Isabella's Allergies

As of yesterday we are starting a new chapter in our lives. Isabella was allergy tested a few weeks ago and she had quite a few come back with positive results (meaning she has a reaction to them).  So her life and ours are going to be changing. Here is what she is allergic to.
This is on a scale of 1-5 (5 being Very Highly Allergic)

Bermuda Grass 3- she was instructed that if she hears a lawn mower to go inside

Trees-Oak 1, Walnut 1, Pecan 1/0

Animals- Cat 3, Dog 1- NO cats is what this means

Food- Egg 1, Milk 1 -they have also instructed her to not eat eggs unless they are cooked in things and to switch from cow's milk to soy or almond milk

Dust- House dust 1/0

Molds- Alternaria 4, Stemphylium 3, Plomabetae 2, Candida 2, Aclminth 2- however, this is the one that is going to change her/our lives

You'll notice her mold allergies are Very High and believe it or not mold is in/on/or around everything. It is an everyday part of life. But when you have an allergy to certain molds like Isabella does you learn to do and eat things differently that will keep you from having reactions. The statement that got me the most in all the paperwork they gave us about this was, "Certain foods may be associated with molds in their manufacture process. Your physician is asking you to omit the following foods from your diet."

Here is what Isabella CAN NOT have!



Cheese-of any kind

Mushrooms

Sauerkraut

Cider and homemade root beer

Pickled and smoked meats

All dried fruits such as apricots, dates, prunes, figs and raisins

Avoid meat or fish leftover for MORE than 24 hours after first prepared

Vinegar and vinegar containing foods, such as mayonnaise and other salad dressings, catsup, chili-sauce, pickles, pickled beets, relishes and green olives, mustard

All canned juices, including frozen ones (fresh-squeezed are OK)

All spices, except salt

Canned tomatoes unless homemade

Luncheon meats, hot dogs, bologna, sausage

Soured breads, such as pumpernickel, coffee cakes, and other foods made with large amounts of yeast, especially dinner rolls, donuts and pizza

Sour cream, sour milk and buttermilk

As you can see there are a lot of things she can not have. Believe it or now she is okay with this. I know she will miss these things over time but she also knows it will make her feel better.




Here is what Isabella CAN have:

Breads: whole grain breads, whole wheat, oatmeal and rye-Dorothy Pastry salt rising bread with baking powder

Name Brands: Pepperidge Farm, Hearth, Ideal Flatbread, Rice Cakes, Wasa Bread, Gourmet Section

Crackers: Keeblers Rye Krisp, Keeblers Wheatbury, Pepperidge Farm Sesame Stick, Pepperidge Farm English Water Biscuit

Milk: Anything other than cow’s milk, Farm Best Milk, Cheese (ONLY white American), Yogurts (plain, Yoplait, Dannon, Old World)

Natural Fruit Juices: Avoid Citric Acid, Dole pineapple, Welch’s Grape (bottle), Motts/Treetop Apple, Oceanspray Cranberry, Cranapple, Crangrape, Juicy Juice (Cherry)

Cereals: 100% Shredded Wheat, Puffed wheat or rice (plastic bag) w/out citric acid, Cooked cereals (NO instant)

Flours: Gold Medal (unbleached), Hodgson (unbleached), Martha White (plain), Any Whole Wheat or Whole Grain Pasta, Durum flour (deli or San Giorgio)

Tea: Boston Chinese Tea (Blue and White can found in Gourmet Section)

Spaghetti Sauce: Prego Spaghetti Sauce (Plain)

Allowed: Meats (no breaded), Veggies, Fruits (in its own juice), Nuts, Seeds, Popcorn, Mister Bee Potato Chips, Pringle Light Chips, Cashew and Almond Butter, Plain Chips, Frito Corn Chips

Watch Frequency: Potato, Rice, Pasta, Banana and Grapes

The above things sound great and she is excited about finding out recipes to make so that she can make the things she loved more allergy friendly for herself.  We are also making the change with her for the most part. However, I would ask you to pray as me make this transition because it will be trial and error and teaching others about what she can and can't have. We'll keep you posted on this new journey.