Tip of the Day: How to Handle Sleepovers When Your Child Has Severe Food Allergies

How to handle spending the night with friends when your child has severe food allergies:

Before your child sleeps over at her friends house talk to the parents. Let the parents know about your child's food allergies, what happens when your child has an allergic reaction and how to handle the allergic reaction if it happens.
I would always offer to bring Nicolle's food if that would make it easier for them. And most times that is what I did. Unless their child has the exact same allergies as your child, most people do not know all of the words that can be used on the list of ingredients that mean milk and/or eggs are present. It's very easy to make a mistake when reading product labels. I have always said it is better to be safe than sorry.

Libby Avery

Tip of the Day: Quick & Easy Dessert Topping

Tip of the Day

How to make a quick and easy dessert topping:
Use 1 1/2 cups dairy-free whipped topping, stir in 1/4 cup of fruit preserves (any fruit you desire) and 2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon liqueur (perhaps a flavor that compliments your fruit preserves or use the same flavor as the fruit preserves). Place a few scoops on top of a piece of egg and dairy-free chocolate or white cake. Also great for dipping fresh fruit.

Libby Avery `

Tip of the Day: How to Prepare Your Child Who Has Severe Food Allergies

How do you prepare your child to handle people who challenge the validity of their food allergies?
Believe it or not parents, friends, and even Doctor's and nurses have been known to question and challenge the validity of Nicolle's severe food allergies.
My best advice is to talk to your child and make sure he or she understands as much about his or her allergies as possible; what are his or her allergies, what happens if he or she eats or comes in contact with the food he or she is allergic to, and what does he or she need to do in case of an allergic reaction? Your child should also know how to call an ambulance in case of an emergency. It is also a very good idea to order and purchase a medic alert bracelet for your son or daughter.
Having all of this knowledge and being prepared will help your child when responding to questions from others.

Enjoy another 'Tip of the Day' tomorrow.

Libby Avery

Tip of the Day: Egg & Dairy-free Travel

How to travel with a child who is allergic to milk and eggs:

When we traveled I always packed food for Nicolle. We would not always find restaurants that would be safe for her so I packed a cooler with soy milk (now you can use powdered soy milk; it would be easier). I packed a bag with egg and dairy-free breakfast foods. I also packed lunch food; egg and dairy-free bread and crackers, almond butter or cashew butter (Nicolle also had peanut allergies). The cooler contained sliced turkey or ham, carrots, celery sticks, grapes or apples. Most of this could be dinner too if we weren't able to find something for her.

I also did this when we visited family or friends. Even knowing Nicolle's allergies, many family members and friends didn't really understand just how dangerous food could be to Nicolle, so we always played it safe by taking food with us.

Look for another 'Tip of the Day' tomorrow!

Libby Avery

Tip of The Day

Quick & Easy Lunch

For a quick and easy lunch use an egg-free and milk-free mini pizza crust, spread with 2 to 3 tablespoons of tomato puree (purchased) and sprinkle about 1/2 teaspoon of Italian herbs on top. Top with a few pieces of dairy-free pepperoni and some dairy-free shredded mozzarella cheese substitute. Bake in a preheated 450 degree oven for 5 to 6 minutes. (It's easy to use a toaster oven, so you don't have to heat up the large oven.) You can also make several of these at a time. Wrap the ones you don't use in a plastic wrap, then in heavy duty foil and freeze.

Enjoy our 'Tip of the Day' each and every day!

Egg & Dairy-free Thanksgiving & Holiday Dinners

Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner are two dinners that most people look forward to once the leaves begin to change and the cool air blows in to refresh all of us after a hot summer. I can't help myself, the first time I get to break out one of my cute sweaters or colorful scarves I get all giddy inside. Before the first pumpkin is carved I have already had several conversations with my mom about the Thanksgiving menu. I love the holidays.

For those of you who have food allergies or for those of you who are cooking for your little ones who were just diagnosed with severe food allergies you may be a little less excited about the thought of planning Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. You may even have a twinge of nervousness running through your body, thinking to yourself, what am I going to feed my little boy? How do I make my little girl feel like she's not getting left out this year? Should I just steam some vegetables, make a roast and scoop out a bit of non-dairy frozen dessert? Well, this is one way and still a very good way to enjoy the holidays, but there is so much more you can do. In fact, you can make a beautiful feast for the entire family and your friends that is all egg and dairy-free and no one will even know that you have left something out. I promise.

Every year my mom has created amazing holiday menus that were entirely egg and dairy-free. This year my mom and I are going to put together a complete Thanksgiving and Christmas menu for our fans and readers to use and enjoy. We are also going to create an egg and dairy-free cookie tray to share with you. We will post the recipes and the instructional videos in a few weeks. We are so excited about sharing these recipes with all of you.

If you have any questions, please write in to us. And if you have any suggestions, we would love to hear them.

Enjoy! Have Fun! Eat well always!

Nicolle Avery

Planning a Dinner Party for Severe Food Allergies, Celiac Disease, Vegetarians & Vegans

Nowadays when setting out to plan a dinner party it seems that we need to be somewhat familiar with our guests and their medical history before we can put pen to paper to plan our menu and make our grocery list. There are so many issues to be aware of when creating the menu for the guest list. It is a good idea to be aware of any food sensitivities, allergies, Celiac disease or food lifestyles like vegetarianism and veganism before planning the big event.

It's a lot, but it can be done with just a bit of extra thought and planning. My friend Karen is vegan and she plans dinner parties all of the time and is able to accommodate many food and health issues with ease. Her guests always walk away full and happy; even meat lovers. She serves vegan and vegetarian entrees and appetizers that could fool any omnivore into thinking they just ate something with meat in it. She knows her guests and is able to serve all of them.

This year I am planning a holiday party for December. I want it to be a feast where no matter what your food preference or health issue might be, you will be able to eat and drink and be merry! I am already planning the menu, taking into account all the dietary needs of each guest.

There are many ways to approach menu planning for parties with multiple food issues and lifestyles. You could cater the dinner towards the food lifestyle you have chosen and introduce your friends and family to new foods. And If you know there are people coming who have severe food allergies prepare a hearty appetizer that accommodates their needs so that there is something for them to eat. Also, a fun way to get conversations started about food and health is to make pretty cards to be placed in or next to each dish that lists all ingredients used and where the recipe comes from. This will allow your guests to choose what is right for them based on their dietary needs and without having to ask the host a million questions.

Another great way to plan a large dinner party is to ask a few of the vegetarians, vegans, meat lovers, specific food allergy sufferers from the guest list to prepare an appetizer and main dish to share at the party and ask them to make a card listing the ingredients and recipe they used.

I love all of my friends and family and I want them to know that I can take care of them as much as they have taken care of me all of these years.

If you have any great dinner party ideas or questions that you think I might be able to answer, please send them to us.

Enjoy! Have fun! Eat well aways!

Nicolle Avery