Apple Juice

For the life of me, I cannot figure out why Fussy Buns has reacted to Kirkland Fresh Pressed Apple Juice from Costco.

Ingredients: Apple Juice. Seems pretty basic. On two separate occasions, she has had what she calls an “owie poop” complete with a bleeding sore bottom. I called Costco to confirm that nothing else was added to the juice and was told that a tiny amount of iron was added. I am waiting to hear back as to the source of the iron or if there was a risk of cross-contamination. The rep did say the apples were sprayed with pesticides, so maybe that is affecting her? I usually only give her organic produce. She is such a sensitive girl, poor thing. Anyone else react to this product?

Food Allergies vs Food Intolerance: An Infographic

It’s interesting that the allergist didn’t think I was allergic to nuts given the symptoms I described, but when tested he said I was definitively allergic (IgE) to peanuts and all tree nuts (in addition to many other foods) and prescribed an EpiPen. I’ve never had a life threatening reaction, didn’t know about my allergies until I was in my 20s, and have multiple food allergies. Fussy Buns has had multiple food allergies since birth, but corn for example does not test positive for IgE. The allergist said she may be having a delayed reaction, but she gets hives on her face within minutes of eating something with corn in it. She also gets a terrible diaper rash and diarrhea still. Fortunately she has never had a life threatening reaction, but we carry an EpiPen Jr. just in case. It would be nice if “allergy” and “intolerance” were used correctly, but it doesn’t change the fact that people still can’t eat the food they’re reacting to.

Fussy Buns is a big sister!

Fussy Buns became a big sister about a month ago! She’s been so gentle and sweet with her “Sissy.” It’s really sweet to see this side of her and I can’t wait to watch them grow up together.

This time around, I feel a lot less anxious about having a baby, but I’m definitely on the lookout for food allergies. I don’t want to restrict my diet any more than necessary, so I’ve just been avoiding my food allergies (dairy, soy, potato, peanut, tree nuts and no gluten – Celiac Disease). I’ve occasionally had eggs and I’ve definitely been eating corn. Baby #2 has already had diaper rash, but we think it was a yeast infection. Our pediatrician pointed out that the lack of green frothy poop is a good indication that she isn’t reacting to foods through my breast milk.

We’re still working through our leftover stash of newborn Honest Co. disposable diapers we had from Fussy Buns, but soon I hope to try out the newborn Bum Genius cloth diapers I borrowed. They are lined with 100% polyester, the same as our Bum Genius diapers, and it will be interesting to see if Baby #2 reacts to polyester like her sister.

I don’t want to be paranoid, but after everything we been through with Fussy Bun’s allergies I just want to avoid months of a sore bottom if possible.

Recipe: Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Chicken and Spinach Enchiladas with Salsa Verde

I really detest eating spinach, so I’ve been looking for ways to sneak it in because I need the iron due to pregnancy related anemia. We had some leftover shredded chicken from our Dry Rub Chicken that we needed to use up and we still had chicken broth we made from the carcass that we hadn’t frozen yet, so I thought enchiladas sounded really tasty. Fussy Buns can’t have corn tortillas, but she loves rice tortillas from Trader Joe’s, so I adapted this recipe to make it free of gluten, dairy, soy, corn, egg, potato, peanut, tree nut, fish, and strawberry: http://afoodloversdelight.com/chicken-and-spinach-enchiladas/

Chicken and Spinach Enchiladas with Salsa Verde

Ingredients:

• 1 (16 oz) jar of green chili salsa (We used La Victoria Thick n Chunky Salsa Verde Medium which is gluten free, but might have corn in the xanthum gum and/pr citric acid)
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1/4 heavy cream or milk (We might try coconut milk next time, but decided to skip this)
• 1 T olive oil
• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 1 big handful fresh baby spinach
• 1 1/2 cup shredded chicken
• 1/2 cup beans (We used leftovers: canned black beans and homemade pinto beans)
• 2 T fresh cilantro, minced
• rice tortillas
• toothpicks
• avocado and tomato as optional toppings

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Combine salsa verde with chicken broth (and coconut milk if desired) in a bowl. Set aside.
3. Heat olive oil in a non-stick skillet over medium heat.
4. Saute diced onion until translucent.
5. Add fresh spinach to diced onion and stir until spinach is wilted. Remove from heat.
6. Add chicken, beans, and cilantro to spinach/onion mixture. Set aside.
7. Pour about 1/2 cup of salsa verde mixture on bottom of baking pan.
8. Divide chicken mixture among tortillas.
9. Roll up tortillas and secure each with a toothpick so they don’t pop open in the oven.
10. Place filled tortillas in sauce in the baking pan. Cover with the rest of the sauce.
11. Bake at 350 degrees, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until enchiladas are slightly browned on top and centers are bubbling.
12. Remove pan from oven. Remove toothpicks from enchiladas.
13. Serve with additional chopped cilantro, avocado or diced tomato, if desired.

100% Cotton Swimsuits

I’ve been searching high and low for a 100% cotton swimsuit for Fussy Buns with no luck. I happened across a Le Top swimsuit at a children’s consignment shop that was cotton except for the spandex straps. She is not reacting to the spandex, so I’ve been looking for something similar because she has almost outgrown it. Of course, most bathing suits are polyester or a blend of other synthetic fibers. Sometimes I can find a cotton suit, but the lining is 100% nylon. I don’t know if she reacts to nylon, but would like to avoid it just in case.

I checked in with the Corn Allergy & Intolerance group on Facebook to see if they had any insight, since people there usually have more than one allergy, and I was told to look for cotton, bamboo or hemp swimsuits. Not sure where to find these in a size 2T. Some people suggested Hanna Andersson and they may have sold 100% cotton swimsuits in the past, but not this year. Le Top’s line this year is out as well.

I thought it was really interesting to find out that polyester is being blended or made from GMO corn fibers! I have no idea if this is why she reacts or not, but it’s good to know!

I wonder if the allergist would do patch testing on a toddler, just to rule out some synthetic fabrics. I’d hate to put a polyester patch on her though. I’m sure it would look like her skin had been burned within just a couple of hours. Poor baby!

Little Bee Co. Cloth Diapers

I spent HOURS scouring the internet for polyester-free pocket or all-in-one cloth diapers and talking to other moms online to get their recommendations. I even made a spreadsheet to help me keep track of all the details (partly because I’m nesting at 35 weeks pregnant, mostly because I’m a nerd). The number one thing I was told was to use cotton prefolds and wool covers. However, wool makes me itchy and my grandmother is allergic to lanolin, so I didn’t want to risk another expensive investment only to find that Fussy Buns reacts to that too. Fortunately, someone told me about the Little Bee Co.

After emailing back and forth with the company, I decided to order the Bee Changed One Size Bamboo Pocket diaper. I really like that even the tabs are lined with bamboo fleece and cotton, all natural fibers, as lined tabs were difficult to find in my search. I paid for 6 and got the 7th free, along with free shipping, which should be enough for a toddler’s need if I launder every night. They even offered to upgrade me to hemp/cotton inserts once they are back in stock since the inserts they regularly come with are microfleece (100% polyester). Not only are these diapers soft and colorful, but the company donates one new diaper to an orphanage for every one purchased! They also sent me a sample of their detergent and a magnet.

I can’t wait to try them out, but first I have to prep them (diapers and microfleece inserts separately). I’m really hopeful that Fussy Buns doesn’t get a rash from wearing these. If she does, I’ll wait to get the hemp/cotton inserts before writing them off completely. Thankfully the company will allow me to return them if they don’t work out. Fingers crossed because I love them already!

Cloth Diapering: Polyester Allergy Cont.

I went to a Cloth Diapering 101 event tonight with a friend feeling pretty confident that I knew what I was doing. I’m comfortable using, laundering, and stuffing our Bum Genius 4.0 One Size diapers, but figured I could always learn something new. And boy did I!

Despite our delay in using cloth consistently due to 7 months of bad diaper rash that never let up (think oozing, bleeding, painful to the touch), I felt proud that I had identified and eliminated all 10 foods and their derivatives. We no longer battle diaper rash everyday, but after a couple of days in cloth Fussy Buns will sometimes have a rash everywhere the cloth diaper touched. We use flushable liners too, but she will get a rash even on her thighs where the material gathers at the leg. I used to just chalk it up to her getting into something, even though after racking my brain I couldn’t figure out what the offending food was. After switching her back to corn-free disposable diapers, the rash clears up pretty quickly. 

Fussy Buns also reacts to polyester clothing, even cotton polyester blends and the polyester tags inside clothing. I recently bought some tagless Hanes tanks and camisoles to layer under her clothing and that pesky rash on one side of her torso finally cleared up!

How could I forget to read the label on the cloth diapers?!

My friend tonight asked about the material of cloth diapers, so I grabbed one of the samples they were passing around and sure enough the lining is 100% polyester! I was able to laugh at myself, but I just wanted to kick myself for being so careless. It’s no small feat keeping track of all her sensitivities, in addition to mine, but I do feel bad that she’s been reacting to the diapers. Fortunately, I won some gDiapers at the event, so I’m going to try those out with the prefolds I only used as burp cloths. I’m not sure if I should hang on to the Bum Genius diapers in hopes that baby #2 won’t have the same issue or if I should invest in new cloth diapers that also work with Fussy Buns. Unfortunately, it’s so hard knowing which diaper will work until you try it out on your baby. 

So, I guess I’m back at square 1 when it comes to cloth diapering.

Gluten Free Vegan Birthday Cake and Frosting Recipes

Fussy Buns just turned 2 years old!

How time flies when you’re chasing a toddler while pregnant! I’m so tired it’s kind of been a blur, but we’ve been having a great time! This year, we opted to make our own birthday cupcakes for her princess party and buy a Costco cake for our guests.

We adapted this recipe for Namaste Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes using their Chocolate Cake Mix. It says on the package that their product was made in a “dedicated facility free of: gluten, wheat, soy, corn, potato, peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, and casein.” It’s especially hard for me to find gluten free mixes without potato starch or corn. Regarding their xanthan gum, which is often derived from corn, they respond:

Namaste Foods uses xanthan gum that is NOT derived from corn or corn sources. It is certified by the manufacturer to be free of all carbohydrates including corn, wheat and soy. Regardless of the source carbohydrate, there is no trace of it left after going through the process of making xanthan gum. If you are reacting to xanthan gum it is much more likely that you have a sensitivity to xanthan gum itself, rather than the source it was grown on.

The mix calls for egg, but the vegan recipe on their site suggests using mashed banana and peanut butter. We decided to try Sunbutter and it turned out a little chewy, but otherwise great. Here’s our modified recipe:

Ingredients

• 1 package Namaste Chocolate Cake Mix
• 3 1/2 ripe mashed bananas
• 3/4 cup Sunbutter
• 1 cup water
• 3/4 GF Enjoy Life chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray cupcake pan or insert liners.
2. Combine all ingredients except chocolate chips. Mix well. Fold in chocolate chips.
3. Spoon batter into cups to 3/4 full.
4. Bake 10-12 minutes for mini cupcakes, 22-25 minutes for regular size. Cupcakes are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Chocolate Frosting

We (and by we, I mean my husband) also made our own chocolate frosting by modifying a recipe from one of our favorite cookbooks, Paleo Indulgences, by Tammy Credicott.

Makes 1 1/4 cups

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup palm shortening
• 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
• pinch sea salt
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract (we didn’t use)
• 2 TBSP arrowroot starch (we used tapioca starch)
• 1 tsp coconut flour, sifted
• 2 TBSP unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 TBSP coconut oil, melted

Directions

1. Place the shortening, maple syrup, and salt in a medium bowl, and use a hand mixer to combine.
2. Add the vanilla, arrowroot, coconut flour, and cocoa powder and blend again.
3. With the mixer on low, slowly add the coconut oil until incorporated.
4. Whip frosting on high until light and fluffy.
5. Refrigerate if needed to firm up a bit, and then whip again.
6. Frosting can be stored in the refrigerator up to a week. Let it soften a bit at room temperature and fluff it up with a hand mixer before using.

Fussy Buns thoroughly enjoyed her cupcake and asked for more when she was done, so I would say it was a success!

 

Polyester Clothing Allergy

When I told my mom about Fussy Bun’s allergy to polyester in clothing, she asked about polyester thread. I didn’t even know polyester thread existed! I have noticed that most of her tops have a tagless label printed near the collar and also a silky tag sewn inside the side of the shirt. Fussy Buns has had itchy rough skin on her sides, specfically the side that usually is in contact with that tag.

It never occurred to me that she is reacting to the tag!

Some of the shirts we have say “100% cotton, Exclusive of decoration.” These shirts have some kind of embroidery on the front and a mesh type of backing on the inside. Just yesterday she was scratching her belly wearing one these shirts. I didn’t realize that there could be polyester in the embroidery or that mesh lining until I read the tag. I can’t cut that out and I don’t want to have to cut the tags out of all of her clothes, so I’m looking into some undershirts for her. We certainly can’t afford all organic cotton clothes with organic cotton tags and thread at this point, so I’m hoping wearing a tank top under everything will help! Layering will work most of the year where we live and during the summer, she wears tank tops anyway.

Has anyone else had a similar experience with polyester and what did you do to resolve it? I hope she outgrows this!

The Toy Allergy

I read somewhere that children with a “toy allergy” can’t play with stuffed animals because they are allergic to polyester, a synthetic fabric. While Fussy Buns doesn’t seem to have an extreme “toy allergy,” she can’t wear polyester without getting a red itchy rash. I recently tried a cotton polyester blend shirt on her, but after no more than 3 hours she broke out. Unfortunately this means no more soft fuzzy PJs. We’ve switched everything but a few blankets and toys over to natural fabrics, like cotton. Costco has organic cotton PJs now, but they feel a little thin. We like Hanna Anderson organic cotton PJs and find them cheap at secondhand stores sometimes. They still aren’t as warm as the fuzzy PJs made of polyester, but we put socks on her and she snuggles up under her (cotton) blanket at night.

My mother-in-law makes these adorable quilt scrap jacks and has since switched to using cotton stuffing instead of polyester. I told her she should market these as “toy allergy” friendly, so parents will know they are safe for their little ones. Check out http://www.ashcreeknativities.com