Kimberly

A few weeks ago I received a care package from Enjoy Life Foods that was packed with breakfast goodness called Breakfast Ovals. These delicious little treats are free of the top eight allergens and come in four different flavors:  Berry Medley, Maple Fig, Chocolate Chip Banana, and Apple Cinnamon. Although I didn’t meet an Enjoy Life Breakfast Oval I didn’t like, the Chocolate Chip Banana was hands down my favorite. Thanks to Enjoy Life’s new Breakfast Ovals, we have something new to add to the rotation (we also love Enjoy Life Seed Mixes).

After selling more than 100,000 Super Muffins – the nation’s only muffins made with whole fruits and vegetables instead of sugar – at farmers markets, Awesome Bites Co. is excited to bring their magically healthy treats to their first brick and mortar location in the Heights at Sawyer Yards in April 2019. Along with their popular Super Muffins, and brownies and blondies made with organic beans, Awesome Bites’ expansion into a new storefront will feature some new surprises like handcrafted, allergy friendly, and lactose free ice cream plus gluten free waffle cones. Dedicated to creating better and safer delicious treats for all, Awesome Bites’ allergy friendly baked goods push traditional pastry boundaries by replacing eggs, butter, and refined sugar with clean, premium, non-GMO ingredients without sacrificing taste. Even our ingredients, which took over a year to source, are free of potential cross contamination,” said Jennifer Thai, founder and chief innovator of the Awesome Bites Co. “Creating allergy friendly treats is a complex process requiring an unwavering commitment to food safety.

I don’t need a special day on a calendar to remind me to tell those I love how much they matter, but I’ll never shy away from the opportunity the holiday provides either. And some candies are taped to a card, which although they are usually sent with good intentions, don’t carry an allergy statement or ingredient label. For our family, when my son was in preschool and elementary school, this usually meant: * Not eating anything handed out at school, at school or at home * Trading unsafe candy for safe candy or toys at home * Handing out Valentine’s with non-food items such as cool erasers, stickers, or pencils During middle school and now high school, the potential food allergy challenges are changing.

I always kept a a clear tupperware of safe treats for my son in his teacher’s classroom for impromptu preschool or elementary school celebrations. If you have a similar goody box or bag that is stored at school or elsewhere, be sure to check the expiration dates on the products inside and send in new safe treats if need be. TOUCH BASE WITH THE SCHOOL    Take a few minutes to send a short and to the point email to your child’s school nurse and teachers to thank them for what they do to keep your child safe each day and ask if there is anything you can do to support them. Personally, I like to complete my checklist early, so I can savor the last few days of winter break and maybe spend a few more days in denial that homework, tests, sports, and clubs are about to get real!