Who can resist this time of the year when it comes to Girl Scout cookies?  Let me tell you…it is dangerous out there.  These tenacious girl scouts, dressed in green will find you no matter where you try and hide:  grocery stores, parks….no place is really safe.

If you have food allergies and you are allergic to Wheat or Soy then you really have no other option but to avoid Girl Scout cookies all together.  However, if you are allergic to Milk, Egg, Coconut or Peanuts, there may be some great cookie options available to you.  The chart below contains the complete 2012 Girl Scout cookie lineup: Thanks-A-Lot, Shout Outs, Lemonades, Shortbread, Thin Mints, Peanut Butter Patties, Caramel deLites and  Peanut Butter Sandwich.

As with all food allergies, it is important that you ALWAYS check the ingredients on the package at the time of purchase.  However, based on our own experience this year (2012), our daughter who has milk allergies has an exciting new option in the form of Girl Scouts Thin Mints cookies.  In years past, Thin Mints were off limits to our daughter because of the milk in the recipe….but this year the milk is gone.  Not only is she officially a Girl Scout, but she can also enjoy the fruits of her labor in the form of a few tasty cookies.

So, when that neighborhood girl dressed in green vest comes knocking on your front door over the next few weeks, take a second too review the incredients for yourself.  You might be pleasantly surprised in Girl Scout cookie choices available to you this year.

Click here for the latest information on Girl Scout Cookies incredients or to find out more about Girl Scout Cookies, click here.

The  Better Parents of Kids with Food Allergies Support Group is very excited to welcome Dr. Mark Sugar, MD to our February 2012 support group meeting.  Dr. Sugar, of ALLERGY & ASTHMA ASSOCIATES OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA is board-certified by the American Board of Allergy & Immunology, American Board of Pediatrics.  Dr. Sugar has agreed to come and visit with our support group on Tuesday, Feburary 21, 2012 at 6:30 PM at Saddleback Church (room 407) to speak and answer any food allergy questions by attending parents.  Please note that there is no childcare available during our meetings and all parents are welcome.

This is a amazing opportunity to come and ask questions with regards to your children’s food allergies.  Dr. Sugar brings more than 25 years experience in the area of allergy-immunology and is currently the medical advisor for the support group.

The Better Parents of Children with Food Allergies is a Christian-based support group that is designed to support parents of kids who suffer from food allergies. Food allergies in children can come in many forms. Children can be allergic to one or more of the following: eggs, milk, peanuts, shellfish, soy, tree nuts, fish, wheat and other types of foods. This support group is designed to be a safe place where you can come and share your fears with other parents that understand what you are going through.

The support group meets on the third Tuesday of every month at Saddleback church and you can find directions by going here. Meetings start at 6:30 pm in Room 407 and last until about 8:00 pm. The campus is well lit and has plenty of parking. We hope that you will come and join us for our next meeting.

To join our mailing list, please click here. If you have any questions, please e-mail us at: [email protected] or contact us by phone at: (949) 229-1110.

Who can resist this time of the year when it comes to Girl Scout cookies?  Let me tell you…it is dangerous out there.  These tenacious girl scouts, dressed in green will find you no matter where you try and hide:  grocery stores, parks….no place is really safe.

If you have food allergies and you are allergic to Wheat or Soy then you really have no other option but to avoid Girl Scout cookies all together.  However, if you are allergic to Milk, Egg, Coconut or Peanuts, there may be some great cookie options available to you.  The chart below contains the complete 2012 Girl Scout cookie lineup: Thanks-A-Lot, Shout Outs, Lemonades, Shortbread, Thin Mints, Peanut Butter Patties, Caramel deLites and  Peanut Butter Sandwich.

As with all food allergies, it is important that you ALWAYS check the ingredients on the package at the time of purchase.  However, based on our own experience this year (2012), our daughter who has milk allergies has an exciting new option in the form of Girl Scouts Thin Mints cookies.  In years past, Thin Mints were off limits to our daughter because of the milk in the recipe….but this year the milk is gone.  Not only is she officially a Girl Scout, but she can also enjoy the fruits of her labor in the form of a few tasty cookies.

So, when that neighborhood girl dressed in green vest comes knocking on your front door over the next few weeks, take a second too review the incredients for yourself.  You might be pleasantly surprised in Girl Scout cookie choices available to you this year.

Click here for the latest information on Girl Scout Cookies incredients or to find out more about Girl Scout Cookies, click here.

I had an interesting conversation with my wife the other day on the topic of Food Allergies.  It is interesting because every parent that engages in the daily battle of managing food allergies for their child is an amazing Hero in my opinion.  These are the parents that wake up every day and help their kids manage the not-so-wonderful world of food allergies.  And let me also make it clear that this article is not meant to discount or discourage those families with suffer from Celiac Disease, EOE, Gluten-Free or other food-type disorders.  We are talking about life-threatening food allergies.  For us parents battling the Food Allergy war, we can clearly understand the daily battles that ensue with your children and the difficult choices that have to be made daily as your kids choose was to eat several times throughout the day.  It is an emotional battle that occurs every day.

But one of the biggest gripes I have with Food Allergies is the issue with the name itself….Food Allergy and here is the basic problem.  The name itself does not properly communicate the incredible risk of life that is involved with every meal.  How many times as a parent have you heard the words “I also get an upset stomach after drinking milk” after you have explained to the stranger at the food counter that your child has a food allergy.  As a parent, I would love to have the issues of Diarrhea, Indigestion, Nausea or Vomiting.  I would absolutely welcome any of these side effects over the fear of immediately stop-breathing symptom.  Having different symptoms would be like a SPRING DAY filled with butterflies, deer, bacon and harps playing music in the background (okay, maybe the harps would be replaced with a Ukulele)….but you get the idea.  It would be amazing.

But no.  When your child has a life-threatening food allergy (and in the cases of most of the people that get to visit our support groups we are talking multiple life-threatening food allergies), this is not the case.  It can lead to DEATH without intervention.  It can happen QUICKLY.  It can happen without major visual symptoms.  Close your eyes for a moment and imagine yourself at one of your favorite restaurants looking through the menu.  As you scan through the items of that menu, most of the items have a little icon next to them with the words “Eating this will lead to DEATH”.  What would that be like?  Would you still want to eat there?  Would you trust the food that arrives on your plate?  Now imagine that it is not you but your child.  Walk through the above questions again and that is what these parents go through multiple times per day:  at the grocery store, at coffee shop, at home, at Grandmas, at School. etc. etc. etc.

Welcome to the very-difficult-world of what it is like for a parent of a kid with food allergies.  This is the daily routine that they face during every meal, through every day, with their children.  What if you have two children with food allergies (like many of us do)….then the very-difficult-world is multiplied exponentially.  It is the simple process of eliminating foods from their kid’s diets that will lead to death.  It is a tremendous burden and a thankless job.  It is a job that is done every day by thousands of parents (mainly moms and caregivers) each and every day.  But as we go through this minefield, we must constantly remind those around us at what is at stake for our children.  This is serious business with serious consequences.

It was interesting because I was listening to some of the recent horrific news about some of the recent attacks in France.  Absolutely terrible and our prayers go out to those families impacted.  As I listened, there was a story of one of the FBI officials talking about it and how they prepare for presidential speeches and events.  Simply said, the FBI needs to get things right 100% of the time.  There can be no mistakes.  This resonated with me that the same thing happens 50 times a day by every parent with a kid with food allergy.  They can never be wrong….ever.  Not even once.

So this leads me back to my original conversation with my wife on the topic of Food Allergies.  We need to come up with something better for this disease.  If it was called “INSTANT DEATH DISEASE FROM FOOD” or “MY KID WILL STOP BREATHING IF I EAT THAT DISEASE” or anything that instantly communicates the extreme importance of it then I would be complete favor of that.  Think about how much easier the conversations at school would be with those parents that insist that it is their right to bring a PB&J sandwich into the classroom.  The uncomfortable conversations at family gatherings where some relative insists on putting out the bowl of life-ending nuts on the table for everyone (but your child) to enjoy.  It the label for “Food Allergy” was just somehow different and could immediately described the emotion and the importance of the subject.

So if you are a parent without a kid with food allergy and you hear those words Food Allergy, please remember what is at stake for these parents.  It is not fatigue or indigestion that is at stake.  It is a child’s life that can be taken very quickly with the simple ingestion of a harmless looking cookie.

For now, I would continue to refer to Food Allergy as “A Life Threatening Food Allergy” until someone comes up with a better name.

I do not normally make a big deal about Food Allergy Meetings but we are very fortunate to have Linda Coss come and speak at our Food Allergy Group tonight.  You will not want to miss this opportunity.

Linda Coss has been a pioneer in the food allergy world, a speaker at the 2016 Food Allergy Bloggers Conference in November and is the author of four books:  75 Marketing Tips to Grow Your Business; How to Manage Your Child’s Life-threatening Food Allergies: Practical Tips for Everyday Life; What’s to Eat? The Milk-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free Food Allergy Cookbook; and What Else is to Eat? The Dairy-, Egg- and Nut-Free Food Allergy Cookbook.

Linda will be speaking on the topic of “Raising a Child Who Takes Life-Threatening Food Allergies in Stride”

As parents, we’re all striving to raise happy, well-adjusted children. Most parents will tell you that trying to achieve this goal can be a real challenge. And that’s without overlaying the challenges that we face as parents of children with life-threatening food allergies!

In this 20- to 25-minute talk, nationally-known food allergy author Linda Coss discusses how to handle daily food allergy management in such a way that your child grows up feeling completely comfortable with the reality of his or her allergies, accepts the situation without serious emotional trauma, and turns out “well-adjusted” in spite of it all. It’s a 10-step approach, and it all starts with the recognition that you, as the parent, set the tone and teach by example.

Linda will be available to answer questions and join in our food allergy discussion.  As always, new people are always welcome and we cannot provide any child care  Our meeting will begin at 6:30 PM in the Ministry Office 2 building.

To find the Church Office please visit the website:  https://www.ocfoodallergy.com/when-we-meet/

For detailed directions from Google Maps, please visit here:  https://goo.gl/Wvr27z

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In September 2014 , the FAACT (Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team) will be holding their first event at the Disneyland Hotel.  The conference is designed for those with food allergies as full day of food allergy education.  The conference covers all aspects of food allergies, from food allergy management, food diet, best selling food allergy authors and food allergy research.    The full day event will be held on Saturday, September 13, 2014 at the Disneyland Hotel.

The cost for the conference is $150 for adults/guests (for Non-FAACT Patrons) and $100 for teens.  FAACT Patrons can attend at a discounted rate.   There is also a discounted Disneyland Hotel rate of $184 per night for attendees who register before Augugst 13, 2014.  More information can be found at the FAACT website.

• FAACT Conference Flyer
• FAACT Conference Schedule

About the Food Allergy Conference
FAACT’s annual Food Allergy Conferences provide full day of educational sessions led by leading medical professionals and food allergy advocates. The conferences offer education and support for parents, grandparents, school personnel, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and teens. Each conference will include specialized breakout sessions, including a session specifically for adults who have food allergies. Keynote speakers will be members of FAACT’s Medical Advisory Board presenting on food allergy and anaphylaxis management, as well as the latest food allergy research. There will be sessions for parents, nurses, school personnel, as well as a session about the psychosocial aspect of living with food allergies, restaurant training workshops, baking demo sessions with leading allergy cookbook authors, and much, much more. Teens and Teen Siblings (ages 11-18) will be together the entire day, sharing experiences, participating in team-building activities, and learning from leading healthcare professionals and advocates.

For more information on the conference, please visit FAACT at:  http://www.foodallergyawareness.org/programs/FAACTs-Annual-Food-Allergy-Conference/locations_and_hotel_information-17/

For more information on becoming a FAACT Patron, please visit:  http://www.foodallergyawareness.org/patron/

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Orange County, Food Allergy Awareness Week is upon us.  In 1998, the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (now FARE), started Food Allergy Awareness Week to help educate families, schools, about the dangers of food allergies and how important it is keep our children safe.

Food Allergy is a real medical condition that impacts 1 in 13 kids.  If you think about this in terms of Orange County schools, that is on average 2 kids in every classroom.  To help spread the word, FARE has a number of different materials that are extremely useful in educating others on the serious nature of a food allergy condition.

Here are just some of the materials:

Posters

Brochures

​For more information, please visit FARE at http://www.foodallergy.org/food-allergy-awareness-week/activities

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Come learn what you need to know about the 504 Plans

What exciting news we have for the month of August and just in time for back to school.  For those of you who have been attending for a while, everyone knows that you cannot talk about food allergy recipes without talking about Kelly Rudnicki’s book, The Food Allergy Mama’s Baking Book: Great Dairy-, Egg-, and Nut-Free Treats for the Whole Family”  As blessings for us go, Kelly has moved from the suburbs of Chicago to Orange County, where the climate for food allergies is apparently drastically different then on the east coast.

Graciously, Kelly has agreed to come speak with us at our August 21 support group meeting, just in time for school, in order to share her experiences with the importance of 504 plans.  In one of her most recent blog posts, Kelly writes about some of her own experiences with life in Southern California and what we as parents should now.  This is going to be a very exciting evening to come and listen to what Kelly has to say on such an important topic as it pertains to parents of kids with food allergies.

Once again, mark your calendars today, get a sitter, bring a friend and don’t miss this wonderful opportunity.

Our next meeting will be:

• Date: Tuesday, August 21, 2012 – (One Week Away)
• Location: Room 407
• Venue: Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, CA
• Time: 6:30 to 8:00 PM (please arrive a few minutes early so we can start on time)
• Who:  Parents only (no childcare provided)
• https://www.ocfoodallergy.com/when-we-meet/

About the Better Parents of Kids with Food Allergies Support Group

We are a Christian-based support group that is designed to support parents of kids who suffer from food allergies. This support group is designed to be a safe place where you can come and share your fears with other parents that understand what you are going through. If you are a parent that lives in Orange County, CA, we hope that you will come and join our next meeting. We do not offer childcare and the group is designed for adults. We meet the third Tuesday of every month at 6:30 PM at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA. Read More

Wanted to share this video with you that I had run across YouTube.  Great video to explain the passion, fear and concern that comes with dealing with food allergies from the perspective of children and parents.

The video is called “Food Allergy: A Family Perspective” and was provided by Food Allergy Initiative (FAIUSA.org).  In the video, Chicago families share their experiences of living with food allergies and coping with life threatening reactions.

Here is the video with the transcript below:

Kid:  “I have an allergy”

Kid:  “I am allergic to peanuts and tree nuts”

Kid:  “I felt really sick”

Kid:  “Eggs, dairy”

Kid:  “It feels like someone is choking me.”

Kid:  “Milk, wheat”

Kid:  “I felt like I was in the water and I couldn’t breathe”

Kid:  “Rye, garlic.”

Kid:  “I felt like I was being strangled.”

Kid:  “All fish but salmon, halibut and sword fish.”

Kid:  “You can’t breathe.  It’s really hard to breathe.”

Kid:  “Um, that’s it.”

Kid:  “Like how your leg falls asleep like that is what happened to my throat and then it would start closing up.”

Man:  “He bit into the cookie and we did not think twice about it because we did not know what food allergies were at the time.  We heard of them, but vaguely, but really did not have any concept or understanding of what it really meant.”

Woman:  “At that point, I was just thinking…that I needed to be sure that she didn’t stop breathing because it was happening so fast.  And I was….really scared because we were in our own home and we had eaten food that we had eaten a number of times in the past and we believed it to be safe.”

Man:  “We would have been on that flight for four hours and it certainly does not take four hours for anaphylaxis to kick in and the worse that could happen is that they cannot breathe any more.

Woman:  “We called the doctor and he said explain to me what happened. And I told him, you know, we were at a brunch, etcetera, etcetera and I said, ‘I don’t think this is related but now he seems to be getting a cold, like he is coughing and hacking…’  And there was silence on the end of the line and he said ‘where are you?’  And I said, ‘well, we are almost home.  We are at 13^th and Michigan.’  And he said, ‘I want you to listen very carefully.  And um.  He said, ‘I want you to go to the nearest hospital.  Don’t stop at any red lights.  Just beep your horn and go through.  Do you know where the nearest hospital is?’  And I said, ‘Yea.’  And so we went to Northwestern and although that is our hospital we had never been to the emergency room.

Woman:  “I play that day over in my head and I….thank God Mattie kept asking me for that cake because I think to myself, if we were five more minutes and they were up in that airplane, I don’t know”

Kid:  “If you are not prepared for an allergy, it’s not going to end up good.”

Man:  “When I was a kid, I felt like I was the only one who had an allergy.  Nowadays, it is so prevalent.”

Woman:  “Something seems wrong, when you go into schools and every single class in the school has a child with a food allergy.”

Woman:  “The difference from 8 years ago today is tremendous and I don’t think really people understand the momentum that food allergies have right now.  And if you think about where we will be in 10 years if we don’t have a cure…it’s scary.”

Man:  “A cure would be the weight of the world lifted off his shoulders.”

Kid:  “I would like just have so much more fun, if I had the cure.”

Man:  “You know with that cure, at the end of the day, doesn’t relieve you of every worry, but it would relieve us and other parents that have kids with food allergies with a huge burden.”

Woman:  “I have a lot of hope that if we get everyone together.  I am absolutely conviction that we have the power to just really change the course for our children.”

Kid:  “I could go to parties and not worry about, like what I am eating and not have to be so careful with everything.”

Man:  “To know that, we don’t have to worry.  That he doesn’t have to worry more important than us, would just be a great thing.”

Woman:  “I feel like we are just scratching the surface there are so many families to find.  And I think if we can just all act together, I feel there is absolutely no reason that we can’t cure it.  So I just want to find those families everywhere.  If we put our efforts together and make this happen.

The original video can be found on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab6CXdf48as

I think it is worth noting that the one thing that is common in all of the above families is a sense of fear.  Fear is such a strong emotion but we need to remember to put our trust in the One above.

Deuteronomy 31:6 

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. 

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Who can resist this time of the year when it comes to Girl Scout cookies?  Let me tell you…it is dangerous out there.  These tenacious girl scouts, dressed in green will find you no matter where you try and hide:  grocery stores, parks….no place is really safe.

If you have food allergies and you are allergic to Wheat or Soy then you really have no other option but to avoid Girl Scout cookies all together.  However, if you are allergic to Milk, Egg, Coconut or Peanuts, there may be some great cookie options available to you.  The chart below contains the complete 2012 Girl Scout cookie lineup: Thanks-A-Lot, Shout Outs, Lemonades, Shortbread, Thin Mints, Peanut Butter Patties, Caramel deLites and  Peanut Butter Sandwich.

As with all food allergies, it is important that you ALWAYS check the ingredients on the package at the time of purchase.  However, based on our own experience this year (2012), our daughter who has milk allergies has an exciting new option in the form of Girl Scouts Thin Mints cookies.  In years past, Thin Mints were off limits to our daughter because of the milk in the recipe….but this year the milk is gone.  Not only is she officially a Girl Scout, but she can also enjoy the fruits of her labor in the form of a few tasty cookies.

So, when that neighborhood girl dressed in green vest comes knocking on your front door over the next few weeks, take a second too review the incredients for yourself.  You might be pleasantly surprised in Girl Scout cookie choices available to you this year.

Click here for the latest information on Girl Scout Cookies incredients or to find out more about Girl Scout Cookies, click here.

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Last year, we learned that the FAAN conference was going to be at the Grand Californian at Disneyland.  For those of you not familiar with FAAN, FAAN is one of the most trusted source of information, programs, and resources related to food allergy and anaphylaxis.  For many years, they have been doing FAAN conferences, but most of them have been held on the East Coast.  Last year they decided to host a conference in Orange County and my wife was able to attend.

First off, if you have a child with Food Allergies you will not want to miss this conference being held on June 9, 2012.  I encourage you to view the conference details and decide for yourself, but the content presented at the event is invaluable.  Our OCFoodAllergy.com support group has benefited tremendously with the content from the FAAN conference.  The information is completely current and there are plenty of people to connect with people to answer questions.  The cost of the conference is completely affordable at a price of $125 per person (even if you are not a FAAN member).  FAAN members pay $100 per person.  You can find out more conference details at the FAAN website.

But aside from the amazing content at the conference itself, the most amazing part is that you get to stay at the Disneyland Grand Californian for the MOST AMAZING PRICE EVER!!!  If you have never been here, it is absolutely amazing.  There are really (3) Disneyland hotel properties:  Paradise Pier, the Disneyland Hotel and the Disneyland Grand Californian.  This is an amazing property with tons of things for the kids.  Even if you do not step one inch into Disneyland, there is plenty to do with all of the pools, Downtown Disney, etc.  And once again the best part…the price.

So what is this amazing price?  $179 per night.  This is truly an amazing price and in my opinion, a once in a lifetime opportunity to stay at this resort at this price.  For some comparison, just check the Disneyland website to see what it costs for a Friday/Saturday night stay at this resort during summer.  It works out to $460 per night (see the image below).  So you really only have until May 9th to book this…so please do not miss out.  You get a mini-vacation with the family and a great conference packed with the latest food allergy information for you and your family.

Are we going?

Absolutely.  Last year we missed the “cuttoff” for the event and had to stay a Paradise Pier.  We still had an amazing time…but we ended up spending just as much at a less-desirable hotel.  The plan for our family is to stay at the hotel on Friday and Saturday nights.  On Saturday, my wife will attend the FAAN conference for the full day, while I drag the kids off to the many pools.   In fact, we probably will not even step foot in Disneyland that weekend because there is so much to do at the hotel.  The bottom line…is that this a great event at an amazing price.  You can even park “2 cars” with a single parking fee.

Even if you cannot afford to stay at the hotel or if there is a conflict with something else…try to make a point to get at least “one of you” to the conference…as the content is just that good and valuable.

If you do end up staying at the hotel…make sure that you plan a bit on the “food” side as I am not sure what is available for food choices at Downtown Disney.  The Rainforest Cafe is pretty good when requesting “specialized meals” for food…so if you decide to make the trip, make sure you do a little homework ahead of time.

Also…if you are going,  send us an e-mail or leave us a message so that we can connect up at the event ([email protected]).

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It makes me sad when I read articles like The Huffington Post’s Article, “Food Allergies Much Less Prevalent Than Claims Of Food Allergies, According To Expert”.   The article points out that if someone makes a claim that they have food allergies that you have the right to “question them” to make sure their claims are “medically valid.”  This article, along with others , fail to miss the daily battle that parents with kids with food allergies go through daily.  This is a serious “life or death” situation that we get to experience with our kids daily…over something as innocent as a peanut, a glass of milk or a even a cookie.

As a parent of two kids with two different life threatening food allergies…..the routine is oddly familar to parents who have kids with food allergies.  You get up in the morning and you pray that the Lord will give your child protection and a shield from coming into contact with anything that might send them to the hospital.  This is not a game we play.  This is not a way to get “preferential treatment” or “special” treatment.  This is serious stuff we are dealing with.

For those of you who have kids without food allergies…just close your eyes and image a make believe situation with me for a second.  You send you kid to school to sit at a table where everyone is eating poison.  Arsenic….cyanide….all the bad ones.  However, you get to send your child into this environment every day…..without your assistance.  You send them to sit a table where everyone around them is enjoying poison that does not hurt them…but would definitely hurt your child.  You hope that they do not come into contact with anyone.  Would it be reasonable to just ask people to wipe their hands after a meal?  How about a mandatory trip to the bathroom to wash-up?  But this unimaginable environment exists for kids everyday who suffer from food allergies.  This is what it is like.

And from another perspective, there is the battle of understanding and tollerance.  Most of the time teachers are accodating and understanding.  Sometimes they are not.  Many schools understand your medical condition and accomodate your requests…..and many schoold will not.  Parents of kids in your class will hopefully understand and be compassionate….and sometimes parents may feel “put out” because they are unable to pack peanut butter in their child’s lunch.

And this is where the Huffington Post article exacerbates the problem.  We need more understanding….not more questions “whether our medical claims are valid.”  Our children just want a safe environment to learn without the constant fear of coming into contact with things that are going to send them to the hospital.  

Think about it another way,  Would you ever consider asking someone who says they have “cancer” to “medically validate” their claim?  How about someone with ADD?  How about someone with Down’s or Parkinsons?  The answer is obviously…of course not.  Why would we?  It would seem ludicrous….and just as ludicrous as asking someone with food allergies if their claim is “medically valid.” 

Many people do suffer from food intollerances, which can be severely challenging and difficult….but because they do not involve the immune system….not life-threatening. The parents who attend our meetings have kids with life-threatening food allergies.  According to FAAN:

What are the common symptoms of a food allergy reaction?
Symptoms may include one or more of the following: a tingling sensation in the mouth, swelling of the tongue and the throat, difficulty breathing, hives, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness, and even death. Symptoms typically appear within minutes to two hours after the person has eaten the food to which he or she is allergic.

The two takeaways from this story are simple.  Point number 1.  If you or your child suffers from food allergies, put your trust in the Lord above for protection (The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him; Psalm 28:7.)  And point number 2.  If you do not have food allergies, but you happen to someday cross paths with someone that tells you (or their child) suffers from food allergies…please do not ask them to “medically validate” their claim.  The last thing they need in their day is to convince you that their very real and very scary “medical condition” is true.  

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Welcome to 2012 everyone.  We hope that you had a great and safe Christmas holidays with all of the food gatherings.  Unfortunately, we are not going to be able to meet in January due to other conflicts that week…however, we are very exciting about some of the things we have planned in 2012.

The next Saddleback Church Parents of Kids with Food Allergies Support Group meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 21, 2012 and you will not want to miss it.  Our goal is to have an allergist come to our meeting to help answer any questions that we may have on food allergies.  If you are interested in attending this event, please make sure that you sign up so that can know how many people to expect for this special event.

Once again….no meeting in January 2012….but a special meeting in February 2012 (that we want to know if you are coming or not).

Lastly, just a reminder that the OCFoodAllergy Forum is now active and people are posting to comments.  We definitely encourage you to check it, register and be a part of the conversation.  You can find more information by going here:  https://www.ocfoodallergy.com/forum/

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In order to better serve The Saddleback Church Parents of Children with Food Allergies Support Group and the Orange County area, a new food allergy forum has been added to the OCFoodallergy.com website.    There have been countless time that people from our support group meetings have asked or requested information from a meeting but we have never had a great place to post this information.  Additonally, we know that it is extremely difficult as parents to attend all of the meetings so we wanted to build a place where this information could be available.

Lastly, we did not want the conversations to just end after every meeting.  Dealing with food allergies is a 24×7 committment as a parent and we wanted to build a place where these conversations could continue to grow over time.  We have also added a forum specifically for “prayer requests.”  It is no  accident that the name of our support group is officially The Saddleback Church Parents of Children with Food Allergies Support Group.  Our support group is based on a belief on the fact that our Lord is a loving God who cares about His children…and wants to protect us.  If you live in Orange County and do not yet have a church home, we definitely invite you to investigate all of the great teaching and support that is available through Saddleback Church.

As a reminder, registration for the forum is FREE.  To view the forum, you can click here or to register please click here.

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It is interesting when you have kids with food allergies because you come to realize that your semi-controllable ritual is what you rely on most in your day.  You live your life like a scientist in that you want things that “work” and do not cause “allergic reactions” to become the norm.  You want things to remain the same from day to day.  Take something as simple as Almond Milk.  For those of us with kids with food allergies to milk (and not almonds), the Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Unsweetened Vanilla almond milk has been a staple in our home for almost 8 years now.  After trying a number of different “non-milk” alternatives, our family settled on the almond milk product.  And honestly, so did I.

It is actually a great milk substitute for a number of reasons but one of the biggest ones is that it has 0 grams of sugar.  This is a big one because if you are required to substitute one product (low-fat milk) for another (almond milk), your hope is that you would have a healthier solution than your initial choice.  And for our family, it was definitely that.

Now fast forward to the beginning of September 2016.  On a typical Sunday afternoon Costco run, as we are checking off our Costco list of essentials for the week, we head down the aisle that would normally carry the Almond Breeze almond milk.  After searching a bit and then re-checking the end-caps to see if it had moved, it was no where to be found.  They were out….or so I thought.

After we checked out, I went over to speak with one of the managers at a terminal and I was shocked to learn that they were not carrying the brand any more.  WHAT?  HOW COULD THIS BE?  After all these years….no more.  Being the persistent person that I am, the next day I reached out to Blue Diamond and sent an email.  Additionally I sent an email to Costco.  And then, I received back the bad news I was hoping to not receive.

Thank you for contacting Blue Diamond Growers. We appreciate your feedback and sorry that Almond Breeze is no longer at your Costco. Unfortunately this was a decision made by Costco. We will certainly pass along your comments to our Marketing and Sales team that work directly with Costco. You can also help us by going to the Members desk and requesting the Store Manager to please bring back Almond Breeze. Meanwhile I can send you some money saving coupons for your efforts and dedication to Almond Breeze.

ARGGG!  This is a bad dream.  Does this mean that as a food allergy parent I am actually going to have to shop at Whole Foods (sorry…..but no offense) to buy another “specialty” item that is going to add another large expense to my monthly bill.  In an act of desperation, I did notice that there was another “almond milk” product that Costco was carrying….but after bringing it home, my wife quickly pointed out the fact that it was “non-vanilla” and contained “a ton” of sugar.  This would have to go back.

Now fast forward to today.  After a last minute Costco run this evening, and after checking out, I decided to speak with a manager again about the almond milk situation.  My plan was simple.  If I could find a location that had the product, I would just drive there and buy several hundred dollars worth of almond milk.  Why not?  It has a huge shelf life (usually more than 1 year) and if it meant that I was going to save a lot of money then I would be completely justified in my decision (even though I would most likely hear a long speech from my wife on my insane decision).

The manager types at his computer a moment to tell me what I already knew.  The Blue Diamond brand was no more…but then he said something interesting.  He said that there was an “alternative” Kirkland product.  Huh?  What did that mean?  So, I politely asked if he could show me what he was referring to and guess what.  There it was.   In a NEW BOX.  A NEW product I have not seen before.  A KIRKLAND REPLACEMENT for the Blue Diamond Product.

And now….Thank You Costco.  You have just launched “Organic Unsweetened Non-Dairy Vanilla Almond Milk).  When you look at the packaging it is clear that it is being marketed for the Smoothie market….but that does not matter to me.  It is the same package….at the same price.  Thank you Costco.  Thank you Costco.  Thank you Costco.

As you can see by the photos, the product seems to be identical.  Next time you are at Costco, if you have been searching high and low for the almond milk, the love for Costco has returned.

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I had an interesting conversation with my wife the other day on the topic of Food Allergies.  It is interesting because every parent that engages in the daily battle of managing food allergies for their child is an amazing Hero in my opinion.  These are the parents that wake up every day and help their kids manage the not-so-wonderful world of food allergies.  And let me also make it clear that this article is not meant to discount or discourage those families with suffer from Celiac Disease, EOE, Gluten-Free or other food-type disorders.  We are talking about life-threatening food allergies.  For us parents battling the Food Allergy war, we can clearly understand the daily battles that ensue with your children and the difficult choices that have to be made daily as your kids choose was to eat several times throughout the day.  It is an emotional battle that occurs every day.

But one of the biggest gripes I have with Food Allergies is the issue with the name itself….Food Allergy and here is the basic problem.  The name itself does not properly communicate the incredible risk of life that is involved with every meal.  How many times as a parent have you heard the words “I also get an upset stomach after drinking milk” after you have explained to the stranger at the food counter that your child has a food allergy.  As a parent, I would love to have the issues of Diarrhea, Indigestion, Nausea or Vomiting.  I would absolutely welcome any of these side effects over the fear of immediately stop-breathing symptom.  Having different symptoms would be like a SPRING DAY filled with butterflies, deer, bacon and harps playing music in the background (okay, maybe the harps would be replaced with a Ukulele)….but you get the idea.  It would be amazing.

But no.  When your child has a life-threatening food allergy (and in the cases of most of the people that get to visit our support groups we are talking multiple life-threatening food allergies), this is not the case.  It can lead to DEATH without intervention.  It can happen QUICKLY.  It can happen without major visual symptoms.  Close your eyes for a moment and imagine yourself at one of your favorite restaurants looking through the menu.  As you scan through the items of that menu, most of the items have a little icon next to them with the words “Eating this will lead to DEATH”.  What would that be like?  Would you still want to eat there?  Would you trust the food that arrives on your plate?  Now imagine that it is not you but your child.  Walk through the above questions again and that is what these parents go through multiple times per day:  at the grocery store, at coffee shop, at home, at Grandmas, at School. etc. etc. etc.

Welcome to the very-difficult-world of what it is like for a parent of a kid with food allergies.  This is the daily routine that they face during every meal, through every day, with their children.  What if you have two children with food allergies (like many of us do)….then the very-difficult-world is multiplied exponentially.  It is the simple process of eliminating foods from their kid’s diets that will lead to death.  It is a tremendous burden and a thankless job.  It is a job that is done every day by thousands of parents (mainly moms and caregivers) each and every day.  But as we go through this minefield, we must constantly remind those around us at what is at stake for our children.  This is serious business with serious consequences.

It was interesting because I was listening to some of the recent horrific news about some of the recent attacks in France.  Absolutely terrible and our prayers go out to those families impacted.  As I listened, there was a story of one of the FBI officials talking about it and how they prepare for presidential speeches and events.  Simply said, the FBI needs to get things right 100% of the time.  There can be no mistakes.  This resonated with me that the same thing happens 50 times a day by every parent with a kid with food allergy.  They can never be wrong….ever.  Not even once.

So this leads me back to my original conversation with my wife on the topic of Food Allergies.  We need to come up with something better for this disease.  If it was called “INSTANT DEATH DISEASE FROM FOOD” or “MY KID WILL STOP BREATHING IF I EAT THAT DISEASE” or anything that instantly communicates the extreme importance of it then I would be complete favor of that.  Think about how much easier the conversations at school would be with those parents that insist that it is their right to bring a PB&J sandwich into the classroom.  The uncomfortable conversations at family gatherings where some relative insists on putting out the bowl of life-ending nuts on the table for everyone (but your child) to enjoy.  It the label for “Food Allergy” was just somehow different and could immediately described the emotion and the importance of the subject.

So if you are a parent without a kid with food allergy and you hear those words Food Allergy, please remember what is at stake for these parents.  It is not fatigue or indigestion that is at stake.  It is a child’s life that can be taken very quickly with the simple ingestion of a harmless looking cookie.

For now, I would continue to refer to Food Allergy as “A Life Threatening Food Allergy” until someone comes up with a better name.

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Who can resist this time of the year when it comes to Girl Scout cookies?  Let me tell you…it is dangerous out there.  These tenacious girl scouts, dressed in green will find you no matter where you try and hide:  grocery stores, parks….no place is really safe.

If you have food allergies and you are allergic to Wheat or Soy then you really have no other option but to avoid Girl Scout cookies all together.  However, if you are allergic to Milk, Egg, Coconut or Peanuts, there may be some great cookie options available to you.  The chart below contains the complete 2012 Girl Scout cookie lineup: Thanks-A-Lot, Shout Outs, Lemonades, Shortbread, Thin Mints, Peanut Butter Patties, Caramel deLites and  Peanut Butter Sandwich.

As with all food allergies, it is important that you ALWAYS check the ingredients on the package at the time of purchase.  However, based on our own experience this year (2012), our daughter who has milk allergies has an exciting new option in the form of Girl Scouts Thin Mints cookies.  In years past, Thin Mints were off limits to our daughter because of the milk in the recipe….but this year the milk is gone.  Not only is she officially a Girl Scout, but she can also enjoy the fruits of her labor in the form of a few tasty cookies.

So, when that neighborhood girl dressed in green vest comes knocking on your front door over the next few weeks, take a second too review the incredients for yourself.  You might be pleasantly surprised in Girl Scout cookie choices available to you this year.

Click here for the latest information on Girl Scout Cookies incredients or to find out more about Girl Scout Cookies, click here.

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When talking about food allergies, it always nice to be able to find those “magic” foods (and treats) that somehow dodge the bullet of problem food allergy ingredients.  For our family, “milk” and “peanuts” are the ones to avoid and every now and then you come across that “Oreo” type snack.  I use the Oreo analogy because for whatever reason…Oreos do not contain eggs or milk (but they do contain wheat and soy)..  And when it comes time for that non-traditional, non-healthy breakfast food for the kids, it is the Pavillions Cinnamon Rolls for us.  Now the caveat is that you “always” want to check the ingredients each and every time…but somehow this product does not contain any “milk.” (as you can see by the incredients…it does contain wheat and soy).

About a year ago, my wife discovered this magical breakfast treat.  Of course, with all things that are 90% sugar…you will probably have your best results if you only give your kids 1/2 a serving…as a full serving with our munchkins will usually result in a full 45 minutes of bouncing off the ceiling…so just be forewarned.   

The price of these bad-boys are $3.99 for a pack of six…but you can usually find them on sale for $1.99.  Pick up a couple and freeze the other pack for “emergency” mornings where only a child-bribe will get you through the day.

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This is a real photo of my lunch at work the other day.  For the last year, I have really made a huge effort to adopt a healthier life style by eating correctly.  This is a great lunch.  570 calories.  A bijon spinach salad, with nuts and raisins.  Some pita crackers and light swiss cheese.  I typically top it off with an Apple.  It looks healthy and it is a great way to adopt to healthy living (see the Daniel Plan as as good place to start).

But if you look closely at this “healthy” lunch, there are at least 4 coomon food allergies that are deadly to children with food allergies (or anyone with food allergies for that matter).  This is the reality of the situation and something that many of us take for granted.  Both of my kids have different food allergies and would be unable to consume any of my lunch.  But, I can just eat this lunch and not think twice about it.  I don’t question what I put in my mouth, I never think whether it will hurt me or not….and I never wonder if eating something is going to send me to the hospital.  Honestly, I never think about it….but the other day I did.  I looked down at the plate and realized that most of what I was eating was not safe.  Not safe for my kids…but also not safe for most people afflicted with food allergies.

I bring this up because as your children get older (in the 6 plus range), they will start becoming more and more concerned (and sometimes anxious) when it comes to food and eating.  You want them to be aware and you want them to be knowledgeable.  However, this type of discernment (I believe) comes with some emotional prices.

So the next time you sit down to have your healthy (or even non-healthy) meal?  Think about about how you never worry whether the meal will hurt you?  Whether it will make you sick or make you ill?  All the little things that we take for granted daily….and then think about it through the eyes of someone else.

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If you are anything like our family, just the thought of good Chinese food can bring a smile to your face. But if your kids have food allergies, then most of the time you will be avoiding Chinese resturants at all costs. But we have discovered some good news at one of our favorite resturants….P.F. Chang’s.

On our last visit there, we were on a mini-vacation and really had thought that our best option for our kids was going to be plain chicken and white rice. But after speaking with the manager of the resturant, it turns out that on request, they will provide you with a detailed list of items that are “safe” for a specific allergy. The key is that you will want to request this each and every visit, but as you can see by the image below, if you child is allergic to milk (like ours), then you actually have a lot of great options for food at the restuarant.

So when you and the family feel the urge for Chinese food with your food allergic children, then consider a visit to P.F. Chang’s where they can provide some very detailed information regarding a multitude of food allergies.

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I would like respond to a Parenting article that I just read titled “The Truth About Food Allergies.”   You can read it here.  I would definitely agree that the author is correct to highlight some of the amazing advances that are occurring in the area of food allergies.  However, it seems clear that there are definitely some areas that also expose some of the misunderstanding that exists when trying to walk in the shoes of a parent whose child has food allergies.

In one section, the author tries to convey that we are now “allergy savvy and accepting.”  I cannot speak for other parents but only can speak from my own experiences and I would say that this statement is far from the truth.   Things are better than they have been for many parents.  If you were a parent 15 years back, for instance like Linda Coss, who has written several great books on Food Allergy Recipes, you were a pioneer as a parent and flying blind if your kid suffered from food allergies.  There were no food labels indicating the existence of certain food allergens.  No studies being performed in the area of food allergies.    No Internet to quickly turn to in hopes of finding an answer.  Yes…things are better than 15 years ago and even 5 year ago.  But those of us whose kids have food allergies have true daily struggles.

Sending your child off to a public school requires a lot of prayer and faith that the Lord will be watching your kid from high above.  It is a dangerous place.  It is definitely better if your kid has peanut allergies because there has been some progress made…but peanuts are not the only life-threatening allergen.    Anaphylaxis can occur in milk, eggs, fish and other common food items.  The next time you are at school…count the number of items at any given table that contain some sort of “milk” product.  Believe me…milk exists in everything.  However, if you kid does have milk allergies…you will have a few choices as a parent.   You can choose to have them sit by themselves, away from other kids.   You can have them sit with at the “peanut-allergy” table where every kid at the table will most likely be eating something that is deadly to your child.  Or have them sit at a regular table with the other kids and have faith that your child will be safe.   These are the tough decisions that parents with kids with food allergies get to make.

Luckily we go to a school that is accepting of the food allergies….but it is still a lot of work.  It is work in the process of “understanding” and “educating”.  Educating teachers; writing letters; being involved in the school; observing your child in different conditions and environments…..and some of the things to consider.  And even in the “best” of situations, you can still run into non-accepting and even “bullying” behavior by other children if you kid has food allergies.  Our child at age 6 has already experienced this in school.  This is not what I would consider to be an “accepting” behavior.

However, there is good news.  We are so blessed to live in Orange County with access to such a great support group that meets at Saddleback Church monthly.  Meeting with other parents that share the same daily struggles has made a great deal of different in our lives.  As parents, we are extremely hopeful that are kids will grow out of their food allergies and that someday food allergies will no longer exist….but in the interim, we are going to pray daily for our children.

Going back to the article, the unfortunate situation is that the article paints too much of a picture that the “war on food allergies” has now been already won….and this is a disservice in my opinion.  Parents of food allergy children are not waking up everyday thinking of allergy cures.   They are trying to navigate their ways through the daily obstacles of dealing with food.  My wife and I are praying for an allergy cure….but the daily struggles of food allergies usually have us focused on praying to get through the day without an incident.  Let’s not forget there are a lot of possibilities for cures…but no cures as of yet.  There is a lot of research in process but a lot more research to do.  There are a lot of parents with kids with food allergies today and this rate is growing.   And with the increase in numbers, more parents (and children) that are in need of support.

The best thing we can do for our kids today is to help others understand the problem of food allergies and to live a life in which we love one another.  As Jesus Christ said in Mark 12:31, “love your neighbor as yourself.”   This means putting yourself in the shoes of others and understanding what they are going through.

 If you are a parent of a child with food allergies and live Orange County, we would love for you to come and share your experiences and gain support from our monthly support group at https://www.ocfoodallergy.com

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Who can resist this time of the year when it comes to Girl Scout cookies?  Let me tell you…it is dangerous out there.  These tenacious girl scouts, dressed in green will find you no matter where you try and hide:  grocery stores, parks….no place is really safe.

If you have food allergies and you are allergic to Wheat or Soy then you really have no other option but to avoid Girl Scout cookies all together.  However, if you are allergic to Milk, Egg, Coconut or Peanuts, there may be some great cookie options available to you.  The chart below contains the complete 2012 Girl Scout cookie lineup: Thanks-A-Lot, Shout Outs, Lemonades, Shortbread, Thin Mints, Peanut Butter Patties, Caramel deLites and  Peanut Butter Sandwich.

As with all food allergies, it is important that you ALWAYS check the ingredients on the package at the time of purchase.  However, based on our own experience this year (2012), our daughter who has milk allergies has an exciting new option in the form of Girl Scouts Thin Mints cookies.  In years past, Thin Mints were off limits to our daughter because of the milk in the recipe….but this year the milk is gone.  Not only is she officially a Girl Scout, but she can also enjoy the fruits of her labor in the form of a few tasty cookies.

So, when that neighborhood girl dressed in green vest comes knocking on your front door over the next few weeks, take a second too review the incredients for yourself.  You might be pleasantly surprised in Girl Scout cookie choices available to you this year.

Click here for the latest information on Girl Scout Cookies incredients or to find out more about Girl Scout Cookies, click here.

Who can resist this time of the year when it comes to Girl Scout cookies?  Let me tell you…it is dangerous out there.  These tenacious girl scouts, dressed in green will find you no matter where you try and hide:  grocery stores, parks….no place is really safe.

If you have food allergies and you are allergic to Wheat or Soy then you really have no other option but to avoid Girl Scout cookies all together.  However, if you are allergic to Milk, Egg, Coconut or Peanuts, there may be some great cookie options available to you.  The chart below contains the complete 2012 Girl Scout cookie lineup: Thanks-A-Lot, Shout Outs, Lemonades, Shortbread, Thin Mints, Peanut Butter Patties, Caramel deLites and  Peanut Butter Sandwich.

As with all food allergies, it is important that you ALWAYS check the ingredients on the package at the time of purchase.  However, based on our own experience this year (2012), our daughter who has milk allergies has an exciting new option in the form of Girl Scouts Thin Mints cookies.  In years past, Thin Mints were off limits to our daughter because of the milk in the recipe….but this year the milk is gone.  Not only is she officially a Girl Scout, but she can also enjoy the fruits of her labor in the form of a few tasty cookies.

So, when that neighborhood girl dressed in green vest comes knocking on your front door over the next few weeks, take a second too review the incredients for yourself.  You might be pleasantly surprised in Girl Scout cookie choices available to you this year.

Click here for the latest information on Girl Scout Cookies incredients or to find out more about Girl Scout Cookies, click here.

Last year, we learned that the FAAN conference was going to be at the Grand Californian at Disneyland.  For those of you not familiar with FAAN, FAAN is one of the most trusted source of information, programs, and resources related to food allergy and anaphylaxis.  For many years, they have been doing FAAN conferences, but most of them have been held on the East Coast.  Last year they decided to host a conference in Orange County and my wife was able to attend.

First off, if you have a child with Food Allergies you will not want to miss this conference being held on June 9, 2012.  I encourage you to view the conference details and decide for yourself, but the content presented at the event is invaluable.  Our OCFoodAllergy.com support group has benefited tremendously with the content from the FAAN conference.  The information is completely current and there are plenty of people to connect with people to answer questions.  The cost of the conference is completely affordable at a price of $125 per person (even if you are not a FAAN member).  FAAN members pay $100 per person.  You can find out more conference details at the FAAN website.

But aside from the amazing content at the conference itself, the most amazing part is that you get to stay at the Disneyland Grand Californian for the MOST AMAZING PRICE EVER!!!  If you have never been here, it is absolutely amazing.  There are really (3) Disneyland hotel properties:  Paradise Pier, the Disneyland Hotel and the Disneyland Grand Californian.  This is an amazing property with tons of things for the kids.  Even if you do not step one inch into Disneyland, there is plenty to do with all of the pools, Downtown Disney, etc.  And once again the best part…the price.

So what is this amazing price?  $179 per night.  This is truly an amazing price and in my opinion, a once in a lifetime opportunity to stay at this resort at this price.  For some comparison, just check the Disneyland website to see what it costs for a Friday/Saturday night stay at this resort during summer.  It works out to $460 per night (see the image below).  So you really only have until May 9th to book this…so please do not miss out.  You get a mini-vacation with the family and a great conference packed with the latest food allergy information for you and your family.

Are we going?

Absolutely.  Last year we missed the “cuttoff” for the event and had to stay a Paradise Pier.  We still had an amazing time…but we ended up spending just as much at a less-desirable hotel.  The plan for our family is to stay at the hotel on Friday and Saturday nights.  On Saturday, my wife will attend the FAAN conference for the full day, while I drag the kids off to the many pools.   In fact, we probably will not even step foot in Disneyland that weekend because there is so much to do at the hotel.  The bottom line…is that this a great event at an amazing price.  You can even park “2 cars” with a single parking fee.

Even if you cannot afford to stay at the hotel or if there is a conflict with something else…try to make a point to get at least “one of you” to the conference…as the content is just that good and valuable.

If you do end up staying at the hotel…make sure that you plan a bit on the “food” side as I am not sure what is available for food choices at Downtown Disney.  The Rainforest Cafe is pretty good when requesting “specialized meals” for food…so if you decide to make the trip, make sure you do a little homework ahead of time.

Also…if you are going,  send us an e-mail or leave us a message so that we can connect up at the event ([email protected]).

Just a quick announcement that the Better Parents of Kids with Food Allergies Support Group will not be meeting on Wednesday, December 15th in observance for the Christmas Holiday.  We will resume meetings in 2011 on the third Wednesday’s of every month.

We would like to personally thank Saddleback Church and those parents that participated in support group meetings as I believe supporting one another as parents is critical when you have kids that are battle daily with their food allergies. 

So until we meet again in January 2011, we wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and safe New Years.  And we would remiss in not mentioning the many Christmas Services that Saddleback Church will be giving over Christmas this year.  For more information, please visit Christmas at Saddleback Church.

As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to visit us online at: www.ocfoodallergy.com,  contact us at: [email protected] or leave us a message at (949) 229-1110.