PHOTO: Workers look for victims under debris from a tornado that passed across south Oklahoma City, May 20, 2013.
Workers look for victims under debris from a tornado that passed across south courtesy ABC NEWS
Oklahoma City, May 20, 2013.
Paul Hellstern/The Oklahoman/AP Photo

Monday, May 20, 2013, Moore, Oklahoma experienced a tornado. The tornado caused vast devastation, including many fatalities and injuries. As Food Allergy parents, some of us survivors of the recent Hurricane Sandy that hit the East Coast in 2012, we are mindful of what this will mean in the weeks ahead as survivors are moved to shelters. In the shelters, survivors of the tornado will rely on food from food banks, churches, the Red Cross and FEMA.

Early this morning, the Kids With Food Allergies Disaster Committee reached a support group in Oklahoma who will be accepting food-allergy friendly donations, including gluten-free foods, and elemental formulas in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. We are waiting to hear from other food banks on whether or not they will be accepting or prefer cash, small boxes, or palettes of food.

UPDATE: – AS OF 2:18 this afternoon:

UPDATE – As of 1:15 this afternoon, the Oklahoma Food Allergy Support Group has secured the following Church who will be able to accept donations on their behalf:

The Cherokee Hills Church of Christ

6724 NW 63

Oklahoma City, OK  73132

Attn: Becky Matlack and Oklahoma Food Allergy Support Group

PHONE: 405-305-3009 (Cami’s phone number)

Email: tessasmomy (at) yahoo (d0t) com

or cami62 (at) sbcglobal (dot) net

This replaces the formerly published address below, however, if you have already sent this address out, it is still good.

Oklahoma Food Allergy Support Group

2110 N. Shawnee Avenue

Oklahoma City, OK 73107

attn: Carrie Black (member of OK Food Allergy Support Group – email above)

Our hearts and prayers go out to the town of Moore, OK.  If you are a support group leader or active in your local food allergy or asthma community, please let me know if you’d like to help serve on the Kids With Food Allergies Disaster Committee. Our mission is to have a base in every major city in the United States. bklynallergymom (at) gmail (dot) com.

If you are affected by the disaster and are looking for a shelter, here is the link to the Red Cross site for the Central OK region:

http://safeandwell.communityos.org/cms/index.php

First Soynutbutter (or any nutbutter) our child has had in her lifetime – I pinch myself every morning as I make it…

It’s the end of Food Allergy Awareness Week 2013. Food allergies seem to be all around us and actively in a lot of communications, not just in our house, but with others. But for those of us managing the lives of our anaphylactic children, food allergies touch every part of our lifestyle. Food allergies permeate and dictate every moment, from the time we wake up to the time we go to sleep. Recently, we were able to re-introduce SOY (see blog post here) at our Allergist’s office at the Mt. Sinai Jaffe Food Allergy Institute.

A friend recently wrote and suggested our teenager would be a good camp counselor for a day-camp for kids who have food allergies (Camp TAG, a daycamp in New Jersey). And she would – she’d be fabulous. What would it require from us? We, the parents, or one of us, would need to take a week off from work, rent an apartment or a hotel room with a kitchen near the camp, so that we could make her food. We can’t take the time off – it would be wonderful if the Camp could provide housing and food for their counselors (hint!). Also, our child has been wooed by many summer college programs. Again, it would require the same thing. It has hindered her ability to move freely in the world, yet, at the same time, she moves freely and somewhat effortlessly in it.

She knows I’m a “Food Allergy Mom”, which, actually she will make fun of me from time to time, so when yesterday she said:

“Mom, I want to share a story with you…” I was all ears.

She told me that a young woman at her school offered her some Doritos during lunch.

Teenager responded with a polite, “No thank you.” The usual response for her.

To which the young woman replied, “You’re crazy…”

Teenager piped up and said “I’m Lack Toast and Tolerant” (seriously look it up, it’s a phrase now to refer to lactose intolerance).

At this point I paused.

Then, teenager said ,

“Seriously, though, I’m dairy allergic, it’s different.”

Another young woman standing amongst them chimed in:

“I’m allergic to Dairy, too! And Wheat, Nuts, and just found out I’m allergic to Soy.”

Teenager, “I just learned that I can eat Soy last week – and now it’s all I eat!”

The other young woman responded,

“My mom doesn’t know what to give me now, she’s only feeding me omlettes and avocados.”

Teenager, “Well, you can have anything rice: rice milk – it’s by the milk – rice bread and rice…”

I smiled to myself, and at her, and told her I loved her story. I went to bed last night thankful that all of these years of being a food allergy advocate and helping others was paying off, in my teenager, who is helping others and finding that when she speaks up about her food allergies, amazing things can happen. Like you can find another person, like yourself, who has food allergies, and maybe help them out a little.

This seemed like a great way to end Food Allergy Awareness Week 2013.

I plugged the Airocide unit in beside my bed, making sure it was a few inches away from the back of the wall, and was unobstructed in the front. Please excuse the very bad picture, but I think it explains a lot about our space.

Airocide set-up in loft next to bed.

I plugged the Airocide unit in during the early spring, when the pollen counts were climbing. I was feeling very congested, a bit tired, and my eyes were itchy. Within one week I was feeling better. I am not sure how to explain it without being graphic and admitting that I sound like I am forty years older than I really am in the mornings, but, suffice to say I was much more quiet during my morning routine. Additionally, our fifteen year old, who is in the loft in an adjacent room, felt better too.

Here’s a video on how the Airocide unit works:

And a blurb from Airocide web site;

Airocide draws in harmful airborne pathogens and forces them into a densely packed matrix of highly reactive catalysts that are activated by a high intensity 254-nanometer light. The reaction destroys these harmful pathogens on contact. Nothing is captured so there is nothing to clean. All that exits is crisp, clear air, with zero ozone emissions.

The technology that powers Airocide is an older NASA technology. It has been used for twelve years in corporate settings, as well as on the Space Station – here is some more information on where the technology has been in use, and it’s success rates.

• Surgery – average results 73% reduction in bacteria and mold
• Office – average results 72% reduction in bacteria and mold
• Households – average results 75% reduction in bacteria and mold
• Childcare Center – average results 60% reduction in bacteria and mold
• Dental Private Practices – average results 81% reduction in bacteria and mold

To Summarize, for me and our family, the Airocide air purifying unit is excellent and has the following attributes:

1. Small, and lightweight.

2. Well designed, looks good in any room.

3. Works in large spaces.

4. Requires little to no care after you plug it in.

5. Has three settings, including a quiet setting for nighttime.

To find out more about Airocide:

·         Website: www.airocide.com

·         Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Airocide

·         Twitter: https://twitter.com/airocide

This Brooklyn Allergy Mom gives Airocide a thumbs up and we will definitely keep using it.

****edited to add the afternoon of 5.7.2013****

Switch! Tomorrow’s re-introduction will be SOY! I couldn’t find buckwheat groats anywhere in my neighborhood, and there’s no time to go running around today. So, it will be Silk Soymilk. I’ll add some Hershey’s® Cocoa, sugar and a bit of gluten-free vanilla and be done with it. Also, I’m told there’s to be someone else there around her age doing a re-introduction as well. Hopefully, some bonding will occur. Wish us luck!

1. Ecos Products

Why use Ecos? Here’s why from their web site:

• FIRST To eliminate 1,4 Dioxane, a carcingoen, from all products.
• FIRST To stop use of salts in all cleaners, an action necessary to protect water supplies.
• FIRST To eliminate Formaldehyde, a pernicious toxin.
• FIRST / ONLY To introduce a patented nuetral pH automatic dishwashing product, WAVE® Gel.
• TOP SELLING Green Laundry product worldwide, ECOS® laundry detergent.
• ONLY Green manufacturer with plants strategically located in 5 regions.
• FIRST To generate more than 50% of our plant electrical needs by using solar panels.
• FIRST In sustainability.
• ONLY Green primary manufacturing company. We’re a one-link supply chain. We don’t contract our manufacturing to others. We control the entire process. We respond to new research and customer preferences immediately.

In October, 2012, I began making my own green laundry detergent, dishwashing detergent and dishwasher rince aid. So when ECOS reached out to me in March and sent me their ECOS laundry detergent, dishwashing detergent and household cleaners for review, I thought, fantastic, let’s see how they stack up against my home-made versions. All ECOS products are made from plants.

The laundry detergent worked very well in my front loading washing machine. I fell in love with the light lavender scent of the Baby ECOS laundry detergent; especially the way it smells on my husband’s work clothes. It also didn’t seem to bother child’s eczema.

Other products: ECOS Window Cleaner, ECOS Parsley Plus, and ECOS Breeze.  The Parsley Plus has a strong parsley scent (to be honest it made me a bit hungry!) and it also has amazing cleaning properties.  It found a nice home in the bathroom because of it’s cleaning qualities and its clean fresh scent. The ECOS Window Cleaner has actually become my go-to cleaner in the kitchen as well as the windows. In addition, it also does an amazing job of getting the shower walls clean of hard water spots. The ECOS Breeze is the air freshener spray, my husband was very happy when this appeared – it also helps to eliminate odors on stinky clothes.

The ECOS WAVE Auto Dishwasher gel worked alright in my dishwasher, but the most amazing product that worked in place of my home made rinse aid was their ECOS WaveJet Dishwasher Rinse Aid. It is free of Formaldehyde, petrochemicals, GMO’s, phosphates, chlorine, amonia, and is pH neurtral.

2. VegieFresh

Are you as tired of plastic bags as I am? I found this VEGIEFRESH product at Expo West 2012, which is a 100% natural mineral mix when placed in your veggie drawer absorbs the ethylene gas that comes off of your fruits and vegetables and in turn extends their life. One package lasts three months. There is no need to keep (or even buy) your fruits and veggies in plastic bags when you use VEGIEFRESH. Just open up the product in your crisper drawer, and load those naked veggies and fruits in!

3. Biobag

I have been grappling with a very sad conscience over all of the bags that I use for trash that will end up in the landfill. So while I was at the Park Slope Coop this week, I found these BIOBAGS. Biobag products are made with annually renewable crops and contain no polyethylene. They are not recommended for use in the microwave or for storing liquids. But they do make incredibly good lunchbags. Here is a quote from Biobag with regards to the biodegradable nature of their bags and landfills.

BioBags are designed to be composted and returned naturally back to the earth. They are not designed to be placed in a landfill.

If BioBags are placed in an open landfill they will decompose at a rate similar to other biodegradable materials in the same setting. If BioBags are placed in an anaerobic (air-locked) landfill and deprived of oxygen and the existence of the micro-organisms that “eat” naturally biodegradable materials, their ability to decompose will be severely restricted. This is true of all biodegradable materials placed in this setting, including paper, yard waste and food waste. The majority of landfills in the U.S. are anaerobic (air-locked) landfills.

So, I guess I can’t win this argument, but I can start composting this summer with my new biobags!

Disclosure: ECOS products sent to me by company for review, VEGIEFRESH product found at EXPOWEST 2012, and BIOBAG purchased by me at the Coop.

Heidi Bayer ©2009 All Rights Reserved

At the beginning of every flight, the flight attendants remind us to put our own mask on first, then put a mask on our child. I was recently reminded of this by an acquaintance and it stuck with me as a caregiver to a child, wife, and working mom. At a trip to my board certified Allergist last month for my yearly check-up, my Doctor verified that my asthma is in remission. I still have medication with me in case of a flare, and I am also taking antihistamine due to Spring allergies. Last weekend, I found that I can actually run. I ran around Prospect Park. Ran (ok I did walk a bit). I haven’t run since I was sixteen. After my run, I actually felt an incredible sense of freedom and re-energized.

When my asthma was at its worst and not responding to medication, I used to say, “If you can’t breathe, you can’t live.” Those with asthma know what I’m talking about. Those without asthma can only imagine.

With this new lease on life, last week I went to my regular doctor for a yearly check-up – I had previously been to my gynecologist for my yearly visit, and visited the imaging center for my yearly mammogram. Advice on regular check-ups can be found here, on the CDC Web Site. I went to my GP (general practitioner), the Doctor I’ve had for the past eight years and the same Doctor my husband has (he’s quick to pint out how wonderful she is, I’m quick to point out that she was my Doctor first!). She checked my cholesterol through a blood test, called a lipid panel. We talked about aging and how after forty weight shifts from a woman’s tush and thighs to her stomach, something very unpleasing, and how perimenopause is not talked about often enough between women and can last from 10 – 15 years. I hope to interview our Doctor for a blog post soon. Her comment was that many people have the same complaints as I do. Nothing to worry about, just the normal machinations of age and time.

The results from the blood tests came in through an online portal set up by the doctor’s office where I can check all of my test results and email my doctor confidentially. This is in compliance with the Affordable Care Act, which requires electronic health records.

All results were good. Except one. My Vitamin D level was low. Information on Vitamin D deficiency can be found here on WebMD. The treatment is to take a prescription dose of Vitamin D once a week for eight weeks, then have my blood checked again. Vitamin D, as you know, can be obtained from 20 minutes of sun exposure on 25% of your body without sunscreen. But, in the winter in New York City, there are no benefits from the sun – our benefits are from May to September only. Vitamin D deficiency is very common in people with Crohn’s, Celiac disease and may cause worsening of asthma symtoms. I wrote a blog post last year around this time about Vitamin D – you can read it here.

Are you avoiding going to your Doctor for a yearly check-up? Why? Find a Board Certified physician and get yourself checked out. You may put it off because you feel good, but you want to get to know your Doctor, have some blood work done, and be proactive with your health. If you don’t put your own mask on first, then who will be around to put the mask on your child?

How do you stretch a grocery budget when specialty bread costs $5.99 a loaf? I’ve thought that many many times. However, I’ve not been in the position of choosing between going hungry or feeding my child.

During Hurricane Sandy, I wrote about going to the shelters to see if there was anyone in need. Now, I’ve begun a committee through Kids With Food Allergies, comprising those active in three other charities, and with some very smart people, to assist in identifying and helping those with food allergies, asthma and other dietary restrictions find food and safe shelter in the event of another natural disaster. This is a daunting task, but thanks to the already hard work of many food allergic moms, people and policy makers, we are on a good path. We are approaching it not only from an on-the-ground standpoint, but also from a policy standpoint. Most food banks do not distinguish between Kosher Foods, let alone gluten-free or food allergy friendly foods. Most public schools do not provide allergen-friendly foods or gluten free foods for students. We are making headway, but the task is great. In case you don’t know what allergen-friendly foods look like – I posted an Amazon.com wish list where anyone can view it here.

In honor of Food Bloggers Against Hunger Day, I’m reposting a post that I wrote about a year ago on how to stretch a grocery budget as well as my part 1 of how to make white beans recipe.

How to stretch a grocery budget has always been a difficult task; stretching ones grocery budget and having food allergies is another challenge altogether. So I have a few food allergy grocery strategies to share with you. Have you ever dumped food into the trashcan and thought “WOW! That’s a lot of Waste!”? Do you hear your mother in your head saying “Don’t waste food!”. You’re not alone. I’ve been trying to get food to last as long as possible for the years since we were diagnosed with food allergies and found ourselves purchasing $5.00 loaves of allergen-free bread. Below are three ways to make and store food that will help stretch your grocery budget.

1. Freeze Canned Tuna
Did you know that canned tuna, after being taken out of the can, can be frozen? Our dear daughter loves her tuna in her salad with basalmic. But although I only buy the 3oz cans of tuna, she usually only goes through about 1 – 2 oz at a time. (A can of fresh caught tuna runs about $5.99.) After she’s done taking what she wants, I un-can the tuna into a large Ziploc bag and place it in the freezer (remember to label it!). After doing this for a month or so, I usually have what amounts to two (2) 6 oz cans of tuna. When we’re ready to have tuna again, I chip of the amount that I think she’ll like with a fork, then place it on the lowest defrost setting in the microwave (alternatively, put it in a ramekin and let it thaw in the fridge for a day).

2. Make your own Beans
Making your own beans is nutritious and easy (especially if you have a pressure cooker). I even make my own chili beans. Organic canned beans can cost up to 2.99 for 15 ounce can, whereas making our own costs pennies. I like to make a whole bag of beans, then put them in smaller containers and freeze (keeping the liquid). You can enhance the taste of them by adding onions, garlic, or other herbs and enhance their calcium content by adding a seaweed called Kombu. But never ever add salt until the end.

3. Make your own Broth
I love making my own broths and have for years because our child was once allergic to onion and garlic. I use anything that is in my veggie drawer (except bell peppers) and can’t be cut up and put into a salad for vegetable broth, including mushrooms, scallions, jalapenos and sweet potatoes. Don’t toss any part of that chicken! (Organic chicken costs $18.99 for one chicken at our Farmer’s Market). Freeze the wing tips, the neck, and leftover bones. When you’re ready to make your broth, bring the chicken parts and vegetables to a slight boil in enough water to cover, skim and simmer for 40 minutes. Strain then freeze the broth for up to 3 months, or store in the fridge for up to 3 days. Remember to always cool your broth with a cover on it before freezing or refrigerating.

Here are some past recipes that are easy to make with simple staples from your pantry.

PART 1 OF WHITE NAVY BEANS RECIPE BLOG

PART 2 OF WHITE NAVY BEANS RECIPE BLOG

PART 3 OF WHITE NAVY BEANS RECIPE BLOG

FRUGAL RECIPE FOR ALLERGEN FREE GLUTEN FREE FRIED CHICKEN

FRUGAL FAMILY MEAL ROASTED CHICKEN, GREENS AND RICE

HEALTHY TURKEY CHILI & CORNBREAD $2.80 per serving

This post was inspired by a Nicole Gulotta, founder of The Giving Table for her Food Bloggers Against Hunger 4.8.2013 campaign  to promote A Place At the Table, a new documentary film by Participant Media. The film raises awareness about the issues of hunger, and wants to encourage you to send letters to Congress to protect SNAP funding and make anti-hunger legislation a priority.

Other Food Allergy Bloggers have written good posts for today here:

Sloane Miller, Allergic Girl

A list of all the bloggers participating is here:

2 Hungry Hearts

1840 Farm

Accidental Locavore

A Couple Cooks

A Fork in Hand

A Little Something to Nosh On

Allergic Girl

The Allergic Kid

A Nasty Bite

an organic process

Anna Dishes

An Edible Mosaic

Anktangle

An Unrefined Vegan

Anna Dishes

A Raisin & A Porpoise

A Stack of Dishes

Auburn Meadow Farm

Autumn Makes and Does

AVIAL

Azúcar & Spice

Bake and Destroy

Bakeaway With Me

The Balanced Platter

Barefoot Essence

Bare Root

Barnes and Hoggetts

Beard+Bonnet

Bluejellybean’s Blog

Briciole

Brighton Your Health

Brooklyn Allergy Mom

Brooklyn Locavore

Buttercream & Roses

By: Sarah Rae

Cake ‘n’ Knife

Canned Time

Celiac and the Beast

Characters Pub

Cheapeats

Cindy’s Recipes and Writings

Clean Eats Fast Feets

Cooking with Anne

Cooking with Michele

Corbin in the Dell

Cre8tive Compass

Crepes of Wrath

Crispy Shipley

Culicurious

Curious Cusiniere

Curiosa di Natura

Custom Cuisine

Cuts: Recipes for Everyday

Daily Deliberations

Delightful Crumb

Democracy is Delicious

The Devil’s Food Advocate

Diet Starts Twomorrow

Dine with Pat

Dinner with Laura

DishnDat

diy dietitian

Double Dippers

Eat. Drink. Smile.

Eat For Equity

Eating 4 Balance

Eat This Poem

Eat What’s On Your Plate

Eat When You’re Hungry

Eating Rules

Edo Ergo Sum

Em-i-lis

The Enabling Cook

Erin’s Food Files

Everyday Maven

Everyday Ramblings of my Life

Everyday True Food

Farm Fresh Feasts

The Faux Martha

Feastie

Fed Up With Lunch

Feeding Big

Feed Yourself

Fifth Floor Kitchen

Food.is.a.Good.thing

Food Deserted

Foodie Crush

FoodiesNYC

Foodie Yoga Girl

FoodieTots

The Food Poet

Forkable

Freshfully

From Belly to Bacon

Frugal Foodie Mama

Garnish with Lemon

Gastography

Getting Inside My Head

Giggles, Gobbles and Gulps

Gimme Some Oven

girlichef

Good. Clean. Food.

Good Food Matters

Good Things Grow

Greatist

Growing Days

Grow It Cook It Can It

Happy Food Happy Life

Happy Fool

Harmonious Homestead

Haute Mealz

Heather’s French Press

hk in love

Home Cooking Memories

Home Maid Simple

Hot, Cheap & Easy

HTBaking

The Hunger and Undernutrition Blog

Hungry in the Hub

Icebox Farm

Inkling Media

Inherit the Spoon

In Pursuit of More

In Your Face! – New Jersey Cuisine

I Run for Wine

It Takes a Kitchen

Jackie’s Joie de Vivre

The Jew and the Carrot

Juanita’s Cocina

The Jumelles Project

Kate in the Kitchen

Kate Updates

Kettler Cuisine

Kitchen Apparel

The Kitchenista Diaries

Kitchenpants!

Kitchen Treaty

Kristin Wartman

KY Healthy Kids

La Aguatate

LaureeOhOhOh

Learning to Eat

Leslie Eats

Life À la Mode

Life is Fare

Life With the Lushers

Listen, Learn, Act and Reflect

Local Appetite

Local Belle

Love & Lemons

Loves Food, Loves to Eat

The Lunch Box

The Lunch Tray

Mama’s High Strung

Margarita’s in the Rain

Meal Planning Magic

Me, Redone

Merlot and Monkfish

Meshell in Your City

The Midnight Baker

Mince and Type

Miz Helen’s Country Cottage

Mooshu Jenne

Mother Nature Network

Munching in the Mitten

My Family Table

My Inspiration

My Mad, Mad, Mad Gourmet Adventures

My Mama Rhythm

Naturally Ella

NeighborFood

North Shore Locavore

Nourish Your Future

The Nosh Pit

Not Just Baked

Now Things Are Cookin’

On Sugar Mountain

Oshkosh Area Community Pantry

Our Lady of Second Helpings

Panfusine

Passports & Pancakes

Pepper Lynn

Perspicacity

Pinot Mom

Plums in the Icebox

Poor Girl Gourmet

Potato Chips Are Not Dinner

Queen of Quinoa

Rachel’s Table

The Real Deal Marin

Recipes for Sustenance

The Redhead Baker

The Red Lentil

Robyn Straley

The Rome Digest

Rosemarried

Rubber Cowgirl

Run DMT

Sacramento Vegan

Salmon Squad

Salt-a-Toria

Salted Plates

Savory Simple

Seditious Joy

Shared Appetite

Simple Living and Eating

Simply Sugar & Gluten Free

The Slender Kitchen

Smart Eating for Kids

So Hungry I Could Blog

Solid Gold Eats

Spice and Dice

South Jersey Locavore

The Sunny Side Up

Sustainable Pantry

Sweet Betweens

Tampa Uncorked

Taste Love and Nourish

Tasting Rome

That Skinny Chick Can Bake

That’s What I Eat

There and Back Again

This Homemade Life

The TV Dinner

Turnips 2 Tangerines

Vedged Out

Vegan in the Freezer

V is for Vegetables

The Veggie Nook

The Verdant Home

Webicurean

The Weekend Gourmet

We’ll Eat You Up

What’s Cookin??

What’s Cooking Good Looking

Would John Eat It?

So far I’ve made oat buns and oatmeal cookies in addition to the oatmeal. What is your favorite thing to do with oatmeal?

Allergy Alert Name Bubbles

They also sell Name Bubbles that allow one to make custom labels. I’m always buying in bulk (I ask the manager to open a new bag of rice so that there’s no cross contamination) so when I bring my rice, and spices home, I put them in containers. Now, the containers have Name Bubble labels on them! The labels are of very good quality, sturdy and once you’ve written on them, do not smudge or smear.

My Custom Name Bubbles

I think that you will like these labels, too, so I’m thrilled to be able to offer a giveaway for the month of April of one set of Name Bubbles Allergy Labels! RULES: Please like my facebook page (www.facebook.com/bklynallergymom), then every Wednesday I will post question (if you’ve already liked my page, read on). Next, all you need to do to enter is to comment on the question. You may enter to wine one package of Name Bubbles Allergy Labels once per week until April 30th for a chance to win your very own set of Allergy Labels. You must live in the continental United States and please check your FB message box as a winner will be randomly selected on or about April 30th. If a winner doesn’t come forward within a day, we will have another drawing.

See what Name Bubbles is up to on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest

Disclosure: Name Bubbles sent me labels so that I could try them.