The other day someone asked what my plans are for Purim. I think, like every other parent of food-allergic children, my heart skipped a beat and sunk to my feet . . .
30 Comments Posted
Sara Atkins' excellent writing skills have succinctly captured the perils of highly allergic children, especially when attending shul or community gatherings. The recipes can be adapted for family preferences and allergens and are very helpful for those of us who deal with allergies every day.
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Dear Sara,
How exciting that you have not only found a way to bring joy and tradition to your family but to help others find a way to be aware and understanding.
I can imagine the time, energy, commitment and fortitude to being a mom to kids with so many allergies is tremendous. What a great role model you are!
All our best to all of you.
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The chicken costumes sound very creative. And your high spirit through all of this is very amazing. G-d should bless you with strength for all you do.
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Although I have no allergic children I feel the information is important for everyone to know - especially, grammys like me, who want to feed every child they see. I will no longer be unaware of the possible danger of doing that. I commend you for your positive outlook toward these challenges and for instilling that same viewpoint to your children. Thank you for all you do...
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Right on mom!!! I am the one at age 59 who is anaphylaxis to corn, and I have to really watch my diet. It's not the obvious that is the problem, it's the little hidden places it hides. Knowing how hard it is for me, I congratulate you on your success in instilling joy in your children for eating the foods G-d made for us to enjoy.
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I too am a mom with food allergic children. One of my kids has outgrown her allergies (milk and wheat) and the other is still allergic/anaphylactic to eggs. For a great egg substitute, especially for baking mix the following: 1 1/2 tablespoons water, 1 1/2 tablespoons oil, 1 teaspoon baking powder. It is equal to 1 to 2 eggs in any baking recipe. Life gets easier! Thanks for sharing!
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I have been in an extremely similar situation except my son was only able to eat 9 foods and to the rest he reacted to. That was 10 years ago. Through miracles we found a holistic health practitioner that practices an allergy elimination technique which has changed the life of my family and children forever. The technique is called Naet-it's worth looking into. Happy Purim!
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Thanks for the recipes! I have found people WANT to accomodate but don't know how. I have friends allergic to many things and have worked hard to accomodate them! I'm allergic to chocolate-no worries cheesecake is just fine- so none of my friends have ever given me chocolate. I can only say IF you have an allergy- let people know and tell them what you can have. I do.
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As a family we have allergies to over 20 foods. Makes things interesting when cooking. Until this summer when we took a trip to National Jewish in Denver, CO my youngest had only 8 safe foods in which she could eat. With their amazing care at National Jewish my children were given their lives back them as well as my husband and myself. We still deal with lots of food allergies but not nearly as many as before. We dealt with a ana corn reaction in my youngest and have found that I am actually allergic as well! I can tolerate it is some forms but not all. She has Thank G-d outgrown the allergy and is in love with anything corn!
I recommend to anyone dealing with allergies to find a good board certified allergist who is certified in allergy/immunology and work closely with them. While treatments like NAET are out there they are not regulated. There is no proof that it can actually help with true allergies (IgE mediated) and in some cases (like my children) it can be harmful.
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I would love a recipe for some holiday goodies that do not contain walnuts.
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I had tears in my eyes as I read your article. I have some very good recipes for desserts if you're interested. Have you traveled with your children and if so, how? My 6 year old has allergies and I'm terrified to take her away, except to Disney World, where everyone is aware and helpful. The good news is that it gets much easier as the kids get older and more careful themselves.
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I am sitting here about 8 hours from a road trip with the kids. :) Yes, we travel but we do not fly as the kids have a number of airborne ana. foods. We have found driving to where we are going much safer dealing with the amount of allergies we have as it gives us more control with exposure. We actually drove to Denver, CO from Philadelphia, Pa for the kids to be evaluated and treated at National Jewish who is renowned for their asthma, allergy, and eczema treatments. It was a 4 day drive, 2 weeks stay, and 4 day drive. It was INTERESTING! We gained our lives back with this trip. We travel with all our own food (I just spent 2 days cooking for the next week while we are away), extra epi pens, a LOT of benadryl, and tend to travel except for medical reasons to family who will hopefully understand our circumstances.
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I would love some passover recipes that are egg free, dairy free, peanut/nut free, and sesame free. As of now my poor 2 year old can't eat any festive foods
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my 8 year old is allergic to eggs and nuts. Any Pesach dessert recipes that don't include those (gluten free or not) would be very much appreciated.
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G-d willing by the end of today I will be emailing them some :) Have to make sure they are my own or tweeked enough to have become my own.
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Adaptations are always possible, I am allergic to sea fish and shell fish, cow's milk, but also to radish, rhubarb and aspragus (as so far known...)
Any allergy deserves to be treated seriously and with understanding that "being allergic" to something, doesn't mean "doesn't like to eat" the something, as many sadly believe...
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this article came at the perfect moment in my life! My son was just put on a gluten free diet and I was seriously dreading Purim. I am still nervous about it but you have alleviated some of my fears! I can't wait to try some new recipes. Thank you so much!! I was wondering how to reach you or how to find a Jewish gluten free or alergy support group.
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If you click on my name at the top it should take you to my bio which has a link in which you can get a hold of me. Feel free to contact me as I have lots more gluten free kosher recipes. I'm so glad I could alleviate some of your fears.
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The recipe using the Cherrybrook kitchen sugar cookie mix is right on the money. Just be careful to look at the label closely because I believe they have gluten free and non gluten free cookie mix.
I made cookies for Chanukah with the mix and they were a big hit. But the box does call for too much oil/fat.
Also, for kids who don't like standard filling for Hamentashen, I've found that if you use a few chocolate chips as filling it's a nice alternative.
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Hi Sara,
I have a son who is allergic to wheat, dairy, soy, nuts, eggs, sessame, legumes and mangos. He has never had Challah. Usually we give him a slice of bread on Shabbat. I am very interested in making the Challah. However, the recipe doesn't include oven temp, time to bake, whether or not the dough needs time to rise. Could you please let me know that information?
Thanks,
Megan
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Doesn't Sara's recipe include flour (which I assume means wheat flour)? I mean, it doesn't look to me like you can use it if you are dealing with a wheat allergy.
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congrat this was the best article I have seen I will share your recipes
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Great Article
I am compelled to take it a step further if I may.
I suffer with food Allergies, Anaphylaxis and MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivities). There is no cure for any of these other than STRICT Avoidance.
The world is not very friendly to people with MCS. One whiff of Bounce, Perfume, Febreeze, Glade Plug In's or other chemical/fragrance has the same effect as one Peanut would to a suffer with Peanut allergy.
Incredibly, most people get offended & definsive if I tell them that their "Perfume is Literally Killing me" instead of trying to accommodate this invisible disability. Hence, with this lack of compassion, we are driven further and further into extreme isolation.
No School
No Shopping
No visiting
No visitors
No Shul
No Vacations
No outings
Nobody seems to be able to live without their fragrances ... and yet people like me are being forced into isolation in epidemic proportions.
Please learn about MCS and how you can make a difference.
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www.elanaspantry.com/gluten-free-raspberry-hamantaschen/
these are pretty amazing and very healthy gluten free hamantashen, my family gobbeled them down, they are even ok or passover!
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Although we are not Jewish, I totally sympathize with your situation. As of right now, we are only dealing with a milk, egg, and peanut allegies (anaphylactic to the the two latter) but it makes holidays, pot lucks, eating out, and receiving gifts so difficult. We too have found way around this, by modifiying family recipes to make them safe or by starting our own traditions. This article had me on the verge of tears - it was wonderful to read that your son made your daughter feel a part of the holiday even when she could not participate. Thank you for sharing.
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My daughter is going to be 3 and had her very first, good hamentashen. She has outgrown her wheat and egg allergy, which makes all jewish holidays much easier Purim for the fun factor, but mostly for the relief of pesach looming ahead. It's not going to be such a difficult pesach and shopping will not have to start so early to make sure all the wheat free, egg free stuff is no all gone! But as my father has said in the past 'thank goodness for lollipops'! Nothing put a smile on a kids face faster, no matter what other goody they have to turn down!
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My 5 year old is allergic to eggs, dairy and peanuts. When people hear that they say "Pesach must be awful for you! What do you eat?". My answer is Pesach is simple - he can, eat meat, potatoes, veggies and fruit (and the rest of us don't suffer from not having the other stuff). It is Purim that I dread. Just yesterday, we received our Shaloch Manos package from the day school. We put out two bags - one bag is of safe food and one bag is of unsafe food. We'll be dividing all the packages that come in that way; and it breaks my heart when my son's face falls as I put in that yummy looking candy that he cannot eat.
I could go & write more, but I just wanted to share something I did this year (I got the idea from a blog of a mom with a daughter with food allergies) - I melted some chocolate chips and put them into Purim shaped molds. Now my son knows he has something special in the fridge to replace the other stuff he cannot have. Nothing fancy or difficult, but he is happy
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The article was very well written, it made me cry, bc I too am going to face my first real Purim, with the same issues. I am scared, petrified, and nervous, about the outcome. We will be stocking our pockets with benadryl and the epi-pens, along with his own nosh. He will be Winnie the Pooh, and will have a sign on him, "please do not feed the animal, petting zoo only!"- hope everyone gets the point!
A safe, allergy free, afreilichen Purim!
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Everyone should have a SAFE and happy Purim.
Aliza, it will get easier through time. I wrote this 2 years ago and I can honestly say each year it has gotten easier. This year after megillah we smelled something funny and realized it was sesame. We quickly told the kids, get your coats on. Not a single kid argued. No need to take a chance since we don't know if they are as well airborne ana. to sesame. They came home and we have had a wonderful night. Its just life now.
As well, people are getting more comfortable. I got a number of emails this year asking what was safe for the kids. Their friends want to send them something and are telling their parents to contact me because they don't want to make their friend sick.
The kids as well have a friend who is on a limited diet and asked me if I could make him a special mishloach manot. How could I resist and cooked up some treats for his special basket. They didn't want him to feel left out like they once did!
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