Milk and Peanut Allergies, Now What to Do for Lunch?

when my son bores of P&J sandwich, i give him a plain avocado sandwich - bread and avocado (fairly ripe) - he loves it!

Have you ever tried sunflower butter (Trader Joes, Whole Foods and health food stores carry it)? My son's school is nut-free and I send him recipes with it weekly. Here's a list of dairy-free recipes that will help too! http://weelicious.com/category/dairy-free/

Almond Butter to replace Peanut butter. It almost tastes the same. Milk products you can just cut back on a little.

We LOVE Sunbutter, here. (Sunflower seed butter. Sunbutter, is the brand.) I have a peanut allergy and it's delicious. Was he tested for all tree nuts? I am allergic to all and Sunbutter, is the only kind of butter I can have. Keep in mind, a lot of nut butters, are also manufactured on the same equipment as peanuts. Because allergens are in the shell and they become airborne, you want something that wasn't manufactured with peanuts.

Nowadays are a breeze to diet changes than they were even 5 years ago. The place I send anyone to that needs to eliminate foods due to allergies is http://gfcf-diet.talkaboutcuringautism.org/index.htm

Kids with autism tend to have lots of food allergies due to a 'leaky' gut and so they have paved the way for others on what to do IMO. There will be lots of ideas for lunches and with the the PCers I don't think some schools even allow Peanut Butter for lunches because of this.

(added on)
BTW - Almond butter is much better for you than the Sunflower butters because it is in the omega 3 family whereas Sunflower is in the omega 6 family - one is healthier for you as its fats are used by the body and the other one causes oxidated stress. Guess which one all of the fast food restaurants use....

He will learn to like other things just as much. It is just so easy to make a P & B sandwich though!

Maybe you can try Almond Butter instead. There was actually something on the Today Show this morning.

You could try almond butter in place of the peanut butter. If he has no soy allergies, then try a soy cheese sandwich.

Do you use soy cheese? I did years ago and did not really care for it, but if you like it, you could make quesadillas - I'll typically spread a thin layer of refried beans or mashed pinto beans with some cheese, with or without mashed avocado/guacamole. Then you can quickly cook them in a nonstick skillet just enough to warm it up and melt the cheese.

Pasta is quick and easy if you don't mind using canned tomato sauce, or even just a little olive oil and garlic. Also hummus (either as a veg dip or spread on bread).

Reheating leftovers is usually a good option.

Hi B.,

You've already gotten good thoughts on lunches, so I'd like to pass along some important medical information on allergies.

Allergy is a progressive disease, known in the field as the "allergy march." Typically, symptoms of eczema will appear in infancy but may go unrecognized as allergy. Allergy infants are also frequently colicky. Food allergies generally appear within the first 2 - 3 years of like. Manifestations come and go, but once the body is sensitized to an allergen, it usually stays sensitized, even though it is technically possible to "outgrow" allergies. There is a very strong correlation with early food allergy to the development of inhalant allergy during the young school years. In common terms, this means allergy to things like animal dander, cockroach feces, dust mites, and pollens. Symptoms are itchy nose/eyes, frequents "colds," and otitis media (ear infections). Often, inhalant allergies are seasonal, specifically if the allergen is a seasonally produced pollen. The culmination of the allergy march is asthma, which most commonly appears between the ages of 7 and late adolescence. Asthma can appear earlier, although fortunately, early wheezers are more likely to grow out of their symptoms.

The allergy march can be pretty well halted if care is taken to treat allergy as soon as possible. The key is TOTAL avoidance of the allergen. This means reading labels to check for hidden ingredients -- especially in the case of mild. (BTW, cow's milk allergy means ALL forms, including cheese, yogurt, dried milk, etc. Not everyone with a CMA can tolerate goat's milk, either -- you will need to experiment.) I know it can be difficult, but it really is very important if you look at the long range implications. Total avoidance is recommended by both the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EACCI) and of the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI). Both of these are the main professional societies for allergists.

With some allergies, such as peanut and sometimes milk, every exposure can result in a more severe response. As an example, my daughter (now 17) has a severe peanut allergy. Her first reaction (at age 12) was nausea, a stuffy nose, and thick feeling in her throat. Her second reaction (eating only food coated with peanut dust about a week later, but no actual peanuts) was about the same, except that the swelling in her throat was worse. At her third exposure a few days later (this time, only peanuts being eaten by someone next to her, releasing peanut dust into the air) her throat got very swollen and she was very nauseous. That's the reaction that sent us packing to the allergist for testing/confirmation. Since then, she carries benadryl and 2 epipens with her everywhere, and has had to go to the ER 3 times with anaphylaxis. In her case, total avoidance means no peanuts or products made on equipment shared with peanuts for anything, including cosmetics (caused hives and swelling in the throat). We read package labels VERY carefully! Peanut products do not come into our house or cars. If anyone in the family eats peanuts outside the house, we wash our hands and face well before coming home. I have provided allergy awareness information to her school, and she has educated her friends, scout troop, and dance team so that no one accidentally exposes her. We have gotten all peanut products removed from the vending machines and student store at school (it took 2 trips to the ER before the school got the message!). She carries surgical masks to limit risk of exposure on airplanes, and asks passengers around her to warn her if they have brought peanuts with them and plan to eat them. (We only fly carriers who do not serve or sell peanuts.) This may seem extreme, but it's what we've found is necessary for keeping her safe. College next year will be a whole new experience!

A great source of educational materials is the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (www.foodallergy.org). I highly recommend you visit it.

Since your son has been eating PBJ's for a long time, you're probably not in for the sort of severe progression that we've experienced. BUT you might want to consider your doctor's method of diagnosis. Was it made using skin prick testing, food challenge, or blood test? Each of these methods can give equivalent information, but each also has some limitations. Skin prick testing is fairly subjective and is only as effective as the skill and experience of the person interpreting the results. False positive results can occur if your child has high levels of histamine in his skin (i.e., he's dermatographic). The allergens used are also made from crude extracts, so they can contain contaminants that can give a false reading. Food challenge can be affected psychosomatically by the doctor or patient knowing what food is being given (double blind placebo controlled tests are best). Blood tests measure IgE, which is produced in response to allergens. Not all blood tests are as sensitive or specific as is ideal, and we still don't know exactly what level of IgE is predictive of generating an observable allergic response (such as sneezing, cramps, etc), although apparently, almost any elevation of IgE level for a specific allergen is an indication of allergy. Two of the best tests on the market are the Phadia ImmunoCAP test and the Siemens 3gAllergy test. Both of these tests are highly sensitive, and can now also be used to identify the exact molecular component causing the allergy for many allergens. The reason why this is important, is because some forms of a protein are more likely to cause a severe response than other forms. Also, many allergens (especially fruits and grasses) have cross-reacting components. On a standard skin prick or IgE test, false positives can show up to these cross-reactive components and make it look like you're allergic to something that you're not.

Sorry -- I've probably overwhelmed you with info. I'm in the process of writing a review article on allergy testing for a medical journal, so I'm afraid I've overflowed a bit! The point is, if the diagnosis was made using a nonspecific test, you might want to request a component allergy test. This is a blood test, and can help the doctor determine if your child is truly allergic to the suspected allergens, and to which component of the allergen. This can help predict future severity of response, but can also tell you if the original diagnosis was incorrect and the result of cross-reaction.

Sunflower butter tastes pretty good. Both my kids like it. I am allergic to almonds and peanuts, my daughter is allergic to walnuts and cashews. If your son is allergic to peanuts, you might also want to stay away from other tree nuts.

I am allergic to all dairy products. I like Rice Milk. You might also want to try hemp seed milk. Almond Milk is supposed to be good too..again it's a tree nut so be careful. I use ricemilk as substitute for milk in any foods I bake and it turns out pretty good.

Start reading labels of everything that you bring into your home. Everything from food to cleaning products to body care products. A lot of body products will have either milk/casein or nut oils or derivatives in them. We use Little Sprout products for hair care. We can't use their lotions or creams because they have almond oil in them though.

Food products that my family likes that are allergy friendly are:

Namaste baking mixes
Ian's frozen foods
EnerG baked items

They are free of wheat, gluten, soy, corn (although some of the Ian's products have corn in them), nuts, and milk/casein.

Good luck!

Can you substitute the peanut butter for another nut such as almond butter?....or is your son allergic to all nuts?

Hello, I understand that there are some spreads which do not contain peanut butter. You might try going to a health foods store and seeing what they might offer.
Good luck with your precious little boy.
K. K.

What is really good, is "Nutella."
Which is made from hazelnuts.
It is VERY common in Europe, and kids in Europe grow up on it, like we do here on peanut butter.
But is richer than peanut butter.

You can find it at most grocery stores now in the U.S, in the gourmet section or at Whole Foods etc.

Here is a link about it:
http://www.nutellausa.com/faqs.htm
But, it does have skim milk in it.

My kids love it, and we do too.

good luck,
Susan

Almond butter - she won't even notice.

Turkey wraps or just turkey sandwiches. My daughter loves avocado and turkey.

Tuna w/crackers

shrimp w/salsa (sounds gross to some but my daughter LOVES this). I use cooked frozen shrimp. Thaws out in minutes. Put in tupperware with salsa and avocado. (served cold).

Just veggies and meat. I'll make my own snackables - just a ton heathier! Small tupperware, set in to it a few cup cake paper thing a ma jigs, (to seperate the foods) then put a sliced hardboiled egg in one, sugar snap peas in another, healthy deli meat in to another (I'll use a small cookie cutter and make them in to hearts), sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds in another - perfect well balanced and fun lunch. - I just hope that made sense, if not I can send you a photo.

I could keep going on but I'll stop for now :-)

I tansitioned my son from peanut butter in one week, by mixing it in and increasing the sunflowerseed butter and decreasing the peanut butter. We also use agave nectar rather than jelly, or find a jelly that is just fruit with pectin.

I would use a seed butter before another nut butter.

An almond butter and jelly sandwich tastes just as good as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich!! I also love cashew butter and jelly sandwiches! Your son will love it just as much as PBJ!

Quite often, kids who cannot have dairy are able to eat or drink goat products (goat cheese, goat milk). Since his allergy is just moderate, his stomach would probably do well with a goat cheese and jelly sandwich (my sons loves it). Or, a deli turkey and goat cheese sandwich! Good luck!

Try sunflower butter. My spouse is allergic to peanut and almonds and mildly to walnuts and pecans. We also tried soy butter. We both prefer sunflower to the soy. He found he could eat macadamia and pistachios.Soy milk or Rice milk are substitutes for dairy. they both come in chocolate too. Be sure to shake well each time you use the container as there is settling in both products.

Is your son allergic to all nuts, or just peanuts? If not, almond, cashew or even sunflower seed butter are all very good.

here is my favorite homemade (super easy) chicken nuggets.1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 packet ranch dressing mix
1 teaspoon salt
(the original recipe called for 1 cup butter, but I used a couple eggs.)
Chicken breasts cut up in little chunks.
Mix the dry ingredients up, wisk the eggs. Dip chicken in eggs then dry stuff. put on a pan and bake for 15 minutes at 350 then up the temp to 400 to get it a bit more golden faster.
For the little kids I didn't give them all that much ranch in them.

It does have Parmesan cheese, but I think you could take that out without much change in the taste.

Almond butter is a good alternative and tastes great!

hello
try doing wraps.. example. turkey wraps. you can use anything from pita bread, to tortilles to naan.. they all work nicely..
use fresh turkey, (a vinagrette made from olive oil, cider vinegar, balsamic and salt/pepper to taste) I use a german mustard at times as well.. this give the dressing some ZING.. anyway.. add all this, avocado and other thinly sliced veggies. I also use mango at times.. YUM... so good... so easy..

other ideas.. make some risotto... use italian rice, mushroom, finley chopped onions (unless you dont like) and salt /pepper. I have simplified this.. but you can find simple easy recipes on the net..
risotto is good because you can also add asparagus and or the stalks of broccoli (just peel off the tougher part) the stalks are actually better and sweeter than the florets..

another idea... make fresh pasta sauce... (many recipes on the net) you can put the sauce over pasta and so much more..

best of luck to you

Is he alright with almond butter? My daughter really liked almond butter and grape jelly at that age. You can get almond butter for a very reasonable price at trader joe's. Your little guy might like soy butter, too. TJ's is a good source for that, as well.

Silk brand vanilla almond milk (if he can tolerate almonds), rocks! If you want to avoid the almonds, Silk's soy products are very good and helped me make the dairy transition as an adult. Alta Dena goat cheddar cheese has been a life-saver for us, too. It melts exactly like dairy cheddar and has a great taste.

We bake our own bread. The dry milk that is added to the recipe is optional, so it can be dairy-free if you need it to be.

Can you try another nut butter, like cashew or almond? Or what about sunflower seed butter?

Good luck!

You can try one of many other types of butter - Sunflower Seed butter, almond butter, cashew butter, etc. Other things my son has for lunch:

deli meat sandwiches (turkey, ham, salami, etc)
tuna
chicken nuggets
hot dogs
fish sticks

You could also do egg salad, which we don't b/c my son is also allergic to eggs.

Some soy cheeses are not too awful - tofutti makes a decent sliced cheese and "Follow Your Heart" makes cheese that melts well if you wanted to make quesadillas or pizza. MOST soy cheese still contain milk proteins (whey and casein) so read labels carefully!!

My son is 100% dairy, egg and nut free, by the way.

K.
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Depending on the likes of your 3 year old, I would try rolling up pieces of ham or turkey for protein. If it is only peanuts, you can try other natural butters such as sunflower, cashews, etc. You can get fresh butters at HEB.

Although PB&J is a staple in most kids homes, my 6 year old will rarely eat one and isn't big on bread/crackers or cheese, so we have had to "rethink" lunch. We do lots of rolled up meats, veggies and dip (she likes Greek dressing as a dip), cherry or grape tomatoes, slices of turkey pepperoni, "salad" veggies minus the lettuce, olives, turkey dogs without the bun, etc.

Try to make it fun. You didn't say if you were packing a lunch or eating at home, but I try to put things on my daughters plate in fun shapes (arranging the meat rolls so they are petals on a flower with tomatoes for the center, and celery sticks for the stem). She eats it so much better and I find that she eats a better variety of food.

Good luck, just think about what he likes to eat and make combinations that offer fruit, veggies and protein.

Sunbutter, hummus wraps, avocado, salami, baby carrots, raisins... my kids LOVE finger foods!

My son gets a nasty little rash around his chin and neck with peanuts along with blotchy red spots all over. Like your son, not a true allergy but definitely something toe avoided. I know that with my son we made a switch to almond butter. A girlfriend of mine gives her daughter sunflower butter. They are both delucious!
Check with your pediatrician first but that is what has worked for us. There's something different about the nut source that makes a difference.
Hope that helps!

My son is also allergic to milk and peanut.

For delicious PB & Jelly-type sandwiches, we do a sunflower seed 'paste'--very very much like a peanut butter... I find it at Whole Foods, Henry's and perhaps even People's in Ocean Beach. It tastes so good and has been a great substitute for the peanut butter. They also make almond butters, pumpkin butters and a tahini butter (sesame seeds).

I agree that staying away from his allergens is a good idea. The more the immune system is exposed to them, the greater the sensitivity that can develop, like in my husband who has a life-threatening allergy to mangoes, pistachios, and cashews...believe me, going down that road and finding out the hard way is no fun at all. We have had 12 near death experiences together and so for our son, who is allergic to a host of other items as well, we avoid them in the hopes of avoiding a future life-threatening allergy.

There is a fabulous magazine called Living Without that is very informative about living with multiple food allergies and provides many many good recipes.

Best of luck to you!
K.

My 4 yo cant take peanuts/tree nuts to school. She was diagnosed as allergic to cows milk protein since 18 months. I also bake our own bread; however, because of her allergy, I use goat milk and goat butter instead of cows milk and butter. The bread turns out great and my coworkers say they can't tell a difference... As for quick lunch ideas, I suppose it depends on what you mean by "quick"... (Note: I use the non-nitrite, organic hot dogs, bacon and lunch meat): Low salt crackers and salami take 2-3 minutes; ham or turkey sandwich takes 5 minutes; a hot dog sandwich (microwave the hot dog, slice it into several slices longways, ketchup & little sweet relish on bread) takes 5-7 minutes; if you cook up some turkey bacon on the Sunday before, you can make turkey bacon sandwiches quickly in the morning; you can also make some mini hot dog 'pigs in blankets' on a weekend before and throw 5-6 in his lunch; I also make homemade pizza (I buy mama mary's brand pre-made pizza crust from my regular HEB grocery store--not the boboli pizza crust because it has milk in it, premade pizza sauce, shredded goat cheese--or soy cheese
and cook in the toaster oven for 7 minutes. Of course, it takes a few minutes to preheat it to 375, and I usually shred the cheese the night before). You can also introduce some hummus to him with crackers or cut pita bread and see if he likes it.

I know I'm late in responding, but I just had to. A friend has two children with the same allergies (some life threatening). She started baking wonderful treats (cookies, muffins, breads, etc.) for them with no peanuts, tree nuts, or dairy that are really delicious. You can check out her website at www.sweetalexis.com.

Good luck with your little one.

Sunflower seed butter is AWESOME! I buy it at Trader Joe's but Whole Foods has it too. The kids and adults I've introduced it to actually prefer it over PB! Many kids really like hummus too. A hummus veggie pita pocket is yummy for lunch!