Cut to baby #2. I suspected a milk allergy with Luke very early when we first gave him formula around 5 months. He broke out all over his whole body and we immediately switched to soy formula. I didn't think about it much until around 11 months I gave him yogurt and he broke out again. But I had no idea that he had more than just a milk allergy until we went to the doctor and they tested him for all major allergens and found out he's allergic to milk, egg, peanuts and cashews. I had no idea! I'd been giving him peanut butter for breakfast every other morning!
Needless to say, it's challenging to find a variety of healthy foods to feed Luke. I feel like the kid lives on crackers. He eats chicken nuggets and almond butter sandwiches a lot and loves hummus. But on top of the challenges of allergies, he is a picky eater when it comes to fruits and vegetables. I continue to offer a variety of them, but he will only eat applesauce. No berries, bananas, or apples. He will sometimes eat cooked veggies, but won't touch them raw.
What suggestions do you have for healthy, allergen-friendly foods I can feed him at home and also pack in his school lunch? And do you have any ways you feed your kids fruits and veggies to make them more appealing?
I don't have any great advice for you, but even though my boys don't have food allergies, they do get in food ruts. Right now James is only eating a few foods. Even things he used to like he's not eating anymore. I just remind myself he'll grow out of it. I do my best to make sure he gets what he needs. Last night for dinner he threw his organic mac & cheese on the floor, ate half of an orange, and kept asking for Goldfish. So he had Goldfish! I figure this too shall pass!
ReplyDeleteI did think of something that might help- have you tried giving him other fruit sauces, like pear or peach? At least it would add variety!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is lactose free so we have become creative lunch packers. The best thing is to take your child to the store and let him find something he wants to try and something that you pick for him to try. Be aware it sometimes that them several tries until they "decide" that they like it. Pickles, chickpeas, and pears are in high rotation right now. A special treat is soy milk and cereal packed separately in her lunch box.
ReplyDeleteFor dinner we often have Asian inspired measl because they usually are lactose free.
As as father of a daughter with allergies currently to milk, peanuts and tree nuts I have some good advice that works for us. My daughter was also allergic to soy and eggs but luckily those are not in the picture right now. My wife and I also had never had to deal with food allergies but we have changed our habits 100% to accommodate our daughter. We never wanted our daughter to feel left out of anything so we have made family changes and forced all of our extended family to work with us when we are at an event.
ReplyDeleteMy wife and I have spent a lot of time and money tracking down good safe recipes. We found recipes that would work and we managed but "allergy safe" foods are not typically the best tasting. My wife though discovered the world of vegetarians and discovered that they have many more years of experience and many more cookbooks. We have had great success with looking at these for ideas.
You really need to get out to your local health store and research your options for safe foods like soy butter, soy cheese and sunbutter which is sunflower seed butter. They have some great foods and some that aren't great.
My biggest advice though is to change your entire family and what they eat. There is nothing fair about having 1 child be secluded from quickly grabbing something to eat. You will also drop the chances of your child being exposed to something that could kill them. Remember that just because your child ate peanut butter one time, they may not make it after being exposed again. If you do not have an Epipen, talk to your doctor.
One more thing, get in the habit of reading the ingredients in everything. You will see words that you have no idea what they are but you will soon learn as its critical. Google/wikipedia are your best friends when it comes to looking up foods. Ultimately, your family will likely be more healthy because of the allergies. I know our family is.
ReplyDeleteThat's difficult. I've found the best thing is to just keep offering them. Our household rule is that you have to taste a food every time I cook it (even if you know you don't like it). As they get older they have to take at least a few bites.
ReplyDeleteIt gets easier and they'll eventually be able to tolerate if not like things they didn't before.
We also drink hemp milk (pretty good with chocolate) it has lots of calcium and other vitamins and minerals.
http://crispy-not-crunchy.blogspot.com/2009/09/works-for-me-and-what-can-i-eat.html
My son is allergic to peanuts. We struggle with his allergy and my heart goes out to you having a child with multiple allergies.
ReplyDeleteHere is a website you might enjoy: http://www.foodallergymama.com/
My WFMW post: Organizing School Papers
We have some healthy allergy-fiendly snacks on our Web site. Just go to http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/recipes and look on the left side for the link.
ReplyDeleteAlso, if you go to http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/marketplace-foods.html you will find companies that make allergy-friendly foods, many of which are free of peanuts, milk and eggs.
Best wishes!
My son, Luke, is also allergic to milk, eggs, peanuts, cashews and pistachios. He drinks goat milk, and I use it in baking for him as well. I make "zucchini" muffins, straight out of the Joy of COoking, red plaid book from our wedding. I use 1 Tbs of applesauce to replace each egg. Then cook as muffins, it stays together better than a bread loaf. Zucchini looks like apples when chopped, but you dont notice them if you chop them in the food processer, they keep the muffins mmoist and flavorful. If you don't have zucchini, pears or apples sub well.
ReplyDeletePancakes are easy too, Buisquik but sub applesauce for the eggs again, and use his milk. I add a touch of vanilla and cinnamon and nutmeg too.
Chocolate cupcakes- One duncan Hines devils food cake mix. Stir in 1 can pure pumpkin. If too dry add a bit of applesauce. Stir until moist. Bake in muffin tin 350 degrees for 20-22 minutes. You can also use a yellow cake mix and get a ruch pumpkin muffin as well.
TLC cereal bars are an easy quick convenience snack. we get the apple or strwberry ones. Avoid the ones with nuts. They at 2.50-2.88 on sale at Walmart or Target, so affordable too. We use to buy the enjoy life cereal bars, at $5 a box.
Luke loves Chavre garlic and herb goat cheese. We put it on sandwiches and crackers all the time. If your guy can have goat milk products.
His newest favorite is SOy nut butter and Sun butter. We get it in the organic isle at Kroger. WOrks on crackers or bread or apple slices, or celery with raisins "ants on a log" allergy style.
Christina
cmtaylor@live.com
I have to second the idea that you should eat what your kiddo eats. It not only keeps your kiddo safe, it makes it less likely that you will settle for boring diet choices. I know I discovered so many more options, and so much tastier healthier food by eating the same as my allergic daughter. Also, allergic kiddos are excluded in so many places since ours is a society that revolves around food. I hate for them to be excluded at home also. The internet is bursting with really tasty recipes that are free from your allergens. You can do this!
ReplyDelete