Trying to Find Snack Ideas for My Son with Food Allergies

Updated on July 13, 2009
L.B. asks from San Jose, CA
11 answers

Hi Mommas! My 13 yr old has some serious food allergies and I'm running out of snack ideas for him. Summer break is here and so he's home and munching more often. Any ideas (recipes especially!) would be greatly appreciated since there are only so many granola bars and fruit roll ups a kid can eat! His allergies are: carrots, celery, all melons, citrus, bananas and grapes. Thanks all!!!

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So What Happened?

Thanks everyone for you ideas! Costco had a bag of dried fruit that only had papaya, blueberries and strawberries! It was perfect! Because it was a healthy snack my son didn't show any interest until I told him I had bought it "just for him" well then he was all over it! Haha, competition between four kids makes things more appealing! We just found out he has Home Ec as his elective this school year so he'll learn some new recipes. That will be exciting for him too I think! Again, thanks all!

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K.U.

answers from San Francisco on

apple slices with sunflower seedbutter spread on them, rice cakes with almond butter, baked tortilla chips with guacamole, refried beans and salsa, oh boy I'll have to keep thinking on that...

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R.W.

answers from San Francisco on

Allergic to healthy stuff...what a bummer!
There are berries of course---I like to eat them frozen in the summer. Cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, kiwi? Broccoli, snap peas? Pineapple, peaches, pears, apples?
Yogurt, cheese, cold cuts, muffins, nuts...
There is plenty of food, it just depends how picky he is. =)

2 moms found this helpful
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A.C.

answers from San Francisco on

Here's a link to a page that lists fruits by their categories, including citrus and melons so you can avoid those, but still have a good selection of very yummy and healthy fruits for snacks. (the site promotes being a vegan so you can take that bit or leave it as you choose, I just liked the lists of fruits by category)
http://www.thefruitpages.com/sitemap.shtml

my kids like to dip broccoli heads in ranch dressing as a snack and you can buy 3 lbs of fresh broccoli florets at costco (if you have a membership) for like $2 or so. They also like to dip cucumbers and bell peppers in ranch.

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E.C.

answers from San Francisco on

trail mix - easy to make your own with a mixture of seeds (sunflower, pumpkin), dried fruits, nuts, - try this one from allrecipes.com: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Terrific-Trail-Mix/Detail.aspx , just substitute other dried fruit for the raisins.

browse Trader Joe's for more ideas - my kids like the rice cakes (even though my husband & I think they taste like styrofoam), assorted crackers, pita chips with or without hummus, snap pea crisps, edamame (boiled soybeans in pods - they like to pop the beans out), freeze-dried fruit like berries, apples, mangoes.

how about various cheese/carbo combinations - cheese toast, quesadilla, english muffin "pizza", etc.?

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S.V.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi L.

My son who is seven (no apparent allergies) likes soup as a snack.. anything from clam chowder to Jambalaya, along with some whole grain crackers. A cup and a few crackers and my son is set for the rest of the late afternoon. Would your son be up for something like that. He also likes Amy's mac and cheese.
I will often add something uncooked so that my son gets the nutrients he needs from raw food. This includes, most fruits (I know you will have to be specific with your son) and many different types of veggies, specifically he loves red bell peppers.
The other thing I do is make extras whenever I make food.. so if for example, I grill chicken, we have extra for the next day, again something to snack on ... I will cut some up for my son, add some raw veggies and fruit and
bam.. another good LITE snack..
Have you tried a homemade blended smoothie with fruits he can have? I like to do those, with frozen raspberries/blueberries, add IF you prefer dairy, add some lite vanilla yogurt... and then you have a nice berry smoothie.. filling, yet lite..
Best of luck to you!!

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G.K.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi L.!
Trader Joe's has red pepper hummus that is good with Milton's whole wheat or whole grain natural crackers (chips are even better ;/). Can he eat peanut butter? Those crackers are good with cheese, jam, laughing cow cheese, etc. I buy fruits on special: strawberries, peaches, blueberries, blackberries, pears, and apricots. I encourage taking romaine lettuce leaves by having them washed in a container. Some people cut up a tub of strawberries, but it does take some vitamins away. Also, cut up bell peppers, and have tomatoes on hand. If he likes to prepare food, mashed avocado is good with lemon or lime juice, a little garlic, black pepper, dash of low-sodium salt, and dash of onion to taste. I'm doing my best to avoid "glycemic horrors" such as rice cakes, corn chips and bagels. I'm hoping to get my daughters to eat the way I'm aspiring to!

Three-Bean Salad
15-ounce chickpeas
15-ounce can kidney beans
15-ounce can black beans
2 cloves garlic, minced
Juice of one freshly squeezed lemon
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1. Mix beans together in a salad bowl.
2. In a cup combine garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil.
3. Toss beans with dressing and serve.

Yield: 8 servings.
Note: For easy and delicious variations, add bell peppers, onion, parsley, or other seasoning, perhaps celery for other readers out there!

The Perricone Prescription states that a deficiency of vitamin B Complex leads to many skin disorders for what it's worth.
Can't wait to read all the tasty suggestions you get,
G.

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S.M.

answers from San Francisco on

Nuts are a good snack, if he's not allergic to them, and if he has no tendency toward a weight problem. Also other proteins, like jerky, hardboiled eggs, kippers, yogurt, and hummus--- again, so long as he doesn't have a tendency to gain too much weight. (I have to admit, however, that my 12 year old will not eat these kinds of snacks, because he loves junk food-- yesterday he polished off a whole box of corndogs. I try to keep him away from the worst stuff, but I don't like to make too much fuss about food.)

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C.S.

answers from San Francisco on

There are plenty of veggies you can pack as snacks like broccoli, zucchini, radishes, etc. Other fruits are also great: strawberries, apples, blueberries, rasberries, peaches, etc. I usually have crackers and popcorn on hand as quick snacks. I haven't met a kid who hasn't liked popcorn yet!

Juice pops using fruits he's not allergic can also be a great cool treat as well as yogurt and applesauce. Nuts, rice balls, small sandwiches can also help when they're a little hungrier than just a small fruit. Best of luck on new snack choices.

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A.N.

answers from San Francisco on

sauteed mixed squashes; they are in season (farmers' market)
corn and avocado and cherry tomatoes salad;
potato cucumber salad;
hand-shredded chicken, beans, red pepper, cucumber, (purple onion) oil+soy sauce salad;
yogurts with probiotics;
hot dogs without nitrites etc.
cashew nut butter sandwich;
tostadas;
cheese and crackers;
cereals;
ice cream soda!
milk shakes;
toast and jam...
oatmeal + honey/ (blueberries or dried fruits)...
hard or soft boiled eggs...

I have lots of food allergies too, these foods seem fine for me... good luck to you!

1 mom found this helpful
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A.T.

answers from Stockton on

I'm allergic to melons too! never heard of anyone else...
guacamole and chips are yum! Smoothies, fruit salad without the offending ingredients, mini pizzas etc.etc.
He's old enough to start learning to feed himself - plus chicks dig a guy that can feed them!
I'm also allergic to peppers and cucumbers - I am a waiter's worst nightmare!
I am 40 now and noticing that the food allergies are calming down a little. I can cheat once in a while with jut a little heartburn as a result except for green peppers and cucumbers.

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H.D.

answers from San Francisco on

What about other fruits like cantalope and watermelon? I keep a bowl of each cut up in the fridge. Target has a mixed nut mix (no salt!) that is awesome! Their cashews are good too. =)

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