Friday Fare: Granola Bars

We love these granola bars. As soon as the batch runs out, I make another. They're super easy to make and, believe me, after you eat these, you'll never go back to packaged granola bars filled with preservatives, chemicals, and lots of allergens again. Give them a try this week-end.

Granola Bars
free of dairy, eggs, soy, peanuts, tree nuts




Ingredients:

2 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup wheat germ
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup all-purpose flour (I use ¾ regular flour and ¼ whole wheat flour)
3/4 cup raisins, marshmallows, mini chocolate chips, or any other add-ins you prefer (check labels for allergens)
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup honey
1 1/2 tablespoon warm water, 1 1/2 tablespoon canola oil, 1 teaspoon baking powder mixed until bubbly (this is the substitute for one egg)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup applesauce
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

How to Prepare:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
In a large bowl, mix together the oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, cinnamon, flour, raisins and salt.
Make a well in the center, and pour in the honey, water/oil/baking powder mixture, oil and vanilla. Mix well.
Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until the bars begin to turn golden at the edges.
Cool for 5 minutes, then cut into bars while still warm.
Enjoy!

You Can Make Dairy Free Pudding

I've tried it, so don't bother...you cannot substitute a non-dairy milk for the milk called for on the box of Jell-O® pudding. It doesn't "set".

But here's a recipe to try using Silk Soymilk, a staple in our house.

Sure, it's not as easy as mixing up some pudding using the powder from the box, but those of us who cook allergy-friendly foods are used to that, right? Happy cooking!

Mothers of Food Allergic Children Speak Up

Check out this six-part series of four mothers who have food allergic children. Part of a roundtable discussion with ABCNews Health, the moms talk about warning signs, coping, convincing others, school and special events, guilt and hurt and the bright side.

Those of us who deal with food allergies every day will really relate to what these women talk about. There may be a section or two that you may want to forward to a grandparent, baby-sitter or teacher. It sometimes help to have others back up your message.

The Misconceptions of Food Allergy

In a news release from the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Dr. Ruchi S. Gupta revealed that an online survey of 2148 U.S. adults shows many misconceptions about food allergy.

More than 66% of those surveyed believe that a daily medicine can be taken to prevent a food allergy reaction.
Nearly half of the respondents said there is a cure for food allergy.
Over 40% said that food allergy reactions could be prevented by means other than strict avoidance.

Hmmm...we're not doing a very good job of educating others about food allergy. These people are our teachers, principals, nurses, grandparents, bus drivers, neighbors, babysitters, coaches, scout leaders. Many of them are not getting it and that can be dangerous to our children.

Take every opportunity to inform others of the facts:

There is no cure for food allergy.
There are no medicines available to prevent a food allergy reaction.
Avoidance of the food is the only way to prevent a reaction.

Read the full news article here.

Back to School With Food Allergies

Back to school is on my mind as we enter the final month of summer vacation. I plan to request a 504 plan for my FA 4th grader as I was unhappy with the communication (lack of) related to the Healthcare Plan we used last year. Anyone have any experience with 504 Plans for food allergy?

Also, take a look at Alison's all-inclusiveBack to School Tips for Gluten-Free and Allergy -Free Kids. It's a great checklist, especially if you're sending your FA child to school for the first time.

Food Allergy Quiz

Check out this true/false quiz from ACAAI (American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology). My readers may find it fairly elementary, but I think it would make for some great talking points with grandparents and older food allergic children.

Did any of the questions stump you? I got number 6 wrong. I knew that exercise could lead to anaphylaxis, but I didn't realize the food allergy link. Always learning...

Lessening the Impact of Severe Allergic Reaction

Anyone who cares for someone with a life threatening allergy, whether to food, insect stings, latex, etc., carries a fear of a fatal anaphylactic reaction. When I send my food allergic child on the school bus each day or drop him off for a play date, I always have the thought, "Please let him be safe". Living with anxiety over a mix up with a cup or a snack is exhausting. Knowing that one wrong sip or bite could lead to a rapid onset of symptoms that may lead to death is terrifying.

I'm encouraged by a new discovery at the University of Glasgow. They've discovered that an immune hormone, IL-33, plays a key role in the development of anaphylaxis. Patients with high levels of IL-33 had more severe anaphylactic reactions. The researchers believe that a decrease or elimination of IL-33 will greatly reduce anaphylactic symptoms. The reaction would be less severe and thereby less chance it would be fatal.

The team was successful in proving this in a mouse model and plans to continue with their research. Check out the article here.