Happy Halloween From the Sweet Alexis Pumpkin!

Thank you to a special friend!

In the past few years, there have been some companies out there trying to capitalize on the allergy community by claiming that they are "allergy free" or "safe" when they are not. Some of these companies claim to make allergen safe goods and do not claim that there are cross contaminates in their facility. This puts those that anaphylax to contact or airborne allergens at extreme risk (not to mention risk of cross contamination) yet these companies do it for profit, with disregard to our safety. In talking with owners of other "allergy companies", this is something we are seeing all too often in each of our specialties.

On the other hand there are some companies that have complete and total integrity - one being Amy of www.amybakescupcakes.com. Amy is a local cupcake connoisseur who makes amazing and delicious cupcakes. Amy has never claimed to be an allergy free company and when asked recently (I was not present) what she did in regards to peanut free goods, I am told she explained about the allergens in her facility and about cross contaminates. Amy apparently when on to promote Sweet Alexis, www.sweetalexis.com, and suggested if one is in need of peanut free products to contact us. Amazing!

Amy and I have had the pleasure of becoming friends and supporting one another however, when hearing of this it brought tears of joy to my eyes. Thank you Amy from the Sweet Alexis family for not only your support but also from the allergy community for keeping us safe! Good luck to you and God Bless.

Angel Service Dog Graduation featuring Sweet Alexis!

One of our favorite allergy conscious companies, Angel Service Dogs (http://www.angelservicedogs.com/), is holding their first graduation ceremony this weekend in Colorado where Sweet Alexis products are being enjoyed by all. We first met "Rocko" the peanut sniffing dog and his adorable owner Riley, at the Thrive Expo in Chicago this past April where Riley fell in love with our chocolate chip cookies and pumpkin raisin bread.

Typical of the allergy community, Angel Service Dogs was created by Riley's parents out of necessity. Now they've made it their mission to help other food allergic families in need. As a "food allergic mom", Sherry completely understands the in's and out's of living with this life threatening disability and what is necessary to keep her safe. The two week long event will include everything from learning about "safe" dog foods and products, to eating out, going to school, to trips to the grocery store and more.


Thinking about getting an Angel Service dog? Angel Service Dogs is so completely dedicated that they offer to assist with fundraising, training, follow up visits and consultations. Contact them immediately if your are evening considering it, as the process takes time and requests are many.

Unfortunately, Alexis was not with me in Chicago to meet Riley but we hope to get the girls together very soon. The two of them are amazing and would take the world by storm. For now, Riley calls me "the cookie lady" and I am so thrilled to provide safe treats that her, her family and the other food allergic families have on hand can enjoy.

Tips For a Safe Halloween with Food Allergies

Here is my recent article for Central Coast Family Newspaper...enjoy!

Halloween is a great time for kids and adults alike. My husband and I dress up every year and the children get a kick out of it! However, as you can imagine, a holiday filled with candy can make the event a bit tricky when dealing with food allergies. How do you allow the kids to enjoy the holiday and keep them safe at the same time? Thanks to my friends in the allergen community, there are many alterative plans to making this a safe and fun Halloween for all. Listed below are a few sites worth checking out.

The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network’s annual Trick-or-Treat for Food Allergy gets the kids involved with the cause. By collecting coins instead of candy, kids raise funds for FAAN’s food allergy education and research programs. Parents can get involved too by taking a collection bag to work, the gym, local stores, etc. Last year, this event raised over $17,000 and every bit helps! To register go to www.foodallery.org/Support/Halloween or call 1-800-929-4040.

Halloween Food Allergy Twitter Party – Join hosts Jennifer B. of Food Allergy Buzz (www.foodallergybuzz.com) and Ruth Smith of Best Allergy Sites (www.bestallergysites.com) on October 2nd, 9:30pm – 10:30pm (EST) for a great discussion from experienced parents on how to make a fun and safe Halloween. These are amazing women that are extremely involved and knowledgeable in the allergen community so I am sure it will be an extremely informative event. Follow the link to http://www.socializr.com/event/foodallergies/halloween and join the fun. All are welcome so if you can’t attend, please encourage a friend or relative. Prizes will also be given at the event so don’t miss out!

Kids with Food Allergies (www.kidswithfoodallergies.org) have numerous tips including an eight page downloadable guide to help families have a safe Halloween both at home and at school. Included are suggested activities, crafts and games that are fun for everyone. My favorite part is the recipes which include a Carmel Apple Dip which can be made virtually allergen free. In addition there is an amazing gluten free pumpkin cookie which I will have to make for my gluten free friends. Yum! KFA is an amazing source for all things food allergic that has helped my family through the years.

Here are some suggestions that we have found to be very successful in our own home:
1. Look for community events at your local church, community center or lodge that promote games, rides, etc.
2. Host a Halloween party such as pumpkin carving contest that would include safe treats and snacks.
3. Candy Swap – Carry safe candy with you to swap immediately or when you get home. Presents such as toys and coins in exchange for the unsafe candy always does well in my home.

With a little bit of planning and creative thinking, Halloween can be a great event for all. As mentioned, my kids love that we dress up – this year fairies for the girls and Star Wars for the boys. Hope you all have a safe and happy Halloween!

Another great Food Allergy Link!

Prior to learning of Alexis' food allergies, I considered myself to be a rather good cook and I loved it. Baking, ironically, not so much. After she was diagnosed, I lost all desire to cook and create recipes. It was as if I was fearful and the fun of creating recipes was taken away from me. I just couldn't imagine that I could create delicious meals without dairy, eggs and nuts.
When Alexis turned three and Ryan was just a year, my mother came across a book that changed our lives...What's To Eat? by Linda Coss. This was the first cookbook that I had ever seen that taught me how to cook without using dairy, eggs, tree nuts or peanuts - and the recipes were delicious! Not only that, included are menus and suggestions to help you in the kitchen when dealing with food allergies. This book literally changed my life and I am so grateful as this book gave me the desire to create again (and look where we are now)!
Linda Coss also has a great website that not only has here amazing cookbooks, general tips and information regarding food allergies, but also a comprehensive list of food allergy sites. For more information go to http://www.foodallergybooks.com/. Thanks Linda, your amazing!!!

New Favorite Added to our Links...

ActiveAide is a manufacturer of Auto Injector Pouches & Epipen Holders and other aides for anaphylaxis sufferers Worldwide and new to our list. There are two things that we particularly like are the pouches that have a hook to attach to the outside of the backpack and the photo ID card.

Alexis is now in 3rd grade and has two medical bags; one large for the classroom that the teacher and other educational staff can access, and one small medical holder that she carries in her lunch bag that contains one Epipen and two individual liquid Benedryl pouches (they are tough to get out of the packaging so I open them ahead of time). The holder she carries now is meant to be placed on her waist but we have found that this gets in they way of her physical activities. The waist carrier would move around and annoy her not to mention look awkward with her clothing.
We plan to order the holder that clips to the backpack and will let you know how we like it.

You can review their site at www.activeaide.com.

Helping Grandparents Understand Food Allergies

It is almost impossible to convey, unless you or an immediate family member has food allergies, how dangerous the disability can be. Teaching the severity of the situation to relatives including grandparents, some experts say, can be extremely difficult. This is especially true between in-laws if there is already tension as the strain of food allergies can only make things worse.

Unfortunately, this is a common situation in the allergen community. I have spoken with many families across the nation whom has shared similar experiences. All too often grandparents discount the seriousness of the situation, think the parent is being over protective and get offended by our countless attempts to inform them on the subject. This, of course, will cause stress and anxiety in the relationship. I have heard numerous tales of relatives (including mine) brining unsafe food into the home, such as cheese balls covered in nuts, or giving the children candy without considering if the are made in an allergen free facility.

Part of the reason for the difficulty could be the notion that “just a little” won’t hurt the child when in fact it could kill them. Possibly this misunderstanding comes from grandparents equating food allergies to diabetes where (in some cases) a little sugar won’t hurt the diabetic so therefore a little peanut butter should be fine. Another possibility is the simple fact that when our parents and grandparents were young, food allergies were almost unheard of and they just don’t understand how or why this is all happening. Unfortunately, know one does but nonetheless food allergies are rising, especially in children, at an alarming rate.

So, how do we get our point across regarding the severity of the situation without offending anyone? Start with the basics; give the grandparents a list of all the allergies your child has, including alternate names, such as whey. Explain to them about cross contamination and the need to be extremely cautious when cooking and cleaning. Provide them with a video of a person going into anaphylactic shock (as they may not read the material you give to them) and watch it together so you can answer any questions. Tell them that re-reading labels is not a trust issue, but standard practice (my husband and I do this daily). Buy “safe” food for them to keep in their fridge or freezer when the child comes to visit.

In addition, provide grandparents with a list of common allergic reactions and an emergency action plan should any of the following occur:
Coughing – like there is a tickle in your throat
Hives
Trouble breathing/Wheezing
Swelling in the face and lips
Stomach cramps
Vomiting
Ears and throat itching

Although it can be challenging, try to keep the dialog open. Grandparents are a treasured part of the family and have much to offer. For more information on food allergies, guide grandparents to www.AARP.org and search “food allergies” or go to The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network at www.foodallergy.org.