Tips for Keeping Your Kids Happy and Healthy When They Have Food Allergies

Some kids have allergies to different foods like nuts. While other are allergic to Gluten in breads, eggs, milk, fish, shell fish, wheat and soy. Sometimes they are in contact with these deadly allergens when we don't even realize they are. Some foods we wouldn't think contain them actually do.

Allergies are caused by an oversensitive immune system. The immune system normally protects the body against harmful substances, such as bacteria and viruses. It reacts to allergens that are harmless and in most people do not cause a reaction.

But in a person with allergies, the immune response releases chemicals, such as histamine's. Which causes itching, swelling, release of mucus, rashes, and a long list of other symptoms, which vary from person to person.

This makes it hard for your family to dine out or even dine with friends. There are things you can do. One thing is if you are dining in a restaurant ask about the ingredients used or explain to them your child has food allergies. If your kids are spending a night with friends be sure to speak with the other child's parents let them know what they can or can not have. The more your involved with your child's friends the safer it is for them.

Here's some great recipes for you to try.

Veal or Chicken Paprika

• Olive oil (to cover bottom of large pot)
• 4-5 cloves of garlic (minced)
• 5 small white onions (minced)
• 3 veal or roasted chicken
• 1/2 cup ketchup optional
• 1/2 zucchini
• 6 baby carrots (or more)
• 3 chopped potatoes (can leave out if you have allergy to starch)
• 1 tsp paprika
• Water (enough to cover meat, and, in another pot, to cook noodles)
• Egg noodles (can find Gluten free in health food stores)
• Butter (or margarine in you have a milk allergy) for noodles, about 1 tbsp

Add olive oil to a large pot and then brown the beef bones at medium heat.

Add garlic and onion.

Add water to cover, and ketchup.

Add vegetables and chicken.

Cover and simmer for 90 minutes.

Taste frequently and add salt, pepper, and paprika to taste.

In another pot, bring water to a boil and cook noodles to taste (should be slightly chewy).

Strain water from noodles and toss noodles with butter or butter substitute.

Put noodles on dish or in a bowl (to serve from the table) and cover with stew mixture.

Dairy Free Frosting

You can get a non-dairy butter substitute and use juice in place of milk in a traditional butter cream. The vegan bakery uses a soy based butter. Just whip it up with powdered sugar, adding juice (like orange) for liquid and you can add cocoa powder to make it chocolate.
You can also use butter flavored Crisco in the same manner.
Alternately you can make a 7 minute frosting:
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup boiling water
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
3 unbeaten egg whites
food coloring (optional)

Directions
1. Mix sugar, cream of tartar, vanilla and egg whites.
2. Add boiling water.
3. Beat on high until mixture forms peaks (like meringue) approx 5-7 minutes.

Allergen Free Cake

# Ingredients
1 1/2 cup flour (see below for gluten free options)
3 Tbsp cocoa powder (optional)
1 cup sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp vinegar
5 Tbsp oil
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup water
# Instructions
Preheat oven to 350F.

Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix thoroughly.

Mix wet ingredients in a separate bowl and stir to combine.

Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until you get a smooth batter. Do not beat.

Pour into greased and floured pan (8" square or 9" round) or 12 cupcakes. Bake in oven until tests done - about 35 minutes for cake, about 20 minutes for cupcakes.
Substitute 1 3/4 cups Gluten Free Flour Mix for wheat flour. Add 1 tsp xantham gum.

Chewy Pumpkin Cookies

# Ingredients
2 cups gluten-free flour blend
1/2 cup oat flour*
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp xanthan gum
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups canned pumpkin
1 Tbsp Egg Replacer® mixed with 2 Tbsp water
1 tsp vanilla
# Instructions
In large bowl, combine all ingredients. Stir until completely mixed.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Place spoonfuls of batter on ungreased cookie sheet, 12-15 to a sheet.

Bake 18-20 minutes
# Comments
# Substitutions
*To avoid gluten, use gluten-free oats or replace oat flour with additional gluten-free flour blend.

Recipes provided by www.kidswithfoodallergies.org

Crunchy Granola Bars (makes 30)- Gluten Free

Use the crumbs of these bars for a yogurt parfait or chop up the whole batch for a delicious granola cereal. Try adding one cup into your favorite quick bread mix! The trick to making granola bars that stay together is to leave the bars untouched until totally cool. A friend of mine whose children love granola bars suggests leaving these covered on the counter overnight to make it easier to cut.

* 1/2 cup (125 grams) butter
* 1/3 cup (70 grams) sugar or honey
* 1 tablespoon light corn syrup or maple syrup
* 4 cups (400 grams) oats or buckwheat flakes
* 1/2 cup (75 grams) raisins (or favorite dried fruit)
* 1/3 (40 grams) chopped nuts (optional)

1. Lightly coat 8-inch square cake pan with cooking spray.
2. 2. Place the butter, sugar, and syrup in a pan and cook over low heat, stirring until the mixture is well combined.
3. Remove the pan from heat and stir in the oats until coated. Add the fruit and nuts; mix well.
4. Turn into pan and press down firmly.
5. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 30 minutes. Cool for 30 minutes and then place in refrigerator. When completely cool, cut with a knife into bars.

Dairy-Free Variation: Use margarine.

Low-Sugar Variation: Omit all sugars, use 1/3 cup sugar-free maple syrup.

Nut-Free Variation: Omit nuts.

Recipe provided by www.parenting.com

There are lots of recipes available for kids with allergies so don't think they can't have sweet treats from time to time because they can. With a little searching you can find them. In researching this article I found lots of recipe ideas for any course meal. from appetizers to deserts.

Another resource for recipes would be a dietitian or your child doctor. Don't hesitate to ask others with the same health issue you'll be surprised at the help you will get just by asking.

You can also join groups on line for tips and recipes. By searching you will find more help.