Whats for tea tonight ...........  Allergy Free Pizza !!!!

Well as I promised and finally writing this blog about home-made Allergy Friendly Pizza

My boys so been begging for pizza for sometime now , and due to my diet being restricted as was still feeding my princess I havent been allowed Dairy ..... These homemade pizza's are Egg Free , Nut Free , Wheat Free , and one of the Pizza bases is Dairy free which in turn you can make a complete allergy friendly pizza , we had chosen to use Cheese on ours this time round.

Now have to admit the dough for the pizza was a boxed one and we make it up and top pizzas ourselves.First one is one called Macro Gluten Free - pizza dough mix straight on the shelves at Woolworth's and costs around $3.25 and makes one pizza base. In this one there does have a dairy part to it so if you have a Dairy allergy please avoid. The other mix was the Laucke Flour - Easy Bakers this one does contain soya but no Dairy you can also make rolls , bread , and other things with this one it comes with 2 separate packets in the box and costs around $5.50 and again on shelves at Woolworth's, With this one you also have to weigh the amount of flour used we added equivalent to double what the box suggested and it was awesome , this brand and box is the one we use at moment to make our bread in our bread machine and turns out fantastic ( will do blog with photos of our bread later).

So this night we made these with our boys started with mixing up the dough , with the Easy Bakers one we tend not to follow the amount of water it says we slowly add till we get the right consistency making such not too wet.As for the Macro brand follow the amount of water added. Water is the only think you add oh unless you want to add some herbs.



From here Use a pizza Pan and press dough out or if you choose use a rolling-pin to round out a bit then on the oiled pan , we use Rice Bran oil. You can also choose to line it with baking paper.



Once dough is flattened in the pan depending on your pan we had one with holes at the bottom so than this one would be right to add topping then place in oven.On the other hand the other one of ours doesnt so we place the base in the oven till slightly cooked then take out of the oven then top with toppings of choice.



As above we top with Tomato paste and keeping in mind some kids like ours can not have too much high Salicylates or high MSG foods ( Tomato being one of the highest to both) so this is a treat.


 

Then the fun begins with adding all your toppings such as Ham as in our photo ( do keep in mind if you have a Dairy allergy that Deli ham can have a preservative that is derived from Dairy) GERNS is normally the safest.



And then Pineapple as we were making Ham and Pineapple Pizzas



We also added Shallots to our pizza instead of onion as onion is high natural food chemical too - Salicylates now our pizza is ready for cheese as long as you don't have a Dairy allergy , other wise you might want to add an alternative topping.

There you have it one of our Allergy friendly Pizza ( as long as you don't have dairy allergy or change to alternative)





This is our finished Pizza and certainly was a hit with the kids , so just because we have allergies doesn't mean we have to miss out quite the opposite as this way you are sure of what ingredients that show up on your pizza as well as with no added flavours etc so the purest you can get and have the family time and joy of making it together.

So get creative and make all sorts pizzas , such as BBQ chicken by using a BBQ sauce with the least amount of added things and also one from a factory that doesn't may contain etc and use chicken breast that you can quickly diced up and fry in pan and add fresh to your awesome pizza.

So when you are stuck for a meal to have as a treat of fun family time think about Pizza you will enjoy it....

I do apologise for this promised blog being a bit delayed , hope this has been worth the wait for you all

Heidi :)

“A change in perception creates a change in personal reality.”  - Kurek Ashley

Today its Thursday 30th june and taken me a couple of days to get some clarity with our little Angels results after her visit to the Goldcoast to see Dr Pete Smith our Allergist.

As we walked into his office and waited to be called in by him , my nerves built up not fully aware if we were going to be walking out with yet another Epipen for our family which already has Two.  This quote ‎“A change in perception creates a change in personal reality.”  - Kurek Ashley  is what has been keeping me positive , after we found out that our little Angel has condition called FPIE – Food Protein induced Enteropathy which is a less severe condition then FPIES and yet still treatment is still the same.

I’ll be honest for a time after we were told officially By Dr Pete Smith that she has this condition , and yet had skin test which came back great compared to her brothers meaning no Epipen is needed , we couldn’t help but Celebrate the no Epipen. Then came the travel home and the time to think and think about what this meant to us and to our little one.Well first of all on the way home we stopped off for lunch , not a normal lunch in which everyone would stop and have and get out of their car and order and possibly sit and eat.Yet we stopped and ordered and had to sit in the car with one of us keeping our little Angel busy and distracted then swapping over all to make sure our little one didn’t see us eat as we can’t feed her anything ( mind you she was given her prescription formula and also some pear , which she is allowed).

I suppose even after lunch and the travel home it wasnt until later that night I sat and thought of what else this will change over the next few years.We already couldnt celebrate her 1st birthday with a birthday cake. I sat and started to think how if she was just needing an Epipen how I already know what to do and how to avoid things to keep them safe , I suppose the unknown journey ahead was what I feared just when you think you have things sussed , life then shows you that you really don’t. Around every corner is a new lesson and a new journey.

So back to Perception , when I was sitting Tuesday night after we got back home , I had moment where tears just flowed , with all sorts of feelings yet again the same as when we first had one of our little ones diagnosed with Food Allergy and given an Epipen….. Questions of why our children? , why us? , what have I done wrong ? etc when I was stopped by my husband as he saw me upset and had run me a bath and said to go relax ( yes my bucket was empty as written in one my previous blog that sometimes we need time out for ourselves , and sometimes someone close to us needs to remind us of this).

As I layed and relaxed in the bath I still had out of control thoughts going through my head wondering the where from here etc?? then I started to change my perception , started to change the questions that I was asking myself, Some these questions were What am I grateful for? What is great about today? …… as soon as we ask ourselves right questions we soon get the positive up lifting answers we need.

So hence why my Title of this blog ,  that on any journey in life have it be Food Allergy related or not if we change our perception and way of thinking it is amazing where our mind goes and from there the more



empowered we can feel to take on our days and the next challenges we have in front of us , as i so know this isn’t the first and sure isn’t going to be the last.

So let me leave you with this other quote

“Weather you Think you can , or can’t You’re right” – Henry Ford

Thank you for reading look forward to any comments or Questions

heidi 

****An enteropathy identifies a disease of the intestine. A protein induced enteropathy is a condition in which there is a loss of protein from the intestine, resulting in the inability for the organism to absorb proteins.
An enterocolitis also called coloenteritis, is the combined inflammation of the small intestine, the bowel, an enteritis, the large intestine and the colon.

The symptoms seen in infants with dietary protein enterocolitis are very similar but more severe than those observed in protein enteropathy.

Just a quick update on my little princess Atopy Patch testing. After the results of the Wheat and Corn we decided to leave few days between as it seems where the patches were have completely disappeared as expected , although she has seemed to have sore ears , don't directly know this time round if it has a connection with her active immune system after the tests , but taking the time to wait till seems better for her. When she has had foods via mouth she has ended up with sore ears as one of the results.
Brings me to let you know that our youngest son had constant ear infections pretty much from birth till 12 mth's old , and each time it was diagnosed severe to end up having Antibiotics nearly every time , not only did he have ear infection and then got given Antibiotics he then went on to react to the ingredients in the antibiotics which in turn caused the opposite ear to flare up. Wasn't until we came across our awesome doctor that we have now that she said oh my goodness we need to write you a urgent referral to a Pead Allergist being at the time was then the first time we met Dr Pete Smith. Who in their right mind let alone all the previous times given antibiotics by doctors would you pick up it was related to food allergy as well as Tonsilitis ( oh and also told overtime that we were going to have to book him in to get grommets and have anoids etc done as well )
We got a rushed in urgent appointment with Dr Pete Smith ( keep in mind he had a 18 month to 2 year waiting list ) to walk away the day after his first birthday with a Epipen and told to avoid Dairy , Egg , Nut , Soy , Wheat wow what a huge life changing experience and journey ahead that was about to begin from that moment , and guess what no more ear infections.
So i suppose the moral of this blog was most doctors treat what is in front of them and don't look for the cause , as a mum or parent we need to be so switched on and aware as no one knows our children as well as we do ( each doctors visits i would say no we aren't getting grommets as there is a reason for this to be so often , also knowing that some children have a lot of scar tissue from having grommets and some fall out and need them done more then once). Learn to be confident in you intuition with what is happening with your children , as 99% of the time you will be correct , each time you find out you are right you will gain confidence in your internal guidance that you have.

Wishing you all a most wonderful week ahead and practice being in tune with your own intuition , you may surprise yourself , speak up to your doctors and don't always trust what they have to say ( as i have found and was told by another doctor "that they learn the theory but we are the ones living this everyday" and will share that exact moment that was said to me in another blog you will be surprised ).

Heidi :)

{Royal Children's Hospital Brisbane}



Wednesday 12th November our girl had her visit to hospital put under a general for her first ever scope. 4 year journey with our girls severe intolerances.  She did so well considering fasting from night before and went in at 10 30 am, our little one had a drop in sugar levels in waiting room started to become a challenge. They took her to her bed gave pre meds which helped calm her down, to the point she had cute giggles. Hubby went in to theatre and she had cuddles while gas sent her slept.
The procedure went well doctor said and now wait results of biopsies and blood tests.
I send huge hugs to all allergy parents that have go through these challenges as sure takes a emotional toll.
Lots of love to you all xo

10 Signs to look out for that a child may have Allergies / Intolerances

1.     Within the first 6 months signs of eczema

2.     Any signs of welts on the face or body after contact with foods    
        and or in some cases after contact with 
        Breast milk.

3.     Mucus/blood in baby / childs stool’s

4.     Any trouble with constant ear infections / throat / tonsillitis 
         or fast on set Croup.
        (Kids with nasal allergies or react in this way are more prone 
         to ear infections, asthma or sinus infections)                           
        Additives and preservatives as well as colours in foods can also 
        cause these reactions.

5.     Having a unsettled baby for extreme lengths of time, or 
        constant screaming.

6.     Does your child see to have the skin under eyes seem dark or 
         purple in colour, even a blue like tone?         
        Allergy doctors call them allergy shiners.

7.    Does your child always seem to sneeze or even wiping or 
        pushing their nose in a up direction? This is       
        known as the allergy salute.

8.     A regular dry cough or persistent or tends to breathe through 
         mouth.

9.     Does your child seem to have watery eyes, runny nose red 
         itchy eye?

10.   Rashes welts that show up close to time of eating?

If you answer yes to one or more of these above there a good chance your child may have allergies or intolerance, best to keep a small note of these things and take to your health provider.

For more assistance – book a coaching session or send questions to Heidi by emailing allergyfreecoach@gmail.com or by calling 0419462141.

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/AllergyFreeCoach

  Hope you are all well and as promised here is the recipe of our cookies the other day , a very fast and simple recipe that we use quite a lot. So hope you get as much enjoyment out of these as we do especially if its making them with the kids or the kids making themselves as my 12 year old did with these :)



Vanilla Cookies

Ingredients
1/2 cup butter choice (Nuttlex dairy free if needing dairy free)
1/4 cup caster sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla essence / golden syrup (for a different taste which we used in these ones)
1 1/2 cup flour of choice self raising
(a tiny extra flour for 


Method Prep 15mins / cook 15mins
Preheat oven 170c
1/ Line two baking trays with baking paper
2/ Beat margarine, sugar and vanilla essence in small bowl of an electric mixer for 1-2 minutes, or until well combined.
3/ Sift the flour into the butter mixture
4/ Use a wooden spoon to mix until well combined.
5/ Use your hands to mix to soft dough
6/ Shape tablespoonful of the mixture into balls and place on the prepared trays or use a cookie stamp
7/ Use a fork to flatten the balls and place on the prepared trays
8/ Bake for 12- 15mins till light golden in colour then let cool
Be careful to keep watch they cook fast.

****** With that cookie mix you can add dairy free, nut free choc chips
Also can press down with thumb in the middle and in the dip of the cookie your thumb add a jam of choice

My kids love home made pear jam, though strawberry jam used in the photo.


Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/AllergyFreeCoach

 As you all know Celebrating different life events such as Birthdays and Christmas etc cause stress on allergy families along with Easter time and yes it is not far off for 2014.


 At the start of our kids being diagnose it sure was like a breathe taking experience the thought of not being able to celebrate Easter the way in which i could as a child.
 I so remember being spoilt by not only the Easter bunny yet also parents and lots of family friends and family as well. I think some years we had enough to last a year... and having 3 under 4 years at the time when we had to go so strict because of Anaphylaxis it sure was hard to think of where from here and how can i experience and enjoy Easter with my own kids yet keeping them safe.
 So here I am writing as so many kids are being diagnosed daily with severe allergies and even severe Intolerances and if i remember clearly our minds are so in survival mode that hard to think of ideas we can use instead of chocolate for Easter.


 Some non food ideas for Easter

* I found that smuggles ( the company) bring out a easter range that easter related such as plastic eggs with rubber in each.
* Can use stickers easter ones on non easter ones and buy some of the little plastic eggs that open and fill them with sticker or even depending on age the little fluffy chickens in the eggs. We also put tiny toy inside the eggs.
* Can also buy around cheap shops or Big W which found today the foam little eggs that come with things to    decorate them they are around $4 and comes in a half egg carton.
* There are some toy companies that have toy eggs that can be filled with animals or even shapes and use for      game of memories etc.
* Can buy plastic eggs or rabbits to paint as easter gift.
* Wind up eggs, chickens or rabbits. 
* PJs can be bought for easter gift too depending on season where you are here in Australia its heading into Winter so our kids normally need new ones.
* Easter safe Cupcakes with the cute little easter cupcake holders and flags you can buy now, or cupcake boxes that are easter themed.
* Little soft bunny rabbits.
* Free colouring pages from online i found some links here is one of them http://www.kidspot.com.au/slideshow/kids-activity-sheets--easter-colouring-pages+118.htm

* Easter baskets filled with:  

• Wooden, plaster, plastic or foam eggs 
• Easter-themed stuffed animals 
• Small action figures, dolls or animal figurines 
• Jewellery, sunglasses, hats and hair items 
  
• Key chains, toy cars or other collectibles 
  
• Stickers, stamps, markers, paints, coloring 
  
• books and craft items.
  
  

* Easter kids movies such as Dora , and Mickey etc
* Can also buy Easter books i saw easter barbie books
* Can help celebrate easter with a easter tree by placing branches in vase and decorating with easter decorations.

Easter Activities 
* You can play pin FluffyTail on the bunny.
* Egg and spoon races yet with plastic eggs, can put a toy in it or just use it with a weight like a marble inside.
* Easter Hunt without chocolate eggs, again using different plastic ones that you can either hide a message inside or a toy of choice, such as stickers , or bouncy balls, little bottles of bubbles, plastic toy animals or toy cars.
Also last few years we put glow sticks inside the eggs and hid them outside at night, it sure was effective and our kids loved it.
* Make eater baskets with your kids or Bonnet.


Food related activities
* Bake egg, rabbit , or chicken shaped cookies that are safe for your child's needs
* Make your own home made chocolates or eggs shapes out of safe chocolate option for your allergy child or adult.
* Jelly in rabbit moulds or marshmallow rabbits with the rabbit mould you can buy.
 
 The above are some awesome options that you can use to make your Easter feel exactly that your child is feeling not left out. Who said allergy kids have to miss out.


 Also there are Allergy aware companies that are supplying allergen free eggs , you just have to be careful to contact them if ordering online to make sure these are safe for your child.


Places like Coles and Woolworths are Trying to be aware and have tried to create a range yet won't always suit all of us that have kids with the multiple allergies.
 Some links to online business's that have allergy aware products and a range for easter, some are over seas yet have Australian stockists lists.


Moo free
http://www.moofreechocolates.com/dairy-free-chocolate/stockists/other-high-street-retailers.php 
Allergy Train - have easter range 
http://www.allergytrain.com.au/Store/tabid/62/List/1/CategoryID/19/Level/1/Default.aspx
Kinnerton - nut free

http://www.kinnerton.com


Plamil - Uk yet have ranges available in Australia (no nuts)

http://www.plamilfoods.co.uk/products/
(available at my local organic shop Kunara on the Sunshine Coast)  http://www.kunara.com.au

Sweet Williams - nut free ranges
http://www.sweetwilliam.com.au/our-products


 So overall I really hope that you find a Idea for your allergy child or adult and have a fantastic Happy and Safe Easter break with your families. I also look forward to writing blogs more often.

 Please feel free to come and like my Facebook page and follow my post that are regular there and or follow me on Instagram, twitter :) and or share other ideas with us all too :) 


Heidi Finlay 
Contact me on :
http://www.allergyfreecoach.com.au/contactmedia.html

Be sure to go over to Sunny Coast Kids and like their facebook page and also go to their website here is the link below http://sunnycoastkids.com.au

Here are some of the links for you to read 
http://sunnycoastkids.com.au/contributors/heidi-finlay/22279/

Kids parties 
http://sunnycoastkids.com.au/articles/parenting/special-needs/severe-food-allergies-and-kids-parties/20926/

Facts about food allergies 
http://sunnycoastkids.com.au/articles/lifestyle/nutrition/facts-about-food-allergies/23180/

Recent allergy program links 
http://sunnycoastkids.com.au/articles/lifestyle/nutrition/an-emerging-epidemic-food-allergies-in-australia-america-on-recent-tv-programs/25302/

Keep your eye open for recent articles, thank you so much for your support and be sure to write comments or ask questions :)

Hi I am a mother of 4 children have allergies , all different from one another. As well as this I am also new at writing a blog so please be patience with me.

Some of the things that come to mind to write about is the lack of support you may have once you first find out your child has allergies.Firstly as a parent we have to come to terms with this whole allergy thing before we can fully make others aware and educated about what we may be going through.Even then its still hard , as its a lot to get your head around especially of your child has Anaphylaxis to a particular food or foods as the condition is severe and life threatening.
So many times i have come across families living with a child or children with allergies and they themselves still have the allergen around the house or may even eat it themselves. This is a practice i think at some stage normally the early stages we all do it. I remember when our oldest son hadn't been officially diagnose and given a Epipen due to the lack of knowledge that the doctors had even had in this area. This one particular night my husband was snacking on rice crackers mixed with nuts in the same packet , our Son came out after his bed time and was asking for a rice cracker , in which my husband had then given him one and said " You go to bed straight after this" well not much to my shock our Son was still calling out from his room as usual at night not wanting to go to bed.I said "get to sleep" by this time my husband had headed out to his work he had on at the time.He continued a couple times saying my eyes are itchy , with my response being get up and get a washer to wash your face , as he had dust mite allergy too.In the end i turned the bedroom light on to find his eyes were swollen and he could nearly not see out of them as well as had trouble breathing.I ran out to the phone and called an ambulance at this stage then my husband , they came out and all was settling down , a lucky close call I'd say.
The point to this is even us as parents take some time to actually have the extent of our kids allergies sink in ,  my word it sure did that night. So be kind to yourself if your child has just been diagnosed and at the same time keep them safe and take no risks.
Look forward in writing again soon until then keep safe and have awesome day

heidi :)