 -Article and recipes by Sarah Maughan, B.A, RHN Your kid is in the playground and all they see are other kids stuffing their face with cookies, granola bars, peanut and milk chocolate bars - everything that will kill them, or upset their tummies. They feel excluded. Well, none of that is nutritious anyways and regardless of allergies no kid should be consuming that! This is where you get to empower your allergy-free kid! They are better off with their own snacks which are full of whole food that will energize them and make them feel awesome from the inside out. The more they understand this, the less they will feel left out. Tell them they are at an advantage because they can't eat convenient junk. This doesn't mean no sweets, it just means better sweets! When you approach it this way they'll eat their snacks proudly, and maybe even spread the word. Instead of always telling your kid what they CAN'T have, why not empower them with information of what they CAN have? At School Snacks - Rice chips or Mary's Crackers (contains soy) with guacamole/avocado, salsa (Neil Brothers Mild) and fresh cut veggies
- Treats - Allergic Solution Cake Mixes made into minis with chocolate avocado icing*, or 2 pitted medjool dates filled with sunflower seed butter (optional honey) you can use a toothpick to attach a wedge of pineapple/apple/melon into the date to look like a boat
After School Snacks (athletic friendly)
 - Banana sliced in half and topped with sunflower seed butter and my Crazy Granola recipe from the breakfast newsletter (provide link)
- Apple and sunflower seed butter and honey (remove core, sliced the apple in half and cut off the ends, the apple will look like a bagel and you can fill with the seed butter and a drizzle honey)
But hey, what about you? Your kid doesn't just have allergies, you do too! This means you have to be prepared, you can't just pick something up at a coffee shop (without doing research). However, it's important for you to remember you're actually at an advantage as well because you can avoid all those simple sugar energy-crashing treats. At Work Snacks - Tropical Trail mix - pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, unsweetened dried mango, raisins, unsweetened carob chips/cacao nibs, sprinkle cinnamon and ginger (optional large flake coconut if not allergic)
- Store hummus in the fridge at work and bring fresh veggies everyday - or bring a gluten free tortilla with spinach and hummus
- Treats - the same as kids, because we adults like fun kid food too!
Before the Gym Snacks - Mixed berry salad with sunflower/pumpkin seeds
- Pumpkin Smoothie*
Pumpkin Smoothie 1 cup organic canned pumpkin
� cup vanilla rice milk
1 tsp cinnamon
pinch nutmeg, allspice, cloves and ginger
a few drops vanilla extract
2 tbsp sunflower seed butter
Additional water/ice as desired Blend, get a sealed shaker cup and bring to work! Chocolate Avocado icing/Pudding 1 ripe and soft avocado, remove skin and pit
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup honey -Blend in a food processor or blender and enjoy! Serve with strawberries, ice a cake with it, or eat as a pudding! Chocolate Avocado icing/Pudding 1 ripe and soft avocado, remove skin and pit
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup honey -Blend in a food processor or blender and enjoy! Serve with strawberries, ice a cake with it, or eat as a pudding! Sarah Maughan is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist in Toronto, ON and is one of few Nutritionists in Canada who is also Board Certified in Practical Holistic Nutrition™ http://www.sarahmaughan.ca/   |
