Restaurant Food List ~ Mellow Mushroom

Today we tackle our favorite food to eat when your too tired to cook. That is right Pizza! But wait, how can we get pizza when we are to tired to cook it ourselves. The answer is Mellow Mushroom. Not only can you do dairy free their but they also have an amazing allergen sorting system that you can view here. This is a great tool if you have multiple food allergies.

Mellow Mushroom has been around a lot longer then you would think but I will admit I never knew they had a menu for the dairy free using Daiya Foods Cheeses.  As with all restaurants you still need to let the servers know that you have a dairy allergy even if you order the dairy free version of their food.

So here is the list of foods that Mellow Mushroom says is dairy free

• Tossed Salad
• Kids PB&J
• Kids Organic Apple
• Anchovies
• Andouille Sausage
• Applewood Smoked Bacon
• BBQ Chicken
• BBQ Tofu
• Buffalo Chicken
• Chicken Menu
• Crumbled Italian Sausage
• Curry Chicken
• Ground Beef
• Ham
• Herb Vinaigrette Chicken
• Jerk Chicken
• Jerk Shrimp
• Marinated Tempeh
• Pepperoni
• Salami
• Sausage Links
• Shrimp
• Steak
• Teriyaki Chicken
• Tofu
• VEGAN CHEESE
• Alfalfa Sprouts
• Artichoke Hearts
• Avocado
• Banana Peppers
• Black Olives
• Broccoli
• Caramelized Onions
• Caramelized Pecans
• Chives
• Cucumbers
• Dried Cherries
• Fresh Basil
• Garlic
• Green Olives
• Green Peppers
• Iceberg Lettuce
• Jalapeno Peppers
• Kalamata Olives
• Mushrooms
• Onions
• Pepperoncini
• Pineapple
• Roasted Red Peppers
• Roasted Red Potatoes
• Roma Tomatoes
• Sun Dried Tomatoes
• Baked Pizza Crust
• Bavarian Sauerkraut
• Black Truffle Oil
• French Bread
• Multi Grain Bread
• Pretzel Bread
• Wheat Pullman Bread
• Bruschetta Tomato Topping
• Gluten Free Crust
• Italian Seasoning
• Olive Oil
• Romaine Lettuce
• Salad Mix
• Spinach
• Spring Mix
• BBQ Sauce
• Hot Sauce Swirl
• Jerk Sauce
• Mayo
• Red Sauce
• Sweet Chili Glaze
• Balsamic Vinaigrette Salad Dressing
• Herb Vinaigrette Salad Dressing
• Esperanza Salad Dressing
• Honey Mustard Salad Dressing

Now some of these items are pretty obvious that they don't have dairy in it, but being a pizza based restaurant it is important to list all items that you can in fact put on your pizza. So instead of using orange to say the full meals it is going to be used to highlight the important aspects of the pizza you need to make sure you ask for. 

If you have a place you would like me to try to find the information for let me know in the comments.
Now, enjoy some pizza!

Unexpected benefits of being dairy free

So if your like me and have to now figure out how to take all the dairy out of your or your child's diet. I have been noticing that my child has started sleeping very quiet since I started taking dairy out of his diet. He used to snore and make these really weird noises while he slept and now it is so quiet and still that I have to check on him by putting my hand on his chest to feel him breathe. I wanted to know why, and after some research I found that when you remove dairy from your diet after having respiratory issues it lessens the problems rather quickly.

This got me thinking. What other benefits are associated with dairy free living.

1. The respiratory issues lessen rather quickly
2. loss of weight occurs
3. Your sense of taste will be stronger
4. decreased likelihood of developing osteoporosis, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and heart disease

I am not a doctor or claim to be. I have done a lot of research on this through the Internet as well as contacting a professional nutritionist on the subject.

Restaurant Food List ~ Seasons 52 SPRING menu only

Seasons 52 is a fresh grill and wine bar that lets you enjoy  a seasonally-inspired menu in a casually sophisticated ambiance. This means that their menu changes every season and bits and pieces every week are different specials. The restaurant has complied a list of safe foods to eat for the spring season for the non dairy community. You can find other list here. This is one of the few places I have found so far that actually has a good assortment of actual meals which is really great in my mind. They have been expanding rather quickly so odds are Seasons 52 might be closer to you then you think. 

• Flatbreads (can be made without cheese toppings) 
• Gengler Farms Organic Edamame
• Hummus Duo
• Tuna & Avocado Sushi Roll
• Organic Field Greens 
• Organic Baby Spinach  (request without gorgonzola cheese) 
• Sesame Grilled Salmon Salad (request without lemongrass mayonnaise)  
• Maui Tuna Crunch 
• Vegetarian Tasting quinoa (request without cheese on taco) 
• Rocky Mountain Buffalo Burger (request without truffle cream and without blue cheese)
• Grilled Turkey Burger (request without cheese) 
• Oak-Grilled Beef, Chicken Breast Market Fish can be made to order using salt, pepper,
   extra virgin olive oil, with new potatoes, roasted asparagus, baby carrots (request plain) 
• Cedar Plank Atlantic Salmon Red Bliss potatoes, vegetables (request without dill sauce)
• Grilled Boneless Rainbow Trout roasted potatoes, asparagus, baby carrots, grilled lemon
   (request without dill sauce) 
• Caramelized Grilled Sea Scallops roasted asparagus (request no risotto and no lemon butter)
• Plainville Farm Turkey Skewer grilled vegetable-farro pilaf, Zinfandel BBQ glaze 
• Oak-Grilled Filet Mignon fresh vegetables, roasted mushrooms (request roasted potatoes) 
• Roasted Asparagus
• Broccolini
• Cremini Mushrooms
• Roasted Baby Carrots
• Leaf Spinach
• Red Bliss Potatoes
• Fuji Apple Slaw
• Quinoa-Citrus Salad
• Fresh Fruit

The items listed in orange are actual meals. The other items are sides, and appitizers.  Remember the most important thing is to always tell the server that you have an allergy to dairy.

Restaurant Food List ~ Auntie Anne's Soft Pretzels

Auntie Anne's Allergen Statement
Please be advised that our products contain known food allergens and sensitivities. We strongly recommend that anyone with an allergic condition or sensitivity to nuts, gluten, or other food allergens NOT consume our products. 

This is from their site. You can view more information here, as well as how to contact them if you have any further questions. 

Dairy & Eczema

Did you know that dairy intolerance and allergy is the most common food related triggers that cause eczema?

But, what is eczema? It is a skin condition that produces welts and small blisters on the skin along with inflammation. Eczema is commonly found in infants and is most likely outgrown by adulthood. Children with eczema typically have parents that suffer from allergies or asthma, according to MedlinePlus. 

Eczema is not treatable, but it is manageable by eliminating the various triggers that cause it to flare-up.  

Minor cases of eczema are treated by applying hydrocortisone creams and taking an oral antihistamine. Extreme symptoms may require a prescription from a doctor for a corticosteroid lotion. 

I find that if my child has itchy skin from eczema applying a cool compress to the areas and putting the kid in loose fitting clothes helps.

Restaurant Food List ~ First Watch

This is one of my family's favorite places to eat on a weekend brunch. They don't use any heat lamps or fryers and all their food is made to order. This means that they can work with you more then other places on working on food for you. This pretty much means they can make your eggs, toast, and sandwiches dry(no butter) or without cheese.

Here is a list of items that the company has said is dairy free. They do have a full allergen list online here, so if you have more then one food allergy you can get a better idea of what it has to offer.

• Tri-Athlete
• Lean Machine
• Fruit Bowl
• Fresh, Seasoned Potatoes
• English Muffin (DRY)
• Ham
• Bacon
• Sausage
• Turkey Sausage

Remember the most important thing is to always tell the server that you have an allergy to dairy. The items listed in orange are actual meals, everything else is side items. Please note that on their website it says that they can not make their waffles or pancakes dairy free. And the sandwiches need to be cold, unpressed, and modified to become dairy free. 

If you have a restaurant you want me to compile a food list for let me know in the comments below. 

The Story of my son, Wes.

I figured since I started this blog for my son, so when he is older he has something that can help him, and something that can help others, I should probably tell you about my son. 

We were told that we needed to enjoy as much time as we could with him. That's right we were told that Wes COULD DIE. Being told that your child might not live is horrible, your whole life crashes down around you and it makes it hard to breathe let alone think.

This on top of my husband deploying was a really bad time. We knew that at 3 months old that when my husband deployed that it could have been the last time he saw him alive.When Wes was born he seemed fine a nice pink color, good set of lungs, all his fingers and toes. Then on his 1st full day of life he had his circumcision. Afterwards, things started to get a bit weird. He started to turn yellow, and became jaundice.

He also was having problems keeping his body temp. up. He stayed that way for about 2 weeks after we left the hospital but he was still perfect. Yellow, but perfect. Then something started happening. We were told to give him as much skin to skin time to try and raise his body temp. We always had him in just a diaper on my or my husband's chest wrapped in a blanket.
We just wanted him to get warm. Then the feedings started to go wonky. He started vomiting all his food up, he didn't eat, and he became really weak and just slept for close to 20 hours a day. The house, the chair, the sofa everything smelled of regurgitated milk. We were scared and horribly worried, and during all this we still had Alice to think about and take care of.
 Thank goodness my parents were close by. We had to go to the doctors at least every other day for weight checks and formula changes.

We stopped breast feeding, he went on I think 5 or 6 different formulas, but he just kept vomiting and in turn he just kept loosing weight. He soon became nothing but skin and bones, he couldn't even lift his arms.Every other day we would go to the doctor checking his weight changing his formula. We were sent to a pediatric surgeon, who in turn sent us to the ER for an MRI and a barium exam. It was discovered that Wes had an underdeveloped esophagus, which is why everything he had would come back up. He was given anti ulcer medication for his throat.  At 3 months old he had just gotten over his birth weight.

At 5 months old we found the first of the formulas that started to stay in his system. Similac Soy Formula. Then we switched it and started having even more success in Gerber Soy Concentrate formula. As it turns out liquid formula worked better then powder. He finally was able to go to the doctor once a week and then once every 2 weeks, and then once every 3 weeks. Through it all he was always smiling. At 8 months old Wes went to the doctors again and we were so happy to hear that he made a complete turn around. The doctors actually told me that they were not expecting him to make it as far as he did.
My little boy my little fighter was finally getting better. He was finally able to start eating baby food and he has been thriving since. So much so that my little guy is now in the 85% for weight.  At 11 months he started big people food, and working on using a sippy cup. Wes is now 13 months old and in 1-3 more months he will get to meet his daddy again and hold his hand, and interact with him other then just sleeping on his chest. 

So there it is there is the story. Sorry it was so long. We now know that he was born allergic to milk, even milk from me. I just wonder if he didn't have all these other problems that masked the allergy how much faster he would have gotten better. I know that I had done the best for him without knowing all the facts. He is now a happy little guy, chasing his big sister around the living room trying to get hugs. And chasing me with his bowl trying to get more snacks (dairy free of course).