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!

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!

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.

Thrive Allergy & Gluten-free Expo invites Michele Fellows, owner of Sweet Alexis - wholesale manufacturer and distributor of allergen free baked goods, to join advisory board to share her experiences with parents of severely allergic children.

Join Sweet Alexis at the Thrive Allergy & Gluten-free Expo on April 18-19, 2009 in Chicago’s McCormick Place - booth #1017. Thrive Tickets are on sale at www.thriveallergyexpo.com. Adults are $10 or $15 for a 2-day pass, children under 12 are free when accompanied by an adult. This is an opportunity to help families learn about these conditions from credible sources, yet not spend a fortune to do it. In order to further lend support to the not for profit effort, Thrive will donate back to participating non-profits the full face value of tickets purchased by their members.

Allergy Article March '09

Spring Allergies are Coming! By Michele Fellows

Spring time is here and so is the time for seasonal allergies. As the sun starts to warm the skies and flowers and trees start to bloom so begins the annual ritual of sneezing and watery eyes. Now is the time to prepare and take precautions.

First of all, what causes spring time allergies? According to WebMD, the biggest spring allergy trigger is pollen - tiny grains released into the air by trees, grass and weeds to fertilize other plants. When someone who is allergic comes in contact with the allergen, their immune system goes into overdrive. The immune system mistakenly thinks the pollen is a dangerous foreign matter releasing antibodies in defense. The antibodies attack the allergens by releasing histamines into the blood. Histamines cause the nose to run, itchy watery eyes, etc. - symptoms of allergy.

How do you avoid it? Well my mother has always told me regardless of how much money you have or not, it costs nothing to be clean and keeping your environment clean is a great place to start. Here are a few additional suggestions to help you avoid the spring time sneeze:

· Clean, Clean, Clean. Start with the air filters, vents, bookshelves and other places pollens and dust may collect.
· Vacuum twice a week - wear a mask if necessary.
· Wash your hands, hair and face after outdoor activities. It is especially important to do this before bedtime as the allergens from your hair and face can easily transfer and remain in your sheets.
· Give your family pet a bath and wash their beds especially if they sleep indoors.
· Try to limit outdoor activities, especially during the morning hours when pollens are at their peak.
· Although it’s tempting, try to keep windows and doors closed to keep pollens and allergens out.
· Avoid windy days! Pollens can travel for miles so watch your local weather forecast for the daily pollen count.
· Another one of my mother’s favorites - hose down the patio. Giving your decks and patios a quick clean can keep the pollens out of your house.
· Check your local newspaper for coupons on allergy products and tissues. It’s time to stock up!

Although there are numerous over the counter antihistamines, allergy eye and nose drops that will help quell the spring time sniffles, please check with your local physician or allergist for proper treatment. Personally, I like to also talk with my local pharmacist, Joe, who knows the status on medications and can get you them at the best price.

In other allergy news, the first ever “THRIVE Allergy Expo - the only Allergy and Gluten Free Expo in North America” is coming to Chicago this fall. There will be special events and features that the entire family will enjoy. THRIVE activities will include free lung screenings, 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.

The Thrive Allergy Expo will be held the weekend of April 18-19th, 2009 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. Please check their website at www.thriveallergyexpo.com for more information.

Allergy Article Feb. '09

Starting in February '09, I 've been asked to be a contributing writer for both the Central Coast Family Newspaper (http://www.centralcoastfamily.com/) here in California and the LV Kids Magazine (http://www.lvkids.net/) in Las Vegas. Both publications respect and support the allergy community and understand the need to create awareness. Below is my inaugural piece and I will continue to post my monthly contributions. Thanks for reading.



Allergies 101:

As parents know, raising children with manners, respect for others, tolerance for differences and acceptance of one another is a challenging yet necessary job. For children with social differences or disabilities the job of that parent is magnified by the fact that other’s who may not understand the given situation fully, must be taught this as well.

As the mother of two children (Alexis 7 and Ryan 5) who have not only environmental allergies, asthma and most serious for us, multiple food allergies, it is my constant job to educate and create awareness within our social circle, schools and community. Although Ryan’s food allergies are not as severe, Alexis’ are life threatening. If one of her allergens (all dairy, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, shellfish, cherries and mustard) is ingested she will go into anaphylactic shock. Anaphylaxis is a severe form of allergic reaction that can involve many body organs and may develop rapidly with little warning. Anaphylaxis must be treated as a medical emergency as it could lead to unconsciousness or even death.

Parents dealing with a dangerous situation become hyper vigilant to safeguard your child from potential hazardous or threats. Educating those around you about the severity of the situation and how to handle it becomes almost a full time job. Teaching friends, neighbors and relatives what is safe to eat and what to do in an emergency without creating hysteria can be a challenge.

Allergies, both food and environmental, even asthma are extremely prevalent today. So much so, it seems everyone is affected whether you have allergies in your family or not. Children are taught in school about safe zones and parents are asked to read ingredients. Airplanes and ballparks are asked to have peanut free areas or not have nuts at all. This may seem extreme, but to a parent of a child that could potentially die from this allergen, it is not much to ask. It is about tolerance.

As with any parent, we want our children to experience life with as much normalcy as any other child. After all, we are teaching them to respect and accept differences in others. They are not so different. Parents want to teach our children to protect themselves and grow to be productive citizens. To live well adjusted, healthy lives and enjoy all that life has to offer.

I often tell my children - everyone has something, you just may not be able to see it on the outside. Therefore respect and accept because you would not want someone teasing you or treating you badly because you can’t eat pizza or ice cream. Focus on what you can eat and what you can do because there is so much to be grateful for.

In upcoming articles we will explore the world of allergies and asthma. The ins and outs of what it is to live with them without going crazy. What are allergies and why are they so prevalent. We will discuss laws, schools, medical updates and product research. In addition, I will include various recipes, travel tips, thoughts and suggestions. Hopefully, this will encourage, educate or inspire someone you know dealing with this situation. If not maybe it will help teach tolerance and respect for what others must deal with on a daily basis.

Thank you for this opportunity, if you have any comments or suggestions please do not hesitate to contact me via email at www.sweetalexis.com.