Great Gifts for Kids with Food Allergies

"As Far As I'm Concerned, the Cows Can Keep Their Milk. I'm Allergic to Dairy" and "Peanut Free Princess" are just some of the great slogans you'll find on Bjort (pronounced Bort) & Company's T-shirts, hats, pins and other accessories.

Kelly Harmsen, the founder of Bjort & Company, started the company when her son was diagnosed with a vision problem called Amblyopia(Lazy Eye). To help him wear his eye patch, Kelly created a DVD called "The Eye Patch Kids" with patched puppets singing and dancing to help encourage kids to put on their patches too.

"Soon after I started my company, my son was diagnosed with a peanut/tree nut allergy and since then my niece was diagnosed with a peanut/tree nut allergy too," says Kelly.

She began a line of t-shirts and accessories with food allergy slogans.

Kelly says, "My next project is to make a DVD for kids about food allergies. It's something I'm really passionate about because kids need to be informed."

Check out Kelly's full line.

Check out my website for more information: www.foodallergyassistant.com

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Time to Sign Up- Food Allergy Conference

It's that time of year. FAAN (Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network) is holding a conference in three different locations this spring. I highly recommend going to one, especially helpful for those who are new to food allergy. Take your food allergic child if they're over age 11. Take your food allergic child's grandparent because, trust me, they will "get it" after attending this conference. Send a brochure to your school nurse as they have a special break-out session pertaining to issues at school. For more information, check here.

Check out my website for more information: www.foodallergyassistant.com

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Food Allergies in the Sky

Monday Review will return next Monday, Feb. 2, 2009 with a review of Go Picnic products.

In the meantime, having just returned from a family trip, I've got airlines and food allergy on my mind. There is a movement in Canada (a country that seems to be a step ahead of the US when it comes to food allergies) to request that Canada’s top airlines develop clear, consistent, communicated policies that include measures to prevent dangerous in-flight food allergy reactions. There is a quote about a U.S. study showing that 10 per cent of those with food allergies are having in-flight reactions. It can not be argued that an aircraft presents a unique environment. Medication from an Epi-Pen only lasts 15-20 minutes which would not allow enough time for a plane to land and for help to arrive.

We flew Southwest Airlines last week. They have always handled my son's allergies adequately, although only his peanut allergy is recognized, with no accommodation available for his other food allergies. When we arrive for our flight, we inform the attendant that we are flying with food allergies. We are given two "special passes" labeled peanut allergy- one to go to the flight attendant in the front of the plane and one to be handed to the flight attendant in the back. Peanut snacks are not served on our flight, although the airline is clear that they can not control what passengers bring on-board themselves. Clearly demonstrated when soon after take-off, the man in front of us asked his daughter if she wanted some peanut butter crackers. Ah well- the best laid plans...but, all was fine.

On our return flight, we were even given a pre-boarding pass so we could be first on the plane and could check and wipe down his seating area. Our deal with our son is that he doesn't eat anything on a flight unless it is an open package from which he has already eaten. Nothing new is opened. He's flown many times and we've not had a problem (I'm knocking on wood as I type). For those who are super-sensitive to peanut dust, flying probably wouldn't be an option.

Check this out for more info about the Canadian Airline initiative. They've had 920 people paticipate in their write-in campaign. I'll be the 921st as I believe in the foundation of this plan. Even if you don't live in Canada, consider writing in.

I'll keep you posted. Perhaps something similar in the US would make sense.

Check out my website for more information: www.foodallergyassistant.com

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Planning a Disney World Vacation?

Having just returned from a trip to Orlando's Walt Disney World, I thought I'd pass along some of the ways those helpful Disney folks assist with food allergies:

Check out Frequently Asked Questions about bringing food, epi-pens and medications into the park.
Read this for more specific information about food allergies at Walt Disney World.

If you're planning to visit the parks, send an e-mail to SpecialDiets@DisneyWorld.com for more information about how to plan a stress-free vacation...although you're on your own with long lines and whiny kids!

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Magazines Dedicated to Food Allergy

If you have relatives or friends dealing with food allergies, a magazine subscription may be a welcome gift. There are several magazines on the market that are dedicated to food allergies and will keep those interested "in the know":

Living Without is aimed at people with food allergies and sensitivities. Their mission is to show people they don't need to feel deprived because of their "special lifestyle". This publication is packed with articles, recipes and inspiring stories. Go ahead, click on their two free issue button and send some copies to someone who needs it- maybe even you.

Coping with Allergies and Asthma is not exclusively about food allergies, but there are plenty of food allergy articles within its pages. As we know, many people with food allergies also deal with other allergies and asthma as well.

Allergic Living is also dedicated to those with food allergies, environmental allergies and asthma. Their website offers a forum for folks "to talk" and podcasts with topics ranging from managing your child's food allergy to anaphylaxis to maternal and infant diet and how they relate to food allergies.

And, since we're talking about subscriptions, membership to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network provides a very helpful newsletter with the latest research and advocacy information as well as food re-calls and recipes. Consider giving a membership as a gift. They'll send a special kid's newsletter upon request.

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Monday Review- Mary's Gone Crackers

This Monday Review is brought to you by Mary's Gone Crackers, a manufacturer of wheat and gluten free products. First, I must say, you gotta love the name of the company. Mary Walder created Mary's Gone Crackers when she and her son were forced into a gluten free diet. Having spent nearly a year baking wheat free for my wheat allergic son, I know it is no easy task to create breads, crackers and pretzels without wheat.

Mary began creating gluten and wheat free foods and has moved her business from her kitchen into a 54,000 square foot dedicated facility. That means there's no risk that wheat protein will find its way into your cracker. This is especially critical for those who deal with a serious wheat allergy.

I tried their "Sticks and Twigs" . They resemble a pretzel, but have a bolder flavor. They are nice and crispy and yummy paired with a dip. Mary is adding a cinnamon flavor to the "Sticks and Twigs" line which I think will be a big hit with children who may find the other flavors of chipotle tomato and curry too strong. You should also note that "Sticks & Twigs" are a great source of omega-3s at 550mg per serving. This may be beneficial to those allergic to fish and nuts who are looking to get omega-3's elsewhere.

I also tried several flavors of Mary's crackers which are shaped like a traditional cracker for cheese or other toppings. I tried the herb and caraway flavors and found them to be full of flavor with a crisp cracker texture. If you have friends or relatives who need to avoid wheat or gluten, these crackers make a great addition to your party table. Just keep in mind that for your wheat allergic friends, these crackers can't be mixed on a tray with wheat crackers. We don't want to risk cross-contamination.

You may appreciate, like I do, that Mary's products use organically grown ingredients with no added oils or fats. The company plans to roll out new foods in the near future. I hope to see more "children friendly" products as the current flavors such as onion, black pepper and curry may be a bit much for a young palette. According to a source at Mary's "we do not particularly have any “kid-friendly” products in the works, however we find that many kids like the Original and Onion flavor crackers and the Sea Salt Sticks & Twigs.

Wouldn't it be great if Mary's products would be an option in vending machines so people with food sensitivities or allergies have a safe alternative? I'll keep you posted.

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No Laughing about Food Allergies

I like that Dr. Robert Wood. A favorite speaker at FAAN's (Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network) annual conferences, Dr. Wood is professor of pediatrics and director of pediatric allergy and immunology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and a member of the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network's medical advisory board. Plus he's a nice man who can calmly and effectively talk about food allergies. In a recent opinion piece published in the LA Times, Dr. Wood invites Joel Stein to spend a day in his clinic. Stein, a NY Times columnist, recently angered many when he published an article calling nut allergies a "yuppie invention". Read both articles and the many comments here.

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