Visting Niece W Food Allergies, What Do I Feed My Daughter?

As the mother of a child with a severe peanut allergy (visit www.delaniesdoggy.org for more info on our story), I want to thank you for being so understanding. Many people falsely believe that their own kid can still have these things as long as the allergic kid doesn't eat it. Its not that simple, and you seem to understand that :)

Honestly, I wouldn't make a big deal out of it. If she likes an egg with cheese on it, go with that. You can try Nutella (providing neice isn't allergic to hazlenut as well) on her toast. Even try plain strawberry jam on her toast, my kids love that. Try Nutragrain bars instead of granola (did you know that even without the nuts in the granola bars, granola itself is in the peanut family?). Panckes, french toast, waffles, toaster strudel, pop tarts. I wouldn't even try to explain it to her (I also have a 2 1/2 y/o...my allergic one), as they often don't understand that they simply can not have something at this age. I assume you are staying with your sister, so if your daughter questions where her peanut butter is when you give her toast, simply tell her that there isn't any here, and move on.

Why not just feed her what your niece is having? You could ask your sister what kinds of foods your niece eats, and start introducing some of those foods to your daughter ahead of time, maybe?

First I think a very simple explanation about food allergies is important, especially if your daughter likes to share her foods. Explain that she should not share her foods with her cousin because some foods make some people sick.

Can you try those breakfast bars with the fruit in them as an alternative to granola bars?

My son is allergic to PB. I eat sunflower butter as a PB alternative. There is also soy butter (not nearly as yummy, imo, though, by do-able with a good jam or jelly :). Both are available at Whole Foods and our local Meijer/Walmart, etc. If other nuts are not a problem, you can do almond butter instead of PB, but if all nuts are off limits, stay away from the almond.

You can also get peanut free granola bars. One brand that makes them is Enjoy Life, and they have a coupon on their site: http://www.enjoylifefoods.com/. Our local Meijer's has this brand. They are a bit pricey, but for a one-time thing, it's not too bad.

My son really likes some fruit and a piece of toast with cheese, or cream cheese on a mini whole wheat bagel.

Feed her whatever your niece is having. My very picky eater is 3 yrs old and he will eat foods that he usually won't touch if we are visiting his cousins and they are eating it.

Since nut allergies can often be life threatening then I wouldn't even allow her to have ANY nut products during your visit. I have been told since developing a nut allergy even breathing the fumes off someones clothing can cause me to have a life threatening reaction. Even more so if I touch their clothes and their is residue on them or their clothes.

Cereals
Eggs
Eggs/cheese/ham
Waffles
Pancakes
Muffins
Grilled Cheese