College with Food Allergies

Brody may only be in junior high, but one question that is always floating around in the back of my mind is "how will he manage going to college with food allergies?"  I love reading articles that put a positive spin on this topic, because the thought of sending my little guy off to college someday with life-threatening food allergies is a tad bit terrifying to me at the moment!  Good thing we have plenty of time to figure it all out!

Here is a recent interview with a college student:   http://www.allergicchild.com/allergicblog/?p=122

And here is a brand new blog I just stumbled upon today.  It is written by two college students who want to share their experiences of living at school with food allergies. http://collegeallergy.com/index.php/blog/

Baked-In Milk

I came across this very in depth article about the extensively heated (baked-in) milk study that was done several years ago.  I've read abstracts of it before, but had never actually seen the full version.  Brody had a check-up with his allergist a couple days ago and I again brought up the fact that I'm very interested in trialing baked-in milk.  Dr. G still isn't sure if he thinks Brody would pass the challenge, but we'll discuss it again this summer when Brody has his next RAST test done.  We've been on this food allergy journey now for 12 years, so being able to add baked-in milk to his diet would be wonderful!  I'm still holding out hope that some day he'll be free of at least his egg and milk allergies!!

http://www.jacionline.org/article/S0091-6749(08)01111-1/fulltext

Recipe of the Week

For once I'm sharing a recipe that isn't sweet and doesn't include chocolate! :)  I made this recipe for chicken enchiladas last week for my family and everyone went back for seconds!

Chicken Enchiladas
4 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken
1 can (4 oz) chopped green chilies (can use less or leave out if desired)
1 cup soy sour cream
1 pkg Daiya, cheddar
12-15 flour tortillas
1 can (10 oz) red enchilada sauce

Heat oven to 375 degrees.  Combine chicken, chilies, sour cream and 1 cup Daiya cheese.  Spoon down centers of tortillas and roll up.  Spread some sauce on bottom of 9x13 pan.  Add enchiladas and top with remaining sauce.  Cover with foil.  Bake for 20 minutes.  Sprinkle with remaining Daiya cheese.  Bake, uncovered, 5 more minutes.  Serve with soy sour cream and salsa.

A Must-Read Article!

This is an excellent article explaining what exactly happens to the body during anaphylaxis and why Epinephrine saves lives. 
http://theallergistmom.com/2012/01/12/the-science-of-anaphylaxis-an-allergic-storm/

Really??

Maybe I'm just a little overly sensitive due to the fact that a 7-year-old girl died last week at school due to her food allergies, followed a few days later by another death of a 15-year-old girl due to a "severe asthma attack" shortly after eating lunch at school (also nut allergic), but does anyone honestly find this video clip funny?  :-(

Recipe of the Week

I love popcorn for a quick healthy snack, but add this ooey-gooey sunbutter and honey mixture to it and you'll be addicted! Okay, I admit, I have a major sweet tooth!

SunButtery Popcorn
8 cups popped popcorn
1/3 cup corn syrup
1/3 cup honey
1/2 cup SunButter (or soybutter)
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup dairy-free chocolate chips

Put popcorn in a large bowl and set side.  Pour corn syrup, honey, SunButter, and vanilla into a saucepan.  Cook for 5 minutes over medium heat.  Stir mixture occasionally with a wooden spoon until well combined.  Turn off heat. Pour mixture over popcorn.  Add sunflower seeds and chocolate chips.  Stir until everything is well coated.  Enjoy!

A Tragic Loss

Last week a young girl died at school from a peanut allergy. For those of us with children with food allergies, this is our worst nightmare come true. What makes this story even more unbearable is the fact that her death could have been prevented had the school reacted differently. If little Amarria Johnson had been given an EpiPen and 911 was called immediately, perhaps this child would still be alive today.


Read her story here: http://www.wtvr.com/news/wtvr-chesterfield-student-death-20120103,0,4150762.story

Click here to sign an online guest book for Amarria Johnson’s family: http://www.legacy.com/guestbook/timesdispatch/guestbook.aspx?n=amarria-johnson&pid=155347143&cid=full


What are some things we can do to prevent this tragedy from happening to us?

- Before the school year starts, be sure to discuss with school staff about your child’s food allergies and give the school a copy of your child’s Food Allergy Action Plan along with EpiPens and any other medications prescribed for your child.

- Ask your local food allergy support group if they are willing to give a presentation to your school district about how to keep students with food allergies safe in the school environment.

- Role play with your child so they know exactly what they should say and do if they think they are having an allergic reaction.

- Sign this petition to urge the U.S. Senate to pass the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act! https://www.change.org/petitions/save-allergic-childrens-lives-in-schools