"Provides many easy-to-follow recipes and fresh menu ideas for food allergy sufferers and those on a restricted diet." --
Food Allergy News, 2005Food allergies,are becoming a major public health problem. There is an urgent need for a cookbook like this. --
Eric Chivian M.D. -- Director of the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical SchoolOffers real-life suggestions on how to adapt to the food-allergic lifestyle. Highly recommended for public libraries. --
Library Journal, June, 2005
Owner Reviews, Ratings, Comments and Criticism
This cookbook was a very helpful addition to my library. I have tried 7 recipes so far and my husband and kids loved them all. I can't believe it! My 11-year-old has multiple food allergies and my 5-year-old's allergist suggested that we try to go organic because of some ADHD-type issues (possible allergies to food additives, pesticides or preservatives?) and this seems to be a perfect resource.
I like the juxtaposition of simple recipes for meat and potatoes types like my husband (meatloaf, swedish meatballs, coleslaw, chocolate cake, apple and cherry pie, mashed potatoes, cream soups, soft pretzels, shepherd's pie, chili, pot pie, banana bread, cornbread) with the more sophisticated recipes for things like osso bucco, chicken marsala, pomegranite glazed rock cornish game hens, curried lamb, and vietnamese summer rolls.
You get an authentic feeling when the author writes about her italian dishes. She often gives familial/personal anecdotes which are fun to read. I wish my food heritage was so rich!
As for some of the negative comments I've seen here, I'm surprized. Substitutes are always offered for people with severe wheat allergies. She has a section where she talks about mixing types of flour (specifically as an alternative to spelt) to get optimal results and she offers another book as a resource. In the beer-batter chicken nugget recipe, she suggests a specific brand of wheat-free beer (and, by the way, the alcohol cooks out). I agree about the chopped livers, sorry...but there are 199 other recipes I'll try. She has included a great pantry list.
I found spectrum oils at my local health food store. The author also included a resource section and the website for spectrum oils is there. To the person who couldn't find Spectrum, maybe ask Spectrum directly where your closest source may be?
It's so frustrating when the world seems to be trying to hurt your child by mislabeling, misdiagnosing and misunderstanding allergies. Your temper can get the better of you; mine has. I believe this cookbook may be one of a few that offers real advice and real alternatives.
