Happy Sunday!

B loves music and Mark and I are always trying to find music that she will like and that we can stand after the 20th time of repeating the same song.

The Barenaked Ladies latest album, Snacktime, has some catchy tunes, including a little ditty called "Allergies". They don't have a video for it (yet?), but a quick YouTube search yielded the following:



The quality is pretty awful, but you get the idea...

"Allergic to nuts, I hate their guts!"

Exercise Induced Food Allergies?

This article came up a Google alert of mine:

Dr. Collins: Watch out for exercise-induced food allergies

We have all heard that statement, "You are what you eat." For some athletes, it should be "You are as fast as you eat."

Food allergies are often difficult to investigate and identify. In athletes, there can be an even more complex syndrome where they tolerate a particular food in their daily life, but have an allergic reaction if they consume that food in conjunction with intense exercise.

Read More Here.

Food Allergy Podcasts?

Hey there everyone -

I listen to ALOT of podcasts (it helps me concentrate while I'm designing at work), and I'm looking to expand my horizons.

I'm trying to find some food allergy-related podcasts and I've only found a couple. If you listen to food allergy podcasts (or others for that matter) and you have some to recommend, leave me a comment!

And just to get a feel for you guys and how familiar you are with podcasts, take the poll I just put up on the sidebar at the right of this post.

Thanks!

Tim's Potato Chips

Ok, so I've got good news and bad news.

The BAD news is that Tim's Potato Chips (oh how I love you Wasabi flavor) are fried in peanut oil.

What type of oil do you use?
We start with the all natural goodness of premium quality peanut oil the add corn and sunflower oil for that perfect golden brown chip with real potato taste in every delicious bite.

I discovered this fact over the weekend while shoveling a few (hundred) chips into my mouth and casually reading the label. Luckily Bella didn't eat any since they were Wasabi, but after reading the label (amd confirming things on their website) I felt like I needed a Silkwood shower or something.

The good news is that since I wont be eating these chips, I may get to keep my girlish figure.

I'm Sorry (so sorry)....

I've noticed a rude habit I've acquired since I became a PA mom.

I read labels.

Well, that's not really my rude habit. It's the way I do it. I fear that I am coming across as a real pain in the you-know-what when I go to other people's homes. If I see something (anything) that could possibly be served to Bella, I practically lunge forward and pick it up, scanning the labels for 'may contain' and 'processed in a facility' warnings. My maternal instinct takes over I guess.

Am I discreet?

Um.

NO.

And I do this at my parent's home, my sister-in-laws for Pete's sake. People whom I REALLY trust. Heck, I even do it when I'm at work eating something myself. With Bella over 10 MILES AWAY!

I actually looked at the label on a salad bag last night. I think I need an intervention.

Tell me, will I ever stop doing this? Please tell me you do the same thing...

Parenting Magazine: Spotting and Treating Food Allergies

The latest Parenting Magazine has a new article: Spotting and Treating Food Allergies. Read it online here.

Is it me, or are food allergies finally getting some much needed coverage (even the latest Harper's I suppose)? It seems like food allergy articles are popping up all over the place.

I, for one, am glad to see articles like these.

Everyone's Gone Nuts - A Rebuttal

Allergic Girl responds to the Harper's Article with an interview with a pediatric allergist (who also happens to have an allergic child).

Take a look.

This Month's Harper's Article?

Update: I've read the article (thanks to all of you who emailed it to me directly!). I just shook my head as I read this. IMHO, she's really in no position to make these remarks and I'm not sure what exactly she was trying to accomplish with her piece? Should us moms just chill out and not pay any attention if our kids pick up a PB&J at a birthday party? Uh, sorry but that will never happen. And as someone who works in scientific publishing (with one of the highest impact factors in all of STM publishing actually), I find her comments and insinuations on the bias of scientific publications laughable. As Bugs Bunny would say, "what a maroon".

Has anyone read the article in this month's Harper's?

Everyone's gone nuts:

The exaggerated threat of food allergies

by Meredith Broussard

I'm going to try to pick up a copy today, but if it's lame and I shouldn't waste my time let me know. I'm afraid it's just an opinion piece saying how all moms of PA kids are overreacting...

Gobble Gobble

We had a great Thanksgiving - hope you did too!

We're busy around Casa Peanut Free with post-Thanksgiving activities including the SF Auto Show and the local Festival of Lights Parade, mixed in with family time, movies and trips to the park. I haven't done a lick of shopping yet, and I don't plan on it.

Most importantly, we've gone a year plus with no serious peanut reactions. And this spring we found that Bella's tree nut allergy is gone. For this we are TRULY thankful.

Hope your holiday weekend is just as full and happy. Back on Monday with more posts.

p.s. the cheeseball was a big hit! instead of making a ball (for some reason it was too soft), i spread it in a shallow oval dish and sprinkled the bacon over it. mmmm. more surface area meant more bacon. hee hee. try it folks , it's awesome.