Introduction

[allergycook]

I've lurked around here for a while, and found everyone to be very helpful so I finally decided I should register so that I can ask my questions too. I was wondering if there is anyone else here who deals with multiple allergies? My son (almost 3) is severely allergic to milk, soy, wheat, eggs, nuts, peanuts and just for fun we avoid all shellfish too :rolleyes: As you can guess we have to lots of substitions and modifying recipes for him.

~Heather

[Kristine]

Hi Heather- welcome to the boards! I just wanted to let you know that in general it is rather slow around here on the weekends. So don't worry if you don't get many replies right away. :)

Can't help with the allergy question, though I'm sure there are others that can!

[HejazSunKat]

Hi Heather - Welcome to the fray. Sorry I can't help with the allergy question just wanted to say welcome aboard. I do have some friends who either have such allergies themselves or have children with them and I've observed it is a challenge cooking for them but probably no more so than cooking for somebody with a medical condition. You've probably already done this but maybe a good dietician can help. I think we've got somebody on the board who just got their RD (but her name escapes me) so at least I've bumped this up for you and maybe she'll see it!

[breadmama]

Hi, Heather,
I have an almost 3 year old son with many of those same allergies (eggs, all dairy, fish, and nuts are our main culprits). My sister's son (also 3) has all of these plus beef and wheat. So, we're always looking for ideas to share, too.

Welcome to the board - there are a lot of wonderful, helpful people here!

Laurie

[JHolcomb]

Hi Heather. I can't help you too much with the allergies now (I do still have moderate allergies to milk and eggs but can eat them as long as I'm taking all of my medicine and my other allergies are under control), but I had really, really bad ones to milk and disposable diapers as a baby (yeah, I was a freakin' bundle of joy), so I just wanted to say that I sympathize with you and your son...hope he grows out of at least some of them. In the meantime, good luck and welcome.

[Molli526]

Hi Heather,

Welcome!

I can't help with the allergy stuff, but will bump this up.

Hopefully not sounding too ignorant, is there a reason why kids get certain allergies i.e. genetics? What your son has sounds so severe.

[penguin]

My nephew is 6 and has many of the same allergies your son has (legumes, nuts, milk, eggs, poultry). It is always a challenge to come up with exciting and tasty dessert recipes (I get tired of wacky cake) when we get together. It looks like there are lots of others in the same boat. Feel free to post and ask your questions! :)

[Angela]

Welcome!
I don't have personal allergy and cooking experience, but my cousins son has severe allergies--the same ones your son has. My cousin was close to dying one day at school as the lunch servers used the same spoon to dish out Mark's mashed potatoes as they used for the peas. Just the bit of pea liquid that was on the spoon that got onto the potatoes was enough to make him swell up and not be able to breath. Mark used to carry a fanny pack at school so that his meds were readily available--having his meds at the nurses' office wasn't good enough as he needs the meds during an episode ASAP! It's very scary!
Now that he's a teenager he's grown out of some of the allergies and/or they aren't as severe.

[Curleytop]

WELCOME! I have a 49 year old son:rolleyes: with allergies! He goes for shots every month, but he can't use soy, easy on tomatoes, and poultry. Sooo when he eats with us, I have to use butter in everything I cook and bake. Be prepared to find out that sometimes the allergies change!

[allergycook]

Was nice to come home from Christmas travels with such a nice welcome. As for why people get food allergies they don't know in Mike's case. Some people in similar situations have something called EG where they react to lots of foods but that's not our case. Not all of Mike's are life threatening, but some of them are, and all together they make for one sick little baby until we figured things out. There is a possibility that his wheat/oat/gluten allergy is really celiac but tests have shown up inconclusive and I figure I don't cook with it anymore so what does the why matter at this point.

~Heather

[njohnson72]

My sister-in-law had the same trouble with her daughter. And since she was breastfed, SIL could not have any foods that her daughter is allergic too. She nursed her for 18 months. Her daughter is allergic to soy and dairy products - has to drink rice milk. I think that is the biggest challenge - so many people with dairy allergies can suffice with soy products, but not my niece.

I did notice at our new Whole Foods market many products, including icecream, made with rice milk. I also learned from my SIL that Wendy's dips their fries in milk - so her daughter can't have Wendy's but can have MacDonald's fries safely. Who would have known?

Good luck to you.

[allergycook]

Mike can't even have pre-made rice milk....for who knows what reason they add .002% or less barley--just enough to make him sick. So we make our own :-) It's frustrating and more so this time of year when there are so many yummy treats out there I would normally let them try when they are off limits other times of the year.

re: the fries...McDonald's french fries are the only thing he can eat from any kind of restraunt...fast food or sit down. Lots of places also coat their fries in flour (I have to admit, I had done this before on home fries--makes them nice and crunchy) or cook them in same fryers as their breaded chicken nuggets etc.

~Heather

[rmg_CA]

Just thought I'd throw in my $0.02 since I WAS someone with a ton of food allergies (and allergies in general). I was allergic to just about everything, I don't know how my mom dealt with me!! I remember that couldn't have chocolate (mom would say butterscotch was my substitute -- yech!!), eggs, citrus fruit, tomatoes, most nuts, and was also allergic to cotton linters, dust, cats, wool, and christmas trees. My reaction was severe asthma (purple lipped kind!) and hives and it was pretty bad. From all that, I outgrew just about everything and I attribute it to my allergy shots (2-3 x week over several years). I do still have asthma but only VERY rarely, when I laugh too hard for too long. :p I've also got two cats now (and 2 doggies too), and find that I'm not allergic to my cats, but only NEW cats, especially siamese. Just as a precaution though, I do have an epi-pen and I'm always stocked with inhalers! Hang in there, maybe it won't be forever or will mellow over time.

[knunes]

I wanted to welcome you. No allergy advice here, as I have only one child and we are lucky that neither she nor DH nor I have any allergies. It feels to me that it must be SO hard....that so much of your energy needs to go to protecting your child....it seems very unfair. Best of luck and I hope the allergies lessen. Katie