Most people don't think of Easter as a very corn filled holiday. It's...more...carrots. And maybe celery. And...jellybeans.
Actually, for most people with food allergies, Easter celebrations can be pretty safe.
But, again, corn rears it's ugly head. Ear? Whatever.
Jelly beans may generally be free of the top 8; but their rainbow appeal generally comes from a rainbow of artificial food colorings. These are linked with behavior issues, and possibly further health problems, in some individuals. There are naturally colored jelly beans from Surf Sweets, Green Beans, and even Jelly Belly superfruits.
Unfortunately, the above are either made with corn syrup, or the corn containing citric acid.
Gummy candy is another perrenial favorite...Gummy bears fit just perfectly into the plastic colored eggs. (And of course an egg laying bunny is going to hatch red and yellow bears, right?) Surf Sweet candies, Yummy Earth candies, and Annie's Naturals all have delicious alternatives. (Containing corn)
Florida's Natural Nuggets taste good and fit well in the eggs...but again contain corn derivatives.
For a corn free candy, you might have to resort to St Claire's Hard candies. (Tasty, but not quite as seasonal)
And then there is the chocolate bunny. Nut warnings, dairy derivatives, even gluten show up in those mischievous iconic candies. Alternatives may be maple sugar shapes (I haven't seen a bunny, though), chocolates bought from a premier specialty facility like Premium Chocolatiers, or chocolate chips melted to fit various candy molds available in the market place.
The only real candy novelties safe for corn avoiders are the ones we make ourselves. But some have gotten creative with Erewhon rice cereal and homemade marshmallows to shape krisie treats, gelatin mold eggs, and shaped chocolates.
Of course...the best egg stuffers are non candy...Littlest Pet shop figurines, In My Pocket pets, and small vehicles will delight kids 3-7; as will mardi gras beads and other small party favors (these aren't great for the environment, though)
As an adult with the corn allergy (and parent to a dairy free, gluten free kid and 2 who avoid artificial colorings) I prefer to not worry about the sugary novelties.
Spice cake sounds good to me; and maybe if we have a few carrots I'll grate them in for corn free carrot cake. I'm still working on a white frosting recipe. Powdered sugar has not been easy to find, but I'm certain there is decent frosting to be had without it. (after all, people have been frosting cakes for generations...haven't they?)
The kids are looking forward to egg dyeing. Although every year I tell myself we'll find some nice, safe, all natural dyes...I got lazy (and cheap) and purchased a sponge paintng kit. We will dye 2 dozen eggs, of the cheapest brand I find, and Mr. Violets will bring what he wants to work. The rest will be a tragic waste of resources...but at least they'll serve a purpose in entertainment, art exploration, and decoration. And they'll decompose quickly, a nice Earth Day bonus.
Maybe we'll work in a short hike, or at least a trip to the park. After all...the whole point of Easter is to welcome spring back to our lives. And part of springtime is getting back outside. We'll also be attempting another garden. We've already fed a honeydew seedling to the snails in our yard, and (after putting down salt) are considering ttempting strawberry plants. They grow well and Bumblebee enjoys them. Maybe I'll even be able to handle a few despite the prevalence of seeds. (Or maybe I'll puree them and strain the seeds) At least if they're homegrown, I'll know if it was the strawberry or the 'industry standard' rinse that didn't get scrubbed off.
Showing posts with label chocolate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chocolate. Show all posts
Friday, April 22, 2011
Monday, August 09, 2010
Jealousy
Jealousy burns, bitter and sour, a shield against hurt and anger. Frustration.
Some parents get to look at a treat lovingly prepared by their kids, and see the pride, the smiling faces. All they have to fear is a bit of dust, unclean hands. Unique flavoring, and how exactly to keep themselves from betraying their misgivings.
And then there's the food allergy parent. The corn allergy parent, to be exact.
My loving kids ransacked their brains and raided the kitchen. They found bananas, strawberries, and chocolate chips. They searched the cupboards for real chopsticks. They put two and two together and tucked them, secretly, into the freezer. A few hours later, they began bugging me for popsicles.
I knew something was up...but not what.
I treasure the pride, the ear-to-ear grins, the shining eyes.
But they were out of safe bananas last time I went to the store. And I tend to react to store bought strawberries.
So all I could do was squish them up tight in a hug, grin back my tears, and thank them from the bottom of my heart, while breaking theirs.
Maybe it's not such a big deal to say "not right now" if you don't have food allergies. Maybe just the restrictions make food itself seem like a much bigger deal than it is. But it gets old, being on my toes all the time.
Choosing whether to grin and bear the digestive disturbances that go on and on and on...or the discomfort of being in the spotlight.
I know the grass is always greener. We have so much to be thankful for. But tonight, I'm feeling sad.
And in dire need of a chocolate covered banana that hasn't been gassed to ripen properly. At least the kids aren't too old to snuggle up and watch "Road to El Dorado" with me. A good snuggle and a funny movie might just make up for it all.
Well, that and a handful of chocolate chips.
Some parents get to look at a treat lovingly prepared by their kids, and see the pride, the smiling faces. All they have to fear is a bit of dust, unclean hands. Unique flavoring, and how exactly to keep themselves from betraying their misgivings.
And then there's the food allergy parent. The corn allergy parent, to be exact.
My loving kids ransacked their brains and raided the kitchen. They found bananas, strawberries, and chocolate chips. They searched the cupboards for real chopsticks. They put two and two together and tucked them, secretly, into the freezer. A few hours later, they began bugging me for popsicles.
I knew something was up...but not what.
I treasure the pride, the ear-to-ear grins, the shining eyes.
But they were out of safe bananas last time I went to the store. And I tend to react to store bought strawberries.
So all I could do was squish them up tight in a hug, grin back my tears, and thank them from the bottom of my heart, while breaking theirs.
Maybe it's not such a big deal to say "not right now" if you don't have food allergies. Maybe just the restrictions make food itself seem like a much bigger deal than it is. But it gets old, being on my toes all the time.
Choosing whether to grin and bear the digestive disturbances that go on and on and on...or the discomfort of being in the spotlight.
I know the grass is always greener. We have so much to be thankful for. But tonight, I'm feeling sad.
And in dire need of a chocolate covered banana that hasn't been gassed to ripen properly. At least the kids aren't too old to snuggle up and watch "Road to El Dorado" with me. A good snuggle and a funny movie might just make up for it all.
Well, that and a handful of chocolate chips.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Enjoy Life
In the world of food allergies, there are certain companies that stand out.
And in the world of Corn Allergies, company loyalty seems to reach an all-new high. We thoroughly read every label, looking for minute additives...and then catch the hopeful words "No Corn". Of course, we know that these two little words simply mean whatever the company has decided that they mean. Perhaps that there is no unprocessed corn product. Or that there is no high fructose corn syrup (Post declared it's Raisin Bran corn free because they use regular corn syrup) Or maybe it means that they actually, *gasp*, know the origins of all of their products...and not one are derived from corn.
As a corn allergy sufferer, I'm always holding my breath for the latter.
Then there are companies who try, really hard, to understand the dynamics of corn allergy. Who contact FAAN and work with them. Continually proclaiming their product to be corn free while the supersensitive of us shiver, shake and break out in hives. "Well, you see, that's very unusual," is the usual response.
But we asked in advance because we knew this was a potential problem.
You can almost hear the shrugging on the other end of the line.
Fortunately, there is one brand that doesn't shrug it off. Enjoy Life foods does claim their food to be corn free, as per FAAN's standards. But they will be upfront and admit in letters and email that if you are very sensitive to corn, the only products truly safe are the Cinnamon Crunch Granola, the Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips and the Boom Choco Boom Dark Chocolate Bar. (Note: Only the varieties above are safe to my knowledge. Always read labels, and contact the company directly about any questions.) Other products have minute amounts of maltodextrin or xanthan or other corn derivatives.
While some of my fellow Uncornies scorn Enjoy Life for claiming corn free when they use some corn derivatives, I have to give them credit for patiently walking the middle ground. They are honest and upfront. As far as the general public goes, these products are corn free. And for the majority of corn allergy sufferers muddling through the grocery store, the purer derivatives are safe enough. It's only for a few of us that there is a problem.
And Enjoy Life is kind enough to answer our questions, offer advice, and encourage us to check with a medical professional before taking any risks.
After 7 years (or so) of experience contacting companies and requesting information, I have to say that Enjoy Life is one of the best companies to deal with. They are responsive, and seem open. They are encouraging and do their best to really understand, or at least sympathize with what the food allergy patient deals with daily.
Thanks Enjoy Life!!!
And in the world of Corn Allergies, company loyalty seems to reach an all-new high. We thoroughly read every label, looking for minute additives...and then catch the hopeful words "No Corn". Of course, we know that these two little words simply mean whatever the company has decided that they mean. Perhaps that there is no unprocessed corn product. Or that there is no high fructose corn syrup (Post declared it's Raisin Bran corn free because they use regular corn syrup) Or maybe it means that they actually, *gasp*, know the origins of all of their products...and not one are derived from corn.
As a corn allergy sufferer, I'm always holding my breath for the latter.
Then there are companies who try, really hard, to understand the dynamics of corn allergy. Who contact FAAN and work with them. Continually proclaiming their product to be corn free while the supersensitive of us shiver, shake and break out in hives. "Well, you see, that's very unusual," is the usual response.
But we asked in advance because we knew this was a potential problem.
You can almost hear the shrugging on the other end of the line.
Fortunately, there is one brand that doesn't shrug it off. Enjoy Life foods does claim their food to be corn free, as per FAAN's standards. But they will be upfront and admit in letters and email that if you are very sensitive to corn, the only products truly safe are the Cinnamon Crunch Granola, the Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips and the Boom Choco Boom Dark Chocolate Bar. (Note: Only the varieties above are safe to my knowledge. Always read labels, and contact the company directly about any questions.) Other products have minute amounts of maltodextrin or xanthan or other corn derivatives.
While some of my fellow Uncornies scorn Enjoy Life for claiming corn free when they use some corn derivatives, I have to give them credit for patiently walking the middle ground. They are honest and upfront. As far as the general public goes, these products are corn free. And for the majority of corn allergy sufferers muddling through the grocery store, the purer derivatives are safe enough. It's only for a few of us that there is a problem.
And Enjoy Life is kind enough to answer our questions, offer advice, and encourage us to check with a medical professional before taking any risks.
After 7 years (or so) of experience contacting companies and requesting information, I have to say that Enjoy Life is one of the best companies to deal with. They are responsive, and seem open. They are encouraging and do their best to really understand, or at least sympathize with what the food allergy patient deals with daily.
Thanks Enjoy Life!!!
Sunday, November 01, 2009
It's NOT just in your head...
For years doctors have claimed that the vast majority of gut complaints are the direct result of emotional stability. Stress. Anxiety. Control issues.
Elaine Gottschal watched a diet prescribed by Dr. Haas heal her daughter. She went on to write a book, now published as "Breaking the Viscious Cycle," which embraced the theory that gut bacteria were intrinsically linked to whole health. Especially gastrointestinal health.
Elaine went on to explain that the bad bugs crave sugar...in essence causing the human host to crave sugar. (Try and explain this to the typical MD, and he'll try very hard not to laugh directly at you.) She also explained how obesity can be caused by starvation...the bad bugs "stealing" all those yummy carbs and sugars.
After only 60 years or so, medical science has begun to wake up and agree. Those carb cravings may not be just in our heads (and tastebuds). Neither are they a product of our genes. Nope, studies have proven that people who eat chocolate have different intestinal bacteria than people who do not eat chocolate, leading to a difference in various metabolic byproducts in the blood and urine of test subjects.
Studies have also proven that intestinal flora changes after a change in weight.
Scientists feel this is exciting because if we can find ways to manipulate the bacteria, we can nudge it in the right direction for people trying to meet specific goals.
I wonder what far reaching research could lead to? They're already experimenting with certain parasites to treat Crohns disease, acknowledging that probiotics are vital for intestinal health, and begrudgingly admitting that natural vitamins might serve humans better than synthetic ones. What can gut bacteria teach us about allergies and autoimmune disorders?
What else is "all in our head", but really tied to the gut?
Elaine Gottschal watched a diet prescribed by Dr. Haas heal her daughter. She went on to write a book, now published as "Breaking the Viscious Cycle," which embraced the theory that gut bacteria were intrinsically linked to whole health. Especially gastrointestinal health.
Elaine went on to explain that the bad bugs crave sugar...in essence causing the human host to crave sugar. (Try and explain this to the typical MD, and he'll try very hard not to laugh directly at you.) She also explained how obesity can be caused by starvation...the bad bugs "stealing" all those yummy carbs and sugars.
After only 60 years or so, medical science has begun to wake up and agree. Those carb cravings may not be just in our heads (and tastebuds). Neither are they a product of our genes. Nope, studies have proven that people who eat chocolate have different intestinal bacteria than people who do not eat chocolate, leading to a difference in various metabolic byproducts in the blood and urine of test subjects.
Studies have also proven that intestinal flora changes after a change in weight.
Scientists feel this is exciting because if we can find ways to manipulate the bacteria, we can nudge it in the right direction for people trying to meet specific goals.
I wonder what far reaching research could lead to? They're already experimenting with certain parasites to treat Crohns disease, acknowledging that probiotics are vital for intestinal health, and begrudgingly admitting that natural vitamins might serve humans better than synthetic ones. What can gut bacteria teach us about allergies and autoimmune disorders?
What else is "all in our head", but really tied to the gut?
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