The Sunflower Sound Off

Providing Food Allergy Guidance to Parents, Childcare Providers and Schools
September 2015
Happy Autumn Everyone!

autumn-foliage-road.jpg
I hope this newsletter finds you well and enjoying the start of this beautiful season.

First off, I'd like to invite you to the AFAA Annual Food Allergy Conference this weekend. It's Saturday, October 3rd from 7:30 a.m. -  2 p.m. at the Wilder Foundation in St. Paul. Continuing Education credits are available for nurses and educators! View the details below and be sure to click on the link to register! I would love to meet you there!

There is a new addition to the monthly newsletter, a recipe section. Take some time to peruse this section and view recipes that may be safe for your table. A special thanks to one of our reader's for making this suggestion. : )

I wish you a safe, happy and included October!
 
Kristin Beltaos, M.A.
Consultant / Licensed Trainer
612.845.7585

Anaphylaxis & Food Allergy Association of Minnesota's
12th Annual Food Allergy Conference
Sign Up to Attend or Exhibit 

AFAA's Annual Conference Offers Great Topics, Ideas and Networking for Individuals, Families, Childcare Providers, Schools, Medical Professionals and Food Service
 
The 12th Annual Anaphylaxis and Food Allergy Association of Minnesota Conference is just around the corner, Saturday, October 3rd, and I'm thrilled to share with you the exciting list of presenters and topics that are guaranteed to empower you in your allergy life or the children, adults and families you support.
 
As I mentioned, the Conference is Saturday, October 3, 2015, from 7:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation in St. Paul. It's a centrally-located, beautiful facility that's perfect for mingling, watching food demonstrations, participating in roundtable discussions, listening to the latest presentations, submitting questions for the Ask the Doctor Session and perusing the best exhibitors in the food allergy community.
 
CONTINUING EDUCATION AVAILABLE
6.0 Contact Hours available for teachers & nurses
1.0 - 4.0 Continuing Credits for food service professionals


 
SPEAKERS AND TOPICS

KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Caroline Moassessi, Advocate/Food Allergy Blogger, Grateful Foodie
Topic: Ages and Stages
 
OTHER SPEAKERS
Dr. Rayna Grothe, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Mayo Clinic Rochester
Topics: Eosinophilic Disorders
 
Dr. Nancy Ott, Allergy and Immunology, Mayo Clinic Rochester
Topics: Food Allergy Basics and FPIES
 
Dr. Allan Stillerman, Allergy and Immunology, Allergy and Asthma Specialists P.A. and Clinical Research Institute
Topics: Recognition and Treatment of Anaphylaxis and LEAP Study (Learning Early About Peanut Allergy)
 
Lars Johnson, Certified Professional - Food Safety, The Food Safety Guy
Topics: House of Worship Food Safety; Passing Health Inspections; Kitchen Allergen Management
 
Melanie Pitts, RN, Food Allergy/Gluten Free Food Blogger, Hope's Kitchen
Topics: Cooking with Dietary Restrictions; Baking Demonstrations
 
AND, yours truly...
 
Kristin Beltaos, M.A.,Consultant/MNCPD Licensed Trainer, A Gift of Miles
Topic: Food Allergy Bullying
 
REGISTRATION
Register NOW to take advantage of Early Bird Registration! Rates will begin increasing on September 15th and again on October 1st.
 
Individual Registration
Early Bird - $35
After Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - $60
After Thursday, October 1, 2015 - $85
 
Family Registration
Early Bird - $50
After Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - $75
After Thursday, October 1, 2015 - $100
 
Registration + Contact Hour Certification
Early Bird - $85
After Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - $110
After Thursday, October 1, 2015 - $135
 
Registration + House of Worship Food Safety; Passing Health Inspection; Kitchen Allergen Management
Early Bird - $85
After Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - $110
After Thursday, October 1, 2015 - $135
 
Registration + House of Worship Food Safety
Early Bird - $50
After Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - $75
After Thursday, October 1, 2015 - $100
 
Registration + Passing Health Inspection
Early Bird - $50
After Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - $75
After Thursday, October 1, 2015 - $100
 
Registration + Kitchen Allergen Management
Early Bird - $50
After Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - $75
After Thursday, October 1, 2015 - $100
 
Click to register as an attendee.
 
EXHIBIT INFORMATION
Display Table
Early Bird - $100
After Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - $125
After Wednesday, September 30, 2015 - $150
 
Display ½ Table
Early Bird - $50
After Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - $75
After Wednesday, September 30, 2015 - $100
 
¼ Table CD & Small Book Only
Early Bird - $25
After Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - $50
After Wednesday, September 30, 2015 - $75
 
Set-up 7:00-7:30 am and Tear-down 2 pm
(AFAA will set up exhibits for vendors shipping products and unable to attend in person)
 
Click to register as an exhibitor.
 
Don't miss out on having face time with physicians and other food allergy professionals in your area! Register today!
Food Allergy Deaths 

Sadness has gripped the food allergy community as two young lives succumbed to anaphylaxis in the same week. Neither Simon Katz nor Andrea Mariano had their epinephrine auto-injectors on their person when the reaction occurred. It is reported that Andrea Mariano's anaphylactic reaction was so severe that epinephrine would not have made a difference.

Regardless of Andrea's situation...it is a reminder to all of us to:

CARRY 2 EPINEPHRINE AUTO-INJECTORS AT ALL TIMES!


Chatfield High student dies after eating s'more containing peanut butter
Simon Katz

Simon Katz had no idea that the s'more passed to him Monday night at a Chatfield High School homecoming bonfire was made with peanut butter.

The 16-year-old junior, who was allergic to peanuts, took a bite, became ill, went into anaphylactic shock and died, his father, David, said Wednesday.

Simon had mistakenly eaten peanuts in the past, his father said in a phone interview, but "those incidents ended with an emergency room visit, some epinephrine and he was good to go."

Simon became sick after eating the s'more, and his friends drove him home to get medicine. Click to read the full article.


College Freshman Succumbs to Anaphylaxis

Andrea Mariano
A Canadian university student in her first year of studies has died of an anaphylactic reaction.
Andrea Mariano, 18, who had just begun studying arts and sciences at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, passed away on Sept. 18, 2015 following a severe reaction.
Andrea's grieving family, who live in Thornhill, Ontario, said the cause of death was anaphylaxis. Andrea had known peanut and dairy allergies.
Hedellaine Valentin, Andrea's cousin, told Global-TV News that the reaction happened after the young woman ordered a smoothie on campus. The teen was not carrying either of her two epinephrine auto-injectors, according to Valentin. The report also suggested that her reaction was so severe epinephrine would not have made a difference. Click to read the full article.
Autumn is here...time to think about CHOCOLATES! 

Autumn is around the corner, and before you know it, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukah will be here and our allergic loves need a sweet treat!

Here's a couple of favorites in my household:

PASCHA Chocolate is DIVINE! I've sampled the dark chocolate bars: 55% Cacao, 70% Cacao and the 60% Cacao with Golden Berries. They also offer baking chocolate chips.

PASCHA is absolutely pure, absolutely delicious, organic and without a trace of ANY of the 8 major food allergens.

Divvies is another family favorite! Divvies offers...cookies, popcorn, candy and cupcakes OH MY!

Divvies cookies, popcorns, and cupcakes are made in the company's-own dedicated facility where no peanuts, tree nuts, eggs or milk enter the doors. Divvies candies, frosting, and sprinkles are certified by their manufacturers to be peanut-, tree nut-, milk-, and egg-free and are packaged in Divvies Bakery. Divvies conducts routine testing to minimize the risk of any cross-contamination in their certified allergen-free ingredients. 

Be sure to check out their websites and view their full offering of products!
40 Things I Want to Tell My Kids Before They're Too Cool to Listen

Photo courtesy of
Marc & Angel
HACK LIFE
Seven weeks ago today, Angel gave birth to our son Mac.  The experience was miraculous.  As every parent can attest, the miracle of childbirth takes on a whole new meaning when it's YOUR child being born.  It's one of those life experiences you can't fully grasp until you live through it.

Anyway, I awoke this morning thinking about the whole experience, and two thoughts immediately came to mind:
  • How in the world did Angel and I suddenly become parents?  Whoa!
  • There are so many things I want to tell Mac - as soon as possible, before he's in school with his friends and too cool to listen.  And before Angel and I go from "mommy and daddy who knows best" to "mom and dad who couldn't possibly understand."
So in no particular order, here are 40 things I intend tell him (and his sister or brother when they come along):

 Click to read more.
Upcoming Trainings

Caring for Food Allergic Children in an Early Childhood Care Environment
When: Wednesday, September 30, 2015, 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Where: Chaska Community Center, 1661 Park Ridge Drive, Chaska 55318
Inservice Hours: 3
Price: $33
Description
This training provides guidance on how to handle daily care, manage safety and promote inclusiveness of food allergic children. You'll learn about food allergies and intolerances, the identification, treatment and medication management of allergic reactions. Create a parent/care provider partnership based on mutual responsibility and respect that ensures the safety of all allergic children.
Registration: mnstreams.org

Anaphylaxis and Food Allergy Association of Minnesota Conference & Expo
Presentation Topic: Food Allergy Bullying
Date: Saturday, October 3, 2015
Location: Amherst H. Wilder Foundation
Description
This conference is open to professionals and families interested in food allergies & related conditions, and offers continuing education contact hours. It features presentations by food allergy & celiac experts; exhibitors, displays, samples; food demos; networking roundtables.

Caring for Food Allergic Children in an Early Childhood Care Environment
Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Location: Eagan Community Center
In-service Credits: 3
Price: $33.00
Description
This training provides guidance on how to handle daily care, manage safety and promote inclusiveness of food allergic children. You'll learn about food allergies and intolerances, the identification, treatment and medication management of allergic reactions. Create a parent/care provider partnership based on mutual responsibility and respect that ensures the safety of all allergic children.
Register: mnstreams.org
The Monthly Buzz

From the moment the alarm goes off each morning (if you're lucky enough to wake up to an alarm rather than an early riser), the rush is on! Getting everyone washed, dressed, fed, and packed can seem like a sprint as you race against the clock to make it to school on time. Add to that some school permission forms that must be signed, a note for the teacher, and that sinking suspicion that there's nothing in the fridge for dinner that night, and the morning can be lost in a black hole.

 Click on the article title to read more.
Researchers at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center may have solved a crucial piece of the puzzle in determining why some people with food allergies have relatively mild reactions while others suffer full-blown anaphylaxis.

Click on the article title to read more.



Unless your child is a hearty eater, most parents find themselves cajoling their little ones to make a big dent in their dinner, or at least eat their vegetables. But some parents push their children to polish off everything on their plate in an effort to make sure they're properly fueled or to prevent food from going to waste. But can encouraging your child to join the "clean plate club" backfire?

Click on the article title to read more.
Perhaps This Is Safe For Your Table
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Courtesy of Constant Contact

Coming from an Italian family, a red sauce is a necessity in our household. My grandmother's recipe calls for some Parmesan or Romano cheese in the sauce, which isn't a possibility with a milk allergy in the house.

When I saw this, I thought it was the perfect, simple recipe for an allergy table.

 Click on the title to view the recipe from EATFITFUEL.

Courtesy of
Everyday Health Media
These are my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE chocolate chip cookies!

I like these because they use whole-wheat flour, oats and lower in sugar than the traditional allergy cookbook recipe.

Our household allergies are milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts and sesame. I substitute the egg with 1/4 cup of apple sauce.

Click on the title to view the recipe from Everyday Health Media.

Courtesy of Martha Stewart

I haven't tried this recipe yet, but it certainly is the comfort food many of us are seeking with the arrival of cooler temperatures.

Click on the title to view the recipe from Martha Stewart.
Social Media Clip of the Month

Be a good friend, or even a kind stranger!
Hand writing Knowledge Empowers You with white chalk on blackboard.

July - December 2015 Training Schedule for Early Childhood & School Age Providers and Educators

Are you looking for Minnesota Center for Professional Development approved continuing education opportunities in your area? My schedule for the second half of 2015 is now available. Kristin is offering a variety of trainings through Think Small in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Chaska, Eagan and Savage. AND DON'T FORGET the always convenient Eager to Learn Online environment where you can earn in-service hours from the comfort of your home! Check out the schedule here.

Kristin also offers onsite trainings for your association, center, school or group.

Send an email or call 612.845.7585 to schedule a training or to have Kristin speak at your upcoming conference.
Training and Consulting

Is your school, childcare center, association or clinic in need of food allergy training? Check out Kristin's courses available in classroom, online and onsite formats. All courses are Minnesota Center for Professional Development approved; check with your licensor for approval.

Are you a parent, childcare provider, school, religious education group, etc., needing consulting services for a specific food allergy challenge?

Contact Kristin today to schedule a training or take advantage of her free, 30-minute consult, Kristin@agiftofmiles.com or 612.845.7585.
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