About me
I am a mother of four young children in suburban Chicago. My second child, John, was diagnosed at age one with severe dairy, egg, peanut, tree nut and legume allergy. He also is asthmatic, so the likelihood of a life threatening reaction from food is increased. I spent a few years learning the ins and outs of food labels, ingredient and product information, and most importantly, how to cook and bake for not only my son, but for the rest of my family as well.
It has become my life’s purpose to raise awareness and increase funding for food allergy research. I am passionate about not only keeping my son safe, but alive. A food allergy diagnosis is scary; it is the fear of the unknown that keeps us moms of food allergic children awake at night. Class parties, birthday parties, family celebrations, skate night, or even date night…these are all things I think about in regard to my son. How will he adapt? Will he be responsible? Will he succumb to peer pressure and not take his allergies seriously? These are all things I think about often, and I am sure you do too.
This blog is about sharing useful information, swapping safe recipes and sometimes just a place to speak and vent. Here’s to someday finding a cure! I love your ideas and feedback, and welcome it. Thanks so much!
What you’re doing is wonderful and we love you.
The site looks great! Thanks for sharing your great ideas.
Kelly -
It was great to hear from you! This looks fantastick and it is so clear that you have out so much work into this. I for one, would absolutely support a school wide policy asking that in-school birthday parties be “treat free” celebrations. I too would never want to ban food, etc. as I believe our children do live in a larger world that we cannot control, therefore they just need to be a little bit stronger and wiser and be aware of their conditions when making food choices. PASS 39, the Parent Association for Students who receive Special Services in District 39, may be a nice place for you to talk about this inniative and potentially get it passed. They typically meet the Third Monday of every month at 5:30pm at the MEC – the Schhol Board Meeting follows. Denise Thrasher, the Administrator for Student Services, attends all od these meetings. Thanks for all your work Kelly – look forward to seeing you soon!
Tracy
Kelly,
You are awesome for doing this!
Your stories about John and Sabrina’s story touched me so much…I have now cry with you and families that are dealing with food allergies because of your blog. I don’t know enough about food allergies, but have been enlightened to learn because of you.
Love,
Tina
Great job, Kelly! Your site is very informative, interesting, and personal. I value the useful creative tips and recipes. My daughter has a good friend who is allergic to gluten and nuts, and now I feel I can offer delicious and healthy snacks during their playdates.
Take care!
Ann Marie
So proud of you! Finally!!!
Kelly,
I love your website! I can’t wait to make those pumpkin cookies. They look delicious! I look forward to visiting your site again for some more exciting recipes. Desserts I know I can eat and enjoy and not feel the pain afterwards. Thanks for sharing!
Brooke
Welcome to the blogosphere! Your recipes look and sound delicious. I can’t wait to try them!
All the best to you and your family. Here’s to keeping safe.
I added you as a link on my blog.
http://avoidingmilkprotein.blogspot.com
My web site with milk nut and gluten free lists http://www.avoidingmilkprotein.com
My friend just sent me the link to your blog. It is great! My almost 6-year-old son is also allergic to dairy, egg and peanuts. I look forward to your future posts!
Thanks Amy! I feel your pain, as our children share the same allergies. I will be posting many more recipes from my forthcoming baking cookbook. I love feedback so feel free to drop me a line to let me know how it worked out for you!
Hi there!
I just discovered your site. Lots of great info and advice… can’t wait to read more. My two year old son has allergies to eggs, peanuts, oats, dogs and cats. It has been an interesting adjustment, to say the least.
There’s so much I have learned since he was diagnosed… and so much more that I need to know. I still get panicky thinking about him in school someday and having to make those decisions on his own.
Thanks for sharing this. I am going to add you to my list, if you don’t mind,
Trisha
Trisha,
Thanks so much for your feedback; I promise I will have a lot more information and delicious dairy, egg and nut free recipes. It was really hard when I started the journey toward allergen free living nearly six years ago but so much has improved in regard to schools’ awareness, food labeling laws and new allergy free products. Yesterday an AP article pointed out there has been an 18 percent increase in children with food allergies. This is astounding and we need to work together to raise awareness and increase federal funding so someday our children can eat freely. I look forward to adding your blog to list too! Thanks again!
Kelly,
Finally a resource where we can go and get some wonderful ideas to inspire the whole family in eating right. I loved your pumpkin bread and cookie recipes not to mention the apple crisp looks awesome too. I’m spreading the word of your passions as this obviously is. The more people are aware of what it’s like having food allergies the more empowered we all can be. I have a daughter with tree nut/peanut allergies and I too struggle what her future will be.
Thanks so much again and keep up the great work!!
Jennifer
Thanks so much Jennifer! I know it is a struggle; that’s probably why I worked so hard to make great desserts. Treats, baking in the kitchen and sharing food is what family is all about.
your neighbor, casey, sent me your website … i can’t wait to spend some time looking around
my daughter, age 2, has peanut and tree nut allergies – so i look forward to trying your recipes and also learning from your experiences !
great to meet you! my son is 6 now, and i’ve learned so much over the years…but i am sure i have so much more to learn as well. know that you’re not alone and there is a wealth of information and support. link up to any of the blogs i like or the informational links…very helpful! talk with you again soon!
Hi Kelly,
Thank you for starting this wonderful blog. I’m so grateful for your generosity in sharing your knowledge and experience. I’m just learning how to live with my son’s food allergies. The irony of my life: I’m a pastry chef and I can’t even bake him a “normal” birthday cake. I look forward to reading your blog
Great job, Kelly! Your website is fabulous — both the recipes (amazing, of course!) and your insightful and honest blogs. So proud of you, Mama of Four!
Love your website! As a mother of two children with multiple food allergies, I love the posts you put on your website. I myself started an allergy-friendly food market in my hometown and we just launched our website (www.allergyfreeshop.com). check it out! Please let me know if you would like a link to your website on ours. Thanks, Jen.
I love this site. I am a single mother of beautiful daughter with multiple food allergies, she had her first serious allergic reaction at 8 months old. I am so grateful to have found this site and to not feel so alone especially with the constant worrying. Miigwetch (thank you) for your passion about allergy awareness.
Thanks so much Deedee! My son had his first allergic reaction at 7 months so I completely understand how you feel. I wish we had bloggers 6 years ago when we started this journey.:)
i just came across this quote on a starbucks cup, of all places, you immediately came to mind:
“mother-love is not inevitable. the good mother is a great artist ever creating beauty out of chaos.”
chew on that, mr. stein!
kelly, you continue to amaze and inspire.
thanks allyson…love the quote!
Dear Kelly,
Would you be interested in A. Anderson’s new book, Flourishing with Food Allergies? Please see the book’s web site at http://www.flourishingwithfoodallergies.com for commentaries and reviews. Please advise if you would like to share resource links and if you’d like to review and provide a comment about the book on its web site.
Thanks.
Elizabeth
Papoose Publishing, LLC
Hi Kelly,
A mutual friend passed along your site a few months ago (Kelli Lichtenberger) and I am finally posting a note to thank you! It has been a great source of information and support to me. My son is almost 2.5 and was diagnosed at 4 months with severe food allergies. He is allergic to peanuts, eggs, barley, milk, wheat, corn, oats and tree nuts. He also has severe environmental allergies: dogs, cats, mold, pollen, ragweed…the list goes on. Quite scary because he is now showing anaphylactic reactions around certain animals. We ended up in the ER not too long ago from the combination of cat and dog after visiting family with pets. He is also now showing signs of asthma. My husband has bad allergies and asthma. He grew out of most of his food allergies, but still has environmental and I think food and of course his asthma. It does help to have his experiences and how we can try to make our son feel as “normal” as possible as he has lived thru this. I have been struggling lately, not sure why, but having your site has been tremendously helpful, thank you so much! I just sent in my membership request to MOCHA and interested in getting more involved and finding more support among mothers dealing with allergies. I also have a couple questions for you, if you don’t mind….I’ll send an email to contact us.
Also, wanted to say we love the cinnamon crunch bread. I have to alter it to fit our needs, but it turned out wonderful and my son and husband love it!
Thank you!
Katie
Thanks so much Katie for your very kind words. I know how much of a struggle it can be sometimes. The added stress of environmental allergies and asthma on top of food allergies can take its emotional toll. Hang in there, and know all of us who have kids with these issues have our good days and bad days with it. The “normal” part is hard but I feel like over time my son John feels more included. MOCHA is a great source of information and they do a nice job of keeping you connected with food allergy information. The meetings are a great way to meet other moms too. I’m always amazed at how MANY moms and dads attend those meetings. There’s a lot of us out there…
Email me anytime with your questions. Happy to help!
I cried when I found your website. I love to bake and my son has allergies (dairy, egg and nut) and it just breaks my heart not to be able to make things for him. He is only two and a half now but I am interested in reading about how your son handles being in school. It is easy now for me to avoid food but I worry about when I have to send him to school without me.
Thank you for all you do. I will be reading your site often. I have already prepurchased your book.
Kelly! You are awesome! I watched my brother and sister-in-law struggle through my nephews extensive food and other allergies. It’s wonderful that you have given so much of yourself to help others. Congratulations and I wish you much success!
Hi Kelly,
Congratulations on your upcoming book and on your web site! I saw the link on your FB page and had to check it out & I will be sure to pass the title on to everyone I know. I’m sure I can easily give it as a gift as well. Seems these days we all know at least one parent coping with their child’s food allergies. I know of many families just like yours, so it’s a blessing to have information like this out there for people; I can’t imagine how daunting it must be to have to learn the food allergy ropes. Although I don’t have food allergies in my family, your cookbook looks inviting and I will be picking up a copy for my family anyway! Again, CONGRATULATIONS Kelly!
Maureen
Kelly,
When is your cookbook going to be available for sale? My mom is offering to get it for my birthday, yay!
Thanks,
Kim
Hi Kim, The cookbook is available for preorder through Amazon and Borders. The official release date is October 23rd. Thanks so much for your support! I think you’ll really enjoy the book.
Dear Kelly,
My second born, Leo, age 6, is severely allergic to dairy, eggs, peanuts, and tree nuts as well. Words can not express how much your web site, recipes and thoughts mean to me. I discovered your site a few months ago when I was searching for a dairy and egg free doughnut recipe. I finally made your apple cinnamon doughnuts a couple a weeks ago as a surprise for my husband’s birthday breakfast and everyone was thrilled! It was the first time Leo had eaten doughnuts and he was walking on sunshine!
Thank you for sharing your cooking and communication talents with us. You have brighten the lives of so many… especially ours!
Best wishes to you and yours!
Tricia Biagi
ps. We live outside of Louisville, KY and travel to Chicago at least once a year as my husband’s extended family lives there (his mom’s from Chicago). It’s a GREAT town!
Dear Kelly,
My second born, Leo, age 6, is severely allergic to dairy, eggs, peanuts, and tree nuts as well. Words can not express how much your web site, recipes and thoughts mean to me. I discovered your site a few months ago when I was searching for a dairy and egg free doughnut recipe. I finally made your apple cinnamon doughnuts a couple a weeks ago as a surprise for my husband’s birthday breakfast and everyone was thrilled! It was the first time Leo had eaten doughnuts and he was walking on sunshine! Thank you for sharing your cooking and communication talents with us. You have brighten the lives of so many… especially ours!
Best wishes to you and yours!
Tricia Biagi
Thank you SO MUCH Tricia!!! That is so incredibly kind of you to say, and I can’t tell you how much it made me smile to hear Leo had his first doughnut and that he was walking on sunshine. I love knowing that families like yours are able to enjoy the simple pleasures of desserts again. I hope Leo gets to try more yummy treats soon!! By the way where outside of Louisville do you live? I travel THERE at least once a year as my sister and her family live there. They live in Elizabethtown…is that anywhere near you? I love Kentucky…so beautiful and we always enjoy going there. My kids love al the rolling hills and the people are so kind and friendly there.
Hi Kelly,
Looks like I accidentally posted my comments twice! Oops! We live in Simpsonville, about 30 minutes East of downtown Louisville. We are blessed to be surrounded by the beautiful rolling hills that you mentioned and love watching the thoroughbreds gallop in the nearby fields when we drive to school. We live on 60 acres (40 in woods), but do not have any animals of our own (except for an outside cat that keeps the mice away). I grew up in the burbs of Louisville and moved to the “country” when I married my husband 10 years ago. It was a big change, but now I wouldn’t trade it for the world. We call it our own little nature preserve.
We’re considering participation in the FAAN walk in Chicago on Sept. 26. Will you be there? Seems like a great opportunity to promote your new book too! I’m a graphic designer who freelances from home and did marketing communications before I had kids. I am in awe of all that you do! You truly are SUPERWOMAN! Bravo!
Wow, that sounds so amazing! I have to tell you I am a total city girl, but really love visiting my sis in E Town. Its so green, peaceful and has such wonderful people. My sister just bought a new house in E Town, and they have 5 acres, but her husband would love to own the amount you do! I am going to visit her again this summer and can’t wait!
I will definitely do the the Chicago FAAN Walk – let me know if you do and we can walk together! It would be fun!
Kelly – I am back on your site again, looking for information and updates about how you get along. My son, Devin, is 17 months and shares similar food allergies. Thanks to a mutual friend, I’ll be checking in with you on any updates and amazing recipes. I’ve ordered the book – can’t wait to get it!
Binay, Traci right?? Soooo great hear from you and so glad you will be trying some recipes! Let me know how Devin likes them and if he has any faves!!
[...] of our very favorite people is Kelly Rudnicki, popularly known as the Food Allergy Mama. The always informative and fun-to-read Kelly is [...]
[...] of our very favorite people is Kelly Rudnicki, popularly known as the Food Allergy Mama. The always informative and fun-to-read Kelly is [...]
Thanks for sharing your story! Great idea to have a cookbook – I hope to buy it. My son was diagnosed at 9 mos with egg, milk and peanut allergy after having a reaction to a food made with milk. Since then, he has outgrown his egg allergy, but was food-challenged for milk last year at age 2, and had a pretty severe reaction. I worry about him constantly, and he is our only child (and a challenge just to have him!). It’s helpful to know there are others out there, and we appreciate the baking/cooking ideas!
Kelly-
Oh my goodness! i just saw the write up on you and your new book in Family Fun magazine…it almost made me cry! Thank you for what you are doing to help all of us in the same situation. My 4 year old daughter has dairy, egg, soy, peanut and tree nut allergies. The recipes on your site are amazing! It is my goal to cook one meal for all of us, not 2 separate meals every day…I just haven’t gotten there yet. I feel like your website can help me towards that goal. Thank you, thank you thank you and keep up the great work!!!!
Thanks SO MUCH Bethany!!! Soooo kind of you to say. I know what you mean about having to make two seperate meals….I used to do that in the very begining. I figured John didn’t notice…but over time he did. And now that we all eat “allergen free”, life is actually easier believe it or not. No worrying about cross contamination, inclusion, etc. Good luck….it will get easier I promise!!
I just discovered this website from the Sept. ’09 “Family Fun” magazine. I’m so glad I found it! I have three children, all who have food allergies, and am always looking for some new recipes. I’m also going to order your book! Thank-you!
Thanks so much Laurie! ALL three of your children have food allergies? Oy. I promise I will keep developing more to share!
We just made the banana chocolate chip muffins this morning. I made 14 and there are only 2 left! They are awesome!!! Yes, all three of my children have food allergies. My 4 yr. old is allergic to eggs and peanuts, my 3 yr. old peanuts, tree nuts and fish and my 18 mo. old is allergic to milk, eggs and peanuts! Oy is right!! Can’t wait to buy the book.
Hi Laurie! So glad your THREE food allergic kiddos loved the banana chocolate chip muffins! Thanks for writing!
Hi Kelly,
I was so happy to come across your blog today. Your recipes look great! Unlike you and many of your readers, I (not my children) am the one with multiple food allergies (milk, almonds, peanuts, shellfish, and supposedly cinnamon, but I don’t have problems with it… yet!). I only developed these allergies in adulthood (I’m 33), which makes me even more different. It’s nice to find a little corner of the blogsphere where I am understood, instead of being treated like I am an oddity.
Can’t wait to check out your book, when it comes out!
What a great site! Thank you! My 16 month old son has been diagnosed with wheat, oat, barley, egg, and dairy allergies and the more resources the better! Thanks again!
Hi! I was so happy to find your site in the family fun magazine. My son was diagnosed with food allergies at 6 months old (eggs, cows milk, and peanuts) I have been strugguling for many months to find foods that he can eat. Thank you so much for sharing your reciepes and I look forward to your book!
Thanks so much for writing Kristina! I am so sorry to hear about your adult onset allergies, but I think you’ll find you can still enjoy some of your favorite foods, but altered slightly. More tricky will be eating out. Good luck to you, and definitely let me know how the recipes work out for you!
Thanks so much Jenny!!
Thanks so much Staci! I am sorry to hear of your son’s food allergy diagnosis, but I think he’ll really enjoy all these yummy treats! Let me know how they turn out for you!
Saw you mentioned in the Family Fun mag…had to go to your site. Love it. Recipes look good and I have pre-ordered your book on Amazon ( I knew there was a a reason I hadn’t spent a gift card someone gave me, must be fate). My daughter is allergic to eggs and peanuts.Thank you for sharing your recipes!
I saw you mentioned in the Family Fun magazine and I love your site. I have two sons with food allergies. My oldest son (age 13) is allergic to coconut and my youngest son (age 10) is allergic to milk, eggs, tree-nuts and coconut. I am always experimenting and changing recipes to make them safe and it’s nice to find your recipes to try. Do you consider coconut a tree-nut? The FAAN recipes do not and some of their tree-nut free recipes have coconut in them. I wondered if you have ever found a good substitute for whipped cream? I have experimented with soy milk and have not been able to make it whip up. My youngest son has had problems with teeth staining and his dentist said that it was the vanilla in the “Silk Very Vanilla Soy Milk”. He is quite upset to have to go back to plain soy milk. I wondered if you have heard any other mom’s with this problem?
Thanks Lija for your comment. No, coconut isn’t a tree nut and my son hasn’t had a reaction to it. That doesn’t mean, as you already know, that you can’t be allergic to cococut as well. Whipped cream? Still working on that one sister…I have yet to find a perfect substitute but getting close. Finally, I am not sure why the vanilla in the Very Vanilla would cause teeth staining, but have never heard of any other moms who have head this problem. Maybe another reader has and could write in? Good luck and keep me posted!!
Thanks so much Melissa! I hope you enjoy the recipes!
Saw this on a vegan site. Hopefully it tastes good. Haven’t tried it yet.
Easy, Dairy Free Whipped Cream Dessert Topping
Ingredients:
1 cup full fat coconut milk, from two 13.5 oz cans
1/4 cup powdered sugar or to taste
1/4 cup soy or rice milk powder
1 tsp vanilla extract or to taste
Directions:
Open the cans of coconut milk, and cover with plastic wrap, or just leave the lid on loosely
Spoon the thick portion from the top of the coconut milk until you have one cup, reserving the lighter portion left in the bottom of the cans for other uses
Chill in the fridge for about 4 hours: The cans of coconut milk, a metal mixing bowl, and the beaters from a hand mixer
Beat the thick coconut cream in the chilled bowl with a hand mixer until thick and fluffy
Gradually beat in the powdered sugar and milk powder 1 or 2 Tblsp at a time, testing for flavor and consistency
For flavored whipped cream, add some cinnamon, instant coffee, or cocoa powder (you may want to increase the sugar a bit); or replace the vanilla with almond or coconut extract or a liqueur
Using a rubber spatula, transfer the coconut cream from the blender to a covered storage container, and refrigerate until needed
I absolutely love your site and am anxiously awaiting your cookbook. My 2 year old daughter has severe dairy/egg/tree nut allergies and is probably the pickiest eater I have EVER seen, but she loved your banana chocolate chip muffins which is great since it’s the first time I’ve gotten her to eat anything that looks like bread. Thank you for sharing all these incredible recipes… do you have any great main dish recipes as well?
Thank you SO much for this blog! Found you after reading about this in Family Fun Mag (September 2009) and came straight here. Absolutely can’t wait to try these recipes, as I am the mom of a peanut/egg allergic 6 year old. Thanks for the NORMAL recipes and all of your hard work for allergic kids everywhere!
Thanks a TON Mandy! I will absolutely try this!
Thanks so much Kelly for your comment. I am so excited your daughter loved the banana chocolate chip muffins…kids LOVE those muffins!! All the muffin recipes are amazing…my other favorite is the French Puff Muffins. So many people love those! I have lots of main dish recipes too that I love to make all the time. If you would like I am happy to share someday soon. Thanks again!
Thanks Julie!
Thank you so much for all you have done. I saw your information on Family fun and can’t wait to try some of the recipes. We have a 7year old, who has a birthday coming up this Friday, Aug 28th, who has egg/peanuts allergies among others. He has always had cupcakes instead of birthday cake for his birthday. Grandma always bakes him cupcakes and a birthday cake for the rest of the family. Grandma will also be excited to get your recipes becuase she bakes for him a lot. Thank you. Maria
Kelly, thank you for all the work you have put into sharing this information with the public! My son Jack, 3, is also allergic to eggs and all tree nuts. He also has eczema and asmtha. I have been baking and cooking allergy free since he was diagnosed as baby with food allergies. I use ground flax seed as an egg substitute often when baking. I am excited to try some of your recipes, they look so simple, and unlike other allergy free recipes, they do not use unfamiliar odd ingredients. THANK YOU!
I do have a question – since dairy is not an allergen for Jack, are the dairy free items interchangeable with the dairy version in equal amounts? For example, instead of using 1 cup of soy milk, can we use 1 cup of regular cow’s milk? Or regular margarine instead of dairy free?
I am looking forward to your book release!
Thank you so much for your site! I feel your pain with eating out/ordering in – the other day we ended up leaving a restaurant because the waitress was so impatient/rude when I asked her about whether some menu items had egg in them (my 3 year old son has a severe egg allergy). I can’t wait to try out some of the recipes – my son is always asking for cookies/baked goods and it’s so hard to always have to tell him that he can’t eat them b/c they have egg in them.
I saw your web site in the FamilyFun magazine. I have been living with a child with severe food allergies (Peanuts, all nuts, egg & Dairy) for 9 years. I have learned how to cook, read labels & educate family & friends on his situation. The school district that he attends has worked so well with me, starting off with his own table at lunch to a peanut free table with other kids. All the children understand that if they want to eat with him that day they can’t have peanut butter in their lunch. I meet with the nurses, teachers & principal with my son, every new school year to discuss and go over different situations (Where Epi-pens are stored, if he had a reaction, what the plan would be,etc.) I don’t think other people realize what we really have to go thru day to day to keep them safe and as normal as possible (Parties, camps, school events, eating out, just going to the Fair). It was very nice to read your stories and know that you understand EXACTLY what it is like( I wanted to cry). How much work goes into learning and educating others and ourselves. Your recipes look good; it is always nice to have new ideas. I am going to purchase your book. Thanks again.
Thanks Michelle for writing! Sometimes that is one of the hardest adjustments…eating in/eating out. I truly hope that there will be a day where we can eat freely and without worry.
Thanks so much for writing Nicole. I am sorry to hear of your child’s diagnois. It sounds like your son attends a wonderful school with an enormously supportive school staff. But you are so right on about the work that goes into the day to day of keeping our children safe. It can be overwhelming at times. It is so reassuring we can all relate with one another. Keep me posted on how the recipes work for you!
I found this site through the Family Fun Magazine. My daughter is now 2 1/2 and was diagnosed this time last year with peanut/tree nut/fish/sesame allergies. She was given a bite of a payday candy bar at daycare and we ended up in anaphylaxis in the ER…she too has asthma so that heightens us to everything. We have a wonderful support program here in Evansville, Indiana. Our pediatric allergist and her office has been a huge help in making me comfortable with life again. Of course, we don’t eat out much so any ideas on recipes is great!
Thanks again!
Susan
Hi Kelly,
I was so excited to find your website and can’t wait to get your cookbook. My daughter, Olivia was diagnosed at 5 months with egg, dairy, soy, rice, peanut, green pea, oat, pear, beef, and chicken allergies. She is almost 3 now and has egg, dairy, beef and peanut left, however she was also diagnosed with asthma a few months ago. I understand so completely how hard it is to come up with recipies and food options (especially for social events like birthday parties!) I spent most of my Saturdays the first year and a half preparing and freezing food for her, because she was so limited with what she could eat. Now that we have fewer allergies it has been easier. Thank you for creating this site and sharing your recipies with other moms like you!
Amy
Kelly,
I can’t tell you how excited I was to see your website in Family Fun Magazine. My child has an egg allergy and l am always researching new recipes. My son and I checked out the site together and we are equally excited to try your recipes. I hate having to tell him he can’t have something at the store, but it does allow us to be creative on our own and gives us the oppertunity to spend special time in the kitchen cooking. You are providing a great service and I can’t wait to buy your books and give them to all my family.
Thank you
Thanks so much for this website! It’s a great resource. I am both a teacher and a parent. I have a 5 1/2 year old son who is allergic to dairy and eggs. (He started out at 6 months allergic to dairy, eggs, potatoes, corn, fish, and dogs and cats. He has since “graduated” from most of those.) I am lucky that he hasn’t developed an allergy to peanuts. I think that’s the most challenging, and could be the most deadly…my son can touch things that have had dairy or egg products on them, it’s just a ingested allergy. My son has started kindergarten, and luckily I am a teacher and he attends my school. The district nurse emailed the teachers with the information on who is allergic to what and I made sure that my son’s name was on it. I then found your website and emailed the staff about it and hoped that they would share it with their classroom parents. I certainly did.
I went to the school district’s nutritionist to find out what my son could eat on the school lunch menu. Out of 60+ things on the menu, he can eat 2!!!!!! I was so mad. I spent an hour and a half talking with her and that’s what she came up with. AND she had just signed new contracts with some new vendors. You’d think that she would have signed on with vendors that are allergen conscious. NOPE! She suggested that I meet with a dietitian at Children’s Hospital to get some guidance.
Yesterday, I met with the dietitian through Children’s Hospital. I brought my son so that he could hear what she had to say. I was sure that she was going to fix it for me, and tell me everything that I needed to hear to help him with school lunches, dinners, snacks etc. I saw your website previous to this visit, but I thought for sure I would have an enlightening experience. Come to find out, she isn’t an expert on food allergies. She had resources that other parents had given her and put a handout together with that information on it. I told her that at the moment, we didn’t have the money to subscribe to the Food Allergy Network so she found the binder with all of their newsletters in it and graciously allowed me to borrow it to make copies etc. That was the biggest thing that I came away with from her. I told her about your website, and she didn’t know about it, and wrote it down to add to her handout. She helped me brainstorm a few things to put in his lunches, and because my son is so skinny for his height, suggested that I put olive oil in his foods so that he gets some extra fat. She also suggested “Soy Bright Beginnings” which is like Pediasure but does not have the dairy in it. She said it’s 30 cal/ounce so it would give him some extra fat in his diet. I of course couldn’t find it at King Soopers which is where she said she had seen it.
So now I am on a quest to help my son eat better lunches at school. Right now, it’s noodles with olive oil and garlic in a thermos, and then PB&J sandwiches. The ONE thing he has eaten at school for school lunch has been chicken nuggets. He loved buying lunch at school. My daughter buys quite often, and so he felt like a big kid and a normal kid buying that ONE time. It makes me sad, but he is extremely afraid of eating something he can’t eat. He has had a few reactions this summer, and I know that they were really bad for him, and he is cautious now. I am glad that he is, and I am glad that he stands up for himself, to adults and tells them he can’t have things. If an adult told him he could eat something and it ended up giving him a reaction because he ate it, I would be livid! He’s such a big boy, and I am so proud of him for taking care of his health. Now to just get him to eat something other than chicken nuggets, fish sticks, and noodles. He’s a picky eater!
Thanks again for this website. I love it!
Thanks so much Mary Elizabeth for your very heartfelt comment. I can honestly say I know your pain and frustration, and hope that things get easier for you over time. You’ve done all the right things; just keep plugging along. I hope in the meantime, these recipes help you with at least baking some easy treats that otherwise be off limits. Good luck and keep me posted!
Hi Kelly,
My husband Brian and I have a daughter Natalie who is 2 years old now and was diagnosed at 6 months old with allergies to milk, soy and eggs. She was rushed to the hospital twice. Then a couple months later, she touched a peanut and was rushed by an ambulance to the hospital to find out that she was allergic to peanuts as well. We are always nervous with her when it comes to parties, or any other outing. My aunt found your website and I’m so excited to try your recipes for her. We have just found out that she is allergic to grass, trees, and cats. She is always on medication for her allergies and she doesn’t understand what can happen to her if she eats of touches some of the foods. She too has bad asthma like so many others that have come to your website. Does anyone out there know other types of dinners my daughter can tr?
Thank you for all your hard work to help your son and so many others
Kelly-
Your website is great! I have two kids whyo have peanut and treenut alleries my daughter 13 and my son 10, and both have asthma. I read your about me and totally feel then same way you do it was like you were writing about me, not about you..the dating like makes me want to just, well puke!!! Not only did I have the sex talk with my daughter I had to have the “by the way you first kiss could kill you talk” need to have it with my son too….
It is so nice to have other parents out there sometimes you feel all alone especially when it comes to school and school functions.
Vanessa
I wanted to add one thing, my daughter has decided she wants to be a pastry chef and she will only use nut free products, I told her she will make a million dollars!!
Thanks so much Vanessa for your kind words and I am so excited your daughther wants to be a pastry chef!
Silvana, thanks so much for your comment. I understand your pain, and know how difficult it can be day in and day out with a toddler with food allergies. There are so many wonderful resources, and even products now that didn’t exist several years ago. They are there to help wherever possible. I wrote my book with your child, my child, and every other food allergic child in mind. Savoring childhood treats, enjoying the things we did as a kid. It is so important these kids have a sense of normalcy. In regard to your question about dinners….in general I stuck with lots of roasted and sauteed meats (chicken, pork, pot roast, meat sauce, veggies of all types, etc.) Ironically, my son is the healthiest eater of all my kids, and I think that’s because nothing he eats is ever processed. Hang in there, and visit my home page for the links and recipes. Let me know how it works out for you…
Thank you for your website, recipes, and blog! I found your website in Family Fun magazine!! I’ve been writing to them for months asking for more allergy friendly recipes. It seems like a lot of “kid friendly” recipes are baked goods or cheesy stuff. My son is allergic to milk and eggs. He has thankfully grown out of his wheat and even his peanut allergy. I’ve made your zucchini bread, banana muffins, and pumpkin cookies. They are all OUTSTANDING!!! Can’t wait to get your cookbook! I’ve been telling all my friends and family about your website too. Thanks!!
Thank you for this web site. I have a two year old with allergies to egg, milk, peanuts, other tree nuts and citrus fruit. Cooking became quite a challenge when he was diagnosed but he is so much happier it is so worth the effort. He never had any “bad” reactions, but he cried all the time as a baby with tummy aches and had terrible ezema. Life is so much better for him with a restricted diet. Thanks so much for the site, it will help make cooking more fun again. I pre-ordered the cook book and am excited to try the recipees.
Thanks so mch for your kind words Kelly!
I am so happy to find this. My 7 year old daughter is allergic to eggs, dairy, cats, all grasses, 4 kinds of molds and so on! We have dealt with allergies, asthma and an immune deficiency since she was 2. It is hard when they first get diagnosed, then it gets hard again when they start school. I can’t wait to try your recipes. Moms Rock!
Kelly-just received your cookbook in the mail. My food allergic son and I can’t wait to try so many things. Can I get away with using a hand mixer or do I really need to invest in a stand mixer with paddle to get things to turn out well?
Melissa, you can definitely use your hand mixer, and in many of these recipes you can also use a bowl and a spatula. I personally use a stand mixer because of the sheer volume of baking I do. It’s a great investment long term if you plan to make lots of batches of cookies, cakes, etc. And as a food allergy mama, you’ll probably end up baking a lot of your children’s treats for parties, school, etc. Good luck!
i am very excited to find your website and your book (learned about it from family fun magazine). i have three sons (4, 2 and 6 months) all with mulitple food allergies. we are always looking for new dishes to prepare so i can’t wait to try some of your recipes. thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Hi Kelly-
Just wanted to “introduce” ourselves to you… We are also a pair of Chicago moms working to make living life with food allergies a little easier! Check us out at http://www.welcomingkitchen.blogspot.com. We will add you as a link on our blog and look forward to maybe working together in the future on some projects!
All the best,
Megan Hart and Kim Lutz
Thanks so much Megan!! Nice to “meet” you!
Kelly-What you do is so important to so many. I have a beautiful 5 year old son with milk, peanut and tree nut allergies. Is there anything I can do to help you in your job/our job to educate people about the significance of food allergies and how to make easier for those of us who have them. I’ve got some time on my hands that I want to put to good use and think this is a most worthy cause. Please let me know if you can think of any way that I can help you.
Marianne
Hi Kelly,
I was wondering do you know what my daughter can have instead of putting the tofu or non dairy butter in your reciepts? I’ve been searching for alternatives and have had no luck. Please let me know. Thank you again for all you do.
Silvana
I just happened to stumble across your site while searching for allergen free recipes, and I am THRILLED to have found it! I am always looking for dairy, egg, and nut free recipes for my almost 3 yr old son…especially lately because I’ve been on a mission to make him feel as included as possible as he now can tell others eat differently than he! He had his first chociate chip cookie not too long ago and was in disbelief when I gave it to him…he asked a couple of times before taking his first bite, “me eat this?!?!” “me have this?!?!” His precious elation motivated me even more to try new several new recipes every week!! I will most certainly order your cookbook!! Thank you for paving the way…it’s not easy!! Blessings to you and your family!
Words cannot express my gratitude…. thank you from the bottom of my heart; may you and your family be blessed, as you are a blessings to others.
Hi,
My mother is allergic to the gluten in wheat and oats. Help! I need receipes.
I’ve just purchased your book and cannot wait to try many recipes. My son is allergic to egg and peanut, and we’ve just had our second child a few months ago. While we hope he will not have any food allergies, there will be no surprise if he too presents with one or some. I am an active member of FAAN, and constantly strive to educate friends, family and mere strangers on food allergies (while attempting to dispell many a myth, too!). I too have a number of cookbooks and other recipes that I’ve not had much luck with. I cannot wait to try your chocolate chip cookies – I usually simply exchange cornstarch and water for the egg, but it’s a fine science to try to get these baked, without ending up too doughy or completely crispy, LOL! Best of luck to you, and thank you for your continued efforts.
I baked your snicker doodles and was in heaven! Thank you! My one year old son has dairy, egg, and peanut allergies. I have never been a baker of treats, because it WAS easier to buy. Those days are long gone. Meals I can handle, we have never been that into dairy, but it’s the treats I don’t want my family to miss out on. I can’t wait to get your book! Thank you! Thank you! I wish you continued luck with allergies and your son’s school. I am a teacher and know how difficult it is on both sides. Hopefully things will be more figured out by the time I send my baby boy to school!
Thanks so much Susanne!! Those snickerdoodle cookies are always a huge hit! They will definitely be in a new book someday!
Hi!!! My mom called me the other day and told me about your article in the tribune so I had to check out your website. Congratulations! I remember how good those cookies were! Tell everyone I say hi, i miss you guys!
love
Sarah Croghan
Thank you for all of your time and for sharing the detailed information you have found on your adventure.
Like many of the other stories our family was flipped when our daughter Bailey was born, now a healthy 2 year old, it has been a long hard fought battle to keep her healthy. Her troubles began at birth, her allergies (egg, milk, soy, peanuts, cats) are so sever that she could not handle my milk. Yet, she was too little for any tests to be helpful. In the months a head we tried many things…. finally at 4 months of age we made headway. Neocate worked. We still had no testing to back up our assumptions but it worked and her little body began to heal. Her skin cleared up, belly distention disappeared, the swelling in her face was gone and she WAS HAPPY!!!!
That was the turning point for her. Life was good for a few months until the challenges of table food became the the center of our life. Each and everyday brings new challenges, through the support of family and friends the battle just becomes a way of life. It is not hard you just have to be persistence and creative.
The biggest challenge that we faced was educating everyone in her life and learning along the way. My husband and I had to make some tough decisions in the beginning to make our point. Not everyone took her allergies serious. In fact we took a hard line that she was not going to be around cats or around eggs when they are cracked (hives and swelling within seconds). It only took missing a few family functions to make our point.
Today everyone is one board 100% !!!! Getting the information and educating anyone who will listen helps to protect all of our children who suffer from food allergies.
I will still have to face the battles that school will bring, but will all of the funding and research, you never know what he future will bring.
Good Luck and Thank You,
Trisha M.
this site looks great! very educational and helpful!
I am soooo excited to have found your site. As a mother of a peanut, treenut and egg allergic child I know what’s it like skipping out on parties or events for fear that my child could eat something that could be life threatening. I am so excited to start baking !!!
I just found your blog through the Daily Babble website, and greatly appreciate your work. Recipe photos inspire me. I “just” have lactose intolerance, but need to do similar modifications in my cooking, since eggs can be a problem as well. Thanks for this blog.
Thanks so much hce!! Can’t wait to hear how the recipes work for you!
I seriously felt like crying (with happiness) when I found your newspaper article and web site! I have two sons, ages 7 and 4, who have anaphylactic food allergies to milk, eggs and peanuts as well as tree nuts, fish and shellfish. There is no doubt that life can be challenging for a food allergy family. Allergy free recipes aren’t exactly fine dining, especially for little boys. We are always glad to find new resources and friends who know what we go through on a daily basis. When our oldest son was diagnosed with allergies, resources were limited and still are somewhat today. Thank you for all of your hard work making this website and your cookbook possible. One of my favorite quotes is by Ralph Waldo Emerson “… to know that one life has breathed easier because you have lived. That is to have succeeded!” Congratulations on your great success and best wishes to you and you family!
I’m so thankful I found this website! I just ordered your book. All the other books have such random ingredients and yours seem so simple! Thank you!
Thanks Tirsa! I am not a fan of expensive, random ingredients either! Most people don’t live right by a Whole Foods. I love using easy, simple substitutes. Let me know how you like the cookbook!
I can’t say “THANK YOU” enough! Among other things, my 18 mo old son is allergic to eggs and does not tolerate dairy, artificial colors/flavors. We’ve had quite a time introducing solid foods to him as he always seems to react – sometimes right away, other times it took several days.
We’ve worked our way through a few dozen foods and my restricted-diet creativity had nearly run out…then I discovered your blog & cookbook.
You have given this mom, who felt overwhelmed & helpless, hope! In the past few weeks I’ve made 5 of the recipes from your book…each one a huge success with our son! Tonight he ate TWO iced sugar cookies – he was smiling and holding it out to show me like “Mom, this is GREAT! YUM!” For the first time in 18 months, eating wasn’t a battle, he was actually enjoying it & I felt like a “good mom.” I thought as I watched him, I owe the Food Allergy Mama a huge THANK YOU!
Thinking of you as you wait for your fourth little boy to arrive!! Thanks again for making my son (and me!) smile
THanks so much Michelle. Those were truly kind and wonderful words, and I am so grateful for readers like you. I’m so happy to be able to share my treats with other food allergy mamas such as yourself, because really, I’d love for our FA kids to be the envy of the party for once…to have other kids clamoring for their treats because they are yummy and made just for them. It’s so great to hear all these fabulous stories of inclusion, and means the world to me. Thanks so much again for your comment.
Hi Kelly,
I just happened upon your blog while looking for some recipes for my little boy. He is allergic to milk, eggs, and peanuts. Your recipes look fabulous, and I am so excited to try them. Thank you for all your hard work. It makes life so much easier for the rest of us food allergy mamas!
The Food Allergy Mama rocks! Your recipes are so easy, which is very important considering I’ve never cooked – ever – and now have to be so careful for my 1 year old with allergies. Every weekend we make another cookie or bread or treat, so that we can eat them as a family throughout the week. My baby has become a much better “eater” of all kinds of foods since being able to eat what the whole family is eating or taking a bit off of his big brother’s plate. He’ll start preschool in August 2010, and the fear is already keeping me up at night. Any advice that anyone has about how to work with the other parents to keep him safe is greatly appreciated! And thank you to the Food Allergy Mama!!!
Hi Kelly,
Thanks so much for this website. I also live in the Chicagoland area. I have found these new awesome product that is made in a Nut free facility and are gluten free for those who have nut allerigies. They make 8 Superfoods. They are so easy to use in cooking and just eating them right out of the cup…there Yummy Mango. The company is called Square One. I thought you might want to add this to your favorites.
http://www.squareoneorganics.com/
You can buy it online on their Website or through Peapod and also at the local store in Chicago.
Every food in the Square One® line is a Super Food. They choose organic foods because they believe that what you don’t give a child is just as important as what you do. Organic foods are free of pesticides and harmful chemicals. The only ingredients you will find in our Square One® Purees are organic fruits, vegetables, grains and water. Their cups are #5 recyclable polypropylene one of the top three healthiest types of plastic for food containers. Number 5 polypropylene does not contain Bisphenol-A and has not been shown to leach carcinogens or endocrine disruptors.
Thanks,
Tania
I would like to say thank you for this website. I am a mother of two children both with food allergies,milk, eggs, peanuts, beans, all dairy products. It’s been a battle with grocery shopping,
making meals at home and school. I look forward to viewing more recipes and also
trying them out. Once again thank you.
Thanks,
Rosalind
Kelly –
I am so thankful that I came across your site via a post on another Moms blog (money Saving Mom – which I follow on FaceBook), although I wanted to know if you’ve thought about linking your blog to FB so we can easily follow your blog.
I am horrible about remembering where/how to get to my favorites, but FB has made it so easy for me to have all these fabulous Blogs a click away.
Anyways, just a suggestion & thanks again for sharing your passion for all of us new Mom’s to allergies.
I just ordered your cookbook, and cannot wait to receive it. My daughter is going to be 2 in June and is allergic to milk, eggs and peanuts. Reading all of the other posts, have really made me realize that how many other families are dealing with the same issues and that we are not alone. I am wondering if anyone knows of a bakery in the chicago area that will make a dairy free/egg free birthday cake. I have done some searching, and have not had any luck finding one. Any suggestions would be great.
Thanks so much Jennifer for your comment! I am so excited for you to try the recipes. I’m in the Chicago area, and have yet to find a bakery that is truly safe. If you want a special order cake or cupcakes I would highly recommned Divvies…their products are made by devotd allergy parents in a dedicated facility. Not to mention I love their cute packaging. I also like Cherrybrook Kitchens mixes, but they are pricey. Ultimately I usually make my own cakes because its easier, cheaper, and your kiddos can lick the bowl! Good Luck!!
Kelly –
Thank you so much for your cookbook. My son was diagnosed with dairy, egg, and peanut allergies about a year ago. I spent six months trying to find GOOD recipes. Most of the ones I tried were crumbly, tasted like cardboard or had a weird texture. Some didn’t rise at all. It was incredibly frustrating.
Then, for my birthday in October of last year, a dear friend gave me your cookbook. I don’t know why I didn’t find your website beforehand! Every recipe I have tried is delicious! The only change I’ve ever made is substituting Ener-G brand Egg Replacer for some of the liquid to make for a texture that holds together better. In fact, I’m making your whole wheat waffles recipe tonight for dinner. Thank you for returning “delicious” to dairy, egg, and nut-free food. Next, you need to come out with a full-blown cookbook!
Obviously from all the comments, you’ve brought a whole slew of recipe options that are actually TASTY back to allergy-aware kitchens.
THANKS from one more fan,
Marci
**And a special thanks for the PHOTOS in your cookbook. I don’t know why people think they can get away with publishing a cookbook without pics (like many of the other dairy, egg, and nut-free cookbooks I own now)! The pictures have inspired me to try new recipes… and the result is the same. Yum!
So glad to have found your website. We’re in Seattle and have a Home Day Care just for children with food allergies, this way we can keep them safe from any foods they can’t eat and focus on their social and cognitive development. We’ve happily discovered these little sensitive systems are very sensitive, loving souls. We’re, both my husband and I, good cooks and have taken gluten free cooking classes and learned to adapt many recipes, but seeing your site this morning has me really excited. We have special challenges, not just the usual, dairy and nut, but gluten, all fowl and eggs, sesame seeds, shell fish, avacado, and due to the variety and severity we deal with, we alternate our grains so as not to create an allergy to foods eaten too often. I applaud you and know you are and will make a huge difference in this venue, you are motivated by love, and that is powerful.
Kelly I just wanted to tell you how fabulous you are. Your recipes have literally changed our lives. Today I brought your chocolate chip recipe to my son’s pre-school, and everyone was raving and asking for the recipe. I cannot tell you how much it warms my heart to be able to bake things for my son that everyone can enjoy. Thank you again for all you do you truely are AMAZING!
Thanks so much Shannon, it makes me SOOO happy to know that EVERYONE enjoyed those cookies (I am obsessed with those by the way). I’m excited for you to try more recipes!! Thanks for the feedback!
Kelly,
both your blog and your book are fantastic! You are making my (and other moms’ of allergic kids) life easier. I have never been a big baker, I have always enjoyed cooking more, but when my then 10-month-old (now 15-month-old) son was diagnosed with severe food allergies, I realized I will have to work on my baking skills. Your recipes are simple and delicious.
Thanks!
Eva
Hi Kelly,
thanks for the blog and sharing your experiences. My 5 yr old son is allergic yo milk , eggs, soy and nuts. he also suffers from asthma and eczema. How old is your son? Have you seen any difference in his allergies as he is growing? I had found out about my sons allergies when he was a yr old. I was told by time he was 5 he may outgrow his allergies, but nothing has happened so far…It wouldbe nice if anyone can share their experiences in terms of how children have outgrown.
thanks again!
-Aru
I just stumbled across your site today and wanted to let you know that I think it’s fantastic. I struggle to find good recipes for my egg, peanut, tree nut and dairy allergic son (3 now, diagnosed at 9 mos) to have for daycare substitutes for breakfast and treats. I’m excited to see your cookbook and to read the rave reviews – I can’t wait to get ours and start trying recipes. Your site will definitely be bookmarked, I look forward to keeping up with your posts and insights.
Thanks!
Thank you for your time and energy to get your blog going! My baby has several food allergies including Milk protein and Soy and I was always at lost with what to cook for her. I’m so happy that I can bake goodies for her that won’t cause allergic reaction. I’ll be keep on coming back!
Hi kelly,
I have been browsing through your cookbook and marking the recipes that sound interesting. I live on the North Side of Chicago and have a 7 year old son who also was diagnosed with allergies in 2003. He has peanut, treenut, egg, dairy and a couple of other allergies. I am wondering though, what the connection is to nuts eggs and dairy? It seems they go together quite often. Also, reading back on some comments people left here, as well as some things I saw in your book, I wanted to pass along some information:
Whipped cream-I keep kosher, so one surefire way to know that something is dairy free is the word “pareve”. I believe this would only be found in supermarkets with large “kosher” sections, but Rich’s Whip is a frozen carton you whip up yourself, and occasionally you can find smakin good whipped cream in aerosol form. (also frozen, though) http://www.smackingood.com/index1.asp.
Also someone was looking for dairy-free nut free baked goods. Breadsmith in Skokie makes dairy, egg and nut free cupcakes. North Shore bakery in Chicago on Touhy has one day a week that their baked goods can be made nut free and they are always dairy free.
From your book, I wanted to add 2 brands of chocolate chips: Trader Joe’s and Kroger Semi Sweet Chocolate chips, found at Food4Less.
I was also wondering if anyone had a site that included brands of foods that were allergy friendly, and I am not talking about Enjoy Life. I mean national brands that are free of allergens. For instance, I have people ask me what they could bring for a class snack, and I provide them with a list of some products (my primary go-tos are Oreos and Fruit Roll Ups.). If there were a site they could search, that would be helpful (to me as well)
Sorry for going on so long…Wish I could go to the Printers Row Lit Fest to hear you speak.
I have two boys with multiple food allergies. They are both allergic to milk, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts. My younger is also allergic to soy, sesame, green peas, lentils, chick peas. My older son just passed his wheat challenge in May!! Wheat was REALLY hard to work around with regard to baking. So, you can imagine I have little yellow sticky notes all over your cookbook and I have been baking myself into a frenzy now that I can bake with wheat for both of them! So, many, many thanks for coming up with so many different baked treats! Now…..if my younger son can kick soy, I can make everything in the cookbook! Fingers crossed!
catherine thank you so much for your comment! my recipes are easily adapted to soy free by using soy free margarine and shortening! congrats on passing your wheat challenge!!!
What a great site! My 3 year old son was diagnosed at 10 months old with a severe egg and peanut allergy and also has asthma. It’s hard to find recipes for him to enjoy so I am glad that I found your site.
I love, love, love your cookbook! I came across it a couple of weeks ago at the library, and can’t wait to purchase a copy! Our son has dairy, egg, peanut and tree nut allergies. He’s 11 years old today, and I always struggle with coming up with new ideas for special treats. Your cookbook is the answer to my struggle! I cannot wait to dive in and make everything you’ve published!
Have you thought about doing a savory allergy cookbook? That would be awesome!
Many blessings to you! Thank you for doing this!
Oh, LIsa, thanks SOOO much! YES! I am working on that right now!
I’m glad too Terry. Let me know how the recipes work for you!
gah! thank you so much! My littlest brother can’t eat eggs, dairy, or nuts, so this is perfect!
Hi Kelly,
Thanks for the website and the book too! My daughter has a severe egg allergy, and is also mildly allergic to peanuts. So, as you know, baking without eggs is a challenge! We just made your chocolate chip cookies today and they are wonderful. I have been using EnRG egg replacer in many of my tried and true recipes, and many times it made things taste bitter, so I needed another method of replacing eggs! Thanks so much for the great book!
Jen
Thank you for the information. It is great that moms lie you are bringing more exposure to the food allergy issue and solutions to help parents.
thanks so much!!!!
PLEASE HELP US…
I’m a food allergy suffer and soon to be mom. I’m in search of a blog with a focus on expecting mothers with food allergies. Do you know of any blogs?
I finally found a prenatal vitamin by Super Nutrition. I’m taking their PreNatal Blend. It’s not only a vegetarian food-based but it’s also an organic greenfood. It’s free of the following: corn, soy, gluten, buckwheat, yeast, sugar, pollen, dairy.
Here is their website: http://www.supernutritionusa.com/productpages/simply_one_prenatal.html
I need some sort of support and soon. My husband and I recently moved to Alaska, and there are not a lot of people I know to network with here. Any information will help our need.
Thank YOU!
B
I too am having problems with a 7 year old with a life threatening dairy allergy, whiles he attends school. Was just told again that they are having a party for the fall and found out purely by accident that there would food, homemade, candy etc….the response back from the teacher, is they only ask for parents not to send in things without peanuts, why do the schools only recognize this allergy, here we go again with yet another disappointment from son if he cannot have what is being sent in, why not as the school nurse said keep food parties at home, to be safe as well, I have 2 older children who do not have any allergies and so I get the parents saying “why does my child not get to have just cause yours can’t” well guess what I know now how important it is to be my youngest advocate!!! What can be done to teach others about this is what I would like to know please. So nice to find this web site, thank you!!!
Hi Wendy, I completely understand your frustration; it’s mine as well. I’m over all the food in classrooms.
Brit, my list of blogs and resources are a great place to start. You will find SO MUCH information and support from wonderful and caring people who have been where you are, and can help guide you. Good luck!!! xoxoxo
I’m glad I found your website. My son, now 3 years old, is very allergic to nuts and also allergic to: milk, eggs, gluten, yeast, wheat & corn. So I am always looking for more recipes. I will glance through your site as time permits.
I hope your son is doing well.
God Bless you,
Anne
Thanks so much Anne!
I’m in love with your recipes! my 1 year old son has milk/soy/egg/peanut/sesame/tomato/apple allergy and w/ a little bit of tweaking i can use almost all of them. even if he outgrows them (hopefully) i’ll be using your recipes! can’t wait to try more
Yay Thank you!!!!!
I do appreciate all the work you have put into this allergy research. I am a grandmother and my granddaughter has dairy, nut allergies and I have always been the mom/now grandmother who bakes cookies for everyone. My daughter in law told me about this site. Having two asthmatic sons and having been a nurse for 30 years I know how much work it takes to make sure everyone is safe from some of these unknown things! Again Thank you
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!!!! My son was diagnosed late at age 5 1/2 with anaphalactic peanut allergy after a lifetime of severe asthma and illness. We hated to have to alter yet another part of his life. I got to work researching and tossing foods from the pantry. After almost 6 months of eating very holistic with very little sweets or baked goods and Christmas coming up, I knew we had to find some cookie recipes he could eat. I have been on a no cow protein, dairy or eggs diet as I am nursing our youngest who has had problems digesting protein enzymes. I was SO excited to find your cookbook! Now, both my son and I can safely eat and enjoy baked goods! Woohoo!!! We made the chocolate chip cookies today and enjoyed the dough as well as the cookies! They were surprisingly very good! No offense, but so far the few vegan recipes I have tried from other resources were just o.k. These actually tasted just as good as my chocolate chip cookies! YAY! I put a smile on my son’s face and my whole family was happy that they tasted good as they have had to alter their diet on account of us. Thank you food allergy Mama! God Bless You!!
I came across your website today and I just wanted to say thank you for all your dedication and hard work. I too have a child that has severe allergies to eggs, dairy and all nuts. I can say it has been the biggest challenge on being a mommy. There are days where I will just cry inside because of the day to day challenges we face with food, especially outside of the homestead . I want my daughter to have a normal life and to not have to be excluded from activities involving food. I am no Martha Stewart or Paula Deen so I can not be inventive or creative on a whim, I find it emotionally healing to know that someone like you has ventured on this challenging quest for your child and other children. So, thank you.
Hi-
I just came across your Website and it has made me feel both scared and comforted at the same time. My son has an egg allergy (mild) and peanut allergy, but he is only a little over 2 years old – so I haven’t had to worry about school, b-day parties, etc. But I am terrified of sending him out into the world with these allergies and to places where I am not controlling what he comes into contact with.
No one in my or my husband’s family has ever had food allergies, so this is all new to us. I remember when they first showed me the Epi-pen – I was mortified!
Its good to know there are so many other’s out there dealing with this serious issue and that there are places to go, like your site, to find some answers and ideas – especially for baking since I don’t want to deprive my son of the sweet things in life!
You go Mama!
This is/has been such a wonderful tool for us.
My daughter has peanut, nut, Tree-nut & Egg allergies & Asthma. She is the “Snack Friend” at her preschool for Valentine’s Day. A wonderful SAFE & FUN option for her share.
Thanks for your hard work. You are making a positive difference!
LOVE that Christina!
Hi from Paris, France! I wrote to you before and have been baking up a storm since discovering your website. My son has the exact same allergies as your son. My mother in law just sent me your cook book and I love it! I didn’t know she was sending it, so it was such a treat to receive it! Thanks so much for creating wonderful recipes!
I am wondering if you ever take recipe ideas? I have a couple family favorites, one of which I can remember making and enjoying with my great grandma. I can’t figure out what to sub out for eggs and if just replacing soy/rice milk for the regular dairy would do. Anyway, not sure if you ever take recipe inspirations, but I have a soft pretzel recipe that already contains crisco and a short cake recipe I would love for my son to enjoy one day and am not sure what to do with them!
Thanks so much for being an inspiration to many families with allergies!!
Ellie C.
Dear Kelly,
I am writing to say a long overdue and very heartfelt thank you. My older son, who just turned 4, was diagnosed with food allergies at 8 months of age. He is allergic to dairy, eggs, peanuts, and tree nuts (he has outgrown allergies to oats and peas). I had never been especially comfortable in the kitchen. As all parents of children with food allergies, I have had to learn a lot and I continue learning. I am so grateful for the wonderful resources that now exist to help people learn to live with food allergies.
I discovered your website about 16 months ago, when I was home on maternity leave after having our second son. Since that time we have tried too many of your recipes to list, and many have become staples in our home. Each and every recipe that we have tried has been truly delicious, but the finished product is not the only thing that I am grateful for. I am also so happy for the experiences it has provided us while my son helps me in the kitchen! I always receive compliments on my baked goods and I credit you without fail. I have recommended your book and your website to countless people, both with and without food allergies. I recently joined Allergy Nation, which is a new online community that encourages people with food allergies and other dietary restrictions to share information. I just recommended your book and website in response to a discussion about baking without eggs.
Thank you so very much for the work that you do for children with food allergies, both in the kitchen and out. You are an inspiration!
Sincerely,
Jennifer Moylan
Jennifer, you note meant the world to me. I can’t thank you enough. xoxox
Love your web site. So glad I found it. I am allegic to dairy, gluten, soy, peanut, baker’s yeast, and egg. Do you have any recipes, particularly a pretzel or others that don’t include the above allergens? Thanks so much.
Yay for your cookbook!!! Thank you for writing it! We suspected for a while that our son had more than just eczema and our kids’ daycare/school happened to have a speaker from Children’s Memorial come in the other week to talk about allergies. I was still waiting for the allergist’s appointment and a mom lent me your book. So thankful she did- we had out appointment the other day and our 14 month old is allergic to eggs and peanuts. I just made my first recipe from your book- pancakes- and was so excited that they were so good! My 4 y/o daughter ate them right up this morning as well. We had cut egg out of his diet for about a month, waiting for the appointment, and was feeling so rotten that he was watching his sister eat waffles and other yummy breakfast things. It’s so great to have your book on hand for breakfast and dessert treats!
Hi, I’m so happy to have found this website, I have a 12 year old son who is allergic to milk, egg, fish and nuts, also to certain types of beans! I first discovered he was allergic to milk when at four months old i gave him a yogurt as a taste and he immediatley swelled up, i wisked him to hospital, frightened to death as i had no idea what was wrong, i had never heard of allergies and to see my baby in such a state was awful! The doctors had no sympathy at all, i was told he’d had an allergic reaction to something, probably the strawberry in the yogurt and told to go home, no medication, no further testing, nothing! And so as the weeks went by everytime i tried to wean my baby i was so scared. He would keep having reactions and the doctors just couldnt care less! So it was down to me, thank god for the internet! Everything i know today about allergies, and i know alot, is down to me which is pretty sad, i dread to think what a state my son would be in now if i had just left it to the doctors, one doctor told me that he was sick of parents going on about allergies and that there is no such thing! Other parents also get me angry when i explain to them about my sons allergies, i feel like they dont believe me, that i’m just being over protective, but the best reaction from another parent is that ” all these allergies are in his head, its just his nerves” ARRRRR! Anyway i eventually got medication in the form of allergy syrup when he was about 10 months old and it took me till he was four years old to finally get an epipen, at last i found a doctor who seemed to know about allergies! I dont get to see any kind of allergy specialist, i did go a few times to see someone but he told me that further testing is not necessary and to come back when my son had gone through puberty and then maybe he will grow out of it! Hes in secondary school now and i was so nervous when he started, every time the phone rings the 1st thing that enters my head is: Joshuas poorly! I have 2 other sons age 8 and 3 and they havent showed any signs of allergies as yet but i always act with caustion! I’m always experimenting in the kitchen and things dont very often turn out too great so i’m lookng forward to some inspiration from your book! Samantha x
We love your recipes! My 6 year old was diagnosed with severe allergy to egg at age 7 months and severe allergy to peanuts when she was 3. We use your cookbook at least once a week. The absolute household favorite though is the pumpkin chocolate chip muffin recipe that was on your blog and isn’t in the book! Everyone loves it and can’t believe that there’s no egg in it. I do all the baking/cookie/cupcakes, etc. for my daughter’s class at school and both the teachers and kids love your recipes, too! Thank you!!
Thank you so much for your blog. When my son (now sons) were diagnosed with food allergies (peanut, nut, soy, dairy, and egg), I was at a loss and had to learn to cook in a whole new way. We are healthier for it but I’m thankful for people like you who publish recipes and share their experiences.
It means a lot to be able to provide my kids with the same food his classmates are eating and experiencing. Thank you!!
Just came across your website while searching for a egg and dairy free donut recipe. I am baking your recipe today! My 11 yr recently cried while seeing his friends eat donuts and I felt horrible for him. He is allergic to dairy, egg, peanut and tree nut. I think he will love these and i am looking forward to your other baking recipes! FYI for other readers Cherrybrook farm mixes are my go to for cookies, muffins, cakes and
pancakes.
Hi, Kelly
I’ve been a follower of yours for several years because I’m allergic to milk and eggs. I love your site because I find your blogs about avoiding my allergens very helpful and encouraging!
However, I have a very close girlfriend with two children who are SEVERELY, life-threateningly allergic to peanuts and other tree nuts. She just launched a website that I think you’d find very interesting and might even want to share on your site to help other parents and their children manage life with such serious allergies. It’s called It’s a Nutty World: http://www.itsanuttyworld.com/.
Check it out and if you could possibly mention it in one of your posts, that would be wonderful
Thank you!
Denise Cripps
Kelly — thank you for writing a long-awaited comprehensive cookbook which includes all the goodies our food-allergy children have been craving with longing looks and heavy hearts. My daugther has egg and nut allergies and it breaks my heart everytime she stands around staring at a birthday cake, cookies, or other treat which she knows she cannot have. I cannot wait to start trying out your recipes!
Thanks also for being a champion for this important cause. We moved abroad when my daugther was in 1st grade and I’ve been somewhat removed from the new strides we’re acheiving in the U.S. involving food allergy issues. Appreciate everything you are doing!
Sharmila I truly appreciate your kind words!! thank YOU!
Thanks so much Denise!!! Great site and good luck!!!! Thank you!!!
My son has the same identical allergies as yours and I am happy to get some new ideas for new foods and recipes to try! Keep them coming!
I just added this web site to my rss reader, great stuff. Cannot get enough! I also share that site at Oneview
This is a brilliant site! I imagine that hundreds of parents will be getting relief and help from your insights! I’d love to attach a link to your site from my blog if it’s ok with you, people need to see this site!!
Kelly,
Your worries are so real and yet so little understood by those so fortunately untouched by food allergens.
My daughter Rylee is 13 and diagnosed with Celiac Disease in September.
I’m still (Rylee more so) working through the frustrations of the shopping experience, cooking experience and Rylee’s desire to get into “I don’t care mode”!
She was adament she would eat cheesy potatoes that contained wheat flour from onion soup base. She did, she paid for it. Was a tough learning experience that there are no exceptions!
Your cousins husband John L sent me your website after learning of our new experience around this life threatening disease. Thank you for your movement and continued efforts around food allergen awareness!
Thanks
Pamela
Kelly,
Just looked at one of your cookbooks briefly. Do you have recipes that are Gluten Free?
Thanks
Pamela
I’m just saying Hello! I love your blog and plan on reading more so I am caught up and learn some new things. The reason I’m writing is this: I’m 42 and I have all of the same allergies that your son has, plus a few more. I rarely meet other adults who have what I have and I’ve found that parents are often relieved (and surprised) to see an adult with the allergies that their kids have. You will get him through childhood!! Its super scary, I know. My 5 year old son is also allergic and I can feel the anxiety even as I type that fact.
I fly all over the country for my job. I’m constantly CONSTANTLY talking about my allergies; in planes, in restaurants, etc. and I get tired of it but every time I explain it calmly and logically to someone I feel like the awareness increases.
Good luck to all with allergen-free baking, cooking and living! I’m rooting for all your kids!!!
Jennifer, aka Allergy Queen.
HI! I was refereed to this blog by a friend, we have yet to still take my son to an alergist (as we just had his first reaction yesterday) He is 11 months old and came woke up from his nap with his eyes swollen shut
I hope to find out Monday what caused it and to use this blog to help me cope with him!!
thanks!
Hi Kelly,
I found your baking book at my public library and was thrilled to eat all the baked goods I love! I have a one year old who was diagnosed with peanut, milk, and egg allergies at approximately 5 months of age. Because I am breastfeeding, I have to eliminate these foods from my diet as well as hers. To be honest, I was pretty hungry for a few months as Iearned how to cook to meet our allergy needs as well as my caloric needs as a breastfeeding mom.
I am so comforted by your site..you are thoughtful, and strong, and always looking for the best for your child. You share the worries we all share – how can I keep my child safe and teach her to navigate the social aspects of food allergies? Its very reassuring to hear your story, to know the work you’ve undertaken to educate others, and to hear the results youve achieve in changing school policy! Great work.
Thanks again for teaching me all about allergy friendly baking.
Great blog!
I came across your website while searching for a nut-free bakalava recipe. I am the mom of a treenut allergic child and also a pediatric ear, nose and throat doctor. I have read and understand the frustration of parents writing on your blog about physicians who are either not caring or who have a poor understanding of food allergy. Searching for the right doctor to assist in the care of your allergic child can be a difficult and scary process. There are so many questions that will be raised, and sometimes, it seems, few answers. To these parents, I say- please do not give up hope. There are many doctors across our country who play an active role in the diagnosis and management of people with food allergies. Though the doctor will be important, you, the parent are your child’s best advocate.
I am going to add this website as a link to our site as an additional resource for parents of food allergic children.
I don’t normally watch Martha Stewart but I caught the intro today about the molasses cookies. I can’t tell you how excited I was to see them. A week after my daughter was born we found out that she can’t process milk, egg or nuts that she gets through my Brest milk; needless to say I had to drastically change my diet. While she seems to do mostly ok with foods that have these things cooked into them I am trying hard to avoid them as much as possible. It’s difficult and makes the holidays particularly difficult.
So, thank you for the recipe.
Marian
Kelly,
YOU are amazing! I love your blog and all of your incredible work! Your blog always brings a smile to my face as I truly love hearing about all of your delicious allergy-friendly creations! I too suffered for many, many years and have been to every doctor under the sun (it seems) but I have finally gotten my intolerances under control and I thank you for sharing all of your incredible work.
Keep up the amazing job in 2012!
xoxo
Great site- as a pediatrician and mom of a 4 yr old (diagnosed age 1) with food allergies to egg, peanuts /tree nuts/cashews/almonds/pistachios I can relate to the larger social issues with this diagnosis–it has given me the inspiration to start my own home bakery business for allergen free baked goods–including cupcakes/cookies/muffins etc—I would love to add this blog to my set of resources/links for parents..my site is http://www.my mdcreation.com. I only offer hope and advise parents to work together with their pediatrician/school and pediatric allergist and helping keep their children safe from serious reactions.
Just found your site! Sooooo happy! My son is allergic to milk protein ( whey/casein) , soy, peanuts and eggs…i am happy to find help especially with baking! He will be 2 tomorrow! Thanks!
Just stumbled across your site as we are considering going to the FAAN conference in June in Anaheim, CA. Trying to make it a fun trip, I was thinking Dineyland, etc. My kids are 17 & 13 but never too old. My older daughter has recently (a year ago for the dairy, this November for the wheat) been diagnosed with severe (anaphylactic) dairy and wheat allergies. This pretty much keeps us from eating out so I am pretty scared of traveling unless we get a suite and cook all of our own meals. Sad because she loved to eat out. Any tips from those of you who live it would be quite helpful.
Kelly,
My name is Kari and I am a Mom of 2 in Tx. I happened across your website today when I was looking for places to live that are more “Food Allergy friendly”. This week I have been having a hard time with my sons school. They are complying with my wishes, but not as compassionate as I would like with my son. I was in tears reading about your son and all of the other posts from other parents/food allergy suffers. My son is 10 and what a rocky road it has been. When he was 6 weeks old he had to have surgery for Pyloric Stenosis (Tummy muscle closed to tightly). It seems like after that he did great until he was 5 and had constant Strep Throat and had Surgery again to have his tonsils and adenoids removed. The same year I started suspecting food allergies with beans, nuts, and Soy after he started complaining of a “Crazy Tongue feeling”, and had random spells of vomiting. I had him tested (Blood), and was shocked to find out not only that he was allergic to several foods, but Severly Allergic to Several. We were prescribed an EPI-Pen and have carried it with us since, and I mean EVERYWHERE! I even have Benedryl (4) taped to the sides of the EPI-Pen case. He was also diagnosed with SEVERE Outdoor Allergies as well at this time. (All Weeds, Grasses, Trees, etc) When he was 8 he was diagnosed with A SEVERE LATEX ALLERGY as well after a trip to the dentist. He can have an ANAPHALACTIC reaction just walking into a room with a Balloon, or a Latex Glove, Band Aid, etc). Can you imagine what it is like trying to go thru Security at the Airports for him with the Latex gloves everywhere? Even a routine trip to the Dentist or Pediatrition can be Life Threatening for him. (I take a self made bright RED sign and tape it to the door of the Exam room we are in, after inspecting the room BEFORE he walks into it! You would be shocked how uneducated people in the Medical offices can be about Allergies! ARRHH) My son turned 10 this year and over the Summer began having reactions to Food items that he had never had problems with before. Again, the Allergist ordered testing and after 12 tubes of blood drawn, we were informed that as we suspected, his food allergies had gotten worse, and he also had developed several new ones. Are you ready?
HE CANNOT EAT/DRINK OR TOUCH:
*LENTILS
*SOYBEANS & Soy Protein Isolate
*PEAS
*BEANS-ALL
*SUNFLOWER SEEDS
*SESAME SEEDS
*NUTS- All Tree Nuts and Peanuts
BARLEY
CORN
WHEAT
OAT
MILK
EGGS
PLUMS
PEACHES
NECTARINES
MANGO
HONEY DEW MELON
COCONUT
PINEAPPLE
TOMATO
BANANAS
WATERMELON
APRICOTS
CARROTS
GREEN BEANS
AVOCADOS
EGGPLANT
He is also Deathly Allergic to LAKE BLUE FOOD DYES!
I know, crazy right? So you can imagine how Overwhelmingly excited I am to not only have found your book with recipes for new things (I can alter them if need be), but to also have found others who have experiences and ideas that may help me help my son. Even though he is not Allergic to Gluten, a lot of Gluten Free recipes work for us, since they use Rice instead. SO THANK YOU KELLY for helping me to keep my son alive. It is a day to day project, (sometimes minute to minute!) but I cant imagine not doing everything possible to make his life less stressful and painful!
So, back to my original quest….We currently live in TX, my husband travels around the country for his job, and is based out of a home office. We can move anywhere in the country, but need to be within 1 hour of an airport for when he travels. (and for when I have to run to CA to care for my Mom who has Bone Cancer, which is a whole different story) Is there a place that exists with Great Allergists and Schools for our kids that is not horrifically expensive? With people who live there who have at least heard of Food and Latex Allergies? We would love at least 1 acre and 2000 sq ft. home @ $280,000. or less. For obvious reasons we need to be reasonably close to a good hospital. Right now my Son is 10 and in 5th grade and my daughter is 6 and in 1st grade. (Both in Public Schools, but not thrilled with it.) Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! Thanks again Kelly for doing what you do!
Kelly,
I wanted to thank you so very much for all your hard work. My sister bought me your book as a Christmas present and that’s how I found out about you and your website. My son (20 months) was diagnosed with food allergies at nine months old after having an allergic reaction (the scariest moment of my life). He is allergic to: sesame, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs and also has environmental allergies: ragweed and cats. It is such a scary thing trying to navigate the world with a child who has severe allergies. I have been both pleasantly surprised by people’s compassion and compliance and tremendously disappointed by their annoyance. Thankfully, my son is young and I am currently a stay-at-home mom. But, as time goes on we will have to navigate school, birthday parties, etc. and oh, how I worry. Your website brings me to tears most days – when I hear about children not being protected – and then their are happy tears because I have hope that things are changing. Like you, I hope to be an advocate for all of our precious children with allergies. I believe in the power of strong communities and that we want the same things for all children – that they are safe and cared for. Thank you again for all that you are doing. You are an inspiration – God bless you and your family always!!!