The Term Anaphylaxis

The term anaphylaxis is derived from the Greek words ana - (up, back, again) and phylaxis - (guarding, protection, immunity). The term came about in 1902, when a second vaccinating dose of sea anemone toxin caused a dog's death.

Food Allergy & Food Intolerance

Allergy is an immune response

Allergies are an overreaction of the body’s immune system to a specific part of food. In most cases it is usually in the proteins. These proteins may be from foods, house dust, pollens, moulds or animal hair. They are called allergens. The word allergy means that the immune system has responded to a harmless substance like as if it were toxic. In my little munchkin’s case it is the proteins in both egg white and egg yolk that affect him. It is also possible for people to be allergic to egg white and not be allergic to the egg yolk. The reasons for this are due to the proteins. The proteins are completely different in the yolk as it is to the egg white.

On the other hand, food intolerance is a chemical reaction that some people may have after eating certain foods. This is not an immune response. Food intolerance can be associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and chronic fatigue syndrome. It is much more common for people to suffer from food intolerance than it is to suffer from food allergy.

Common causes of food allergy

Eggs, dairy, soy and nuts cause 90% of food allergies. Peanut allergy being the most common in older children.

The following are the common causes of food allergy.

·               Eggs

·               Peanuts & other nuts

·               Dairy

·               Sesame

·               Gluten

·               Fish

·               Soy

·               Molluscs (mussels, clams, oysters, octopus & squid)

·               Crustaceans (lobster, prawn, crab, shrimp)

·               Food Additives like MSG, benzoates, salicylates and sulphite.

The following are the common causes of food intolerances

·               Chocolate

·               Dairy

·               Egg white

·               Food additives

·               Food enhancers MSG

·               Citrus foods

·               Tomatoes

·               Wine (mainly red wine)

·               Histamines & amines found in some foods

Testing should always be done to find the allergen causing symptoms.

My Scone Recipe

Scones

Makes about 12.

Ingredients

3 cups of self-raising flour

Pinch of salt

1 cup of cream

1 cup of lemonade

1.                Sift self-raising flour and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the centre and slowly pour in cream and lemonade.

2.             With a spatula mix the mixture until it all comes together. Lightly flour surface and place dough on surface. Knead gently until smooth without over kneading.

3.             Using a medium scone cutter, cut into rounds. Arrange close together on baking tray with baking paper.

4.             Bake in the oven on 220c for 12 – 15 minutes or until golden. Serve with jam and cream or fresh fruit.

When a sibling has food allergies

We had our youngest munchkin tested for food allergies particularly egg and peanuts when he was 6 months old. It is fortunate that he did not have any allergic reactions to either or anything that he was tested on.

So much extra attention goes towards our older little munchkin who is allergic to eggs and nuts. I am so used to preparing meals and snacks appropriate for him that I automatically give the little non-allergic munchkin the same things. Now that our younger child is one year old I figured I should introduce egg into his diet. My husband started by giving him some biscuits that contained a little egg. There was no reaction, which was what we had expected although being his first time and due to past experience we were still a little anxious. A few days later I had given him more biscuits but these ones were homemade and contain more egg. Again, no reaction. After he finished his biscuit I gave him his breakfast cereal and continued my day.

The usual routine is the younger sibling has his breakfast first as he wakes up earlier. I try to give him breakfast before his older brother wakes up. Usually older brother wakes up as his just finished up. This day was different; I was about to sit him into the high chair when I realized that there were chunks of the egg biscuits all over the chair, table and floor. I went into panic mode and ensured he was distracted by the television and quickly vacuumed, sprayed, disinfect and wiped down all the surfaces.

It made me think is his non-allergic sibling going to resent him once hey are old enough to understand what they can and cannot eat. Is he going to complain about the unfairness of meals or foods that cannot be prepared due to his sibling’s food allergies? Would my husband and I have to try and make arrangements for him to have these foods when his with another family member or on an outing without his sibling in order to experience different foods.

At the moment the non-allergic sibling is still young enough to make a mess all over him, the table and the chair and surrounding areas of where he is eating. I need to take all necessary precautions to ensure that the areas are cleaned well before his older allergic sibling uses these areas. I need to avoid contaminating common areas with these allergens.

It is my job to listen and educate my non-allergic child about the situation once he is old enough. He will need to understand that it will not be acceptable behavior to complain about his situation. It will also not be acceptable for him to tease his food allergic sibling. Hopefully they will love and understand each other and accept they way they are.

Egg Substitutes & Egg Replacements

Depending on the recipes that you plan to prepare there are a few alternatives that can be used to replace or substitute eggs.

When eggs are used as a binder in recipes such as cakes you can replace egg by using the following

½ a medium banana mashed.

Pureed fruit such as apples and pears – ¼ cup

For recipes that use egg as a leavening agent the following combination does a good job.

1-½ tablespoons of vegetable oil mixed with 1-½ tablespoons of water

Together with 1 teaspoon of baking powder.

For recipes that use egg white to glaze or seal, this can be replaced with melted butter or margarine.

More easily there are egg replacements available on the market. I love Orgran Egg Replacement. It is so simple and has no change on the flavors or taste of all recipes.

My Little Munchkin's Puff Pastry Delight Recipe

Like all children, my little munchkin goes through many stages of foods he loves. Some times he wants to eat the same thing for a few days and that may be the only food he request during that time, until he moves on to his next phase.


His current favourite is something I just put together because I had some puff pastry left over. This is more an idea rather than a full recipe.

Puff Pastry Delight

My Little Munchkin's Puff Pastry Delight


1 sheet of Puff Pastry
4 slices of off-the-bone ham
2 slices of tasty cheese


1. Cut the sheet of puff pastry into two large triangles.


2. On one half triangle place, cheese and ham.


3. Fold over to make a triangle parcel. Using a folk press down to seal pastry ends.


4. Place in oven that had been pre-heated on 180c and bake for 20 minutes or until golden.


5. Remove from oven and allow to cool before serving.


                                                              This is easy and tasty!

My Little Munchkin eating his pastry

The Best Entertainment. The Cheapest Toy

I am sure that everyone can relate to this. A lounge room covered with toys. Almost every type of toy you can imagine. A dining room table with many markers, pencils and scrunched up papers.


With so many toys, I can not even think of what other toys I can buy for my little munchkins. Yet there is one thing that keeps my little munchkin entertained for hours. the good thing is it is unbreakable and very affordable. So affordable you can purchase it for 99 cents.

Little Munchkin with his dried pasta

 Bowl of dried pasta 

My little munchkin's most recent discovery is a box of pasta which he helped himself to from the pantry. He loves shaking the box and taking out each one to place into a bowl. He will sit so quietly with his pasta and be amused for so long. Even with the television on he will sit with the bowl next to him all happy and content.


Everyone is happy.

Thank you for all your help. xo

I am working on this blog everyday. There are days when I am researching topics to write about. There are days when I am working on an article. Then there is the day I do my finishes touches and post my article. Regardless, this blog is currently something that I am trying to make bigger and better.

I am always talking about the topics that I post. Every single day there is not a moment I am not doing something to help my children. Weather its is taking care of them, cooking for them or nurturing.

My husband noticed that I have gone a long way in preparing foods for my children that are safe and nutritious. He has seen me on my down days, the days when I feel like I have exhausted all avenues. The days when I feel like I am cooking the same foods again and again. Sometimes I just feel like I am not doing enough to help my little Munchkin. On the bright side, my husband has given me praise (which doesn’t come around that often). He voiced his appreciation of all my efforts. He has assured me that I have gone far and beyond to do the very best for our children. He has told me that I do a wonderful job.

It was his suggestion for me to go ahead and work on writing my own cookbook. A cookbook that will help other mothers and families prepare dishes that will be safe and suitable for the whole family. I must admit it hasn’t been easy. There have been many brilliant recipes but also many dishes that fall under the category of “please don’t make this ever again”. He has seen it’s not easy. We both hope that we can help other families by providing good kitchen basics for families with food allergies and by telling our story.

This is basically where the whole concept of me blogging begins. I share my stories, my thoughts and my recipes.

None of this could have been possible without a lot of support and assistance.

Here I begin to say a big, big, big thank you to the following people who have provided me with the stepping-stones to bring me to this stage.

Thank you to my husband, who has motivated me to do something positive. Who is also one of my food critics. And who is always helping me remember everything I need to remember. (I am so forgetful) Lastly, thank you for making it all possible with purchasing me a mac book.

Adrian & Marc with my little munchkin

Thank you to my cousins Marc and Adrian, who basically helped me with the whole IT side of things (I am not very good with computers).  And answer every other question I throw at them relating to this blog.

Thank you to my mother and mother in law who both offer me all the support, assistance and love possible.

Thank you to all my family and friends who are supporting me with this journey.

Most of all, thank you to my two little munchkins who make ever day worth living. They are my biggest gift of all. I promise to do my very best to love and protect you.

The first reaction

When my little Munchkin had egg for the first time he had gone into anaphylactic shock.

Although that was not quite our very first scare. The cause of this first reaction is unknown. Before I even knew anything about allergies I had a brief experience. Luckily, my little Munchkin didn’t have an anaphylactic attack on this day.

After having a quick breakfast, I take my little Munchkin into the car. He kicks his legs around all excited about his outing. I was driving to my mother’s house at the time. As soon as I arrived I took him out of the car. I notice his eyes were looking a little puffy and he had a few red spots on his face. I walk into my mother’s house and ask her to go get a face washer. She hurries upstairs to get one. Within 2 minutes his entire face and body is covered with red spots. The spots looked like blisters.

Picture taken 1 hour after anti-histamine given. Hives have calm down but still visible

I rush him into the car and drive to my doctor’s clinic. The receptionist calls the doctor out immediately and he administers anti-histamine. I was instructed to buy anti histamine before heading home. The anti-histamine made him so drowsy that he slept for 8 hours straight. His rash went down after a couple of hours.

My feeling is that it perhaps it was what I had eaten that morning. I remember eating a nutella sandwich. I kissed him so many times that morning not knowing that I was harming him.

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Now I no longer store nut products in our home or eat any nut products for his safety.