Kids Food Allergies Blog

I love to cook. I love to eat good food. I love Linda Coss’s cookbooks because they enable me to combine these loves without using ingredients to which my daughter is allergic. As I wrote in an earlier post, I am a big fan of her first cookbook, What’s To Eat: The Milk-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free Food Allergy Cookbook.

Good news for Linda Coss fans. She just came out with a sequel: What Else is to Eat? The Dairy-, Egg-, and Nut-Free Food Allergy Cookbook. Here’s why I like it: It’s chocked full of ideas to help me to freshen up the food allergic family’s daily meal routine so that you’re not eating the same 3 or 4 things night after night.  There are lots of great marinade recipes in there (think flank steak, chicken prepared numerous ways, and even a barbecue sauce recipe) — great for people avoiding store bought marinades.  And the desserts in this cookbook are unusual.  I most look forward to trying the Fresh Peach Crumble. (I can think of no more fitting way to celebrate the end of summer.)  Check it out.  I think you’ll like it!

I just found a link to a very interesting podcast.  Click this link to see a video introduction and hear the podcast of Aaron at AllergySmart.net interviewing veteran food allergy mom and food allergy cookbook author, Linda Coss.  (Sidenote: Her book, What’s To Eat: The Milk-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free Food Allergy Cookbook is a wonderful reference.  I bought it soon after my daughter’s allergies were diagnosed and still treasure it years later.)  The topics covered in the podcast include:

• What aspects to cover when sending kids off to school with food allergies
• How to engage with the other parents at the school about food allergies
• Dealing with family members about their food allergy awareness
• Educating your child about their food allergy condition without getting them stressed out and turning them into a basketcase
• Banning nuts in schools, yes or no
• Cooking with food allergies and reduce food choices

I thought it was interesting to hear the perspective of a mom who has lived through all these issues (her boys are now 15 and 17 1/2).  Hope you find it useful as well.