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In one of my first posts, I mentioned that my ds has food allergies (peanut, tree nut, milk, egg, gluten). I am trying to plan ahead so I can figure out activities to sub for food related ones.

The fist one is a wall of Jericho in LHTH -- I think I have found subs that I can use. But just wanted to know what others thought. This activity needs peanut butter and graham crackers. He eats sunbutter and I think I know of a cracker I could use, but they are not that sturdy.

More are in in LHFHG:

First....the cow. Needs to be made with peanut butter, honey, and powdered milk. I thought about using clay, but then he could not eat it.

Another is the log cabin in the Lincoln lesson.
I can't figure out what I could use for logs. He has a pretzel, but they are like traditional pretzels.

Finally, the toughest one for me is the George Washington Carver lesson. He was such an amazing man that I hate to skip him. We are supposed to draw a peanut plant and eat peanut butter. I tried to find out from children's books what other foods he worked with. One was the sweet potato. Well, oddly enough, my ds is also allergic to this. I did come across cow peas and thought about using that plant and giving him some bean dip (not made with cow peas, but he'd never know). I will do more research on him, but I thought surely some other mother had an peanut allergic child and maybe dreamed up something wonderful that I could use.

I think I replied to you in your previous thread. We have to do some subbing here as my dd-6 has celiac disease which brought on some lactose intolerance.

For the cow we subbed powdered sugar for the powdered milk and it was fine, and very yummy. Don't get it too dry or it is difficult to shape.

We haven't gotten to the log cabin yet or Carver. My dd is ok with peanuts, so I won't have to sub that one, but if I think of one I'll keep you in mind.

Have you tried those crackers from Ener-g?? They are about the size of a graham cracker and fairly sturdy...if you're careful. (For those reading this....gluten free things are well known for being very crumbly.)

I'll try to think of some others.
Mel

Oh...thanks.
I'll look into the crackers. He eats their bread. All I could think of were these crackers that we used to get that remind me of sponges. Now that you mention it, I do remember you saying that about the cow. I didn't have the book in front of me so I didn't make a mental note.

my son is allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, soy flour, soy protein, peas, beans, sesame. Honestly, if we get an activity that calls for peanut butter, I just don't do it. There are actually a number of activities we have not done if he already has gotten the point [we are in Beyond]. While the activities offer really fun ways to have the material sink in, if I don't have the materials or they are allergen related, I just skip it altogether.

For the make a cow one and eat it, my kids made cookies and shaped a couple like cows. It was really a case of I had dough made up already and asked them what they wanted to do and it was there idea. Could you do something like that?

I'm not sure about the log one as I haven't gotten that far yet. But if he has lincoln logs could he just make a cabin from those. Could he use breadsticks of some sort?

I know nothing about George Washington Carver but the bean dip idea sounds good.

HTH
Sarah

OK...I got curious and looked ahead. I'm glad, the Lincoln cabin would be next week for us! I'm still thinking about it, but the thought of using carrot sticks or celery sticks popped into my head or even cutting an apple into small "planks". We tried to make a gingerbread type house out of gluten free crackers once.....not so great. I'm thinking something more sturdy! If you think of anything before next week, please let me know....my wheels are still turning on this one, and I love a good challenge!

I looked ahead to Carver as well. I'm thinking you could still play the game with the plant parts and it could be a good lesson for him on the plant that he needs to avoid! My dd finds it interesting to discuss the things that she can't have and why.

I sometimes have my best ideas in the middle of the night, so I'll let you know if I think of anything else. Keep the ideas coming guys....I need 'em too!

7mommy wrote:In one of my first posts, I mentioned that my ds has food allergies (peanut, tree nut, milk, egg, gluten). I am trying to plan ahead so I can figure out activities to sub for food related ones.

The fist one is a wall of Jericho in LHTH -- I think I have found subs that I can use. But just wanted to know what others thought. This activity needs peanut butter and graham crackers. He eats sunbutter and I think I know of a cracker I could use, but they are not that sturdy.

More are in in LHFHG:

First....the cow. Needs to be made with peanut butter, honey, and powdered milk. I thought about using clay, but then he could not eat it.

Another is the log cabin in the Lincoln lesson.
I can't figure out what I could use for logs. He has a pretzel, but they are like traditional pretzels.

Finally, the toughest one for me is the George Washington Carver lesson. He was such an amazing man that I hate to skip him. We are supposed to draw a peanut plant and eat peanut butter. I tried to find out from children's books what other foods he worked with. One was the sweet potato. Well, oddly enough, my ds is also allergic to this. I did come across cow peas and thought about using that plant and giving him some bean dip (not made with cow peas, but he'd never know). I will do more research on him, but I thought surely some other mother had an peanut allergic child and maybe dreamed up something wonderful that I could use.

Shera and Melanie sure had some great ideas! O.k. I may really be showing my ignorance here (in my defense, our family doesn't have any allergies - though we've got reflux in spades)! I think the goal may be to be able to eat it and have foods that can be "stuck" together. Would marshmallow creme, jelly, or cheez-whiz work? Just a few thoughts here from a pretty allergy-clueless mom!

In Christ,
Julie[/list]

Ohhhhh...we LOVE marshmellow creme! I hadn't thought of that. Hmmm....cake frosting would work, too. Now, to find "logs" to go with these yummy "chinkings" (or whatever that is they put between the logs ).

Julie...when my dd was diagnosed with celiac, I had never even heard of it. No clue. I considered our family fairly lucky in the rhelm of "food alergies" b/c we now know of several children who are so much more limited. Thanks for the ideas!

cheese whiz--- no, it has dairy in it
Marshmallow cream -- no, it has egg and if not, it has gelatin (I did not mention that he is also allergic to beef since I didn't expect to have beef sticks suggested ) Most places will not specify pork or beef gelatin, so usually we just avoid all. There is a vegan version, but I have never tried it so I am not sure about its sticky-ness.

Frosting...I know of no safe frosting except for Cherry brook kitchens which is more like homemade. My homemade frosting is MUCH more soft because we need to use a spread rather than butter. It is worth a thought, though.

I did think about carrot sticks. That was all I could think of. He will not eat raw celery (he has bad pollen allergies and we think it is an Oral allergy thing). We were also thinking of using a soy cream cheese with those.

You can keep throwing things out there, though.
I was researching GWC and found that he did do alot on soybeans as well. He can have soy, so perhaps we will just do a soybean plant and some soy product. I plan on bringing up peanuts, but I need more help reinforcing egg/gluten/tree nut allergy. He is well aware of milk and peanut.

I do want to say that I am not thinking that this is a big pain. KWIM?
I dumped two curriculum because they were MUCH more food oriented thian this one. I had MFW K from previous kids and there were two weeks back to back on goat and cow. I could not think of anything fun to do with such a big emphasis on drinking the milk and eating things. He is anaphylactic to both and it just didn't make sense to me to do a weeks worth of lesson on them. I have really appreciated that this curriculum is much less food oriented (by topic). It is so hard for his age to find anything that doesn't say "eat this food." I use TOG with my other kids and I wonder sometimes what I will do. Have a medieval feast, etc.... Honestly, you just don't think about or consider food it unless you are dealing with these issues. I just want to make it clear that I am more than pleased -- just want some ideas for subs.

I am so glad to have him here with me and that I don't need to worry about schools and if they understand the seriousness of his allergies. I am willing to cater to his needs because I want him to have fun memories with mom to of making things, etc. And I DO want to show him that just because his dietary needs are different, he can still do what others do. I consider it a privilege to work so hard for him. (though at times it does get wearying)

TBH, dh isn't too keen on him studying a peanut plant. If he was older, sure. But at his age dh equates it to him studying poison ivy.

I thought I had seen a bean butter before and here is a link to it: http://www.netrition.com/dixie_beanit_butter_page.html That might be a possibility instead of peanut butter in some of the activities.

This is what we have used.
Instead of Peanut Butter - Soy Butter (looks just like it but made with soybeans only)
Instead of Powdered Milk- soymilk powder.
If you cannot use soy, you can always use Rice milk.
We have been battling dairy, eggs, wheat, yeast, corn, nuts, onion, garlic and tomato allergies...
Could it be the terrorists?
Dorla

I have no suggestions but I just wanted to say how much I feel for you ladies having to deal with this. Thankfully, my kids don't have any food allergies (yet) however I do and it is a real pain!!

I am highly allergic to most raw vegetables, dairy, peanuts, some fruits, wheat, corn, stinging insects, trees, pollen, perfume...and the list goes on!! (I jokingly tell people I belong in a bubble.) I feel for everyone who has severe allergies because so often I come across people who are either have no clue and are very insensitive or have mostly environmental/seasonal allergies which cause a bit of discomfort and in my opinion is no comparison to those of us with life-threatening allergies.

Often I get bummed about my allergies as I have to miss out on things that others take for granted...taking a walk with my kids in tall grass, growing a garden, playing with a cat or dog, enjoying a big bowl of mangos! Long story short...my hats off to you moms for going the extra mile!!

Natreez

for powdered milk replacement we used soyspring ladies powdered soybean drink ... it has as last ingredient wheat germoil so i don't know if you can use it. but try your local oriental mart they may have something similar.
that is what we used as mine can't have dairy
hugs