Monthly Archives: August 2015

From Obvious to Hidden Allergens – Common Toddler Foods

When I think of toddlers and young children, there are some foods that I view of as staples. Many of these common snacks, TJ cannot have yet due to his allergies.  Aside from the obvious ones like yogurt, yogurt bites, and cheese sticks…


There are a bunch of others that contain milk, wheat, or some of the other allergens that some people, including myself may not have known before this.


  1. Cheerioscontains wheat & oats


2. Rice Krispiescontains malt flavoring which is usually made from the gluten grain, barley


3. Goldfish – (although made with smiles)contains wheat and dairy


4. RITZ Crackerscontains wheat and barley

(It also contains soy but TJ can eat soy now.)


This is an excellent resource about hidden dairy in products for all ages.



These are just some of the common yummy toddler snacks that TJ cannot yet have.   However, we have faith that he will one day be able to try these delicious products.  In the meantime, we are very thankful all of the products TJ can safely snack on now and as he continues to get older.  For now, we must look at the bright side.  TJ has one of the healthiest diet ever so with that positive thought, we snack and smile on …


Art Supplies

Through this entire experience, I have become extremely thankful for other moms with blogs out there. (And dads that may have them but I just haven’t found them yet.) The information you have shared is beyond helpful.


With that being said, here is such a helpful one about gluten-free art supplies that we will be using all year long. =)

Gluten Free Art Supplies

TJ’s Daycare Accommodations

Being a Special Education teacher for ten years and in the field for twelve years, I know the importance of accommodations based on students’ Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).   Because of TJ’s multiple food allergies with his risk for a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction, anaphylaxis, his safety and well-being does require several accommodations. If TJ was older and attending a school that receives federal funding, he would qualify for a 504 plan. Here is a great resource about these plans.

Section 504 Plans and Management Plans

Because a written plan like this is not available for TJ at his day care, we met and are continuing to discuss the best plan to ensure TJ’s safety. After working with TJ’s daycare to devise a plan according to his Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan, several accommodations have been made. We were informed that his classroom will be a top-priority allergy room for the year and every year moving forward.


  1. TJ will have his own high chair for meals and snacks. They will control everything that TJ eats in the high chair and reduce the risk of cross-contamination by having one aide help in feeding him.
  2. As mealtime is ending, they will keep TJ in his high chair until everyone else is washed and put onto nap cots.  Then, they will clean the classroom tables before TJ gets down.
  3. In the future as TJ becomes older and a high chair is not applicable anymore, we will provide disposable place mats for TJ to use at a table that is separate for the ones with his allergies.
  4. These disposable place mats will be used for any activities he may use the classroom tables for.
  5. We asked TJ’s Auvi-Q to be stored by him and offered to buy a storage box for it.   Due to the facility’s emergency procedure and plan, all medications including Epi-pens/Auvi-Qs are stored in the office which is two doors down and less than 150 feet away.  After speaking with our allergist about this, we have decided that keeping this procedure and location in place is the best option for TJ’s safety.
  6. Art Supplies: Since TJ is currently allergic to wheat according to his blood level results, he needs to avoid art supplies that contain wheat.  While it is very unlikely they would cause an anaphylactic reaction, they would likely cause a skin irritation/reaction of some sort.   Therefore, before they participate in activities like Play Dough, we will be contacted.   Then, we have offered to purchase the allergen-free versions to replace them so that all students can use the same materials and isolation does not become an issue.
  7. TJ will only use cleaning materials and products given by us.
  8. TJ will be closely monitored and daycare will communicate more often with us.
  9. As a back-up plan, in case needed, I have lunch during TJ’s lunch this year and they will contact if they need me to come assist.
  10. TJ’s classroom is tree nut and peanut free.  (All students’ lunch and snack labels and containers will be checked each morning to ensure that this is indeed the case.)


  1. A new strict allergen policy that relates to food ingestion and potential food exposure/cross contamination issues inside each classroom
  2. No sharing utensils or food policy
  3. Constant hand washing/face washing
  4. Disinfecting surfaces
  5. Every employee is trained in administering an Epi-pen.


  • TJ will need the actual flu shot despite his egg allergy since he cannot receive the thymerisol-free/egg-free version of the flu shot. This version is not FDA approved for people under 18 years of age.   We asked our allergist today when TJ went to get his MMR shot there.  (Ahhhh I hate shots and especially more now that some contain components that he is allergic to That’s a whole other topic though.) Therefore, we will need to have TJ given the flu shot at the allergist’s office this year.

Sure, I am still over here “plotting” more and more ways to ensure TJ’s utmost safety but isn’t that what parents do?  I do not expect everyone to understand our situation, decisions, and the extent to which we would and do go, like we did in this situation. However, I do expect others to respect it.  With that being said, we are blessed with the support of so many individuals like TJ’s daycare staff who not only respect us, but also clearly care for him.   Therefore, we continue to smile on into the weekend …

Favorite Finds Friday – Happy Family Allergy Chart

This week’s “Favorite Find” isn’t a specific product, but instead a resource that I am thankful some companies are starting to make available.

To start and as a side note, I started reading food labels as a middle school student.  I found some kind of control and comfort in it during a very sensitive and transitional time of life. Back then, I was developing an irrational obsession with my weight and food which did later lead to an eating disorder in high school.   But that’s a whole other story to tell.

Now, 20 years later, I am “obsessed” with labels but for a much different reason, my son.  Sounds strange but due to my struggles with eating, I have a great deal of knowledge of food which does help a lot now.  Because TJ’s multiple food allergies are to common every day foods/ingredients, his diet is very limited for now.  Therefore, I am always looking for new ways to safely broaden his menu options, spending much time reading labels on everything.

Back in May when TJ’s blood results showed a major increase in his dairy IgE levels, I started to double, triple, and quadruple check everything he was eating.   Because I feared cross-contamination was causing this jump, I reached out to several companies and asked about the cleaning procedures and product ingredients.  One company that was sooooo helpful was  Happy Family.

One of my favorites things about this organic company was that their website had an allergy chart.   Because TJ eats several of their products like other kids his age, I am extremely thankful for them and the comfort their allergy chart gives me. Therefore, my Favorite Find for this fabulous Friday is their chart below that encourages us to safely eat and smile on…


NOTE: Even with helpful charts like these, it is extremely important to read all food labels to double check. For example, a UD symbol may or may not be safe for an individual like TJ because it probably means the product(s) was/were processed on equipment that handles dairy as well.Therefore, we make sure to double check.

Here is a link of how to read these labels.

 Labeling Symbols

Everyday is a Good Day – So We Smile On

Today Was a Good Day

Today was a good day so we smile away,


Capturing the moments no matter what mountain lay.


Moments inspire, making the strong,


No matter the valley, it’s where to belong.


Providing a strength that life would otherwise never know,


God’s footsteps leading to exactly where is needed to go.


Life’s defining moments, in an instant create and then are gone,


Today is a good day so we smile on and on…


tbt- Looking Back at “Pre-Allergy” Moments


  • I knew food allergies existed.


MEMORY 1: Our Honeymoon “Your Salmon Looks Sooo Delicious”






MEMORY 2: Wedding Walnuts




MEMORY 3: Peanut Free Classrooms





