The cooking class, a private one. Just me and the one I asked to cook with me, to invite me kind of to her secret garden, her recipes, her ultimate way to feed her kids everyday and come with ideas again and again. That's in fact where things go wrong, were I loose my confidence in myself, while running out of ideas. Italian food is full of temptation and that's what we need to overcome the small moments of hesitation, to think about'not cooking at all today'. Allergy wise it's perfect. The parade of plates is eternal, it brings back memories from the eternal city and it recalls the summers in France when the Italian Pastor cooked for our hole family. Some discipline to gain back. New ideas about vegetables and to rediscover that cooking together is a tremendous pleasure even if you hardly know each other.

Class 1

A new adventure.
A small setting.
The kitchen.
Nothing special.
two women. two friends, two Europeans, an Italian and a Dutch.
Connection.
Cooking.
taste.
Cultures.
Crossing ideas.
Class. recipes. To know better, more , small tricks, funny stories.
To enjoy moment.
Rules, healthy, balance, no peanuts, nuts and so. No allergens.
Safe food, in my house, beautiful setting.

Menu
Broccoli, garlic, virgin olive oil (salt)
Tomatoes, garlic, basel, virgin olive oil (salt)
Pasta

Time: 1 hour

Loved it, the peaceful way we worked together, talked: life, children, education, jobs, profession, sport, time, home, dreams.

Because of traveling and parenting

'Each family is unique, even allergies are unique, and all families have the right to work on a situation properly. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Many teens with food allergy may not be allowed to use the school bus, while some can travel on their own, even to a foreign country.'


This sentence is really something, knowing we traveled around some countries already with a basket of allergies. It's this aspect, the traveling that is the linking pin with the cosmopolitan and the colorful of my daughter, her sisters, us. There are no bouderies, no limits, the sky may be is the limit. With or without allergies one can discover the world, connect with new food, secret recipes and freedom.


http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/14289/1/How-Parents-Should-Deal-With-a-Teenager-With-Food-Allergy.html

Although dated in 2008, what does time mean for a flew of information, lots of tings we get to know, read in aticles, newspapers, hear from our personal coach aren't new. Just introduced as something innovative, sparkly, dizzling and based on common knowledge and former research. There where it's much about the relationship between children and parents, we learn that we know so much already but, often we just aren't ready to confront ourselves with the meaning and the tools we've have in our hands.

Some Spring thoughts

Running out of seasons, days, ideas, information, blog notes. 

Running away from allergies... No not really. Hardly ever not a sign from allergies. 

These last days things are pretty well under control, and that's good. 

Too many severe reactions during the last couple of months and those are exhausting. 

What is many then ? It's probably very personal to answer this question. My allergy daughter would certainly respond in a modest way, while she waves all sorrow away with lightness like the butterfly dances on the tunes of fresh breath of the wind. She could easily forget the reactions she had. Most recently during spring break in Amsterdam and short before in march after a school day in Rabat. Others will come up with answers and long descriptions of the specific situation and so and so reaction. Where some won't share an answer at all, blowing their experiences away because of feelings of  insecurity, anxiety,  misunderstanding, vulnerability.

IN her words, picked with caution my colorful girl is neither without doubt nor without proud. The action, the expression of attitude are connected with a range of feelings and colored by a mood, a moment. 

I know that sharing the fact of being allergic is not always easy. And much of the resistance is connected to the questions we pose ourselves. Often we are driven, challenged or stopped in our actions by the voices, the questions in our own head. The answers we receive to our own answers, the feelings we have about the environment, the doubt to act or not. being a minority makes that you feel overruled and in a learning environment where you spend most of your time it's a fight to get your personal message out. And is it necessary in the end? I don't know. I am surprised though that my daughter hardly speaks about the allergies she's facing. And yet it doesn't shocks me at the same time. It's fare more in the expectations of the things that we could hope that openness and straight forward speaking are elements truly implemented in today's teens life. The mirror though sends another image. There's in the schedule and the lack of time, spare slots in full booked agenda's not such a thing as 'what's bothering you' ' is this about your health'. And this hasn't change so much since long. Being different makes that you should come up with something hyper, hot, glossy, way to wow or what have you. Sites about teens and their allergies are mostly evolving under the wings of an adult site and with a truly a back up from professionals and teams of specialists. Out there, in the school yard, at the picnic table, during a school trip, entrance at high school, another Prom it is in most of these situations about one self and the guts to speak out for your self and to stay very steady on your both feet.

It's definitely as beautiful as the colors in the pencil box. But she will draw her lines in H and B.

allergie à l'arachide : le "french kiss" peut poser un réel risque - Articles - Informations médicales pour votre Santé

allergie à l'arachide : le "french kiss" peut poser un réel risque - Articles - Informations médicales pour votre Santé

Because of being allergic!

A deadly kiss,

avoidance of allergens seems in the end the only way for safe kissing!

Why Risk It - Info for Teens with Food Allergies

Why Risk It - Info for Teens with Food Allergies

Perfect and compact, variety of items and subjects, troubles and measurements, advises, links and resources. Search this site, it's colorful and serious for all teens who do live with allergies and are at risk! Don't take a risk, live it serious and take care of yourself!

Spring ... waves

Sunday's , I like Sunday's like today, an easy and warm day. laying down in the garden under a nice plaid, once brought from Portugal, getting rid of my back pains, while closing my eyes and just hearing the birds in the garden, girls running and screaming, spring is all around, I hear the kids from the shanty town, biking in the street, having fun. Mimosa blossoms in th end of the garden, a tiny tree but I suppose her flowers and yellow soft balls are so strong that they cause easily eczema and all sort of allergies. my allergy girls definitely runs along with small swollen facial spots. The children's hospital from Chicago asks for volunteers, allergy patients for a research.  I consider to send them a letter and see what the chances can be.
With 12 million Americans allergic...................
But I'll try anyway, it would be great to have my allergy daughter in a research done among allergy patients.
In the meantime the weekend passes.
Lots of dishes and different people, this is certainly one of the beautiful aspects of living in various countries. And there's not to much time to think to much about one's own troubles,
spring comes with energy and waves of impulses and adventures, longer days and late sunset.
My favorite season.

Allergies Conso

Allergies Conso

The blog has been designed by the parents of an allergic child. The perspective is to be involved as parents, making things easier to understand and to open this personal world to others who suffer from similar allergies. Care about treatments and taking the life with allergies serious.
These sites are all private gardens.
The personal stories and the experiences.

(v29) Allergienet : consacré à l'asthme et aux allergies

(v29) Allergienet : consacré à l'asthme et aux allergies

Site in French, from France, the home country to my allergy girls, the place where we gather in summer, where she sees her doctors and recall all time we lived there during seven years.

Site with pure medical information.

Allergy (Allergies) Symptoms, Causes and Signs on MedicineNet.com

Allergy (Allergies) Symptoms, Causes and Signs on MedicineNet.com

More and more information.

I feel after all those years that you'll never finished with new collected data, information, insights. It's very comfortable to feel supported in your opinions and observations, it's pointing out that a serious diagnosis and powerful attention without any need to become hysterical is just the way to deal with allergies. When your child suffers, you like to have people out there who do understand and and respect, it's helpful in one's relation towards others, family, peers to transfer these articles and sites. Allergies are a very serious issue. And you can live wonderful well while being an allergy girl, but you need to respect some golden rules. So take that as a message, a personal one, we came from far, we lived in different spots and still she does fine my allergy girls. Not without mentioning that it asks an investment, patience and empathy.

Information about health, growth and emotions for Teens : TeensHealth.org

Information about health, growth and emotions for Teens : TeensHealth.org

It's about food, allergies, sleep, exercise, campus life and being a young student, summer plans and earning money, staying zen and being healthy, connection to peers and parents, finding yourself in the fast moving environment of today's teen's life.

The focus on health with a link to allergies. Clear and short lists with possible reactions and things to take care of, when you^re allergic and you're a teen this is nice and wonderful site.

As for parents it's well done that there is more information to study and to transfer to our teens, so they get more involved about the issues that counts. Topics are teen-like wise!

It's disturbing though when I read the symptoms a body evolve while having an allergic reaction. The stomach ache and the vomiting, the respiration and nauseous problems. Disturbing because my allergy girl goes through these stages, as two weeks ago in Amsterdam. It seems that reactions got worse.

Avoiding everything you can't have.

Eating and enjoying anything you CAN Have!

The golden rule: I am what I eat!

Press Releases Kids With Food Allergies

Press Releases Kids With Food Allergies

Outlines about how we can deal better in specific allergy related situations.

Mutual understanding, empathy and common sense, no miracles.

World Allergy Organization

http://www.worldallergy.org/publications/wao_white_book.pdf

It's medical, but it's understandable even for non medical specialists, which means myself, I do feel being a specialist but with another formation, background and observation. personal experience and the practical experience in every day life. One thing is very clearly explained, all allergies do have an impact on the quality of life for one suffering from allergies. The huge scale of allergies world wide, in development and underdevelopment countries and the growth of number of allergy patients makes it a field of intense study and research. Transparency from stakeholders in the global food industry, education programs in schools and training in empathy seem to me all fields of interests.

Art & Craft books for kids up to 99

Worlds to color! Magnificent books which take children and adults, in fact all ages on their way to discover other cultures. Beautiful books, nicely designed and illustrated by artists and illustrators. 'Les Ciseaux migrateurs' is the first collection of three books. Interdisciplinary becomes a real pleasure by combining fairy tales, stories, history, costumes every aspect is done with vivid colors all through reading, cutting and folding.  Young kids though need certainly assistant by elder siblings, friends or parents. In this collection we're invited in the land of the Tuareg, Gipsy's and Maharajahs

The site of the books publisher is amazing a pure pleasure, a play of senses.
I will have some mint tea myself now, after reading the introduction in the world of tea by Le Thé des Ecrivains.

http://www.thedesecrivains.com/en/editing/

Cahiers d'activités, collection 'Les Ciseaux migrateurs', JBZ & Cie et le Thé des écrivains, 24 p and 12,50 euro.

BBC News - Carbon emissions linked to Europe's hay fever rise

BBC News - Carbon emissions linked to Europe's hay fever rise

This make sense. We see, feel and live so often hay fever with our allergic daughter and even her sisters that one doubts and hesitates and lost clue in getting the right picture. Traveling from the South to the North and back, the seasons are quiet difficult to determine any longer and pollens do make us stay sniffing and coughing and unfit and the world takes place in a indoor setting. The Netherlands already is a spot to avoid for her as pollens seem to start to outcome when we land with the plane to visit some relatives. In early summer last year and during fresh spring this month, outside life in the city and the countryside becomes rather uncomfortable. When Michael Pollan mentions in his food rules that we should stick to local producers a comparable comment is used by scientists arguing that one should consider the import of exotic trees to European countries.

"In Germany, it is now only in November that we do not see allergenic pollen - so the season of suffering for people with hay fever is getting more serious," she said.

"On a local scale, planners should be more aware of what sort of problems may arise from the urban trees they're planting.

"Often they use birch trees, for example, because of their nice silver colour, not aware that they leave allergenic problems behind."

Ginger!!!

Tonight as dessert beautiful cake with ginger and apple.
A flavor that make you feel like being on a travel, a journey.
Ginger is a flavor that comes along with the thoughts I still have when thinking of my grandfather. He was the ultimate grandfather, the one who decorate the table with cakes and frostings. He made the 'butter-cookie'. Same tradition as a pound cake,
4 ingredients all in a nice balance and similar quantities:
flour, sugar, butter and eggs.

Butter Cake
250 gr butter
250 flour
250 sugar
4 eggs (I am not sure though and I need to look this up)

Because of the colonial past of the Netherlands there is ginger, so add some spoons of ginger and the tatse will be just awesome. Cut in small pieces because it's a traditional Dutch cake and very rich. Delicious when you have a cup of tea in the afternoon.

My cake tonight was:
180 gr butter
120 gr flour
60 gr corn flour
3 eggs
2 tbsp of ginger
1 apple, small pieces

The most important is to separate the whites from the yolks. beat them into snow.
Start with the butter, then add the sugar, yolks: one by one and finish with the flour mixed with the corn flour.The final add is the snow whites into the mixture, slowly.
Then apple and ginger.
bake in 35 minutes, 190° Celsius.

Serve with apple juice or a nice dessert wine.

Another Birthday Girl's favorite!

When: second birthday 1999, Les Janots, Cassis, Provence, France.
Source: The date has been written in the book Internationale gerechten, page 159.
Name: Duivels voedsel (Devil's food)

The cake is magnificent and very rich. An American recipe. I must have been thinking about the Blue Coconut Cake (see blog recipe index) I made for her first birthday, she had her first food related allergic reactions.
No peanuts and nuts, some eggs and there's chocolate. My allergy knowledge at that time was based on intuition and talks with dermatologists and pediatrics.

Devil's Food
(baking pan 22 cm)

Step 1.
100 gr black chocolate
60 gr sugar
1/8 l milk
1 egg yolk

Heat the oven, 180 ° Celsius. melt chocolate. Batter sugar, milk, yolk. Mix slowly into chocolate. Cool down.

Step 2
3 whites
2 tbsp sugar

Batter the whites into snow!

Step 3
4 tbsp butter
3 tsp vanilla sugar
80 gr sugar
2 egg yolks, 3/4 dl milk
salt
200 gr flour
1,5 tsp baking powder

Mix butter with sugar en add yolks, milk and salt, flour and baking powder.Add the chocolate melange and later the egg whites. Fill your baking pan en bake this Devil's food in 40-45 minutes. take out and let cool down.

Step 4
Frosting
1/2 l whip cream
1,5 tsp vanilla sugar
1,5 tsp icing sugar
2 tbsp coco powder
2 tbsp chocolate flakes

Prepare the frosting from cream and sugars en add the coco.

Step 5 and Final touch
Cut the cake in two layers. Cream one with a thick layer. Put the second on top and cover the outside with the rest of the frosting. Decorate with chocolate flakes. (Take a good brand with a high % of coco)

From the book: Internationale Gerechten. (International dishes)

A favorite of the Birthday girl

My daughter's birthday is today. Although not present, because of traveling, they fly out those teens! I will celebrate on the blog with some of her favorites, the list will be so long that I will never be ready before midnight but I'll share some. There were her special ones in all 5 countries where she lived so far. And with some Greek, African and Turkisch blood in the family the variety became only more exquisite. All recipes of-course are in respect of her allergies. We never felt, the last 14 years limited in making a choice for a nice meal. We never missed an occasion to make, bake and invite new adventures. I think one of the reasons my colorful daughter spends so much time in the kitchen, is because she turned out to be allergic. And overall she is a food lover! I do remember all the birthday cakes, just give me the time to share those on the blog. There will be some in Dutch, some in French and recipes in English, for the food lover among you, there will be no problem to understand. I mean the fun is the cooking, the link is the ultimate love for flavors and the sitting together, sharing a plate, a dish, a meal. Happy Birthday, bon appétit!

Today 35 degrees Celsius, pool, fresh food.


Spinach / Parmesan Pie. 

What you need for the crust:
250 gr flour
125 gr butter
salt
cold ice water

Prepare the dough with your kitchen robot.
You can cook the crust filled with rice for 15 minutes or cook it directly filled with your spinach.

Pie filling
500 gr spinach
50 gr Parmesan
garlic, pepper and salt (if you like)
1 onion
fresh sour cream, 2 large spoons
1 egg + 1 egg yolk
oil 2 tbsp

Heat oil, glaze onion and add garlic, 2 minutes.
Add spinach, 10 minutes low temperature.
Take away from stove and let cool down.
Add cream, egg and Parmesan.
Preheat the oven, 210° Celsius.

Roll the dough and cover bottom and borders fill with your preparation.
You can use the yolk for the borders so they will shine blond and gold when baked!
(35 minutes, depends on your oven)

You could make small envelopes filled with spinach, nice aperitif!
Try instead of Parmesan the Greek feta.

Children got refused from schools because of their allergies.
One milliard of people don't have access to enough food to feed themselves properly.
In France schools research and invest in making school cafeteria lunches healthier.
People are getting more anxious eating ingredients affected by pollution.
Fish has been detected with radiation in the Japanese sea.
A short list of food subjects in the Daily news.

Managing the Anxiety Often Associated With Food Allergies

Watch this video. An interactive experience, no lecture. Professionals and bloggers share their knowledge where anxiety becomes an issue for families with allergic children.

Managing the Anxiety Often Associated With Food Allergies<br>

Motherhood, The motherhood is the name of this particular site. For me as an European this is all very overwhelming. Is it because of the fact that there are 300 Millions of Americans that speak the same American language that these kind of platforms have a support, a need , a real possibility to get an audience.. I don't know the answer, but to me, as a European mother of a very severe allergic daughter this is all so unfamiliar. I believe it's terrific that these networks exist and support patients and families in their way to get along with their anxiety. These networks certainly don't have a place in Europe today and I am very eager to see how these kind of interactive networks could find a spot, some day.

It's about the right balance!

Scope - medical blog - Stanford University School of Medicine

Common sense. Perception and perspective. Don't get hysterical. Don't forget that many patients seem or think they're allergic but are not. All need to be placed in a reasonable perspective, we can't blame hole communities for some who are allergic. Inform, educate and respect towards each and all seem to be the ever best. It's about finding a right balance. Turn the allergy into something positive. Instead to ban peanuts, come up with an alternative! Share your favorite recipe with the non allergic.   

Food allergies: Something to take seriously - Tufts Daily - Op-Ed

Food allergies: Something to take seriously - Tufts Daily - Op-Ed

Joking about allergies can end up in pretty dramatic situations. Better not.

Those who suffer from food allergies or respiratory allergies are both risk groups. So better not fooling around with their allergies.

The story from this student is rather sad, his story is much about feeling excluded and not able to have dinner with friends because of the variety of allergies he's facing. I think there are limitations and that's so frustrating but better turn the page into the possibilities you have and all things you can eat instead of the focus of what not. It's how I try to educate our daughter and her environment. Otherwise life becomes a bummer every day. I see the pain and the feeling of being different and like my allergy daughter can scream out: 'I am never able to eat anything'. OK that's fine, sometimes, you need to feel just terrible but the focus should be on what you can have. Especially in the States there are these days so many books about all kind of adapted dishes and sites with restaurants where one can easily go and have an excellent moment without a worry. Without a positive mind the allergies will take over and that's not what one should let happen. My head turns always, like today with my allergy daughter travelling to Barcelona with her school. Will she be safe....will there be some nice food she can eat.... The great thing is she travels, she goes, water and fruits will do for some days, plain , basic ingredients and common sense.

Peanut allergy: no school

Where a peanut allergy becomes a reason to refuse children school admission! This is what happened in the Netherlands. I am confused, I was told by a mother in Amsterdam over the weekend when she asked me about my projects. We talked about severe allergies, living around the world and attending different school systems and doing fine like my allergy daughter.





Amsterdam, zaterdag 26 februari 2011

Pinda-allergie 

maakt vinden schoolprobleem

Toen de 7e Montessorischool Madelief (4) weigerde vanwege haarpinda-allergie, begon voor haar ouders de zoektocht naar een andere school.

MALIKA SEVIL

Madelief (4) was al op kennismakingsgesprek geweest bij de juf van het 7e Montessori in het Rembrandtpark. Nee, de pinda-allergie leek geen probleem te zijn, reconstrueert vader Olivier ter Brake het genoeglijke gesprek. “Tot onze grote verbazing kregen wij kort daarna, twee weken voor Madeliefs eerste schooldag, het bericht van de Montessori dat zij haar toch niet konden plaatsen.” Reden: haarpinda-allergie. Madelief was beter op haar plaats op een schoolvoor chronisch zieke kinderen.

Ter Brake: “Speciaal onderwijs! Waarom? Normale kinderen met eenpinda-allergie tussen kinderen met zware epilepsie, kanker en terminale ziektes zie ik niet zitten. Ze is een gezond kind. Het enige wat zij nodig heeft, is een omgeving die pindavrij is, én goed toezicht.”

Toch is een pinda-allergie minder onschuldig dan het klinkt. Sterker: die kan levensbedreigend zijn. Als een ander kind pindakaas heeft gegeten en een kus geeft, kan het al mis zijn. Bij een anafylactischepindareactie kan de keel opzwellen met een moeizame ademhaling of zeer ernstige benauwdheid tot gevolg. Dan moet de patiënt met een zogeheten Epipen adrenaline worden ingespoten om de reactie af te remmen en met de ambulance naar een ziekenhuis worden vervoerd.

Ter Brake: “Madelief heeft op school helemaal geen medische begeleiding nodig, maar in het uiterste geval moet eerste hulp worden geboden. Als je als school geen eerste hulp wilt verlenen, wat voorschool ben je dan?”

Veel scholen willen dat risico toch niet lopen en weigeren op voorhandkinderen met een pinda-allergie, weten ze bij de Stichting Voedselallergie. Carla Groeneveld van de stichting noemt het regelrechte discriminatie. “Kinderen met een pinda-allergie zijn prima in staat naar de school om de hoek te gaan. Sterker, scholen mogen kinderen helemaal niet weigeren op grond van een allergie.”

Zij denkt dat de scholen bang zijn om in te grijpen als het toch misgaat. “Terwijl het niets voorstelt. Het is gewoon een kwestie van jezelf goed informeren wat je moet doen bij een noodgeval. En daar zijn protocollen voor.” Verder, zegt Groeneveld, moeten scholen een beetje ‘rekening houden’. Geen pindakaas op tafel tijdens de pauze, geen pinda’s tijdens feestjes en controles op traktaties.

Volgens de 7e Montessori is het onmogelijk de school pindavrij te maken en daarom, zegt directeur Jan Boekhout, is de afwijzing juist in het belang van het kind.

Over de timing van deze mededeling, twee weken voor de eerste schooldag, zegt hij: “De moeder van Madelief vertelde pas ná de inschrijving dat deze aandoening dermate serieus is dat de kinderartshaar een pindavrije school had aangeraden.”

Kon de school een pindavrije school garanderen? Het antwoord is, om diverse redenen, nee. Boekhout somt op. De school met meer dan vijfhonderd leerlingen en veertig personeelsleden ontvangt dagelijks nieuwe leerlingen, ouders, stagiair(e)s en gasten. “Die kunnen wij onmogelijk vooraf informeren over de situatie.” In de hele school ligt vaste vloerbedekking. Die wordt elke middag grondig gestofzuigd, zegt Boekhout, maar resten van voedingsmiddelen kunnen tussentijds niet worden verwijderd. Dan het overblijven. De school kan niet garanderen dat geen etensresten met pinda’s achterblijven. Tot slot worden jaarlijks honderden traktaties en maaltijden uitgedeeld waarpindaresten in kunnen zitten. Kortom: geen doen.

Na de afwijzing door Montessori besloot ter Brake ‘geen tijd meer te verspillen aan het halen van het gelijk’, maar naar een andere schoolvoor Madelief te zoeken. Nogal ingewikkeld, twee weken voor de eerste schooldag. Nadat ze vijftien scholen hadden benaderd, was het toch raak. Het is een school waar ze volgens ter Brake hun stinkende best doen om Madelief een veilige omgeving te bieden, maar het is ook een zwarte school, die, vrezen haar ouders, haar een taalachterstand kan opleveren.

Madeliefs ouders zoeken dus verder. Ze hebben 41 scholen buiten het eigen postcodegebied gebeld. Die waren vol, hanteerden strikt het aannamebeleid op postcodegebied of weigerden Madelief vanwege haar pinda-allergie. “39 keer was het antwoord nee, één keer ja en één keer bijna ja,” constateert ter Brake teleurgesteld. “Ik ben geen statisticus, maar ik denk dat per jaar meer kinderen na een ongelukkige val op school overlijden dan na een dodelijke allergischereactie.”

Copyright: Malika Sevil

Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com

Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com

OK this is all very over the top.

(I hope that in Europe this is not possible. I will certainly check, especially after I spoke with a mother in Amsterdam over the weekend about children who need to go to special school institutions now in the Netherlands.))

The media attention this particular school goes after, is in my opinion beyond any reason. It's good to listen to the Specialist in the attached CNN Video, who keeps the picture about allergies simple and very reasonable.

Respect some rules for your child and your family, talk with your medicine so the child, teen, student will participate like all others in school and college life. To keep them safe!

My rule has been since ever: Don't taste anything; don't let allergic children taste food.

Stick to your diet, eat and enjoy all the things you can have!

Untitled Document

Untitled Document

Empathy, Understanding and Objectivity Need to Prevail for Students With Food Allergies!

Terrific! This is exactly what I see as the linking pin in the story about my daughter. I have been mentioning this more than once, an allergy as such a thing is not the problem: it becomes an issue and even very complex when a child, a teen, a student can't count on the empathy from his extended family and friends and even larger circles. Their allergies are serious and sometimes even life threaten. Food allergies do play a major part in daily life. Do interfere in social gatherings, family dinners, school parties, high school trips. Socializing means most of the time food, sharing time while eating a nice dish. It's the ultimate joy to prepare food and learn from each other by tasting the flavors from other countries, different cultures, it makes us cross cultures even.

How to Teach Older Children About Their Food Allergies

How to Teach Older Children About Their Food Allergies

Some professionals speak up about allergies and how to educate our children and teens.

It's true that the better were informed, the safer we feel, the easier it is to stand up and talk freely about the allergies who play an important role in your life. When you feel safe about your environment, because you're well informed you're able to inform your extended family and friends.

Life will be more fun when socializing isn't limited by unsafe food.

Mind your choice

A day is a cumulation of moments and often linked with food.
When I recall last Saturday in Amsterdam it was a typical wonderful Dutch Spring day.  At least it was exactly how I remember Spring in my country. The air becomes quiet warm after some hours and around noon the terraces are pretty crowded with those who enjoy the first sun rays. With my Moroccan perception of weather it feels quiet fresh but the fun of taking off your coat in early April makes me excited enough to follow with the ritual around me.

The place we spend some time is the location where my sister celebrated her marriage two years ago. An classic Amsterdam monument and a style icon of Amsterdam architecture tradition. The facade is dramatic with the middle and the two side wings, small windows all shining and reflecting in the bright Saturday morning sun.

The garden spreads out around the building and enters in a kind of a private Green park. It's designed as a maze. Lovely blossoming trees and a green wave goes with and follows the line of the trees. White cobbles decorate the path into the gardens around and tables and chairs welcome the guests for a nice lunch or coffee with apple pie.

My allergy daughter is enjoying Amsterdam, here in the city she opened her eyes almost 14 years ago.
Hanging out with cousins having a blast.
When menu cards get opened, it seems there is a nice selection of salads and sandwiches, all with fresh and only a few ingredients. She choices the Italian foccacio bread with mozzarella, basel and olive oil. When lunch is served to her, she can't have it because of the not mentioned but added layer of pesto.............grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

As I ordered the same, I inspected the sandwich and ran up to her at the next terrace table to inform her about the green and surely delicious cream but so allergy suspected because of the pine tree pits. We asked for another sandwich, same composition without the pesto, which was possible to get served in a minute.

The apple pie that came with the coffee was terrific but covered with a tremendous hill of almonds, that although allergies for this tropical white nut are minor to my allergy girl we skipped it from her dessert list. When we entered later in the evening a small restaurant at a walking distance of my sister's house located in the old dock area. She hoped for a nice flavor of ice cream, like the cherry on the day. Unfortunately for her was the one spoon and only tool for all cream flavors!

If I could start somewhere now, I would certainly look into a nice small café - bras with tons of separated spoons to serve each and any flavor, no nuts or peanuts at all... just a good place to be without a sorrow for those like my allergy daughter and all those who like the joy of food without tree and ground nuts. My dream. Blue in all her senses and colors.