Allergy-Free Halloween Candy Round-Up 2015

By Kelley Lindberg

Go Teal! The teal pumpkin means we
have non-food treats available!

Every year I hit the stores looking for Halloween candy, and I share a list of common candies and the allergens they list. This year, I have been burning the candle at both ends and in the middle and haven’t had a chance to do that. But I’m going to post last year’s list, because I don’t usually see much variation year to year, so last year’s list will at least give you a starting point as you help your little trick-or-treaters sort through their candy loot.

If you still need to find candies free from all of the Top 8 allergens or free from corn, Target had a large supply of YumEarth Gummy Bears, Gummy Worms, and Lollipops yesterday when I was there (each $3.14 bag contains 10 individually wrapped packets). Dollar Tree always has a surprising amount of safe “icky” choices, like gummy skeletons and lollipops shaped like skulls, so if you’re looking for something fun and gross to put on top of cupcakes, for example, try Dollar Tree. They also carry the best peanut-free and tree nut-free candy corn I’ve found, from Crystal Bay. (I think Crystal Bay candy corn tastes better than Brach’s, anyway!)

A BIG WARNING:  CHECK EVERY PIECE, EVERY TIME.

Large companies use multiple factories. That means the same candy may be produced in different places, with different allergens present. So CHECK LABELS on every single piece of candy. Wonka is one of the worst companies for producing the same candy in different packages containing different allergen warnings, but they are one of the best at individually labeling their candies so you can verify its safety before every bite. A few candies may have changed their ingredients and moved to other places in my list from last year -- a good reminder to check old favorites. When in doubt, call the manufacturer for clarification (most list a phone number right on their package).

First I’ll list candies that don’t list corn as an ingredient (because there aren’t very many of them). Then I’ll list the candies and treats that do contain corn, but are free from some or all of the Top 8 allergens (peanuts, tree nuts, milk, egg, soy, wheat, fish, shellfish).

By the way, EVERYTHING on this entire list is nut-free and peanut-free. That's where I started, then I broke them down by the other allergens. I hope it helps simplify your Halloween!

Corn-free as well as free from Top 8:

YumEarth is at Target, and
this year they're even cheaper!

• Bob’s Sweet Stripes Soft Mint Candies (red & white peppermints) (Sam’s Club)
• Cotton Candy (Parade brand, Sam’s Club, 8 tubs per package)
• Cotton Candy in Candy Corn and Boo-Berry flavors (Dollar Tree)
• Cotton Candy, Hello Kitty (Dollar Tree)
• YumEarth Gummy Bears and Gummy Worms (in Target!)
• YumEarth Organic Pops (in Target!)

Everything from here on down contains corn ingredients:

Free from Top 8 (Wheat, Peanut, Tree Nut, Milk, Egg, Soy, Fish, Shellfish):

• Baby Bottle Pops (Sam’s Club)
• Betty Crocker Halloween Fruit Snacks
• Bubble Babies Gum Balls (contains coconut, Dollar Tree)
• Candy Jewelry (Dollar Tree)
• Dots
• Dum-Dums
• Giant Lollipop (Dollar Tree)
• Grave Gummies (contains coconut) (Dollar Tree)
• Gummy Body Parts (contains coconut oil) (Dollar Tree – coffins and bags) [Note: 2 years ago, 
• Walmart sold Frankford Candy Body Parts that contained peanuts, nuts, milk, soy, beef, and corn, so read company name and ingredients carefully]
• Gummy Turtle Power Candy Pizza (contains beef gelatin, Dollar Tree)
• Halloween Pops (contain gelatin, Dollar Tree)
• Haribo Gummy Bears (contains coconut)
• Hello Kitty Family Favorites Candy Mix (Dollar Tree)
• Hot Tamales
• Hubba Bubba bubble gum
• Jelly Belly trick-or-treat-sized packets of jelly beans (Target)
• Jolly Rancher
• Life Savers
• Life Savers Lollipops
• Life Savers Gummies (contains gelatin, possibly pork-derived, although I can’t verify)
• Market Pantry Spooky Shapes fruit snacks (Target – contains pork gelatin)
• Mike & Ike
• Pixy Stix, regular and giant (Sam’s Club carries a package of 50 Giant Pixy Stix)
• Push Pops
• Ring Pops
• Skittles
• Skulls & Bones Hard Candy (Dollar Tree)
• Smarties
• Sour Patch Kids (but be careful—the Sour Patch Twists contain wheat, so read labels carefully)
• Spiderman Villains Candy Sticks (contains beef gelatin) (Dollar Tree)
• Spongebob Gummy Krabby Patties (beef gelatin) (Dollar Tree)
• Spooky Lollipop Rings (Dollar Tree)
• Starbursts
• Swedish Fish
• Tic Tacs
• Trolli Sour Brite Crawlers (gummi worms) (Sam’s Club – contains gelatin)

Contains Soy or Soy Warning (but free from other 7 top allergens):

• Bon Bon Boom Lollipops (Dollard Tree)
• Cry Baby Extra Sour Bubble Gum (Dollar Tree)
• Hubba Bubba Bubble Tape
• Jolly Rancher Crunch ‘n’ Chew (last year, these had soy listed, but I didn’t find any this year, so I can’t verify ingredients. Call the company at 800-468-1714)
• Jolly Rancher Fruit Chews (last year, these had soy listed, but I didn’t find any this year, so I can’t verify ingredients. Call the company at 800-468-1714)
• Jolly Rancher Lollipops (last year, these had soy listed, but I didn’t find any this year, so I can’t verify ingredients. Call the company at 800-468-1714)
• Laffy Taffy
• Laffy Taffy Ropes (Sam’s Club)
• Lollipop Skulls (Dollar Tree)
• Market Pantry Candy Corn Flavored Kettle-Cooked Popcorn (Target)
• Scary Eyeballs Bubble Gum (Dollar Tree)
• SweeTarts Chews (check every individual Wonka candy label because ingredients vary by assortment, and SweeTarts GUMMIES contain a warning for peanuts, tree nuts, milk, soy, and wheat!!!)
• Gum: Dentyne, Trident, Orbit, Eclipse, Wrigley’s (Doublemint, Winterfresh, Big Red, Juicy Fruit, Spearmint, etc.)

Contains Wheat or Wheat warning (but free from other 7 top allergens):

• Red Vines
• Scooby-Doo Sour Straws (beef) (Dollar Tree)
• Sour Punch Twists
• Twizzler’s Pull ‘n’ Peel (these don’t list soy, although regular Twizzlers do, so read carefully)
• Twizzler’s Strawberry Twists (these don’t list soy, although regular Twizzlers do, so read carefully)
• Twizzler’s Rainbow Twists (these don’t list soy, although regular Twizzlers do, so read carefully)

Contains Milk or Milk warning (but free from other 7 top allergens):

• Pop Rocks
• Popping Candy (Dollar Tree)
• Pumpkin Face Bubble Gum in Jar (Target)

Contains Egg or Egg warning (but free from other 7 top allergens):

• Bottlecaps (check every individual Wonka candy label because ingredients vary by assortment – some have wheat warning)
• Gobstoppers (check every individual Wonka candy label because ingredients vary by assortment)
• Nerds (check every individual Wonka candy label because ingredients vary by assortment – some have wheat warning)
• Nerds Ropes(check every individual Wonka candy label because ingredients vary by assortment)
• Spree (check every individual Wonka candy label because ingredients vary by assortment)
• SweeTarts (check every individual Wonka candy label because ingredients vary by assortment, and SweeTarts GUMMIES contain a warning for peanuts, tree nuts, milk, soy, and wheat!!!)
• SweeTarts Mini (check every individual Wonka candy label because ingredients vary by assortment, and SweeTarts GUMMIES contain a warning for peanuts, tree nuts, milk, soy, and wheat!!!)
• SweeTart Twists (check every individual Wonka candy label because ingredients vary by assortment, and SweeTarts GUMMIES contain a warning for peanuts, tree nuts, milk, soy, and wheat!!!)

Contains Soy and Wheat or warnings (but free from other 6 top allergens):

• Airheads
• Twizzlers

Contains Milk and Soy or warnings (but free from other 6 top allergens):

• Charms Blow Pops
• Double Bubble gum (check every individual Double Bubble candy label because ingredients vary by assortment and store)
• Hershey’s Chocolate bars, the 1.55 ounce size ONLY (the S’mores size) (all other sizes contain nut warnings)
• Kraft Caramels
• Sixlets candy-coated chocolate drops
• Tootsie Pops
• Tootsie Rolls
• Tootsie Fruit Rolls

Contains Wheat and Egg or warnings (but free from other 6 top allergens):

• Bottlecaps (check every individual Wonka candy label because ingredients vary by assortment – some don’t have wheat warning)
• Nerds (check every individual Wonka candy label because ingredients vary by assortment – some don’t have wheat warning)
• Nerds Ropes (Sam’s Club)
• Shockers (check every individual Wonka candy label because ingredients vary) (Sam’s Club)
• SweeTarts (check every individual Wonka candy label because ingredients vary by assortment – some don’t have wheat warning)

Contains Wheat and Milk or warnings (but free from other 6 top allergens):

• Utz Halloween Pretzel Treats (contains sesame warning, too)

Contains Soy, Milk, and Egg or warnings (but free from other 5 top allergens):

• Sugar Daddies (Dollar Tree)

Non-Candy Ideas (can find packs of individual serving sizes at warehouse stores like Sam’s Club):

• Boom Chicka Pop Sea Salt Popcorn (Target – 16 individual bags per container)
• Chex Mix (contains wheat, soy, and corn)
• David’s Sunflower seeds
• Funyuns Onion Flavored Rings (contains milk, soy, and corn)
• Jack Link’s beef jerky (contains beef, free from Top 8)
• Keebler Crème-Filled Sugar Wafer Cookies (contains soy, wheat, and cornstarch)
• Lay’s Potato Chips (free from Top 8)
• Nabisco Lorna Doone cookies (contains wheat, corn, and soy)
• Oberto Beef Jerky (contains beef, free from the Top 8)
• Oreos (contains soy, wheat, and corn)
• Slim Jim Meat Sticks (contains beef, chicken, soy, wheat, and corn)
• Zoo Animals crackers (Sam’s Club, contains wheat, corn, soy, milk)
• Drinks, like Kool-Aid Jammers or Capri Suns, or sodas in mini-cans – check ingredients

Watch Out for These:

• The following candies may land in your child’s trick-or-treat bags, and they may not have ingredients labels, so watch out for them:
• Bazooka Gum-Filled Pops – lists only corn, but comes in an assortment listing all allergens in a factory warning
• Banana Splits (sold at Sam’s Club in an assortment. Contains soy and egg, and has factory warning for peanuts, tree nuts, and milk)
• Brachs – everything this manufacturer seems to make has peanut and nut warnings, plus some of the other allergens, depending on the product.
• Columbina candies – all have a factory warning for peanuts, egg, tree nuts, soy, milk, and wheat
• Goetze’s Caramel Creams (sold at Sam’s Club in an assortment. Contains wheat, milk, and soy.)
• Hershey’s: All mini and fun-sized Hershey’s chocolates contain nut warnings and should be avoided. Plain milk-chocolate and dark-chocolate Hershey’s kisses are nut-free, but contain milk. Most flavored Hershey’s kisses (caramel, cherry-filled, etc.) list nut contamination. The only nut-free size of Hershey bars is the 1.55 ounce size (the type commonly sold alongside graham crackers and marshmallows for S’Mores.)
• IBC Root Beer Barrels (sold at Sam’s Club in an assortment. Has factory warning for peanuts, tree nuts, milk, soy)
• Jawbreakers contain only sucrose, but packaged in an assortment that lists all the allergens in a factory warning
• Lemonheads contain only corn, but are usually found in assortment bags that include warnings for all the allergens on the overall packaging
• Mary Janes (sold at Sam’s Club in an assortment. Contains peanuts and soy, and has factory warning for tree nuts, wheat, milk, and egg)
• Slo Poke (sold at Sam’s Club in an assortment. Contains soy and milk, and has factory warning for peanuts, tree nuts, and milk)
• Taffy: For the first time this year, there are 2 taffy brands that are nut free. One is made by Taffy Town, and local company, but theirs do contain eggs, milk, and soy. http://www.taffytown.com/ The other is by an online store called Sweet Pete’s http://www.sweetpetescandy.com/search?x=0&y=0&q=taffy , which advertises that their taffy is made in a nut-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free facility. Other than those two sources, I have not found any other taffy that is nut-free, so assume most taffy in your child’s trick-or-treat bucket contains nut contamination.
• Tiger Pops – packaging lists all allergens
• Warheads – various packaging lists some or all Top 8 allergens in factory warnings

Allergy-Free Pasta Salad Recipe Round-Up

By Kelley Lindberg

Last week, we looked at potato salad recipes that are free from the Top 8 allergens (peanuts, tree nuts, milk, egg, soy, wheat, fish, and shellfish). This week, I stalked the web for the best-looking pasta salads I could find. To make my list, recipes have to eliminate the most common allergens, but definitely keep the flavor! As always, I look for recipes that taste great, look wonderful, and won’t have a single person at your barbecue or potluck party even noticing milk and egg aren’t part of your creation!

Note: If you must avoid wheat or gluten, you’ll want to use gluten-free pasta for these recipes, of course.

Let’s get started.

First, I have to share a Ranch Dressing tip or two. Ranch dressing mix is a tasty addition to pasta salads, but finding a milk-free version is tricky. My local Smith’s grocery store (which is part of the Kroger brand of grocery stores) carries an envelope of mix called “Kroger Party Dip – Ranch,” which is milk-free. I have used it to make ranch dip by mixing it with Tofutti “BetterThan Sour Cream” soy-based non-dairy sour cream—a huge hit at parties. I also mixed it with Vegenaise (egg-free mayonnaise substitute) to make a sauce for a pasta salad the other day. My son declared it was “the best pasta salad you’ve ever made, Mom!” So if you live near a Kroger store (such as Smith’s, King Soopers, or Fred Meyer), check to see if they carry the “Kroger Party Dip-Ranch” mix. (Don’t confuse it with the Kroger Salad Magic Ranch Dressing mix, which contains milk. Sheesh. Don’t these people know they’re just making our lives complicated with all these different versions?)

If you can’t find the Kroger mix in your local store, you’re still in luck. I found a recipe online to make your own Homemade Ranch Seasoning & Dressing Mix, and it’s super easy! (I’m serious. Throw some spices in a blender or spice grinder. Voila! You’re done!) We have Megan, over at her “These Things I Love” blog, to thank for this recipe.

Now, on to some great-looking pasta salad recipes that will perk up that potluck table like nobody’s business:

Italian Pasta Salad: In its simplest form, a good pasta salad consists of 3 things: cooked pasta, some veggies, and a dressing. This recipe from About.com gives you the step-by-steps. It uses a cup of your favorite safe bottled Italian salad dressing, or you can substitute a favorite safe vinaigrette (like balsamic! Yum!).

Easy Vegan Artichoke Pasta Salad: This recipe from About.com is even easier, because you use the oil from a jar of marinated artichoke hearts instead of the salad dressing! Plus I think artichoke hearts always add a little extra class to anything they’re in, don’t you?

Vegan Pasta Salad with Pickles,Vinegar, and Olive Oil: Love that hint of pickle/vinegar flavor? Then you’ll love cooling off with this pasta salad from PopSugar.com that uses a dressing of vinegar, olive oil, and Dijon mustard (and some diced dill pickles for a little extra kick).

Southwestern Pasta Salad
Photo credit: CookinBug at AllRecipes.com

Southwestern Pasta Salad: I’m a fan of all things Southwestern flavored, so this recipe from Allrecipes.com is right up my alley. Its dressing consists of vegetable oil, fresh lime juice, and spices, and it will definitely spice up your picnic! You could also turn this into a main dish by adding some diced grilled chicken or taco chicken (shredded chicken cooked with taco seasoning).

Greek Goddess Pasta Salad: This recipe from AllRecipes.com calls for a bottle of pre-made Greek vinaigrette, and it includes sun-dried tomatoes, avocados, Kalamata olives, a jar of roasted peppers, and other tasty tidbits.  If you can’t find a safe Greek vinaigrette dressing, try this recipe to whip up your own: Absolutely Fabulous Greek/House Dressing. 

Kelley’s Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad: Okay, since my son loved this one so much, I figured I’d better post it.

Kelley's Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 box of pasta, any shape (I used 2 different shapes, to mix things up)
• 2 c. total veggies, such as halved cherry tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes (drained), or lightly steamed veggies such as broccoli, spinach, kale, carrots, zucchini, yellow squash, snowpeas, cauliflower, red and yellow peppers, or edamame
• 6 strips bacon
• Ranch dip/dressing mix (1 envelope’s worth, or about 3 T)
• 1 c. safe mayo, such as Vegenaise (there is a soy-free version, if that’s one of your allergens)
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 c. rice or soy milk (or other safe milk)

Directions:

Cook pasta according to directions. If using veggies that you prefer to be lightly steamed, go ahead and steam them. Dice bacon into small pieces and fry. When the bacon is almost done, add the steamed veggies to the bacon so that the veggies take on that bacon flavor, and continue to cook until bacon is crispy enough for your taste. In a small bowl, mix the Ranch dressing mix, safe mayo or Vegenaise, garlic powder, and rice milk. When the pasta is done, drain it and run some cold water over it to stop it from continuing to cook. Then put the pasta in a large serving bowl with the veggies and bacon. Gently stir in the ranch dressing. Serve and enjoy!

My son, who is now an always-on-the-go 16-year-old with a hollow leg, is primarily a carnivore. He thinks vegetables are a conspiracy by mothers world-wide to punish their children for trumped-up grievances. Oh well. There are only a handful of veggies he will willingly eat: artichoke leaves (not the hearts), fried okra (he had to learn to like fried okra or he wasn’t allowed to continue living under my roof), and edamame. I don’t know why edamame made the list, because he refuses to touch any other legume, but I don’t question small victories. So when I made this salad, the only veggie I added was shelled, steamed edamame. That and the bacon made a great combination, and he was happy. So were the other party-goers, so I call that a win.

Allergy-Free Potato Salad Recipe Round-Up

By Kelley Lindberg

It’s summertime, which means picnics and barbecues are in full swing. While the focus is usually on whatever’s on the grill, everyone knows the perfect side dish can make it all that much better! But the problem, of course, is that many of those picnic go-to recipes are loaded with dairy and egg ingredients. If your allergies include those, the ever-popular pasta and potato salads become landmines on the table.

This German Potato Salad is free from the Top 8 allergens,
and it's vegan, too! Recipe and photo credit: EarthyFeast.com.

That’s why I took to the web to find some allergy-friendly pasta salads and potato salads that will be welcome additions to the picnic table. (And no one will notice they’re free from milk, egg, and nuts!) This week I’ll spotlight some potato salad recipes. Come back next week for some tasty pasta salads that will brighten your potluck gathering!

German Potato Salad: Great news! German potato salad is ALREADY free from the Top 8 allergens. Throw together some potatoes, bacon, and onions, then dress it with some vinegar, sugar, mustard, and salt, and garnish with a little fresh parsley or chives. Ta-da! Here is a traditional recipe for the Food Network's German Potato Salad, but if you want a vegan version without the bacon, try this super-delicious German Potato Salad recipe from Grace over at her EarthyFeast.com blog.

Roasted Potato Salad with Mustardy Old Bay Dressing + Chive Blossoms: This recipe from the “With Food + Love” website suggests roasting the potatoes (yum!), but boiling them would work just fine for a more traditional potato salad texture.

Roasted sweet potatoes and avocado take
potato salad to a whole new level. Recipe
and photo credit: EatingBirdFood.com.

Roasted Sweet Potato Salad: Holy cow, this recipe from Brittany and her EatingBirdFood.com blog looks amazing. This will take that old potato salad idea and knock it clear out of the park. Roasted sweet potatoes, spinach, avocado, red onion and dried cranberries are all dressed simply with a little apple cider vinegar and lemon juice. What’s not to love?

Potato Salad with Avocado and Dill: Over at “Forks Over Knives,” I found this creamy potato salad recipe that gets its “creaminess” from mashed avocado. Even traditional potato salad lovers will love this combination. What a great idea!

Classic Potato Salad with Dijon and Vegetarian Bacon Bits: Of course, the easiest way to make an allergy-friendly traditional creamy potato salad is as simple as swapping out the regular mayo for an egg-free mayo, like Vegenaise. While the original Vegenaise flavor contains soy, they also make a soy-free version! This recipe from About.com adds balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing for an extra kick that should add just enough flavor interest to disguise the fact that you used Vegenaise instead of regular mayo!

Light and Fresh Potato Salad: If a traditional potato salad seems a little blah to you, check out this version from MyRecipes.com, which adds a rainbow of garden veggies and a light vinaigrette dressing instead of mayonnaise. 

Valentine’s Candy for Lovers with Food Allergies!

By Kelley Lindberg

Here it comes… another candy-oriented holiday. Since the day after Christmas, the grocery stores have been stocking all things pink and red, in anticipation of Valentine’s Day. It's still a month away, so that means there's time to plan ahead for a safe Valentine's Day.

Gimbal's heart-shaped jelly beans were a huge
hit with the teenage crowd at my house!

The go-to gift is often candy – especially chocolate and those little conversation hearts (you know, the chalky little hearts with words stamped on them). But if you or your sweetie has food allergies, candy may not be an easy choice. After all, nothing says “I love you” like anaphylactic shock, right? While you can sometimes find allergy-safe chocolate online and in stores, most is simply a no-no. And those conversation hearts? Both Brach’s and Necco’s hearts carry allergen warnings for milk, egg, wheat, peanut, tree nuts, and soy, so they’re just not an option for most allergic folks.

And it’s not just receiving candy that’s a problem. What if you think you’re being romantic and you give your non-allergic sweetie some traditional Valentine’s candy, and then she wants to kiss you, and you just happen to be allergic to an ingredient in that chocolate? “Will you be my Valentine? Great, now whatever you do, don’t kiss me,” isn’t really the kind of dialogue romantic movies are known for, is it?

And then there’s the whole school Valentine exchange thing, where all the kids take in Valentine’s cards to drop in each other’s elaborately decorated Valentine holders, and parents seem to just love all the little candy add-ons. But if you know a kid in your classroom has allergies, what can you do to keep that child safe while still making your own child’s Valentines a little extra-special?

Well, first off, if you’re the super-ambitious type, you could make your own Homemade Conversation Hearts, using this recipe that calls for unflavored gelatin, light corn syrup and confectioner’s sugar, plus food colorings and food coloring markers.

Yeah, okay, now that we’ve all had a good laugh (I mean, really, who has time for THAT?), let’s look at some other options:

• Heart-shaped jelly beans, anyone? Gimbal’s Fine Candies has some really tasty heart-shaped jelly beans in a huge variety of flavors. I had a half-dozen teenagers in my kitchen the other day, and I set out bowls of Gimbal’s Cherry Lovers (9 different cherry flavors!), Sour Lovers (12 sour flavors, coated with sugar like gum drops or Sour Patch Kids), and Cinnamon Lovers (red-hot cinnamon goodness!). As you can imagine, all 3 bags disappeared in a heartbeat (ha! pun intended). My favorite is the Cherry Lovers, but judging by how fast the bowl emptied, the teens’ favorite was the Sour Lovers (“These are way better than Sour Patch Kids” was the final verdict), with the other two varieties coming in close behind. The best thing about Gimbal’s Fine Candies is that
  
  they’re allergy free and proud of it! Their candy is produced in an allergy-free factory, and all of their packaging says: “Peanut free, tree nut free, dairy free, gluten free, soy free, and egg free.” They’re also Kosher pareve. (If you think living with food allergies is complicated, try living with food allergies and keeping kosher, too.) Read Gimbal’s Allergy Statement here. These are so much better than those chalky conversation hearts, it’s ridiculous.
• Peanut Free Planet : One of my favorite online grocery stores for allergy-aware treats, Peanut Free Planet offers candy from many allergy-friendly brands. They also carry candy from Canadian manufacturers, who manage to make nut-free versions of popular chocolate candy bars that you just can’t find from American factories (my son’s favorites are the nut-free Kit-Kat bars and the Wagon Wheels, both made in Canada).
• Local grocery stores have options, too: Every year, I manage to find a few Valentine’s candy options that are free from the Big 8. Look for hard candy lollipops, and candies from those reliable standbys like Starburst, Skittles, and Jolly Rancher. I generally have the best luck finding safe candy at Dollar Tree, followed by Smith’s (Kroger brand is getting better and better at safe manufacturing), and Target. On the other hand, I have a much harder time finding safe candy at Walmart.
• Non-food treats: For school, of course, I highly recommend avoiding food altogether. The last thing any of those kids need, allergies or not, is more candy. So hit the party aisle at your local discount store or dollar store, order from www.OrientalTrading.com, or check out these adorable ideas from www.PopSugar.com’s “The 48 Best Noncandy Valentine Ideas for Kids.” (Just remember, Play-Doh contains wheat, so it’s not safe for wheat/gluten-allergic kids.)

Whatever you choose to do for Valentine's Day, I hope it's a day full of love, hugs, and lots of giggles. 

Food Allergy Survival Tips for Holiday Parties

By Kelley Lindberg

Christmas is this week (just in case you missed those subtle signs, commercials, wish lists, non-stop music, mall Santas, and frenzied looks in everyone’s eyes). If your holiday celebrations include visits with family and friends, you may be worried about the kind of food you’ll be surrounded by, and whether those celebrations will be safe for the food-allergic members of your family. Here are some tips I’ve found that might help.

1. If you’re going to a pot-luck, volunteer to bring a dessert. Those are usually the most likely to contain all the things you’re allergic to (nuts, dairy, etc.), so if you bring the dessert, you can control it.

2. Call the hostess and mention your food allergy. It’s not rude – trust me, most hostesses would rather serve something everyone can eat than spend a lot of time making something and THEN discovering that you can’t eat it. That’s more rude, if you think about it.

3. If it’s your child that’s allergic, take a lunch sack of safe food for him or her. No one wants to have a child suddenly get sick at a family event – or worse, have to be rushed to the ER. So don’t be embarrassed. Pack and take a simple meal for your child to eat, so you and your hostess don’t have to worry. I used to make up a package of sliced turkey, safe crackers, grapes, and other cold finger foods for my son, and I called them “Mom’s Lunchables,” like those prepackaged things at the store (but safer!). My son liked it just fine, and hostesses completely understood.

4. Of course, keep your epinephrine auto-injectors and Benadryl or Claritin within reach, just in case.

5. Remind other parents to make sure their kids wash their hands after eating unsafe foods “to keep Johnny safe.” Most kids are much better than adults at understanding and wanting to keep a food-allergic buddy safe, so if you remind them to wash their hands, they usually will willingly. Don’t be shy. Shy never helped anyone.

6. Make a deal with your kid. Before going to a party, I would promise my son that if he couldn’t eat some of the treats there, that we’d have a special treat when we got home instead. He’s not big on delayed gratification, but he was still able to process in his mind that Mommy would make up for it later, and he has always been okay with skipping foods at a party.

7. Make a big show of thanking people who bring safe food to the party. It will make them happy and more determined to bring safe things again to the next party, and it might make those who didn’t bring safe foods think twice the next time. You never want to shame anyone, but positive reinforcement really does work!

8. Understand that people forget, they get spacey, they make mistakes. They don't usually do things to be mean on purpose. So don't be nasty if someone brings something unsafe. But you don't have to stay in an unsafe environment, either. You can always say, "We didn't want to miss the opportunity to stop in and say hi, but we can't stay." Then leave. It's okay. You've made an appearance, you've fulfilled your obligation. It's your holiday. You have the right to spend it in ways that make you happy, not in ways that make you nervous or upset. Then go drive around and look at Christmas lights. Spend time with your children. Watch a movie together. Remember what Christmas is all about. Relax.

Got any other tips for surviving holiday gatherings? Be sure you share them with us!

Merry Christmas, Happy Solstice, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Boxing Day, and a Wonderful Everything! (Hanukkah is just ending, but I hope you had a great one of those, too!)

Allergy-Free Thanksgiving Recipes, 2014

By Kelley Lindberg

Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching, and if you have food allergies in your family, you’re

Yes, it's possible to have an allergy-safe Thanksgiving dinner!

probably already wondering how to make the traditional meal safer. Every year I look for new recipes that are free from the Top 8 allergens, or can be made that way with simple substitutions. So here are some recipes I’ve found this year. (And by the way, when I’m listing all the things I’m thankful for, the internet will be on that list. I can’t imagine how much harder dealing with allergies would be without the internet as a source of support, education, and recipes!) I hope this recipe round-up helps simplify your holiday cooking!

Looking for more allergy-safe Thanksgiving recipes? Check out my earlier posts: Allergy-Free Thanksgiving Recipes 2013 and Allergy-Free Thanksgiving Recipes 2012.

Turkey:

• First on the menu? The turkey, of course. Turkeys, especially the self-basting kinds, are injected with solutions that make them tender. However, those solutions can harbor allergens like milk, wheat, soy, or corn. So check labels before you buy. Read the very helpful article at about.com called “Before You Buy a Thanksgiving Turkey” for some great advice.

Stuffing:

• Traditional Sage Stuffing: For all you traditionalists, this version uses olive oil instead of butter and skips the eggs. Use your favorite type of bread (sandwich, French, or gluten-free bread would all work just fine). 
• Cornbread Stuffing: I come from a long line of Texans, so I love cornbread stuffing. This recipe mixes cornbread and white or whole wheat bread, but you can substitute your favorite gluten-free bread for the white/whole wheat. (My grandmother always used crumbled white biscuits—heaven!) If you need a good cornbread recipe to use in your cornbread stuffing, try this one for Albers® Corn Bread, which I’ve been using for years. However, skip the sugar (unless you like sweet cornbread—but I prefer savory, especially for stuffing). Also, you have to make two or three substitutions: replace the egg with Ener-G egg replacer or other egg substitute, replace the milk with a safe milk, like soy or rice (I use rice milk, and it works great), and you can replace the white flour with your favorite gluten-free blend. 
• Quinoa Sage Stuffing (Gluten-free and Vegan): Dressing without bread? You bet. This one uses quinoa instead, along with olive oil, vegetable broth, and plenty of savory herbs.

Sweet potatoes:

• Sweet Potato Marshmallow Casserole: The popular way to make them is to mash them with safe margarine and spices, then top them with marshmallows. This recipe for Sweet Potato Casserole II adds 3 T of orange juice for an extra little bit of flavor.
• Roasted Sweet Potatoes: Not a fan of marshmallows? Try these Twice-Cooked Sweet Potatoes—the recipe is much easier than it sounds! Just fry sweet potato cubes in safe margarine, then roast them in the oven with some brown sugar, salt, and sage leaves.

Potatoes:

• Mashed Potatoes: Use any basic mashed potato recipe and replace the butter with a safe margarine and replace the milk or cream with rice milk or soy milk. Or, ditch the whole butter-and-cream idea completely and use chicken broth instead to flavor them. Here is the super-simple recipe from Campbell’s Kitchen for Skinny Mashed Potatoes. 
• Garlic Roasted Potatoes: Simple and flavorful! 
• Vegan Scalloped Potatoes: This recipe calls for flour and soy milk. I wonder if it would work with a gluten-free flour blend and another type of safe milk. If you try it, let me know!

Gravy:

• Allergy Free Gravy: I post this recipe from EatingWithFoodAllergies.com every year because it’s simple and it works. It explains the steps well and you can use either regular flour or gluten-free flour. YouTube has lots of videos showing how to make turkey gravy if you’re not sure of the process.

Cranberry Sauce:

Sure, you can dump it out of the can. (And let’s be honest, we like it that way!) Or you can try these versions:

• Traditional Cranberry Sauce: The easiest recipe is the one printed on the bag of Ocean Spray cranberries you pick up in the produce section. Water, sugar, cranberries. Boil for ten minutes, and voila! Cook it up a day ahead and refrigerate it. Perfection! 
• Cranberry Strawberry Relish: Add in some frozen strawberries, and you’ve got something a little bit different and even more delicious. 

Green Beans:

• There are a gazillion delicious ways to make green beans that don’t involve cream soups and French-fried onions. Here are a few:
• Bacon-smothered Green Beans: I mean, really. Bacon-smothered. What more do you want? 
• Green Beans with Ham: Okay, ham is good, too. 
• Green Beanswith Caramelized Onions and Tarragon: Can’t do pork? Here’s a meatless version that looks lovely and elegant on a platter.

Pumpkin Pie:

• It’s just not Thanksgiving without a pumpkin pie on the table. So here’s a recipe for Vegan Pumpkin Pie that looks delicious! You can use a regular pastry pie crust, but I like a graham cracker pie crust for my pumpkin pies.
• Gluten-free Pastry Pie Crust: If you need a gluten-free pie crust, try this recipe. 

Allergy-Free Halloween Candy Round-Up 2014, Part 2 (Local Stores)

By Kelley Lindberg

(Update 10/21/14: I added SurfSweets gummy candies/fruit snacks, which are free from the Top 8 plus sesame and sulfites, and can be found at Harmon's, Whole Foods, and online. Love 'em!)

Last week, I shared some online sources for ordering allergen-free Halloween candy. This week, I’ll tell you about the candy I found in stores locally. You can use this list to shop for candy, and you can use it on Halloween night to help your little trick-or-treaters sort through their candy loot.

Most of the common brands can be found just about anywhere, like grocery stores, Sam’s Club, Costco, Walmart, and Target. (If I only saw a product in one store, I’ll list the store where I found it.) Dollar Tree has a surprising amount of safe “icky” choices, like gummy skeletons and lollipops shaped like skulls, so if you’re looking for something fun and gross to put on top of cupcakes, for example, try Dollar Tree!

A BIG WARNING:  CHECK EVERY PIECE, EVERY TIME.

Large companies use multiple factories. That means the same candy may be produced in different places, with different allergens present. So CHECK LABELS on every single piece of candy. Wonka is one of the worst companies for producing the same candy in different packages containing different allergen warnings, but they are one of the best at individually labeling their candies so you can verify its safety before every bite. A few candies have changed their ingredients and moved to other places in my list from last year -- a good reminder to check old favorites. When in doubt, call the manufacturer for clarification (most list a phone number right on their package).

If I missed something or made mistakes as I scribbled my notes while standing in the aisles, let me know.

First I’ll list candies that don’t list corn as an ingredient (because there aren’t very many of them). Then I’ll list the candies and treats that do contain corn, but are free from some or all of the Top 8 allergens (peanuts, tree nuts, milk, egg, soy, wheat, fish, shellfish).

By the way, EVERYTHING on this entire list is nut-free and peanut-free. That's where I started, then I broke them down by the other allergens. I hope it helps simplify your Halloween season!

Corn-free as well as free from Top 8:

• Bob’s Sweet Stripes Soft Mint Candies (red & white peppermints) (Sam’s Club)
• Cotton Candy (Parade brand, Sam’s Club, 8 tubs per package)
• Cotton Candy in Candy Corn and Boo-Berry flavors (Dollar Tree)
• Cotton Candy, Hello Kitty (Dollar Tree)
• YumEarth Gummy Bears (in Target!)
• YumEarth Organic Pops (in Target!)

Everything from here on down contains corn ingredients:

Free from Top 8 (Wheat, Peanut, Tree Nut, Milk, Egg, Soy, Fish, Shellfish):

• Baby Bottle Pops (Sam’s Club)
• Betty Crocker Halloween Fruit Snacks
• Bubble Babies Gum Balls (contains coconut, Dollar Tree)
• Candy Jewelry (Dollar Tree)
• Dots
• Dum-Dums
• Giant Lollipop (Dollar Tree)
  
• Grave Gummies (contains coconut) (Dollar Tree)
• Gummy Body Parts (contains coconut oil) (Dollar Tree – coffins and bags) [Note: 2 years ago, 
• Walmart sold Frankford Candy Body Parts that contained peanuts, nuts, milk, soy, beef, and corn, so read company name and ingredients carefully]
• Gummy Turtle Power Candy Pizza (contains beef gelatin, Dollar Tree)
• Halloween Pops (contain gelatin, Dollar Tree)
• Haribo Gummy Bears (contains coconut)
• Hello Kitty Family Favorites Candy Mix (Dollar Tree)
• Hot Tamales
• Hubba Bubba bubble gum
• Jelly Belly trick-or-treat-sized packets of jelly beans (Target)
• Jolly Rancher
• Life Savers
• Life Savers Lollipops
• Life Savers Gummies (contains gelatin, possibly pork-derived, although I can’t verify)
• Market Pantry Spooky Shapes fruit snacks (Target – contains pork gelatin)
• Mike & Ike
• Pixy Stix, regular and giant (Sam’s Club carries a package of 50 Giant Pixy Stix)
• Push Pops
• Ring Pops
• Skittles
• Skulls & Bones Hard Candy (Dollar Tree)
• Smarties
• Sour Patch Kids (but be careful—the Sour Patch Twists contain wheat, so read labels carefully)
• Spiderman Villains Candy Sticks (contains beef gelatin) (Dollar Tree)
• Spongebob Gummy Krabby Patties (beef gelatin) (Dollar Tree)
• Spooky Lollipop Rings (Dollar Tree)
• Starbursts
• SurfSweets gummy worms, gummy spooky spiders, jelly beans (Harmon's, Whole Foods)
• Swedish Fish
• Tic Tacs
• Trolli Sour Brite Crawlers (gummi worms) (Sam’s Club – contains gelatin)

Contains Soy or Soy Warning (but free from other 7 top allergens):

• Bon Bon Boom Lollipops (Dollard Tree)
• Cry Baby Extra Sour Bubble Gum (Dollar Tree)
• Hubba Bubba Bubble Tape
• Jolly Rancher Crunch ‘n’ Chew (last year, these had soy listed, but I didn’t find any this year, so I can’t verify ingredients. Call the company at 800-468-1714)
• Jolly Rancher Fruit Chews (last year, these had soy listed, but I didn’t find any this year, so I can’t verify ingredients. Call the company at 800-468-1714)
• Jolly Rancher Lollipops (last year, these had soy listed, but I didn’t find any this year, so I can’t verify ingredients. Call the company at 800-468-1714)
• Laffy Taffy
• Laffy Taffy Ropes (Sam’s Club)
• Lollipop Skulls (Dollar Tree)
• Market Pantry Candy Corn Flavored Kettle-Cooked Popcorn (Target)
• Scary Eyeballs Bubble Gum (Dollar Tree)
• SweeTarts Chews (check every individual Wonka candy label because ingredients vary by assortment, and SweeTarts GUMMIES contain a warning for peanuts, tree nuts, milk, soy, and wheat!!!)
• Gum: Dentyne, Trident, Orbit, Eclipse, Wrigley’s (Doublemint, Winterfresh, Big Red, Juicy Fruit, Spearmint, etc.)

Contains Wheat or Wheat warning (but free from other 7 top allergens):

• Red Vines
• Scooby-Doo Sour Straws (beef) (Dollar Tree)
• Sour Punch Twists
• Twizzler’s Pull ‘n’ Peel (these don’t list soy, although regular Twizzlers do, so read carefully)
• Twizzler’s Strawberry Twists (these don’t list soy, although regular Twizzlers do, so read carefully)
• Twizzler’s Rainbow Twists (these don’t list soy, although regular Twizzlers do, so read carefully)

Contains Milk or Milk warning (but free from other 7 top allergens):

• Pop Rocks
• Popping Candy (Dollar Tree)
• Pumpkin Face Bubble Gum in Jar (Target)

Contains Egg or Egg warning (but free from other 7 top allergens):

• Bottlecaps (check every individual Wonka candy label because ingredients vary by assortment – some have wheat warning)
• Gobstoppers (check every individual Wonka candy label because ingredients vary by assortment)
• Nerds (check every individual Wonka candy label because ingredients vary by assortment – some have wheat warning)
• Nerds Ropes(check every individual Wonka candy label because ingredients vary by assortment)
• Spree (check every individual Wonka candy label because ingredients vary by assortment)
• SweeTarts (check every individual Wonka candy label because ingredients vary by assortment, and SweeTarts GUMMIES contain a warning for peanuts, tree nuts, milk, soy, and wheat!!!)
• SweeTarts Mini (check every individual Wonka candy label because ingredients vary by assortment, and SweeTarts GUMMIES contain a warning for peanuts, tree nuts, milk, soy, and wheat!!!)
• SweeTart Twists (check every individual Wonka candy label because ingredients vary by assortment, and SweeTarts GUMMIES contain a warning for peanuts, tree nuts, milk, soy, and wheat!!!)

Contains Soy and Wheat or warnings (but free from other 6 top allergens):

• Airheads
• Twizzlers

Contains Milk and Soy or warnings (but free from other 6 top allergens):

• Charms Blow Pops
• Double Bubble gum (check every individual Double Bubble candy label because ingredients vary by assortment and store)
• Hershey’s Chocolate bars, the 1.55 ounce size ONLY (the S’mores size) (all other sizes contain nut warnings)
• Kraft Caramels
• Sixlets candy-coated chocolate drops
• Tootsie Pops
• Tootsie Rolls
• Tootsie Fruit Rolls

Contains Wheat and Egg or warnings (but free from other 6 top allergens):

• Bottlecaps (check every individual Wonka candy label because ingredients vary by assortment – some don’t have wheat warning)
• Nerds (check every individual Wonka candy label because ingredients vary by assortment – some don’t have wheat warning)
• Nerds Ropes (Sam’s Club)
• Shockers (check every individual Wonka candy label because ingredients vary) (Sam’s Club)
• SweeTarts (check every individual Wonka candy label because ingredients vary by assortment – some don’t have wheat warning)

Contains Wheat and Milk or warnings (but free from other 6 top allergens):

• Utz Halloween Pretzel Treats (contains sesame warning, too)

Contains Soy, Milk, and Egg or warnings (but free from other 5 top allergens):

• Sugar Daddies (Dollar Tree)

Non-Candy Ideas (can find packs of individual serving sizes at warehouse stores like Sam’s Club):

• Boom Chicka Pop Sea Salt Popcorn (Target – 16 individual bags per container)
• Chex Mix (contains wheat, soy, and corn)
• David’s Sunflower seeds
• Funyuns Onion Flavored Rings (contains milk, soy, and corn)
• Jack Link’s beef jerky (contains beef, free from Top 8)
• Keebler Crème-Filled Sugar Wafer Cookies (contains soy, wheat, and cornstarch)
• Lay’s Potato Chips (free from Top 8)
• Nabisco Lorna Doone cookies (contains wheat, corn, and soy)
• Oberto Beef Jerky (contains beef, free from the Top 8)
• Oreos (contains soy, wheat, and corn)
• Slim Jim Meat Sticks (contains beef, chicken, soy, wheat, and corn)
• Zoo Animals crackers (Sam’s Club, contains wheat, corn, soy, milk)
• Drinks, like Kool-Aid Jammers or Capri Suns, or sodas in mini-cans – check ingredients

Non-Food Ideas:

Don’t forget, you don’t have to hand out candy to your trick-or-treaters. Walmart, Target, Dollar Tree, and party stores like Zurchers, as well as Oriental Trading Company’s website have plenty of Halloween-themed novelties you can hand out, such as:

• Bat or Spider Rings
• Plastic bugs and creepy crawlies
• Halloween bouncy balls
• Vampire teeth
• Halloween-colored bracelets
• Halloween pencils or erasers
• Glow Sticks or bracelets
• Drinking Straws with Halloween figures on them
• Tattoos
• Coins
• Friendship Bracelets

Watch Out for These:

The following candies may land in your child’s trick-or-treat bags, and they may not have ingredients labels, so watch out for them:

• Bazooka Gum-Filled Pops – lists only corn, but comes in an assortment listing all allergens in a factory warning
• Banana Splits (sold at Sam’s Club in an assortment. Contains soy and egg, and has factory warning for peanuts, tree nuts, and milk)
• Columbina candies – all have a factory warning for peanuts, egg, tree nuts, soy, milk, and wheat
• Goetze’s Caramel Creams (sold at Sam’s Club in an assortment. Contains wheat, milk, and soy.)
• Hershey’s: All mini and fun-sized Hershey’s chocolates contain nut warnings and should be avoided. Plain milk-chocolate and dark-chocolate Hershey’s kisses are nut-free, but contain milk. Most flavored Hershey’s kisses (caramel, cherry-filled, etc.) list nut contamination. The only nut-free size of Hershey bars is the 1.55 ounce size (the type commonly sold alongside graham crackers and marshmallows for S’Mores.)
• IBC Root Beer Barrels (sold at Sam’s Club in an assortment. Has factory warning for peanuts, tree nuts, milk, soy)
• Jawbreakers contain only sucrose, but packaged in an assortment that lists all the allergens in a factory warning
• Lemonheads contain only corn, but are usually found in assortment bags that include warnings for all the allergens on the overall packaging
• Mary Janes (sold at Sam’s Club in an assortment. Contains peanuts and soy, and has factory warning for tree nuts, wheat, milk, and egg)
• Slo Poke (sold at Sam’s Club in an assortment. Contains soy and milk, and has factory warning for peanuts, tree nuts, and milk)
• Taffy: For the first time this year, there are 2 taffy brands that are nut free. One is made by Taffy Town, and local company, but theirs do contain eggs, milk, and soy. The other is by an online store called Sweet Pete’s, which advertises that their taffy is made in a nut-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free facility. Other than those two sources, I have not found any other taffy that is nut-free, so assume most taffy in your child’s trick-or-treat bucket contains nut contamination.
• Tiger Pops – packaging lists all allergens
• Warheads – various packaging lists some or all Top 8 allergens in factory warnings