I love to have these on hand in the freezer to use in a pinch. My boy who is allergic to milk and eggs can usually never have freezer waffles unless I make them myself.  Van’s Gluten Free is the only brand I’ve found that don’t contain milk or eggs so they’re safe for him.

Right  now you can get them for only $0.50 at Target!  Here’s the deal:

• Van’s Waffles are on sale for $2.50 at Target.

• Use the coupon for $2.00 off 1 Van’s Product found here.

• Pay only $.50 for the waffles

Great deal!  Be sure to read the package ingredients to make certain you’re getting the allergy friendly ones.  Some Van’s waffles contain allergens.

Thanks All Things Target!

I wanted to let you all know about a recall that I just heard about this morning.  If you buy Orville Redenbacher popcorn and have food allergy concerns you might want to check your bags.

Conagra has recalled their Orville Redenbacher’s Classic Kettle Korn Ready-to-Eat Popcorn.  This recall is due to an undeclared milk allergen.  Apparently some of the Cheddar popcorn was packaged into the wrong bags.

See more info about the Orville Redenbacher Recall here.

I was hanging out on Twitter a while back and came across this article about how Pot Lucks make this blogger panic. The title of the article caught my attention because, well, they make me panic too. Although it’s for a different reason than the other blogger.

Pot luck dinners are always so stressful for us as a family dealing with food allergies. There are several issues we have to confront when facing a pot luck.  To the non-food allergic parents I look like a crazy overprotective parent who doesn’t think everyone else’s food is good enough for MY child.  To the parents of children who have food allergies – well, you understand don’t you?  I’d rather look like a nut than have my child accidentally eat one and possibly…Die!

Here are my top reasons to avoid Pot Luck Dinners when dealing with a food allergy.

• Pot Luck Convenience is non-existent -  I can’t just make one dish and bring it like everyone else.  Why?  Well, that’s the only thing my allergic kids will be able to eat, and who can only eat one thing at a Pot Luck??!!??  I have to make atleast an entree, side, and dessert.

• I have to be the spoon monitor – Even if I exercise due diligence and make food that my kiddos can eat that is all null and void once a spoon from one dish is used in my allergy-safe dish.  I have to watch my dishes like a mama hawk to make sure that doesn’t happen before their plates are fixed.

• No Yummy, New, Exciting Dishes for My Kiddos – This is more difficult for my 10 yr old than his younger brother because he’s into more foods, but it’s really a bummer for him when he loves to try new things.

• I risk hurting people’s feelings – If I went to a larger church this might not be such an ordeal since no one pays attention to what you’re putting on  your (or your kid’s) plate in a larger environment.  However, I often have very dear, well meaning people coming up to let me know that their dish is safe for my kids.  They’ll say things like “It’s ok, it doesn’t have milk, only cheese” 0r some variation like that.  Call me paranoid, but if I haven’t read it for myself then they aren’t eating it.  I explain this as nicely as possible.

So what can you do as a food allergy parent to make pot luck easier?

• Definitely go!  Don’t just stay home due to food allergies.  We have to teach our little ones to experience life safely with their food allergies – not avoid it!
• Bring “Safe” dishes for your child to eat so they can still eat from the pot luck, but avoid allergens.
• Have your “speech” ready so you can easily give an answer to others who are only trying to help by offering their dishes to your allergic child.
• Enjoy & try to relax!

Photo Credit

If you’ve read my Food Allergy Story then you know that my kid’s allergies are milk, eggs, nuts and peas.  While we don’t have a gluten or wheat allergy in our family I know that many food allergy families do.  It can be so expensive to cook for folks with food allergies, and that’s why I want to start providing you guys with some food allergy friendly deals and coupons.

Merissa from Gluten Free on a Budget has provided us with a fabulous Gluten Free Deals and Coupons roundup!

Gluten Free Online Deals

Right now on Amazon you can grab a great deal on Larabars! Amazon currently has these on Subscribe and Save so you can save 5% off the purchase plus get FREE shipping! Then clip the instant coupon and save an additional 35% off several different flavors. Each pack of 16 ranges in price from $19.89 – $24.86 so you can get bars as low as $0.77 each after the coupon and discount depending on what flavor you choose!

Clif Kid Organic Fruit Rope, Variety Pack, 8 Strawberry, 8 Mixed Berry, 8 Grape, Net Wt. 16.9 Oz. Pack of 24 – $14.79 for 24 or $0.62 each

Yummy, these look so good! Right now on Amazon you can grab Annie’s Homegrown Summer Strawberry Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks, 4-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 4) for only $15.35 when you select the Subscribe and Save discount.

Right now on Amazon you can get a 4 pack of Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Mighty Tasty Cereal 24 oz bags for only $11.81! That makes them only $2.95 per bag.

Here’s a great deal on a ready-to-go meal idea on Amazon! Right now as part of the Amazon Warehouse Deals you can grab 12 boxes of Annie’s Gluten Free Mac and Cheese for only $22.26. That makes them just $1.86 per box which is a great deal!

And here’s a great deal on something for baby! Right now on Amazon you can get a 12 pack of Earth’s Best Organic Prunes for only $7.98 when you select Subscribe and Save. That’s only $0.67 per jar!

Currently on Amazon you can grab 16 Just the Cheese snack bags for only $13.79 when you select Subscribe and Save! That makes them out to be only $0.86 per bag.

Gluten Free (and Dairy Free) Coupons

• $0.55 off Any So Delicious Dairy Free Product
• $0.75 off 3 LARABAR, UBER OR JOCALAT bars
• $1/1 Goodbye Gluten Bread
• $0.50/1 BeanFields Chips
• $0.55/1 truWhip Product
• $1/2 Food for Life Products

Free Ebooks

Raw Vegan Desserts: A Recipe Collection

Smoothie Power! Recipes for Weight Loss, Vitality, & the Occasional Super Power

Healthy PIZZA! Moan Inducing, Raw Vegan, Low-Fat, Gluten-Free PIZZA Recipes (Moan Inducing Raw Vegan Recipes)

Cavelady Cooking: 50 Fun Recipes for Paleo, Low-Carb and Gluten-Free Diets

25 Healthy Gluten-Free Breakfast Recipes

Looking for a fun, easy, and healthy snack to make your little one? Try these Sweet Potato Toddler Crackers! They are gluten free, corn free, dairy free, soy free, nut free, and sugar free!

I just had to grab this free Kindle e-Book this morning!  I have followed Food Allergy Mama’s site for a while and she has some GREAT recipes.

The Food Allergy Mama’s Baking Book: Great Dairy-, Egg-, and Nut-Free Treats for the Whole Family is usually $19.95 but you can get it for FREE today on Kindle.

If you don’t have a Kindle you can still read this on your computer, iPad, iPod, iPhone, or Android.

Remember that Amazon changes prices often so this may not be free for long.

Once upon a time, oh maybe about 9 years or more ago, I would have looked at the above scene with delight.  The first thing I’d go for is a Reese’s Cup.

Oh how I miss those!

I remember the thrill of going out trick-or-treating with my siblings and coming back home with the loot.  We used to take for granted something so small as being able to enjoy it without reading labels.

Having children with deadly food allergies has put things into a different perspective.  What once gave me warm fuzzy feelings now gives me a feeling of dread and apprehension. During this time of year store owners everywhere are offering my kiddos candy.   It’s EVERYWHERE!!

Having strangers dig their hands through a bowl of peanut containing candy to find a “safe” candy for my child is just not practical.  Packages can tear open and residue can trickle out onto otherwise “safe” candy.

A common scene while checking out at the grocery store – “would you like a piece of candy?”.  This very well meaning question causes anxiety for me, the mom of children with deadly food allergies.  I have to ask the question(and sound like overprotective food allergy mom) – Do you have the package?  Can I read it?

In most cases I have to politely decline explaining that my sons have food allergies, and that it could kill them..yada yada yada.  I then get the looks – they look at my son with pity.  They look at me with suspicion –   Poor kid, his mom won’t let him have candy.

It’s not only Trick or Treating and Grocery Shopping that’s unsafe either.  Many churches have Fall festivals this time of year and there is candy everywhere – Snickers, M&M’s, Reese’s Cups, and so on and so on.  All of which are dangerous for my kiddo.

To those who provide candy to children during this time of year I have a suggestion.  It’s ok to have the grab bowl of candy for the kiddos with whatever yummy treats you desire!

BUT…What about this?

• Buy a bag of Dum Dums, Smarties, or Skittles just for the Food Allergy Kiddos
• Keep it in the original packaging so the overprotective food allergy mom can read it and approve it!
• Allow the kiddo to reach into the bag & grab it for him/herself.

This small gesture would help me and my kiddos enjoy this fun time of year so much more!

How do you handle food allergies during this time of year?  I’d love to hear your suggestions!

Photo Credit

Enjoy Life is one of my very favorite companies! I love that all of my kids can safely eat ANY of their products.  I also love to cook with their Chocolate Chips.

You guys mentioned that you would like to see more food allergy friendly deals and coupons on this site so — here ya go!  I just got these great coupons in my inbox:

Get a coupon here for $0.55 off any Enjoy Life Product

Also get a coupon for $0.75/1 Enjoy Life Plentils Lentil Chips

The Plentils are new & I haven’t seen them in my stores yet, but I’ll have to try them.  Has anyone else tried them?

Deal Alert

The Enjoy life baked cookies & bars are on sale at Winn Dixie until 10/20 so if you have one nearby you can get a SWEET deal – $2.95 per box after the coupon!

What’s your favorite Enjoy Life Product? Ours is definitely the chocolate chips & chunks.