Per a recent comment by another blogger I finally realized why I felt uncomfortable with the publication of my blog in Readers Digest. It was the assertion that I was offering advice on food allergies. In fact I think it says "Get real food allergy advice" and lists three blog addresses including mine. I want to say I have never thought of this blog as a way to give advice. In general I try not to give advice about anything unless asked. Saying I could give advice implies I am an expert. The only thing I am an expert on is managing my OWN children's food allergies (and even I slip up on that sometimes.)
However, I have learned so much from other people's experiences and that is what I want my blog to convey. My own, my sons', our experiences in dealing with food allergies everyday. And I use the word everyday to convey that we don't get a vacation from food allergies. We can't have just a little of an allergic food, we can't take off Christmas or birthdays to have special allergen laden treats. Our food allergies are managed everyday, one day at a time. I want to share our experiences and hope that others learn something from them. But for the record, I don't give advice:)
Monday, March 17, 2008
Saturday, March 15, 2008
ACTUAL Letter to the teachers
So here is ultimately what I did send to Max's teachers. I'll have to address all my other issues differently. Namely the distribution of the life-threatening food allergy list.
Via email:
First off I am sorry my sons were so distracting at our committee meeting yesterday. It was hard for me to focus or perhaps I would have been able to bring up these issues while we were all still together.
I have been pondering the food for the Asia Trip since our meeting and I have a few thoughts. The way the event is structured now is for many people to bring various foods making for a pot luck of sorts. I think this leads to a host of logistical problems. Where and how is the food set up? What about utensils/dishes/napkins, etc.? Where do people sit to eat? I feel a pot luck leads to people standing in line to get food, children focusing more on eating than enjoying Asia and a lot of garbage to clean up. How do we control the crowd and the mess? I just fear a pot luck might overshadow the real purpose of the "Asia Trip" which is to explore Asia not feed everyone lunch.
Here is my idea: What if one or two foods were choosen for each country and many people asked to bring the same thing already sepearted in to bite sized portions. For example a small bite-sized samosa for India, Shredded colored cocoanut or Chinese crackers in a small cup for China. The food would then be kept at a "kiosk" near the set for each country so the children could enjoy a small "snack" in each country. This way they could easily distinguish which culinary delight belongs to which country and still be hungry for lunch later on.
I also have food allergy concerns regarding a pot luck which I feel could be minimized with the "kiosk" idea. But that is an issue we can discuss later.
Please see my ideas as my way of offering options and simplifying this wonderful event.
What do you think?
End transmission
Via email:
First off I am sorry my sons were so distracting at our committee meeting yesterday. It was hard for me to focus or perhaps I would have been able to bring up these issues while we were all still together.
I have been pondering the food for the Asia Trip since our meeting and I have a few thoughts. The way the event is structured now is for many people to bring various foods making for a pot luck of sorts. I think this leads to a host of logistical problems. Where and how is the food set up? What about utensils/dishes/napkins, etc.? Where do people sit to eat? I feel a pot luck leads to people standing in line to get food, children focusing more on eating than enjoying Asia and a lot of garbage to clean up. How do we control the crowd and the mess? I just fear a pot luck might overshadow the real purpose of the "Asia Trip" which is to explore Asia not feed everyone lunch.
Here is my idea: What if one or two foods were choosen for each country and many people asked to bring the same thing already sepearted in to bite sized portions. For example a small bite-sized samosa for India, Shredded colored cocoanut or Chinese crackers in a small cup for China. The food would then be kept at a "kiosk" near the set for each country so the children could enjoy a small "snack" in each country. This way they could easily distinguish which culinary delight belongs to which country and still be hungry for lunch later on.
I also have food allergy concerns regarding a pot luck which I feel could be minimized with the "kiosk" idea. But that is an issue we can discuss later.
Please see my ideas as my way of offering options and simplifying this wonderful event.
What do you think?
End transmission
Friday, March 14, 2008
Letter to Max's Teachers
To the teachers at my son's school:
First off I am sorry I had to bring my two children to the food committee meeting today. I know they are not the easiest children to bring somewhere and expect to be quiet. They were quite distracting especially to me. However, you did not choose the best time to hold a short meeting. Had you made it an hour later I could have left them with my husband.
Secondly, I don't feel the meeting went very well. I had wanted to insure at least a few safe food choices for my son. I am so tired of him being made to feel left out. The meeting was so scattered though and since only 3 out of the 13 volunteers showed up I don't feel I was able to make much of an impact. Also , I think the list of life-threatening allergies only really confused people as we are telling people they only need to really avoid peanuts and tree nuts even though things such as milk, eggs, strawberries and even white potatoes were listed as life-threatening. What is the point of distributing such a list unless you really want people to avoid all these items? (You also just singled out every child with a life-threatening food allergy by distributing their names and allergens to a number of people with their own agendas. I don't know how comfortable I am with that.)
I know you are asking people to label dishes but I want to point out a few things. People don't always know how to label a dish. For example, some part of the dish may need to be sauteed, the maker of the dish may do this in butter but forget to add that to the label. Or perhaps they use margarine in which case all the ingredients in the margarine should be included in the list. I will still look at the sea of food, labeled as it is, at this event and feel panic. My son will still only eat those items I bring. It is the only way I can assure his safety.
I don't know what I expected to be different. A pot luck is a pot luck. And with food allergies more than luck needs to be on your side. I guess at least I was assured that 3 out of his five allergens will not be present.
Lastly, to say that the food is only to give the kids a taste of Asia and that they will all be happy in the end because it is Pizza Friday that day and they all love pizza is the last disservice to my son who appears to be the only milk allergic child in the school or at least on the life-threatening list. He can't eat the "Taste of Asia" and he can't eat the pizza.
Why do I feel so frustrated with today?
First off I am sorry I had to bring my two children to the food committee meeting today. I know they are not the easiest children to bring somewhere and expect to be quiet. They were quite distracting especially to me. However, you did not choose the best time to hold a short meeting. Had you made it an hour later I could have left them with my husband.
Secondly, I don't feel the meeting went very well. I had wanted to insure at least a few safe food choices for my son. I am so tired of him being made to feel left out. The meeting was so scattered though and since only 3 out of the 13 volunteers showed up I don't feel I was able to make much of an impact. Also , I think the list of life-threatening allergies only really confused people as we are telling people they only need to really avoid peanuts and tree nuts even though things such as milk, eggs, strawberries and even white potatoes were listed as life-threatening. What is the point of distributing such a list unless you really want people to avoid all these items? (You also just singled out every child with a life-threatening food allergy by distributing their names and allergens to a number of people with their own agendas. I don't know how comfortable I am with that.)
I know you are asking people to label dishes but I want to point out a few things. People don't always know how to label a dish. For example, some part of the dish may need to be sauteed, the maker of the dish may do this in butter but forget to add that to the label. Or perhaps they use margarine in which case all the ingredients in the margarine should be included in the list. I will still look at the sea of food, labeled as it is, at this event and feel panic. My son will still only eat those items I bring. It is the only way I can assure his safety.
I don't know what I expected to be different. A pot luck is a pot luck. And with food allergies more than luck needs to be on your side. I guess at least I was assured that 3 out of his five allergens will not be present.
Lastly, to say that the food is only to give the kids a taste of Asia and that they will all be happy in the end because it is Pizza Friday that day and they all love pizza is the last disservice to my son who appears to be the only milk allergic child in the school or at least on the life-threatening list. He can't eat the "Taste of Asia" and he can't eat the pizza.
Why do I feel so frustrated with today?
Monday, March 3, 2008
Traveling WITHOUT Children
You can find lots of advice from various online support groups about traveling with your FA kids. However, what about when you travel without them? Meaning what do you need to prepare when leave you them with Grandma and escape with that stranger of a spouse. I hear you laughing now. How often does that really happen? Well, it is happening to me this week, we are going to Spain! Grandma has arrived, our flight is this afternoon and my five year old is running a slight temperature and is complaining his ear hurts. But that's another story.
I know many of you have trouble with family members understanding and taking your childrens' food allegies seriously. I am lucky to be blest with parents and in-laws that understand the severity my kids allergies and want to do everything they can to insure their safety.
Here is what we have been working on the past week so that Grandma can take over:
1. I have always believed my house is the safest place for my food allergic kids. However, I went through all the cupboards to make sure all unsafe food was either tossed or clearly labeled. This was actually a request by my Mom. She doesn't want to make any mistakes. (I told her she could get cow's milk yogurt and milk for herself but she doesn't want to take any risks so even she is going soy for the week). So out went the crackers my husband bought for him and I but contain sunflower oil. Labeled was the box of Ms. Grass's soup which I bought when I was sick and wanted some comfort food. I was actually surprised how little in our house was unsafe. We keep a pretty clean home!
2. I pointed out the pan which I had been using for eggs. "Well, put it somewhere where I won't use it. I don't even want it in the cupboard." as my Mom's reply.
3. Provide lists of routines, meal ideas, things to do and of course emergency contacts and numbers and instructions. We went other where the almost half a dozen epi-pens are, how to recoginize anaphalaxis and how of course to use them.
4. But most importantly we filled out and had notarized a medical release form. A friend of mine told me a story about how she was in the ER with one of her children this past year and a man came in with his nephew. The child's mother was in labor at another hospital but the child was running a high fever and needed medical attention. The hospital refused to treat the child because the uncle wasn't the legal guardian and didn't have a medical release. So whenever you leave your children, food allergic or otherwise, always leave a notarized medical release form.
So we are off! I'm nervous but I know my kids are in good hands.
Addendum: Red Dog wanted me to add the medical release form. Here is where I printed a free form
I know many of you have trouble with family members understanding and taking your childrens' food allegies seriously. I am lucky to be blest with parents and in-laws that understand the severity my kids allergies and want to do everything they can to insure their safety.
Here is what we have been working on the past week so that Grandma can take over:
1. I have always believed my house is the safest place for my food allergic kids. However, I went through all the cupboards to make sure all unsafe food was either tossed or clearly labeled. This was actually a request by my Mom. She doesn't want to make any mistakes. (I told her she could get cow's milk yogurt and milk for herself but she doesn't want to take any risks so even she is going soy for the week). So out went the crackers my husband bought for him and I but contain sunflower oil. Labeled was the box of Ms. Grass's soup which I bought when I was sick and wanted some comfort food. I was actually surprised how little in our house was unsafe. We keep a pretty clean home!
2. I pointed out the pan which I had been using for eggs. "Well, put it somewhere where I won't use it. I don't even want it in the cupboard." as my Mom's reply.
3. Provide lists of routines, meal ideas, things to do and of course emergency contacts and numbers and instructions. We went other where the almost half a dozen epi-pens are, how to recoginize anaphalaxis and how of course to use them.
4. But most importantly we filled out and had notarized a medical release form. A friend of mine told me a story about how she was in the ER with one of her children this past year and a man came in with his nephew. The child's mother was in labor at another hospital but the child was running a high fever and needed medical attention. The hospital refused to treat the child because the uncle wasn't the legal guardian and didn't have a medical release. So whenever you leave your children, food allergic or otherwise, always leave a notarized medical release form.
So we are off! I'm nervous but I know my kids are in good hands.
Addendum: Red Dog wanted me to add the medical release form. Here is where I printed a free form
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Hors d'oeuvres For Your Oscar Party
Last weekend I had to take an appetizer to our homeowners association board dinner (I'm Vice President). I recalled an appetizer a friend had made for a Mom's night out and decided to give it a try. As I made it I realized it was something my kids could actually eat (whether they would or not is debatable). In fact it seems to be free of the top eight.
So in honor of the Oscars here is an hors d'oeuvre to serve to all your FA friends:
Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts
1 C ketchup
1 C brown sugar
1 T. apple cider vinegar
2 cans whole water chestnuts
1-2 packages bacon
Cut bacon into thirds. Wrap each third around a water chestnut and secure with a toothpick. Cook bacon wrapped water chestnuts at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. Drain grease.
Mix ketchup, brown sugar and apple cider vinegar. Pour marinade over hot chestnuts. Let sit for however long you have (I refrigerated for 2 hours but you don't have to let them sit at all). Before serving cook at 325 degrees for 30 minutes. Serve hot.
Just to be sure, I looked up water chestnut. It is not classified as a nut.
So in honor of the Oscars here is an hors d'oeuvre to serve to all your FA friends:
Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts
1 C ketchup
1 C brown sugar
1 T. apple cider vinegar
2 cans whole water chestnuts
1-2 packages bacon
Cut bacon into thirds. Wrap each third around a water chestnut and secure with a toothpick. Cook bacon wrapped water chestnuts at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. Drain grease.
Mix ketchup, brown sugar and apple cider vinegar. Pour marinade over hot chestnuts. Let sit for however long you have (I refrigerated for 2 hours but you don't have to let them sit at all). Before serving cook at 325 degrees for 30 minutes. Serve hot.
Just to be sure, I looked up water chestnut. It is not classified as a nut.
Chuck E Cheese
Everything went fine. I took in food. No one said anything. Max had a fabulous time and wants to know when we can go back.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Pizza Friday and Chuck E Cheese
We had decided to let Max go to the Chuck E Cheese birthday party even before his testing but in light of his RAST number I think it is definitely safe for him to attend but of course he won't be eating the food there.
I called the manager at the Chuck E Cheese to make sure it was not a problem for me to bring Max's food in. To my surprise it was. "No, outside food." She really would barely let me talk with all her explanations as to why. It seems to be Chuck E Cheese's feeling that if one person brings in food than everyone will want to. (I hear the pizza really isn't that good) She did say I could bring in ice cream? (I'm sorry did you not just hear me say he is allergic to milk?) She said, "He could have french fries or a hot dog." I have to say I wasn't prepared for this conversation and was a little off my game. I asked if I could bring in a cupcake as I was sure they would be having cake and she said yes that was fine. I then explained that our substitute for pizza was an English muffin with carrots and olives on it. And this is what I would be bringing. She sort of acquiesced, saying that if we brought in something small and she didn't see it (wink, wink) it wouldn't be a problem.
Now I feel like I am sneaking food into Chuck E Cheese. I called the birthday boy's mom to see what the set-up was. Were we in a separate room so we would be less likely to be detected? She said no, tables were out in the open. She also thought it was ridiculous that I wouldn't be able to bring in food.
I guess we'll see how things go tomorrow. Perhaps it is leftover anxiety from childhood but I have a real fear of rule breaking. I don't want Max to get caught with contraband food and feel shamed. Maybe we won't bring anything and just leave before people eat or just continue to play. Any suggestions?
I called the manager at the Chuck E Cheese to make sure it was not a problem for me to bring Max's food in. To my surprise it was. "No, outside food." She really would barely let me talk with all her explanations as to why. It seems to be Chuck E Cheese's feeling that if one person brings in food than everyone will want to. (I hear the pizza really isn't that good) She did say I could bring in ice cream? (I'm sorry did you not just hear me say he is allergic to milk?) She said, "He could have french fries or a hot dog." I have to say I wasn't prepared for this conversation and was a little off my game. I asked if I could bring in a cupcake as I was sure they would be having cake and she said yes that was fine. I then explained that our substitute for pizza was an English muffin with carrots and olives on it. And this is what I would be bringing. She sort of acquiesced, saying that if we brought in something small and she didn't see it (wink, wink) it wouldn't be a problem.
Now I feel like I am sneaking food into Chuck E Cheese. I called the birthday boy's mom to see what the set-up was. Were we in a separate room so we would be less likely to be detected? She said no, tables were out in the open. She also thought it was ridiculous that I wouldn't be able to bring in food.
I guess we'll see how things go tomorrow. Perhaps it is leftover anxiety from childhood but I have a real fear of rule breaking. I don't want Max to get caught with contraband food and feel shamed. Maybe we won't bring anything and just leave before people eat or just continue to play. Any suggestions?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)