Reviews of the Food Allergy Survival Guide Registered Dietitians

Food Allergy Survival Guide Reviews by Registered Dietitians and Others


Reviews of the Food Allergy Survival Guide by Registered Dietitians and Others

Review of Food Allergy Survival Guide
by Brenda Davis, RD

There's a new book on the market that combines scientifically-based information on food sensitivities with recipes that are entirely free of the major allergens. Food Allergy Survival Guide will be welcomed by:

those with wheat or gluten sensitivity who wants tasty baked goods;
people wanting guidance in meeting calcium needs without dairy products;
vegetarians who wish to avoid soy;
those with multiple food sensitivities;
parents who wish to decrease the risk of food allergies in their children;
people who need to improve their intestinal health;
individuals who may find a link between conditions such as arthritis, asthma, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Candida, depression, dermatitis, digestive disorders, fatigue, or headaches and their diet;
those who want to be well nourished despite their allergies.

Food Allergy Survival Guide provides basic information on food sensitivities, insight into the various types of allergy testing, along with tremendously helpful tips for cooking, shopping, nutrition planning, and managing the emotional aspects of food sensitivities. It is designed for families that include adults or children with food sensitivities, and includes tips on how to decrease the risk of allergies developing in the first place.

This book is a treasure for those with multiple food sensitivities. It provides extensive information and an excellent collection of recipes for those with sensitivities to dairy products, eggs, gluten, tree nuts, peanuts, soy, yeast, fish and shellfish, and wheat.

Recipes, which comprise half of the book, include hearty and appealing breakfasts without eggs; numerous lunch box tips; soy-free entrées and spreads; and celebration foods. The gluten-free baked goods (such as scones and pumpkin spice bread) are appetizing and nutritious. A detailed nutritional analysis follows each recipe in the book, providing reassurance for those with special dietary needs.

The book includes an extensive resource list that is useful for tracking down less common ingredients and learning more about specific allergies. If you or someone you care about has food sensitivities, this book offers practical and appealing solutions.

Review of Food Allergy Survival Guide
by Reed Mangels, PhD, RD

Up until now, it was difficult to find a book that addressed the needs of vegetarians with food allergies. Certainly vegan cookbooks could be used for those with dairy and egg allergies, but what if you were also allergic to soy or wheat? Food Allergy Survival Guide provides extensive information and an excellent recipe collection for those with allergies or sensitivities to dairy products, eggs, gluten, nuts and peanuts, soy, yeast, fish and shellfish, and wheat.

The book begins with basic information on food sensitivities—what they are, what can trigger them, and how they are tested for. Subsequent chapters include practical cooking and shopping information, nutrition planning, and a discussion of coping emotionally with food sensitivities.

The last half of the book features more than 100 recipes for everything from gluten-free baked goods to soy-free entrées and spreads. All recipes are devoid of common allergens, such as dairy products, eggs, soy, peanuts, and gluten. I’m looking forward to baking for a friend’s daughter who can’t tolerate gluten. This is the first time I’ve seen so many tasty recipes that are both vegan and gluten-free. A detailed nutritional analysis follows each recipe. The book also includes an extensive resource list that will be helpful for tracking down less common ingredients, as well as for learning more about specific allergies.

If you or someone you care about has food allergies or sensitivities, this is the book to go to.

Food Allergy Survival Guide (ISBN 1-57067-163-X) is published by Healthy Living Publications. It is 384 pages.

Review of Food Allergy Survival Guide: living well without dairy, eggs, fish, gluten, peanuts, shellfish, soy, tree nuts, wheat, yeast, and more
by Mimi Clark, Cooking Instructor
With a title like this, are we to believe that there are any foods left to eat for those of us with food sensitivities?

The answer: a resounding YES. Why? Because Melina, Stepaniak, and Aronson have done their homework. Because similar to their other collaborative efforts, they deliver a comprehensive survival guide based on scientific research and culinary magic. After in-depth explanation of food allergy, food intolerance, and food sensitivity, the authors discuss the relationship of food to conditions such as arthritis, asthma, ADHD, candida, eczema, psoriasis, depression, digestive disorders, fatigue, and headaches. They teach us how to be our own food-trigger detective with blood tests, skin tests, and the oral food challenge which, according to the authors, is the most reliable test known for food allergies.

Identification of the food culprit(s), however, is only the first step. The authors discuss cross-contamination and ways to track hidden substances in products. Whether the food culprit is dairy products, eggs, soy, peanuts, tree nuts (almonds, Macadamia nuts, pecans, walnuts, etc.), wheat, gluten, corn, yeast, fruit, sulfites, citrus, nightshades, or fish, this book provides the reader with explanations, charts, and tips to help us in our sleuthing. Coping with food sensitivities is examined, and a list of support groups and online information is provided.

Incorporating maximum nutrition into meal planning is carefully delineated with sample menus and restaurant tips. The last 183 pages are devoted to Jo's culprit-free recipes, complete with a detailed nutritional analysis. A gluten-free, all-purpose flour mix is the starter for muffins, breads, cakes, scones, biscuits, pizza, pie crusts and more. As well, the meatless entrees, dairy-free sauces, soups, salads, and breakfast dishes are proof-positive that food sensitivities no longer imply a life sentence of boring meals, but rather, may open the door to a plethora of nourishing wholesome and hearty foods.

Review of Food Allergy Survival Guide
by Cathe Olson, author of Better than Ice Cream, Simply Natural Baby Food, and
The Vegetarian Mother's Cookbook
For those with food allergies, maintaining a vegan diet can be challenging. Soy, nuts, corn, and glutinous grains are in so many foods that it is difficult to avoid them. Food Allergy Survival Guide will help you to figure out what foods you are sensitive to and how to replace them with healthful, plant-based ingredients.

The book starts with an explanation of what food allergies and intolerances are and what they are caused by. If you ever wanted to know in detail how your digestive system works, you will get a full description in this book. Food Allergy Survival Guide also provides information about many medical conditions like arthritis, asthma, ADHD, candida, celiac disease, depression, dermatitis, fatigue, and migraines that can be caused by or worsened by certain foods. For each condition, there are suggestions of possible food culprits and suggestions to manage the condition.

If you are not sure if you have food allergies or what foods you are allergic to, you can find out what tests can be used to find out. The pros and cons of medical invasive and non-invasive tests are discussed as well as some do-it-yourself methods.

Once you know what foods have an adverse affect on your well-being, the trick is avoiding them. As the authors point out, foods like dairy, soy, corn, egg, and wheat are hidden in labels under all kinds of different names. For example, egg may be listed as binder, emulsifier, or coagulant. Corn can be listed as caramel coloring or dextrose. Food Allergy Survival Guide tells you what foods most often include common allergens and provide detailed lists of labeling terms that may be allergenic foods.

The best method of dealing with multiple food allergies is to cook most of your own meals. Fortunately, Food Allergy Survival Guide provides over 100 delicious recipes free of dairy, eggs, fish, wheat, gluten, soy, peanuts, and yeast. Very helpful is the gluten-free flour mix, which can replace wheat flour in any recipe, and a corn-free baking powder substitute.

I tried a couple of the recipes from the baking section for my holiday entertaining. The Ultra-Fudge Brownies and Pumpkin Spice Bread were a big hit. Besides baked good, the book also includes seasoning and spice mixes, breakfast cereals and smoothies, dips and spreads, salads and dressings, soups, main dishes, side dishes, and desserts. Don't worry if some of the ingredients are new to you. The book explains unfamiliar ingredients, and suppliers are listed in the resource section. I had no trouble finding any of the foods at my local natural foods store.

Food Allergy Survival Guide is an excellent book for those suffering from food allergies but it is also a great resource for vegans. You'll discover ways that animal products might be hidden in processed or restaurant foods, and how to avoid them. And you'll love the wonderful vegan recipes. Best of all, you can find out how to thrive if you are both vegan and have food allergies.