Food Allergy Living Blog

Allergies: Does risk vary?

2012-05-29T18:57:17+00:00

When it comes to food allergies, many Neocate families are familiar with some of the facts that the media highlights about the percentage or numbers of children with certain allergies. You’ve probably also heard that allergies are becoming more common. But have you ever wondered whether race or ethnicity or even location means a higher chance of allergies?

Recent Research

A study that was published recently revealed a lot of interesting information related to allergies in America. The lead author, Dr. Ruchi Gupta, is a pediatrician at Children’s Memorial Hospital and assistant professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University, both in Chicago. You can find a nice summary of the results here.

Aside from the important finding that allergies continue to become more common than we thought, one thing stands out: Asian and African American children, compared to white children, are more likely to have allergy symptoms, but less likely to be diagnosed with an allergy. This suggests that there are differences in allergy prevalence between different races or ethnic groups, but more research may be needed to support this. It also highlights that fewer minority children are actually diagnosed with allergies, likely due to health care inequalities.

Where We Live

Dr. Gupta and her colleagues have been further analyzing the data from the above study, and a new article came out this month that focuses on how where kids live affects the likelihood of allergies. The surprising finding was that there was a clear increase in allergies in urban environments. Even when the researchers exclude age, ethnicity, gender, and other factors, children who live in cities or urban environments are still more likely to be diagnosed with allergies. Pretty interesting!

What do you think of the results of this new research? Will you be moving to the country to lower your children’s’ chances of allergies?

- Rob

[Photo: http://www.solarfeeds.com/wp-content/uploads/statistics-up.png]

Reimbursement for Neocate

2012-05-24T20:04:16+00:00

We often get questions about cost assistance for Neocate. We know that specialized formulas like Neocate are not cheap when you are paying out-of- pocket. Here at Nutricia, we strive to help our customers in finding cost assistance options. Today’s post will discuss some of the various cost assistance options that might be available for you.

1. Insurance: Our webpage provides tips and resources to walk you through the insurance reimbursement process, which can be a challenge to navigate. Please visit http://www.neocate.com/reimbursement/. In general, insurance coverage depends on your policy. However, there are 14 states which have laws that require insurance companies to cover Neocate. To view a list of these 14 states, please visit http://www.neocate.com/reimbursement/insurance-coverage-map /.

If your state is not included, this does not mean that you cannot obtain insurance reimbursement, it just means that coverage is determined on a case by case basis. You can still submit a request for coverage to your insurance company. Be sure to include a letter of medical necessity from your child’s physician. Find sample letters of medical necessity on our website: http://www.neocate.com/reimbursement/resources/. Also, consider getting involved in the fight for insurance coverage in your state!

2. Nutricia Product Coverage Navigator: As a testament to our commitment in helping our customers to find cost assistance, we launched the Nutricia Navigator program last year. This program started with just 2 states which have mandates requiring the reimbursement of amino acid-based formulas and has since expanded to cover 7 states: Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Texas. We hope the program will continue to grow and eventually cover all states with mandated coverage!

3. WIC or Medicaid: If your child is eligible for WIC or Medicaid, it’s possible that Neocate is covered. Contact your local WIC/Medicaid office to discuss coverage. To search for your local WIC Clinic, please visit http://www.withinreachwa.org/wicsearch.

4. Neocate Assistance Program (NAP): If insurance coverage is repeatedly denied and you are not eligible for WIC/Medicaid, you may qualify for our Neocate Assistance Program. For more information, please visit http://www.neocate.com/reimbursement/other-reimbursement-programs/. You and your child’s health care provider will need to fill out an application and submit it to our review team for consideration. Please note this program applies only to the Neocate Infant DHA ARA product.

5. Neocate Insider: If you are paying out of pocket, consider signing up for the Neocate Insider program. By becoming a Neocate Insider, you’ll receive a discount on your first online order and occasional coupons, interesting articles, and tasty allergen-safe recipes. Follow this link to become a Neocate Insider: https://www.neocate.com/shop/NeocateInsider/join.aspx

For more information about all of these options please be sure to visit the reimbursement section on our website, which has many resources that you may find helpful. If you have any questions about reimbursement or need assistance in any way, please call and speak to one of our nutrition specialists at 1-800-Neocate. We are happy to help!

Do any of you have any tips or testimonials on fighting for reimbursement for your child’s Neocate? We’d love to hear your story and share your tips!

-Mallory

Reminder for Our Neocate Infant Original Families

2012-05-22T18:29:45+00:00

As you know, in 2008 we introduced Neocate Infant DHA & ARA. DHA and ARA are two fatty acids naturally found in breast milk that have been shown to help promote brain and eye development. The addition of DHA and ARA does not change the other properties of the formula (i.e. taste, texture, hypoallergenicity), but it does provide an extra boost to benefit your little one! As a consequence, in October 2011, Nutricia North America announced and began the discontinuation of Neocate Infant original and over the past few months we’ve been proactively transitioning original formulation families toNeocate Infant DHA & ARA.

We wanted to remind you of this and let you know that we have run through all of our stock of the Neocate Infant original. We are no longer selling the Neocate Infant without DHA and ARA.

We encourage you to discuss alternative options such as, Neocate Infant DHA & ARAwith your child’s doctor or dietitian. Or, if your child is over the age of 1 year, we have Neocate Junior Unflavored or Neocate Junior Unflavored with Prebiotic fiber.

If you have further questions or need assistance with transitioning, please feel free to contact us at 1-800-NEOCATE (Monday through Friday 8:30 A.M. – 7:00 P.M. EST)and ask to speak with our nutrition specialists.

-Sarah

Video: How Neocate Spent Summer Vacation

2012-05-17T19:46:17+00:00

Planning a summer vacation? Taking Neocate with you? We want to come along! Mallory, one of our nutrition specialists created this great video explaining how you can share with us all the fun places Neocate visits this summer:

To recap, while on vacation this summer take a picture of you and your Neocate can or Splash box while out having fun or at any landmarks your family visits. Then, once you’ve taken your picture post it on our Facebook wall with a caption telling us where you are. This way we’ll get to see all of the fun places Neocate visits this summer!

So, where are you and Neocate spending summer vacation? Let us know by posting a comment in the comment section!

Guest Blog: Ten Things Children with Food Allergies Want You to Know

2012-05-15T12:23:12+00:00

Our guest blog today comes from our friend Gina Clowes. Gina is the mother of a son with multiple life-threatening food allergies and the founder of AllergyMoms.com. She understands how stressful it is to manage food allergies on a day-to-day basis, so in her ebook she shares all of the coping tools and tips that have gotten her and her family through the past ten years. She is also the author of the children’s book “One of the Gang: Nurturing the Souls of Children with Food Allergies.”

When a child is diagnosed with life-threatening food allergies, parents and caregivers often feel sad, scared and overwhelmed. As they try to navigate safely through mealtimes, family celebrations, play dates, classrooms, birthday parties and other social gatherings, they discover that the world is divided between those who “get it” and those who “don’t”. Many people mean well but simply do not comprehend the severity of food allergies and do not realize how insensitive their words and actions may seem to an allergic child.

I fought tooth and nail with family, friends and others in an effort to protect my son but felt like no one was listening. Finally I realized that in order for others to hear my message, I needed to manage my own emotions and stress level and present myself in a better way. In Ten Things Children with Food Allergies Want You to Know, my goal is to teach others how to be sensitive to the needs of these children and families while giving them essential tools, resources and advice to safely enjoy life to the fullest.

- Gina Clowes

Food Allergy Awareness & National Eosinophilic Awareness

2012-05-10T19:27:03+00:00

Not only is next week (May 13-19) Food Allergy Awareness Week, it’s also National Eosinophil Awareness Week! That’s no coincidence, since food allergies and eosinophilic disorders are closely related. For many of our families, both of these are important reason to celebrate next week and to spread the word.

Food Allergy Awareness Week

The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network(FAAN) established the first official “week” to increase awareness of food allergies in 1998, making next week the 15^thFood Allergy Awareness Week (FAAW). While many people know food allergies exist, they often don’t realize how serious food allergies can be. As a Neocatefamily member, you can help spread the word! Check out the FAAN’s resources to see what you can do to help increase public awareness of food allergies. One of our favorites: Ask your governor to issue a FAAW proclamation, if they haven’t already. Promotional posters, brochures, and presentations are some of the great resources FAAN offers. To learn more you can visit the FAAN Facebook page, Twitter handle, or YouTube channel .

National Eosinophil Awareness Week

National Eosinophil Awareness Week (NEAW), in its sixth year, is a bit newer than FAAW. It was created by the American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders(APFED). You’d probably get some funny looks if you asked most folks what in eosinophil is, so this is a great time of year to do just that and fill them in. We often write about eosinophilic esophagitis(EoE), but did you know that eosinophilic disorders can affect any and all parts of the digestive tract? For many patients with an eosinophilic disorder, Neocate products are a significant (if not the only) part of the diet. Not only are people in general unaware of eosinophils, a lot of medical professionals also don’t know of the presence and impact of eosinophilic disorders. That makes next week a great time to inform friends, family, and health care professionals! You can spread the word through Facebook, by putting up a poster, or by reaching out to family and friends with a letter.

Take the opportunity next week to increase awareness of food allergies in general, and educate on eosinophilic disorders in particular. What will you do to celebrate FAAW and NEAW and promote this special week?

- Rob

[Image sources: www.foodallergy.org, www.apfed.org]

Neocate Product Series – Duocal

2012-05-08T19:30:55+00:00

Today, as we end our Neocate Product Series, we will take a look at Duocal, which is a supplement that can be used to meet extra nutritional needs. Just as you saw in our previous series posts about Neocate Infant DHA ARA, Neocate Nutra, Neocate Junior, E028 Splash and Neocate Junior with Prebiotics we will be taking a look at the product description, preparation instructions and the nutrient/ingredient profile.

Super Soluble Duocal is a one-of-a-kind product. It is a powdered, high calorie product that is ideal for medical conditions where extra calories are required for growth. It contains carbohydrates and fats (no proteins, vitamins or minerals). Duocal is not nutritionally complete. It is to be added to foods or formulas in order to add extra calories into the diet. Duocal mixes best with moist foods. The best part of Duocal is that it does not change the flavor or the texture of the food item it is added to. There are a large number of foods you can add Duocal to. Look here for recipes ideas and for clever ways to use Duocal. Also, Duocal is milk-protein free so would be appropriate for a child with cow milk allergy.

How to prepare Duocal

Measure the prescribed amount of Super Soluble Duocal. Add powder to the required volume of liquid and/or soft food and stir continuously until powder has dissolved. Unused foods mixed with Duocal should be refrigerated and used within 24 hours. Shake or stir immediately before serving.

Store unopened can at room temperature. Once opened, reseal can and store in a cool, dry place (not in refrigerator) and use within one month.

Nutrient and Ingredients profile

Nutrients:

Nutrients	Per 100 g
Calories	492
Protein, g	None
Carbohydrate, g	72.7
Sugars, g	6.5
Fat, g	22.3
Saturated, g	13.8
Monounsaturated, g	2.5
Polyunsaturated, g	4.8
Fiber, g	None
Minerals
Sodium, mg	≤20
Potassium, mg	≤5
Chloride, mg	≤20
Calcium, mg	≤5
Phosphorus, mg	≤5

Ingredients:

Hydrolyzed Cornstarch, Blend of Refined Vegetable Oils (Corn, Coconut), Medium Chain Triglycerides (Fractionated Coconut Oil, Palm Kernel Oil), Mono and Diglycerides, Diacetyl Tartaric Acid Esters of Monoglycerides.

Alternative Birthday Cakes: How to Give Your Little One a Happy Birthday despite Food Restrictions

2012-05-03T19:31:06+00:00

Birthday cakes are so much more than just the ingredients that go into them. They are symbolic of accomplishment, celebration and childhood in general. Each birthday cake is a milestone for another celebrated year of life. Every parent feels an instinctive need to provide their child with a birthday cake.

When your child has a food allergy or other condition limiting the food that they can eat, a typical birthday cake may not be an option. I am always amazed by the measures that parents take to provide a suitable birthday cake for their child. I’ve talked to parents who are traveling to different stores all over town to gather allergy-safe alternative ingredients for their masterpiece cake. If you are looking for an allergy-friendly cake recipe, there are several in our Food Allergy Cookbook. Please keep in mind that allergy-friendly doesn’t necessarily mean allergy-free so be sure to check if the ingredients are appropriate for your child’s specific food allergies. For some more tips on allergy-friendly birthday parties, visit http://www.foodallergy.org/page/birthday-party-tips-.

For kids who are not able to eat food at all, this is an even greater challenge. In these cases, parents get extremely creative making fun, non-edible birthday cakes. For example, Connor’s birthday “Neo-Cake” or Sy’s foodless bowling cake. My sister Caroline has a feeding tube but up until last year, she was able to eat SOME food by mouth so we always just got her a regular birthday cake. She can no longer have any food by mouth due to swallowing problems so this year, I made her a fake pink and purple princess cake out of cardboard, foam paper, ribbon, tissue paper and glitter paint (pictured below). We poked little holes in it and inserted candles for her to blow out. Her favorite part of birthdays is singing and blowing out the candles so she didn’t even seem to miss eating cake. In fact I think she loved this foodless cake even more because she can keep it and we can relight the candles and sing over and over again (although she might think she is 300 years old by now).

The moral of the story is that food restrictions don’t have to stop you from giving your little one a happy birthday. When it comes down to it, birthdays are not about the cake but about the effort that goes into making your little one feel special on their day. With a little creativity, you can still have a great time celebrating another year and milestone.

Have a great allergy-friendly cake recipe to share? Please do! We’d also love to see pictures of your creative foodless cake ideas!

-Mallory

Neocate Product Series – Neocate Junior with Prebiotics

2012-05-01T20:47:53+00:00

Today, as part of our Neocate Product Series, we will take a look at Neocate Junior with Prebiotics. As you saw in our previous series posts about Neocate Infant DHA ARA, Neocate Nutra, Neocate Juniorand E028 Splashwe will be taking a look at the product description, preparation instructions and the nutrient/ingredient profile.

Neocate Junior with Prebiotics is a nutritionally complete, powdered amino acid-based medical food for children over the age of one for the dietary management of cow milk allergy, multiple food protein intolerance(MFPI) and food-allergy-associated conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD), eosinophilic esophagitis(EoE), short bowel syndrome(SBS), malabsorption and other GI disorders.

Neocate Junior with Prebiotics contains prebiotic fiber to help promote digestive health and extra vitamins and minerals especially helpful for children with GI-related malabsorptive conditions. Also, it is available in unflavored and vanilla, which happens to be the first and only flavored amino acid-based medical food with soluble prebiotic fiber!

How to prepare Neocate Junior with Prebiotics

How much Neocate Junior with Prebiotics you give your child should be determined by a healthcare professional and is dependent on the age, body weight and medical condition of the patient.

For oral or tube feeding:

Measure the required amount of warm or cool water into a container.
Add the prescribed amount of Neocate Junior to the water.
Cover and shake until the powder has dissolved.

Neocate Junior with Prebiotics is best served chilled. Once prepared, the formula should be stored in a refrigerator and kept no longer than 24 hours from the time of preparation. Shake or stir Neocate Junior with Prebiotics immediately before use.

The recommended dilution is 30 kcal/fl oz. This can be achieved by mixing the following amounts of powder and water. The scoop provided weighs 8.2 g.

Neocate Junior with Prebiotics	Neocate Junior with Prebiotics Powder	Amount of Water to Add	Final Volume
Unflavored	3 scoops or 24.6 g	3.5 fl oz	4 fl oz
	6 scoops or 49.2 g	6.5 fl oz	8 fl oz
	18 scoops or 147.6 g	20 fl oz	24 fl oz
Vanilla	4 scoops or 32.8 g	4 fl oz	5 fl oz
	7 scoops or 57.4 g	7.5 fl oz	9 fl oz
	20 scoops or 164 g	21 fl oz	25 fl oz

Household Measurements
1 cup	100 g	1/4 cup	25 g
1/2 cup	50 g	1 Tbsp	6.8 g
1/3 cup	34 g	1 tsp	2 g

Store unopened can at room temperature. Once opened, reseal can and store in a cool, dry place (not in a refrigerator) and use within one month of opening.

Nutrient and Ingredients profile

Nutrients Per 100 kcal	Unflavored	Vanila
Calories	100	100
Protein Equivalent, g	3.3	3.5
Fat, g	5	4.6
Carbohydrate, g	10.4	11.2
Fiber, g	0.4	0.4
Linoleic Acid, mg	549	501

Vitamins
Vitamin A, IU (mcg RE)	250 (75)	261 (78.3)
Vitamin D₃, IU (mcg)	43.5 (1.1)	45.3 (1.1)
Vitamin E, IU (mg a TE)	1.7 (1.1)	1.7 (1.1)
Vitamin K, mcg	4	4 .2
Thiamine, mg	0.1	0.1
Riboflavin, mg	0.1	0.1
Vitamin B₆, mg	0.1	0.1
Vitamin B₁₂, mcg	0.19	0.2
Niacin, mg	0.9	0.9
Folic Acid, mcg	29.9	31.2
Pantothenic Acid, mg	0.4	0.4
Biotin, mcg	2	2 .1
Vitamin C, mg	9.3	9.7
Choline, mg	29.9	31.2
Inositol, mg	22	22.9

Minerals
Calcium, mg	113	118
Phosphorus, mg	69.7	72.6
Magnesium, mg	16	16.7
Iron, mg	1.5	1.6
Zinc, mg	0.98	1.0
Manganese, mg	0.13	0.1
Copper, mcg	111	116
Iodine, mcg	17.8	18.6
Molybdenum, mcg	4.5	4.7
Chromium, mcg	3.8	3.9
Selenium, mcg	3	3.1
Sodium, mg	41	42.7
Potassium, mg	137	142
Chloride, mg	63	65.6

Ingredients:

Unflavored:

Corn Syrup Solids (53%), Fractionated Coconut Oil (8%), Canola Oil (8%), High Oleic Safflower Oil (8%), L-Arginine (2%), L-Glutamine (2%), L-Lysine L- Aspartate (2%), and less than 2% of each of the following: Tripotassium Citrate, L-Leucine, L-Phenylalanine, Calcium Phosphate Dibasic, Fructooligosaccharide , Inulin, L-Proline, L- Valine, Glycine, L-Isoleucine, N-Acetyl-L-Methionine, Tricalcium Phosphate, L-Threonine, Mono And Diglycerides, L-Histidine, L-Serine, Sodium Chloride, L-Alanine, Magnesium Acetate, Choline Bitartrate, L-Tryptophan, L-Tyrosine, Diacetyl Tartaric Acid Esters of Mono & Diglycerides, M-Inositol, L-Ascorbic Acid, L-Cystine, Propylene Glycol Alginate, Taurine, Ferrous Sulfate, L-Carnitine, Zinc Sulfate, DL-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate, Niacinamide, Calcium D-Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Cupric Sulfate, Thiamine Chloride Hydrochloride, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Vitamin A Acetate, Folic Acid, Potassium Iodide, Chromium Chloride, Sodium Molybdate, Sodium Selenite, Phylloquinone, D-Biotin, Vitamin D3,Cyanocobalamin.

Vanilla:

Corn Syrup Solids (45%), Refined Vegetable Oil (Palm Kernal and/or Coconut Oil (7%), Canola Oil (7%), High Oleic Safflower Oil (7%)), Sugar (8%), L- Arginine (2.4%), L-Glutamine (2.3%), L-Lysine L-Aspartate (2%), and less than 2% of each of the following: Tripotassium Citrate, L-Leucine, L-Phenylalanine, Calcium Phosphate Dibasic, Fructo-oligosaccharide, Inulin, L-Proline, L-Valine, Glycine, L-Isoleucine, N-Acetyl-L- Methionine, Calcium Phosphate Tribasic, Artificial Flavors, L-Threonine, L-Histidine, L- Serine, Mono and Diglycerides, Sodium Chloride. L-Alanine, Magnesium Acetate, Choline Bitartrate, L-Tryptophan, L-Tyrosine, Diacetyl Tartaric Acid Esters of Mono & Diglycerides, M-Inositol, L-Ascorbic Acid, L-Cystine, Artificial Sweetener: Sucralose, Propylene Glycol Alginate, Taurine, Ferrous Sulfate, L-Carnitine, Zinc Sulfate, DL-a-Tocopheryl Acetate, Niacinamide, Calcium D-Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Cupric Sulfate, Thiamine Chloride Hydrochloride, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Vitamin A Acetate, Folic Acid, Potassium Iodide, Chromium Chloride, Sodium Molybdate, Sodium Selenite, Phylloquinone, D- Biotin, Vitamin D3, Cyanocobalamin.

Failure to Thrive: What is it, What Causes it, How is it Managed and How to Add Allergy-Friendly Calories

2012-04-26T20:40:23+00:00

Failure to thrive (FTT) is a term used to describe a child who fails to gain weight at the expected rate or who loses weight over time. At each doctor’s visit, a child’s height, weight and head circumference are measured to make sure they are growing appropriately. Children come in all different sizes of course but the general growth trend during infancy and childhood should be fairly consistent.

Pediatricians use growth charts to track the growth of infants, children and adolescents. The growth charts are created by the National Center for Health Statistics at the Center for Disease Control. FTT is often considered when a child is below the 3^rd-5^th percentile for age or weight or has fallen 2 major percentile lines on the growth charts[i].

What Causes FTT?

FTT occurs when an infant or child is unable to consume, retain, or utilize the nutrition and calories that they need to gain weight and grow appropriately. Infancy and early childhood are a crucial period of physical and mental development, so doctors are concerned when growth is impaired.

There are many different causes of FTT but most often, it occurs as a result of an underlying medical issue[ii]. Below are some examples of conditions which can lead to the development of FTT.

Food allergies: Until they are diagnosed, food allergies can impair the body’s ability to absorb nutrients from food properly. Once food allergies are diagnosed, entire food groups may be eliminated from the diet. Such a restricted diet can make it difficult to get enough nutrition.
Gastrointestinal conditions(such as GERD, chronic diarrhea, celiac, etc)
Metabolic disorders
Infections/illnesses
Physical conditions (such as heart conditions, cleft palates, etc)

How is FTT Managed?

The child’s healthcare provider will determine the best course of treatment, depending on the underlying cause for the FTT. If the problem is caused by malabsorptionassociated with food allergies, dietary changes alone may resolve the issue. If the child has difficulty eating enough with such a restricted diet, they may need to supplement with an allergy-friendly formula like Neocateor E028 Splashin order to fill in the nutritional gaps.

When a child is having difficulty consuming enough calories, their healthcare provider may recommend some high-calorie snacks to boost their intake. For infants, they may recommend a high-calorie infant formula or they may recommend concentrating the current formulato make it more calorie dense. For older children who eat table foods, they may recommend adding a calorie supplement, like Duocal, to foods and trying to add high-calorie foods to their diet.

Allergy-Friendly, High Calorie Foods:

The high-calorie foods you can use obviously depend on which foods your child is allergic to so if you are unsure which foods are safe and which are not, always consult with your pediatrician or other physician before adding any new foods. Cheese, cream, milk powders and other dairy-based foods may be recommended for adding calories but since most of our readers have little ones with milk and other food allergies, we will list some high-calorie options not containing the top 8 allergens.

Avocados:I think avocados are the perfect food. Many adults avoid them because they think they are fattening, which in a sense they are, but they are packed full of the good fat (and tons of other important nutrients). Avocados are a healthy way to boost your child’s calorie intake. A 1 oz serving (about 2 tbsp) of fresh avocado contains 50 calories. You may be surprised to find that kids often love avocados. For the little ones, you can mash avocados and mix them with baby food fruits and vegetables or rice cereal (or Nutra). For older kids, you can mix them with table foods or make a guacamole dip.

Homemade fries: Make your own French-fries by slicing potatoes or sweet potatoes and frying them in a heart-healthy oil, such as olive oil. You can also fry other vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, mushrooms etc. Each tablespoon of olive oil contains nearly 120 calories!

Sunflower seed butter:Nut butters are often used to add calories and protein to a child’s diet but peanuts and tree nuts are among the top 8 allergens. Instead, you might consider sunflower seed butter, which has a similar flavor and texture. 2 tbsp of sunflower seed butter contains 200 calories and 7 g of protein.

Smoothies:Smoothies are a great way to pack in a bunch of nutrients. Add fruits like bananas, berries, peaches, etc. I like to use frozen fruits so that you don’t need as much ice. Add a liquid of choice, such as fruit juice or a milk-alternative such as rice milk, coconut milk or Neocate. If desired, add some ice. For some more bulk, you can also add an allergy-friendly yogurt or frozen dessert, like coconut yogurt (dairy-free) or sorbet (be sure it’s a dairy-free, soy-free brand). Add a few scoops of Duocalto pack some extra calories (each scoop adds 25 calories; Duocalis milk protein-free). Blend it all together and you have a tasty, high calorie, easy-to-transport drink.

Dried fruits:Dried fruits are a high-calorie, nutritious snack that is easy to take along with you on the go. Dried fruits lose their water content so you get the same calories as fresh fruit in a much smaller volume. Just one dried apricot contains about 10 calories!

Again, I want to stress that these are only suggestions of high-calorie foods that do not contain the top 8 allergens. Every child’s allergies are unique so always check with your child’s healthcare professional if you are unsure whether or not a food is appropriate for your child.

Do you have any tips on boosting calories or high-calorie snack ideas to share? What has helped your child to gain weight?

-Mallory

[i] Rabinowitz S.S. et al. (n.d.). Nutritional Considerations in Failure to Thrive. Retrieved from: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/985007-overview#a0101.

[ii] KidsHealth from Nemours. (n.d.). Failure to Thrive. Retrieved from: http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/endocrine/failure_thrive.html#.