Do You Have a Child with Numerous Food Allergies?

Hello,

I can definitely at least somewhat relate to what you are going through. My 19 month old daughter was diagnosed with food allergies at age 1...she is allergic to milk and all dairy products, eggs and peanuts...we are also avoiding tree nuts. Although she is not allergic to as many things as your son, just with the things she is allergic to it's tough. For us, when we found out about her allergies, we decided to make the same meals for all of us, although it's easier for us because we just have her, no other children, but if we have another child, whether they are allergic or not, we will be having the same meals. We do have ice cream and things like that at times that she can't have, but we make sure she has something too like a popsicle or something. She is growing just fine without dairy and all that; she really thrives on the soy milk...what kind of milk does your son drink? I would just say to try and make everyone's meals the same as much as you can; obviously you can't always but you don't want him to feel left out, and you also don't want to be making a bunch of different things all the time. I wish I could be of more help; allergies just suck. Also, I don't know where you're located, but we go to Outpost Foods sometimes for some things for our daughter because they have lots of natural foods there and things that would probably be okay for your son...there's a couple in Milwaukee...we live by the one in Bay View.

Hi M.! I have a child with an allergy to dairy, and although your child is obviously allergic to a LOT more than mine, I wanted to offer some advice as to what we do to accommodate him. We eat a lot of different combinations of meat, veggies, and something from the bread group. We eat this a lot because it is so hard to find a casserole or dish where milk is COMPLETELY avoided, and it's just easier for us to eat stuff separately. If it is something he can't have (for example, sometimes we might have broccoli w/cheese, etc.) I make him a substitute (plain broccoli steamed). He's been this way since birth, and I don't think he feels left out at all. We feed him Edy's whole fruit sorbet (I think your child could probably eat this as well) so he doesn't feel left out when we eat ice cream. If I DO make a casserole, as I am cooking it , I make extra of everything, so I before I combine everything, I can take some out and feed it to my 3 year old separately. I always try to fit him in, but there are some cases where I buy things that I know he can't have...I just have to make substitutions/accommodations. I know how hard it can be....just hang in there. :)

I am also a SAHM with 3 kids. I have a 7-year-old son with peanut & tree nut allergies. I have 2 suggestions that I hope can help.

1. Have you ever tried Sun Butter? It is like peanut butter, but it is made with sunflower seeds and usually made in a nut-free facility, I still double check the labels. (I like the taste of it better than regular peanut butter.) You may have to look in the health food section of your grocery store. I have found it at Cash Wise in St. Cloud. This way, we can all still have peanut butter-like sandwiches at our house.

2. As far as having him not feel different in his house: I have told my son that since he can't have nuts or peanuts, that I won't eat them either (I am not allergic). He likes that he is not the only one that "can't" have them. I know your son is younger, but he may understand if you eat exactly what he does.

M. --
Oh, food allergies just suck, don't they? I'm allergic to tree nuts (have been my whole life) and the worst is when everyone's eating cookies and I can't have one, lol. It STILL bothers me, and I'm an adult! So I do know how difficult it is for your son. I also understand how difficult it must be for you, and I can't imagine trying to make two different meals. I have a very good friend who has celiac's, and she just makes everyone in her family eat HER food, lol. In fact, everyone I know who has severe food allergies does this.
A great website/magazine to check out is:
http://www.livingwithout.com/welcome.htm
They have a lot of recipes, cookbooks, and in general articles that you may find helpful. (No, I'm not affiliated, lol.... I just think it's really useful)
I really hope he does outgrow at least SOME of his allergies. And in the meantime, hang in there....
A.