Back to School Snacks for the Awesomely Gluten-Free + More

Do you like how I started this off with a positive? I figure if you have kids with any kind of food issues you’re probably freaking out right about now. So I wanted to throw an “awesome” in there, ‘cuz maybe you’ll feel good and confident for a second. Do you? Well.

I hope you do just a little bit, as there are a ton of new, and old, snacks on the market to pack up with your allergic kiddos. I wrote about it before, but I have some new findings, and also, holy crap do you see all these g-fers on the shelves-

I thought it might be time for some new info.

First up, my daughter’s new favorite gluten-free oatmeal from Bakery on Main. See how happy she is? A little too happy, if you ask me. I’m also in love with the little gluten-free oatmeal cups from Bob’s Red Mill. I know not everyone who has a wheat problem can tolerate oats, but if you can these start your kiddos morning off right on.

Next we have a horribly named but completely delicious snack from Wild Zora, the meat and veggie bar. Honestly, when I got the pitch for this gluten-free, grain-free, soy-free, nut-free, MSG-free, and milk-free snack, I laughed. And might have even emailed back, “LOL,” because I’m a 12-year-old. But the PR lady was adamant that if my family tried these meat and veggie bars, we’d like them. Guess what? LOVED THEM. Yes, even the little kids, and even the ones with kale. The BBQ beef bar was my favorite, and my kids loved the Mediterranean Lamb. They are basically beef (or lamb, or turkey) jerky with vegetables that add flavor but not vegetable texture. Super delicious, you guys. We’re hooked. 

 

For the 8 main allergen crowd, Enjoy Life Eat Freely has just launched mini cookies, which are perfect for a lil’ snack in the lunch box or after school. My son digs the sugar crisps, and my girl is all in on the double chocolate brownie. I just love that they are free of all 8 allergens so most kids can enjoy a sweet treat.

Other than that, we have our go-to allergy friendly snacks with the help of Annie’s gluten-free bunny cookies, Krave beef jerky, popcorn and loads of fruit. It’s enough to make a parent relax for a minute. Hahahahaha. I said “parent” and “relax” in the same sentence.

For those of you who are also gearing up to implement a 504 plan guide, check out the CDF’s 2016 Back-to-School Challenge Campaign to help. And they have a brand new and free Back-to-School and 504 Plan Guide and webinar to help parents through the stress and confusion BTS can be for allergic kids. Check it!

Happy drop-off line!

XO,

GIMB

Super Snacks for Everyone! Brought to You by Direct Eats

Happy May, everybody! In addition to the blooming flowers, ditching of winter coats and anticipation of summer vacations, May is also the month we talk about food allergies. Hooray for Food Allergy Awareness Month!

Okay, not “hooray” about food allergies, but hooray about spreading some awareness around and talking about how to keep everybody safe and happy this month, and the other 11 months as well. I’ve partnered with Direct Eats, a fab online store that sorts out your groceries as well as beauty items, by allergen. I know, it’s awesome. Their prices are pretty dang good too, which is a bonus when you’re stocking up those cabinets.

Given that it is about time to wrap up school days and kick off road trips and summer camps, it’s the perfect time to talk about snacks. You know, those things that get you through your afternoon slump and what your kids are begging for all the time. If by begging, I mean (car doors opens, seatbelts snap), “Moooommmm! I’m starving!!! I need something in my snack hole RIGHT NOW!!!”

Or maybe that’s just my kids.

Still, if you have a food allergy, or are preparing food for someone with a food allergy, you’re probably already stocked up with your go-tos when the children begin to yell or your stomach starts to rumble. These lists below are designed to expand your repertoire, while also offering 8 main allergen free options in case your peanut allergy is hanging out with a wheat allergy.

While it’s always great to serve naturally allergen-free snacks, life oftentimes requires pre-packaged snacks that do not require refrigeration and can spend an afternoon by the softball field without destroying your snack bag, or survive a care package mailing. (Hint: frozen fruit kebobs do not travel well. Learned that the hard way.) In fact, I would highly recommend providing 8 allergen-free snacks anytime you’re serving a group of kids, or sending it off to a summer camp where many allergic kids may mingle. Don’t panic! It’s really not as overwhelming as you may believe. After all, 2 of the 8 main allergens are fish and shellfish, and let’s just assume we all know neither of those are great ingredients for kid snacks.

So here are two different snacking options, the homemade and the made-for-you. Enjoy!

Rock That Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Sleepover Until You Pass Out/Have a Breakdown

If you’re a parent you know that when it comes to sleepovers, you’ve gotta’ do everything in your power to make them go smoothly. While I used to believe the biggest problem with sleepovers is that you’re responsible for other people’s children so you can’t drown out the kid crazy with tequila; I now know there’s a bigger problem: Freaking food issues.

Having recently had a playdate where the mom just asked that we not feed her child at all, and being a celiac type, I get it. Of course I get it. The fact that I understand the severity of food allergies and sensitivities does not make it easier to prepare food for a mixed group of hormonal tweens. No, I’m not over the massive birthday party sleepover from 1.5 years ago, why do you ask?

But making it easier is the subscription box company, Crafted, who just introduced their new kid’s overnight party box. Yes, of course that’s it up there!

Super Safe Candies & Cupcakes for the Refined Sugar-Free, Gluten-Free, Soy-Free, Dairy-Free Chocolate Lover

Hey guys! I just got back from the Celiac Disease Foundation Conference & Expo and met these super duper people who are full on committed to making delicious foods for those of us who can’t really be free and easy with our breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert. I know, we’re sad.

Still! I had way too many cookies and good stuff while I was there, and I met this very enthusiastic group of people who were beyond excited to share their cupcakes, chocolate awesomeness and even granola with the likes of us. After tasting, testing and reading the labels I realized it was the perfect product for Bake Sales, cuz’ this stuff is SAFE. For a load of people. Maybe you?

Cinnamon Crunch Pancakes: Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Egg-Free

Mmmmm, pancakes. This breakfast staple was one of the first things I learned how to make gluten-free when I was diagnosed with celiac.  No one should be without pancakes—no one.

Luckily pancakes are also one of those magical foods that adapt to loads of issues, and still turn out super delicious. So I went dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, and added a cinnamon crunch because, YUM.

It’s pretty simple to make gluten-free pancakes if you have an all-purpose gluten-free flour (or one of the zillion of gluten-free pancakes mixes on the market), and making it dairy-free is as easy as substituting oil for butter and almond/soy/rice/cashew/hemp milk for cow milk. (While I like to use almond milk, if you have a tree nut allergy, try rice milk.)

I’ve found the best way to replace eggs in a baking recipe is to use golden flax meal. One tablespoon of golden flax meal to three tablespoons water (allow to sit for 15 minutes), creates a great texture. And feel free to use one egg instead of the golden flax meal mixture if you don’t have any egg issues. And don’t forget, if you’re like, “I don’t have time for this b.s.” grab one of these gluten-free and dairy-free pancakes mixes:

Bob’s Red Mill

XO Baking Co.

Cherrybrook Kitchen

Kinnikinnick

And more!

Adding a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar kills it in this recipe, so totally do that. Get to breakfasting!

Why Are We Talking About the Top 8 Food Allergens?

Why hello there! Welcome to Bake Sales Are My Bitch. Perhaps you came over from Gluten Is My Bitch, where I rant, recipe and ridiculous on the regular. Or maybe you’re trying to figure out what the hell to make for the class picnic that won’t kill/maim/greatly upset a good portion of the 3rd grade population. Either way, welcome and let’s navigate the tricky world of kids and food together.

I’m a celiac and a mom, which means I get to prepare a gluten-free, peanut-free, tree nut-free and kosher lunch for my kids every freaking day. Yes, it does get old. But I would never, ever, put another kid’s life in danger because my kid really wants a peanut butter sandwich. I’m cool that way.

It doesn’t mean I love taking every damn thing into consideration when preparing a group lunch at the kid’s school. But being a food issue person myself, I not only respect other people’s issues, I wouldn’t dare jack that up. Additionally, I don’t see why the gfdf kid can’t enjoy the hell out of a cupcake. It’s not his fault his genetic material rejects traditional cake.

And that’s what Bake Sales is all about: Complaining about the insanity of food issues amongst kids, while making sure all kids are safe, and offering up delicious alternatives so our kids won’t be even more sad about their lunch. My focus, while it may vary from time to time to include preferences and religious requirements (see above: kosher), will mostly stay within the top 8 food allergens which include: wheat, dairy, eggs, shellfish, fish, soy, peanuts and tree nuts.

So join me on this journey, and please do share about your challenges, successes and anything else you want to chat about it.