite spread...Golden Pea Butter! For the first time, my children had an allergen free version of a PB&J (minus the B, of course - as well as sunflowers due to allergies). Alexis loved it and was elated to have something similar to the very popular sandwich she has seen for years. Ryan, although it was very cute to watch him try and eat this new treat, did not like the stickiness on the roof of his mouth. Give him a few more tries.

Give Golden Peabutter a try! It's delicious and the kids will love it.

OC Family Magazine Article

Many thanks to OC Family Magazine for the following article! To see the OC Family website please follow the following link:

http://www.ocfamily.com/t-KidHealth_food_allergies_sensitivities0709.aspx

Food allergies: What can your child eat?
By Emily Watson Published: July, 2009
When passing out candy to each child during a preschool party, 4-year-old Alexis Fellows’ teacher instead hands her, for whatever reason, a pencil. Why can’t Alexis enjoy a snack? Alexis, along with an estimated 12 million Americans, suffers from food allergies. It’s easy for children with allergies and food sensitivities – which currently don’t have a definitive cause or cure – to feel singled out and deprived of a normal childhood. Each meal can be filled with danger for children with food allergies; severity levels range from mildly vexing to life threatening. The eight most common food allergens are milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat.

Does your child suffer from a food allergy or a food sensitivity/intolerance? And what is the difference between the two? Dr. Gin Lee-Hong, a pediatrician at Columbia Pediatrics in Long Beach, makes the distinction between them. Food allergies elicit an immune system response, while a food intolerance – the more common of the two – disrupts the digestive system. Research shows that 8 percent of children under age 10 have a food sensitivity/intolerance, while 2 to 4 percent have a true allergy. “There are patients who may have a positive blood test to a certain food item, but clinically they don’t show any symptoms,” says Lee-Hong. “In that case, I don’t say they have allergies to that food item.”

The symptoms of a food allergy may be as subtle as nasal congestion or as severe as anaphylaxis, a reaction characterized by fainting, hives, and facial and throat swelling. While doctors are recognizing more allergy cases, many children experience the subtle symptoms of colic behavior, acid reflux and hives without being diagnosed.

“Almost every story I’ve heard of a parent learning about food allergies is when their child is receiving treatment for a severe allergic reaction in the emergency room,” says Michele Fellows, mother of Alexis – now a second-grader – and founder of Sweet Alexis, an allergy-conscious bakery.

Food allergies have been linked to “genetic components, environmental factors and infections that comprise the immune system, triggering reactions,” says Robin De-Ivy Allen, nutritional wellness and life-design expert.

According to Lee-Hong, many medical and nutritional specialists believe that our culture is too clean; in fact, food allergies are less prevalent in Third World countries. While the safest treatment for a food allergy or sensitivity is avoidance of the offending foods, De-Ivy Allen encourages nutritional remedies to help build the body’s defenses. She recommends that children take supplements and consume flavonoid-rich foods, a compound with a high antioxidant capacity commonly found in plants.

Flavonoids, known for their anti-allergic effects, inhibit the development of histamines (compounds released during allergic reactions that cause the dilation of capillaries and contraction of smooth muscle) and prevent anaphylaxis. Good flavonoid sources include citrus fruits, berries, yellow fruits and vegetables, parsley, tea (especially white and green tea), red beans and dark chocolate. De-Ivy Allen also suggests taking probiotics, glutamine and vitamin C to build up the body. When introducing new foods to children, Lee-Hong encourages parents to introduce them one at a time, particularly if food allergies run in the family.

“For infants, we go very slowly,” she says. “I would say wait 10 days between foods. If you see a reaction, you know.” Parents can find hope in the fact that in 80 to 90 percent of cases, the child outgrows the food allergy by age 5, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. For children with persistent allergies, finding alternative food choices may be challenging, but it is getting easier.

Allergy-conscious Sweet Alexis, Fellows’ enterprise, makes homemade cookies, muffins and cakes without eggs, dairy products, tree nuts or peanuts. “The kids in Alexis’ school class literally beg her for her special cookies,” she says. “So instead of being singled out, it’s actually made Alexis well-known in a very positive way. It’s increased her confidence and boosted her self-esteem.” For more information about Sweet Alexis products, go to sweetalexis.com.

Emily Watson is an intern for OC Family magazine.KEEP 'EM SAFE!Millions of kids have food allergies.

Here are tips for avoiding reactions:> Keep food simple. Whole foods, without lots of additional ingredients, make it easier to identify trouble. Allergens can hide in dips and homemade goodies.> Check food labels. It’s important to check food labels every time, because manufacturers occasionally change ingredients. > Remind kids to think. Let them know that they have to ask themselves, “Is this food safe for me to eat?” > Know the symptoms. Kids should ask for help at the first sign of allergic symptoms. Make sure they know what they are. Source: Iowa State University Extension

Hurray for Chili's Bar & Grill!!!

Last week I took the kids to my mother's in Southern California. On one of our day trips, we visited the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. It was an amazingly beautiful day, and of course I brought food for the kids to eat not knowing the parks food situation. Unfortunately, I did not pack enough for my mother and I so after petting the sharks and seeing all the interesting sea life, we ventured to Chili's Bar & Grill for a quick snack. As usual I ordered the kids french fries, as I've never had problem with cross contamination or allergen content.

Chili's Bar & Grill has been an all time favorite for my husband and myself, but we don't take the kids much. Nonetheless, I decided to study the menu since it was a brand new version. To my surprise, the children's menu had many healthy choices including a grilled chicken sandwich and platter.

Upon returning home, I decided to check out Chili's website at http://www.chilis.com/ to see if there was some type of ingredient list or allergen disclaimer. Although I did not see a list of actual ingredients, the website does have suggested menus for the top allergens and dietary concerns. Very nicely done. I will have to spend some more time studying the site as my kids multiple allergies, but it's nice to see the effort and support the company is trying to give. Hurray for Chili's Bar & Grill!

Please note; according to the site, the menu can change every month so check back often. Also, it's always best to consult with the manager on duty to make sure every effort is made to keep your family safe. Happy eating!!!

Some people still don't get it...even in my world!

You think after starting a company based on my children's life-threatening food allergies and becoming a food allergy advocate, my inner circle would remember to be more careful. Not true. In fact, two recent incidents occurred that leave me to believe that we in the allergy community need more help in regards to educating those on the severity of the situation. We are just not taken seriously. I have heard this from people in our allergic community coast to coast.

Part of the reason for starting our website www.sweetalexis.com was not only to offer delicious dairy, egg, tree nut and peanut free treats but to offer support to other food allergic families. I have heard endless stories of how each of us in our respective communities must not only educate ever person that comes in contact with our precious children but we must also be a constant advocate for them reminding everyone in reach about the stituation. Not to mention we must do it in a way where we are not ostracizing our children and alienating ourselves. Over time (depending on my baking schedule), I plan to offer advice on we our community handle food allergies in a way that seems to be working not only well for us but for our friends and neighbors, educators and business community alike.

Now back to what happen. We were having a large potluck barbecue prior to Mother's Day at our home. Now, I don't expect new friends or acquaintances to always bring "safe" food, after all our kids are allergic to pretty much everything and dangerous foods are a constant. We've decided to start at home teaching them to protect themselves by not taking food and always asking if the food is safe regardless of who prepares it. In fact, my husband and I constantly double check ingredients even to this day. Nonetheless, one of our immediate family members prepared and brought a fruit salad containing one of their main allergens. Imagine my children's dismay at seeing the other children eat the fruit and they were not able to especially since it was brought by a family member. The relative, when reminded about the allergy, got upset with us. You're right, my bad...bring a loaded gun with the safety off, give it to my child to play with and I won't say anything that might embarrass you. Sorry.

Then a couple of days later my daughter was at a friends house who decided to cook shrimp while she was there playing. The friend didn't realize the mere smell of the shrimp cooking would send her into shock. Luckily, we got her out of there quickly and after much medication and a shower she was fine...physically.

After the shower, Alexis sat on my bed and cried for the first time in a long time about her food allergies. She said "it's hard and it's not fair". I told her that it's okay to get mad...let it all out. She looked at me puzzled, "You mean I can get mad about my food allergies?" I said sure, you can get mad today but I won't let you be mad everyday and get yourself down. I gave her permission to cry and told her when she was done we would give her a manicure. She was so happy to hear that it was okay to get mad once in awhile that she was in my arms in minutes and we were off to pick her nail color.

As promised, I do plan to share my personal experiences in hopes someone will find them helpful and realize "we too can have a great life with food allergies!"

For the Adults!

Food allergies don't have to be all doom and gloom...not in our house, anyway! Here on the Central Coast of California is not only surf and rolling hills, but also wine country. In fact, this region is becoming world renowned and attracting wine makers from across the globe. With our share of amazing wines, we have learned much about tasting and the fun of food pairing. Therefore, we were thrilled to discover last night that our Sweet Alexis Chocolate Chip cookies are an excellent pairing with Merlot and Cabernet! So next time you order your stash for the children at http://www.sweetalexis.com/, be sure to hide some away in the freezer for yourself. And don't be shy about presenting them for dessert at your next dinner party...your guests will be amazed. Enjoy!