Food Allergy Survival Guide: Monday Review

The Food Allergy Assistant loves to learn something new from a food allergy book. I just learned that eating raw dough from a gluten-free batter can cause stomach upset. The batter contains uncooked bean flours which can lead to the tummy trouble. I learned this while reading "Food Allergy Survival Guide" by Vesanto Melina, Jo Stepaniak and Dina Aronson.

I was asked to review a copy of "Food Allergy Survival Guide", which boasts "living well without dairy, eggs, fish, gluten, peanuts, shellfish, soy, tree nuts, wheat, yeast and more". Quite a tall order!

The first half of the book is devoted to food sensitivities. There is a conversation about the differences between food allergies, food sensitivities and food intolerances. For the remainder of the book, the term "food sensitivity" is used. The authors share a wealth of information in the next several chapters about how to read labels and manage nutrition planning. An entire chapter is devoted to wheat sensitivities and Celiac disease.

The second half of the book consists of recipes that avoid the top eight allergens. All recipes are vegan as well, which is less clear until the reader peruses the recipe section. The recipes will be a godsend for those who have multiple food allergies, sensitivities and intolerances. If that same person follows a vegan lifestyle, this book is a complete match. Those with fewer dietary limitations, will be able to modify most of the recipes to bring in the foods safe for them and avoid those that aren't.

I found two pages in the back of the book to be of enormous help. They contain a chart listing vitamin and mineral needs at various ages and stages. This is so important when trying to meet nutritional needs in the midst of needing to eliminate major food groups.

So, does the Food Allergy Assistant recommend "Food Allergy Survival Guide"?

Yes. I believe this book should be one of the resource books for people dealing with food allergies. I don't view it as a beginner primer on food allergies. For those newly diagnosed, the interchangeable use of "allergy", "sensitivity" and "intolerance" may lead to some confusion. That said, I see it as a guidebook, in addition to other resources, to help those who deal with multiple food allergies.

Check out the book's website to learn more.