What Food Allergy Parents Are Looking For
I want to thank my fellow bloggers — ModernAllergyMom and Purple Mommy for responding to my call for food allergic parents to tell manufacturers what they are looking for by writing about products that they are able to buy for their food allergic children. I think it’s interesting how little cross-over there is between our vendor lists — since we all are concerned about eliminating different allergens, with the exception of nuts. I had never heard of the gluten-free items ModernAllergyMom writes about, but I am excited to look for them and try them. PurpleMommy writes about Wegmans. Many other parents –food allergic and not– rave about shopping there. But I haven’t been awestruck. Most of the items I buy there, I can get a whole lot closer at Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s. There are three important exceptions: Tofutti Mozzarella Casein-Free Soy Cheese (I’ve heard they carry it, but cannot confirm the rumor), Temptations Vegan Ice Cream (am gonna cry when I run out), and a dairy-free/egg-free/nut-free pizza crust I bought that “looked like everyone else’s” and tasted pretty good too.
Another mom in my food allergy support group e-mailed me privately and shared pretty detailed thoughts on appropriate foods for a child allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, milk, egg, and peaches:
Van’s frozen waffles. They make both wheat free and then original Belgian waffles which my children eat. We also eat Ray’s NY bagels which are frozen.
Frosting – I use the vanilla Pillsbury supreme white. It has soy lecithin in it but nothing else. Then I use food coloring to decorate.
Candy – Wonka assortment bags are ok. They have nerds, laffy taffy etc. I also buy extra bags of anything that my kids can have when its seasonal – Halloween and valentines day – to send to school for alternative treats.
Snack bags – wheat thins, pretzels (I just discovered rold gold individual packs), teddy grahams, oreos.
Quick lunch – if your daughter will eat it – tuna fish in a pouch is a easy grab lunch. Mine has taken that to girl scout camp outs & tae kwondo tournaments since it also doesn’t need to be refrigerated.
Any additional guidance toward shelf-stable snacks or healthy and convenient fare for food allergic little ones would always be welcome! Just drop a comment.
June 24th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
We’ve just discovered soy butter - found at lour local Walmart…. it’s been a wonderful change to our normal lunch meals… what a dream to make soy butter and jam sandwiches:) My husband and son also dip their carrots in it… I haven’t tried it yet….
Lender’s Refrigerated Bagels are another treat. They work to make sure that their bagels are labeled correctly…. pretty cheap and great for snacks and breakfast.
Barnum’s Animal Crackers (it’s in there with Teddy Grahams) plus it has CALCIUM:)
I make most of our “treats” but in my area the only place to really grocery shop is at Super-Walmart and I’m finding more and more allergy-friendly stuff there:)
June 24th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
I don’t have a Walmart near me, but am encouraged to hear that they are beginning to carry more allergy-free products. I have also heard that Shoppers Food Warehouse is now carrying a broader selection of nut-free and dairy-free products.
By the way — if your family likes dipping carrots in soynutbutter — you might want to try dipping bananas in soynutbutter. A whole world of yum!
June 27th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
I think one of the greatest thing about the blog community it sharing new finds in allergy free products. We eat a lot of Van’s wheat free wafles in our house!
November 6th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
You mentioned that you are in a food allergy support group. I would like to find one but am not sure where to look. I’m in the same geographic area as you (NOVA). Any information you can give me would be much appreciated!