Tuesday, February 1, 2011Last updated 1:18 p.m. PT
Children with food allergies learn to say “no” when they’re offered tempting cupcakes or cookies that may trigger rashes, wheezing or land them in the emergency room. and they grow used to bringing their own treats to class celebrations or birthday parties.
But the necessary precautions can leave them feeling alienated, said author and blogger Kelly Rudnicki, who transformed her family’s diet after her oldest son, John, was diagnosed with a severe dairy, egg, peanut, tree nut and legume allergy and asthma.
“Most children want to be like any other kid, to not feel different,” said Rudnicki, who blogs at foodallergymama.com to raise awareness and increase funding for food-allergy research. “That’s why treats are so important; it’s a chance for them to feel included.”
An estimated 6 percent of children have a food allergy, or a reaction triggered by the immune system. the vast majority of food allergies are caused by eight foods: tree nuts, peanuts, milk, eggs, soy, wheat, fish and shellfish. but children can also suffer from food intolerance or sensitivity, when food triggers unpleasant symptoms but the immune system isn’t involved.
The signs can include reactions such as a runny nose, hives, a chronic cough or life-threatening breathing issues. though dairy and nuts are the most common triggers, some parents deal with multiple allergens, which makes buying prepackaged food nearly impossible.
Fortunately, several books offer appealing dessert options for children with special diets. if your child doesn’t have a food allergy, consider making allergy-free treats for a class party or Valentine’s Day celebration; that way the child with the allergy will feel like one of the group.
Gluten allergies and intolerance:the Ultimate Gluten-Free Cookie Book, by Roben Ryberg (Da Capo Long Life, $16.95)
Gluten-free baking can be frustrating because gluten is the protein that holds the dough together. the beauty of Ryberg’s approach is that she mimics glutinous cookies by embracing everyday ingredients. most of the cookies use brown rice flour or sorghum; no complicated rice blends are required. Ryberg, author of several gluten-free cookbooks, also offers egg- and dairy-free cookies and recipes with single flours.
Nut-, egg- and dairy-free recipes:the Food Allergy Mama’s Baking Book by Kelly Rudnicki (Agate Surrey, $19.95); foodallergy mama.com
Rudnicki targets three of the most common food allergens – nuts, egg and dairy – and offers advice on how to deal with classroom festivities and birthday parties. for class celebrations, Rudnicki suggests decorating her sugar cookies with allergen-safe icing and sprinkles. “The cookies double as a cookie-decorating activity,” she said. for birthday parties, vanilla cupcakes with vanilla frosting are her go-to dessert because “kids never suspect they’re allergen-free,” she said.
Multiple allergens:My Kid’s Allergic to Everything Dessert Cookbook by Mary Harris and Wilma Selzer Nachsin (Chicago Review Press, $16.95); mykids allergictoeverything.com
What do you do when your 4-year-old child is allergic to wheat, eggs, dairy, soy, corn and nuts? the authors, who both raised children with multiple food allergies, have compiled more than 100 recipes for sweets that can be slipped into lunchboxes or served at holiday dinners. the book also has recipes for those who must limit sugar intake or avoid gluten.