The iflora for kids I bought from your site www.sunrisewd.com is a dream. I just wanted everyone to know upon Melody's recommendation, I bought kids probiotics and my kids never have stomach problems anymore!
Dairy free pizza recipe ( gluten free, soy free, egg free as well)
Last night I made this amazing gluten free, dairy free, soy free, egg free, vegan pizza.
Dough- cheated and used Bob’s red mill pizza dough gluten free/dairy free
Toppings: red bell peppers, broccoli, zucchini, tomatos, tomatoe sauce
Cheese: Daiya Cheddar cheese! I love that stuff!
Make the dough according to directions, we substituted the eggs for egg replacer
Then spread the tomato sauce on put the veggies on and top with lots of daiya cheese and wa la!
You have the best dairy free, gluten free pizza!
Now a word about the Daiya cheese, I buy mine in 5lb bags. The shipping is very expensive to S.Texas but we freeze it and use it for a few months.
I also made the whole packet of dough and made a big pizza so the kids would have lunch the next day!
Living with allergies is challenging but I actually love it in some ways. We get to spend quality time cooking and we get to experiment with new recipes. Plus we are a ton healthier 
Posted in Food Allergies, Food- Recipes, Lunch & Snack Ideas for Kids by Melody B
Oh yum! A nut free way to do apples & no peanut butter
In our family we are nut free. Not that we are allergic but since we have so many other food allergies, I just like to live on the safe side
Here is the best nut free peanut substitute on the market:
Sunbutter! Oh goodness I live by that stuff. You can buy it at target or my favorite on line shoppe is
http://www.allergyfreeshop.com/shop/
Here is the simple recipe:
Take 1 organic apple
and 2 tsp of sunbutter
dip the apple and enjoy!
A healthy gluten free-dairy free-tree nut free but not taste free snack!
Posted in Food Allergies, Food- Recipes, Lunch & Snack Ideas for Kids, recipes by Melody B
Yummy Ginger cookies, dairy free, egg free and gluten free
Last night I got the yearning for some ginger cookies. So we pulled a recipe from About.com dairy free cooking and modified the recipe.
Recipe:
2 1/4 Gluten free flour mix. I used 1 1/4 cup all purpose flour, 1 cup brown rice flour both Bob’s Red mill
2 tsp of egg replacer ( mixed with way too much water as my 5 year old helped! we only added what was needed)
1/4 tsp xanthum gum ( bob’s red mill)
1/2 tsp baking soda ( bob’s red mill)
1 cup brown sugar
3 tsp molasses
1 tsp clover
3 tbs ginger powder
1/2 cup vegan organic shortening by spectum
dash of salt as we do low sodium in our lifestyle
1/4 cup granulated sugar for dusting cookies
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line wax cookie sheets with wax paper
mix all dry ingredients together.
Mix sugar, shortening, egg replace together until nice and fluffy. Then add the dry ingredients
using 2 medium size spoons, spoon a cookie unto the sheet. Using the back side of spoon press the cookie down then sprinkle with a dusting of granulated sugar.
Bake 12-15 min at 350 depending on oven. Remove was harden, place on wire rack and enjoy your gluten free, dairy free, super easy to make ginger cookies!
Prep time: 20 min ( more if doing with kids but well worth the time and experience)
Bake time: 12-15 min
Eat time: 1 min or less! my kids loved them!
Posted in Food Allergies, Food- Recipes, recipes by Melody B
Vegetarian Finger Foods for Kids
Vegetarian snacks are great to carry in any Lunchopolis or Eco Fab lunch box. The following three recipes are simple to prepare and very kid-friendly too.
Carrot Fries
A tasty, nutritious treat for kids are fries made from carrots. They can be baked in under a half hour and offer a nice alternative to any fast food fare.
Ingredients:
A dozen carrots
Sea salt for taste
2 Tablespoons Virgin olive oil
Wash the carrots and cut each carrot in thirds. Place the carrots in a bowl and add the olive oil, then toss. Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit before placing the carrots on a cookie sheet. Sprinkle sea salt over the carrots and bake until the carrots are lightly browned, or for about 25 minutes. Serve the carrots with a dip, such as ranch dressing.
Little Pizzas
Another vegetarian snack alternative that kids love are little pizzas. They’re not only tasty but healthy too.
Ingredients:
Two whole grain bagels, cut in half
Tomato sauce
Shredded mozzarella cheese
Turkey pepperoni pieces
Bell peppers
Cover each halved bagel with tomato sauce. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the bagels and add sliced bell peppers and one or two slices of turkey pepperoni. Place the bagels on a cookie sheet or pizza pan and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately ten minutes.
Fruit Kabobs
Here’s another easy vegetarian snack to fix that takes little time to prepare and is also fun to make with the kids.
Ingredients
Fresh strawberries
Sliced bananas
Sliced pineapple
Seedless grapes
Four skewers
Plain yogurt
Shredded coconut (optional)
Place the strawberries, bananas, pineapple and grapes alternatively on each skewer. If you wish, use plain yogurt for a dip. Also, you may want to sprinkle a little bit of shredded coconut over the fruit. Toast it lightly in the oven first to add to the taste and texture.
The above snacks are great treats to include in a Lunchopolis lunch box or Eco Fab lunch box. That way, you can always be assured that your kids are well-nourished and using a lunch box that is safe and healthy too.
Posted in Food- Recipes, Lunch & Snack Ideas for Kids, Lunch boxes, recipes by Donna
Milk allergies- stay encouraged
Hi All,
It’s been over 1 year since I mysteriously developed milk allergies and I have to say that it was a tough hard year but I really enjoy living dairy free.
The Food allergy was a total surprise. At the age of 30 to develop such a life threatening food allergy seemed strange. But I am glad that I did and here is why: It gave me a chance to slow down and think about my life.
I’ve learned to cook new and exciting dishes, which in turn has made me and my family healthier people and a closer family. I’ve learned a ton about nutrition and how our bodies worked and I’ve discovered and enjoyed dairy free chocolate ( lots of it.) The other great thing is that I don’t even have to try to lose weight! the only down side is that it’s not easy to eat out and my guest think it’s a little strange but I don’t care.
Dairy free living has opened up my world, even though on the onset it seems like my world would have gotten smaller.
Ironically, my allergies have been medically “cured” I had a baby ( was trying for a year) and after her birth I went to my allergiest who did 2 skin test, a Rast test and had me drink milk in his office to proof that I was no longer allergic.
I didn’t go back to dairy, although I took more liberties in my diet and added goat milk. a few months into a looser lifestyle I began to have reactions again.
My nutritionsit says that there is hope. As it is rare for some one with life threatening allergies to ever go backwards, meaning that my cyclic allergies are trying to heal it’s self. So with some more work and prayers I believe that the dairy allergy that appeared can go away ( and has.)
Even when I am totally healed I won’t put dairy back in my diet. Not when there are so many fantastic alternatives.
3 John 1:2
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
I will write more post about what I have done to be restored of food allergies
Posted in Food Allergies by Melody B
Easy Chicken & Chili bean -Gluten & dairy free
This is a super easy Chicken and Chili bean gluten and dairy free recipe. I made it with left over chicken.
1-Garlic clove
1 can of Northern white beans ( gluten and dairy free)
6oz of chicken, cubed ( I used left overs)
3 tsb of gluten free flour( love bob’s red mill all purpose)
6 tbs of oil-I used olive oil can use Earth’s best vegan butter sticks
8oz of chicken broth ( used beef and it was just as tasty)
1- green zuchinni
1-yellow zuchinni
1-onion
2 tbs of agave syrup
2 tsp of cumin
2 tbp of Chili powder
In a frying pan saute the onion and garlic in oil for about 4 mins.
Then add the flour, cumin, chili powder and beans and broth. Stir the flour in first until it begans to thicken then add the powders, beans and broth. Allow to boil and stir frequently. Lower the temp to simmer and add the chicken.
I then started the rice ( brown rice) but I recommend starting this first as it takes longer.
Once the rice is ready the food is ready to serve!
We topped ours with Salsa and tofutti sour cream! yummy!
Posted in Food Allergies, Food- Recipes, recipes by Melody B
Thankfully living with Milk allergy?
In an odd turn of events, I presented with an anaphylactic reaction to milk in early oct.
I was eating a piece of wheat bread with a slice of cheese on top and all of a sudden my throat began to close ( a symptom of milk allergy) and I was scared. Being 30 and never having experience any sort of food allergies this was perplexing ( not to mention scary & terrifying event.)
General MD’s will tell you that it’s not uncommon to present with a milk allergy but I don’t believe. I think it’s an underling cause that creates milk allergies ( to be discussed later.)
Regardless, a month later and a few trips to ER ( it took awhile to figure out that it was the milk causing the allergy) I’m ready to move forward.
With Epi-pen in hand I am learning to explore the world with Milk allergy and dairy free living.
Step one: I have to learn what is dairy free living and how to I do it.
The interesting thing is that milk or milk by products are in EVERTHING… Chicken from the grocery has it, chips, chocolate, anything prepacked . It makes it difficult for someone with Milk allergies to eat out or buy prepackaged foods.
The first thing I did was lol- to research chocolate! I mean less face it everyone woman needs a source of chocolate. I’ve sampled a few but my favorite is Amanda’s own. http://www.amandasown.com/
Those people are great! They absolutely have no milk products in their facility ( I asked, repeatedly)
Step 2: Figuring how to avoid cross contamination.
In my house, we have a 3 yr old, my husband and grandma. So that means lots of mac n’ cheese, bottles of milk, half & half for the coffee and cheese on every piece of meat that my husband touches, which makes the kitchen a danger zone for someone with Milk Allergies.
The first thing I did was explain to each of them how just a little bit of milk sends Mom straight to the ER. Once I washed my hands with a milk and rose soap, ate some carrots with my just washed hands and had an reaction- so this milk allergy is serious for me.
We eventually worked out a system of color coding plates and utensils that and I wear gloves when I touch or fix food for my family.
Step 3: Learning how to eat dairy free. What Can I eat now with dairy allergy?
Because we live in rural South Texas there are no super cool whole foods or trader joes’ or even local health food stores so I hit the net looking for recipes.
Really living without butter is not as bad as it seems, olive oil works great.
I even made my own Rice milk ! ( not difficult as it seems.)
Living & eating with an acute Milk allergy is tough for certain, but I have a wide selection of fruits, vegetables & lean meats.
To be continued….
milk allergy, milk allergy symptoms, what can i eat with a dairy allergy
Posted in Food Allergies by Melody B
7 Easy Tips to eat more fruits & veggies
ruit!
1. Pack your lunch. Make your sandwhich’s to include some lettuce, a tomatoe slice and some sprouts!
2. Add a handful of carrots as a snack.
3. Remember the celery & peanut butter snacks as a kid?
Try the update version and use almond or cashew butter-( go ahead and make some eyes on it with raisins)
4. Apples are natural and easy ‘fast’ foods. Take 1 with you on the go
5. Instead of chips, try crunchy peas as a evening snack.
6. Start the morning out right, dice up some bell peppers & onions in your eggs!
7. Bored with carrots & celery-try jicama.
Jicama is a root that is sweet and crunchy to eat. It looks like a round brown ball in the vegetable section at the grocery store.
Just peel the skin off with a knife and you have a new and tasty veggie!
Posted in Food- Recipes, Lunch & Snack Ideas for Kids by Melody B
Grocerys are expensive…here is a coupon to help save you some money!
Hi,
With the cost of oil and energy on the increase, the cost of groceries have been getting higher as well.
I have complied a list of coupon sites to help you save money! ~ Enjoy
http://www.stonyfield.com/coupons/signin.cfm
Posted in Food- Recipes by Melody B
30 days no sugar- a 1pd success! ~lol -but I learned about Me
After 30 days of no sugar, missing ALL the valentines day chocolate, cakes at the office and controlling the mid night munchies- I lost 1 pd.
To say that I was disappointed is an understatement. And this is embarrassing, the day after my 30th day I pigged out! Cake, ice cream, M& M’s, everything-it was no hold bars.
And as I laid in bed clenching my stomach it occurred to me that while I didn’t lose the 15lbs, I gained self control and the ability to recognize when I am emotionally eating. That’s worth about 14pds.
I am going to try again. However, this time I am going to make more time to exercise and plan my meals better.
Check back to see my progress!
~ Melody
Posted in No Sugar Diet by Melody B
