Great News for Cubs Fans with Allergies - Peanut Free section!

The Chicago Cubs are hosting their 1st ever PEANUT-FREE SECTION for Cubs fans with peanut allergies! This is fantastic - I know many Chicago-area parents have been working on this for some time.

Mon, August 30, The Batter's Eye Skybox
(an enclosed Skybox with private bathrooms)
$50 per ticket, contact: Samantha, 773-388-8273 or e-mail fanservicesassistant@cubs.com.
LIMITED SEATS AVAILABLE

Please visit Chicago Cubs Fans for Peanut-Free Baseball on facebook for more info. 

I'm hoping the Reds can offer something similar next season.

Rowan turns 3!

Rowan turns 3 next week, so we're having a family party over the weekend. I'll be baking a wheat-free, dairy-free, egg-free and nut-free chocolate cake with chocolate icing. I know, it sounds like it couldn't possibly taste good. But it's actually delicious! I have a really good recipe from Cybele Pascal's Allergen-Free Bakers Handbook.
I made this cake a few weeks ago, and my Dad liked it so much that he requested it for his birthday. And he doesn't have food allergies!

The secret to making a chocolate cake without milk is using Cocoa Powder and Enjoy Life chocolate chips (allergy-free).

If you have kids with multiple food allergies, you really need to get this cookbook. It's hard to bake good treats without wheat - but Cybele has figured it out.

Happy Birthday Rowan!

Free Mommy Cards at Kodak Gallery

Right now Kodak Gallery is offering a set of 50 Mommy Cards for free! What is a 'Mommy Card' you ask? Whether you're a stay-at-home parent or a working parent, Mommy Cards are unique business cards for the business of parenting. Regardless of what you call them, they are essentially a beautifully designed card with your name, your children's names and your contact information. There are so many ways you could use them:

• Give a new friend your info.
• Set up play-dates and communicate availability.
• At-a-glance reference for childcare, teacher, instructor or coach: list food allergies, nicknames, bedtime routines, medical info, emergency contact info and more.
• A handy resource in kids’ backpacks, just in case.
• Introduction to new neighbors.
• For existing friends….they’re just too cute not to share with everyone. 

I like the idea of listing food allergies – for teachers, babysitters or new friends. Most people forget after you tell them, and they have to ask again later. (Unfortunately, Rowan's list is so long, I don't think it would fit on a card!)

The designs are pretty boring, but hey, they're free! You only pay for shipping.

If you're looking for something a little more upscale and well-designed, visit Moca Paper or Tiny Prints.

Skip Hop Zoo Packs (again!)

Last July, I featured Zoo Packs from Skip Hop. I bought 2 for my nephews at Christmas (penguin and dog), and 2 for my girls (mouse and penguin). People always ask where we got them.

Skip Hop recently added 2 new designs to the collection - a bee and an owl. I think these are so freakin' cute! I want the owl for myself. Added bonus: they are all BPA-free, Phthalate-Free and PVC-Free. They also have lunch packs with the same cute designs.

Food Allergy Guidelines for Illinois Schools Now Available

Illinois lawmakers recently passed legislation regarding required guidelines for dealing with food allergies in all Illinois schools. The great news is that these guidelines are already available online.

Most schools in the various districts around the state will most likely adopt these policies and tailor them, if necessary, to their schools' needs.

Many people worked tirelessly to get this passed and also to create the food allergy guidelines documents. This is big progress!

If you don't live in Illinois and are having trouble getting food allergy guidelines in your state, send this link along to your state government reps as a model of how to implement these policies.

If you do live in Illinois and are having trouble with your school, please refer them to this new food allergy guidelines link for direction and help.

In Ohio, the board of education of each city, local and vocational school district, along with the governing authority of each charter school, will be establishing a written food allergy management policy. The provision states that the policy is to be developed in consultation with parents, school nurses, other school employees, school volunteers, students, and community members.

Illinois School Info courtesy of The Nut-Free Mom.

Food Allergies Take a Toll on Families and Finances

Just read an article in the NY Times that talks about food allergies and how it affects families. I can relate! I've never added up all of the extra money we spend on organic and specialty foods, Rowan's formula (EleCare), epi-pens, asthma inhalers, doctors visits, and trips to urgent care...but I know we spend a lot. And these are things we have to do. It's not a lifestyle choice. And while I wouldn't wish this on anyone, it's nice to know that there are other families out there dealing with these stresses.

Peanut allergies aren't the only ones that are life-threatening

Saw this post on The Food Allergy Mama. Like our girls, her son has a life threatening allergy to dairy, along with peanuts. How nice that her son's classroom celebrates birthdays in a food-free manner, and precautions are being taken to make his environment as safe as possible.

Severe food allergies are extremely stressful. I can't say this enough. I constantly have to be on guard, and there are so many challenging situations that make my heart race. Having a safe classroom would be such a relief. Rylie will be in kindergarten in the fall, and thankfully they don't have snacks. Elementary school will be a whole different story...with lunches, snacks and treats. How does your child's school handle food allergies?