Allergies and MFW programs

Mon Dec 31, 2007 2:29 pm

Unread post by **HSmommi2mine** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:14 pm

Cyndi (AZ) wrote:I don't know why I'm panicking about this all of a sudden, but can someone please tell me how much cooking is involved in Adventures and the 5-year cycle? We're a gluten-free, dairy-free, yeast-free, low sodium family. Am I going to be re-inventing the wheel (or meal) every time there's a recipe in the curriculum? How often is that going to be?

We'll be starting Adventures in the fall. Should I order well ahead of time to get prepared, or is there not much cooking next year? I'm thinking my toughest time is going to come from ECC.

Just wondering if someone can forewarn me a bit. Thanks!

you can just skip the cooking in ECC, or do the parts that would work for you. I don't know about the other programs.

Unread post by **SandKsmama** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:47 pm

I think you are right that the most cooking is in ECC, BUT, it is not necessary to use the recipes included (most come from the Trip around the world books, but there are usually several choices). I got some GREAT international cookbooks from the library that are for kids called Cooking the xxxx way (fill in whatever country for the x's) - I usually used those as part of our book basket, and then made a recipe or two from that. All that to say, you can easily use a recipe that fits your family's dietary needs, or skip the cooking altogether.

In CTG and RTR (the programs we have done so far), there is not much cooking. In CTG, most of it would be for the Jewish feasts, and again, suggestions are given and some recipes, but it wouldn't be a big deal to substitute bread you guys can eat for the challah, etc. In RTR, so far, there hasn't been much cooking at all - the biggest thing was the Roman feast, and all the food for that was flexible too:-).

I hth! MFW really IS flexible!
Amanda

cbollin · Unread post by **cbollin** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 5:10 pm

With the bread in ADV, it is tying into the lessons with Jesus is the bread of life and to do some cooking together. You could easily substitute a GFCF biscuit mix if needed. Some of the recipes involve corn meal.

-crystal

Unread post by **mgardenh** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 10:46 pm

Cindi,
We will be in Adventures in the fall, and we are gluten free, dairy free, and egg free. I have tons of alternative recipes. I would be glad to help you out in anyway. I think there is a point at which you make butter (that would be one I do not think we could do) but all the other stuff we could do, I bet!. Email me anytime for ideas.

Unread post by **JenniferF** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 8:26 am

One idea for the ECC year would be to find the different fruits and vegetables from those countries.

Unread post by **lyntley** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 9:16 am

We do ECC with food allergies. Not quite as extensive as yours . But we will use dairy and some gluten alternatives. They look through the country recipe books at the pictures. We do explore the fruits and veg from that particular country as well. It's not too difficult to work around or skip entirely. There is just so much other good stuff that the kiddies don't miss it. I'm sure adventures will be equally filled with alternatives and fun.

Unread post by **elw322** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 9:37 am

I will be using ECC this fall as well and we are strict vegetarians (no meat, dairy or eggs). Not so much gluten free, although I have a lot of gluten free recipes.

I have a passion for vegetarian cooking, so I have been able to successfully veganize (is this a word?:) ) a lot of the traditional foods that we were accustomed to eating.

I am also very big on cooking foods of many cultures...

Please feel free to post any recipes that you may find challenging and I will be more than happy to assist you.

Here are a couple of websites that come to mind.
One is for Jewish recipes and the other on international foods by country:

http://jewishveg.com/recipes.html

http://ivu.org/recipes/

HTH,
Evita

Unread post by **lyntley** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 1:31 pm

Evita, you will be happy to find that even in the ECC book basket recipe books there are a few vegitarian recipes.

Unread post by **elw322** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 7:15 pm

Lyntley,
Thats great to hear! They're making easier for me than I expected...I cant wait to start this fall...so exciting :)

Thanks for the info :)

Evita

Unread post by **amylynn12** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 2:18 am

Cyndi-

I wanted to let you know that we are also Gluten-Free over here. :) We are doing K and are also at the beginning weeks of ECC. I was a little worried about the recipes as well, but just planned to try to adapt them to our diets by substituting ingredients that we are allergic to.

Blessings!
Amy Lynn

Unread post by **Cyndi (AZ)** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 4:17 pm

You really are being too nice to someone who was whining, "Why do we have to live this way?!" I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I had a very bad attitude about it. I need to be thankful that I have a healthy family and I know what to do to keep us that way. I'm loving the fact that I'm finding others with the same issues and that we'll be able to share recipes as we go. (I still haven't tried your apple cake, but I printed the recipe and put it in the kitchen.)

To get me over the un-Valentine's candy blues, I have a little menu planned that includes GFCF brownies with pink icing, red finger jello hearts, and homemade GFCF chocolates. I'm just pathetic, aren't I? We didn't know that I was celiac when I was a kid, so my dad always gave me a box of chocolates on Valentine's Day -- and I always got a belly-ache. (I always had a belly-ache.) Now I'm over-compensating. Maybe instead of asking for recipes, I should have asked for prayer . . . .

I'm so thankful for the kind replies, though. And for the practical advice like "so make GFCF biscuits instead of bread." The point is to be cooking together and discussing the lesson. Now that was the reality check I needed!

Unread post by **mgardenh** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 2:35 pm

So uh can I get your recipe for the apple cake, gfdf brownies (i have yet to be successful with this one), and the homemade chocolate recipe?

Now I am going to have to get some dessert :)

Unread post by **amylynn12** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 10:23 pm

(((Oh, Cyndi))) You aren't whining at all. :) I only have to avoid Gluten and that in itself can be tough, but to also have to avoid dairy, yeast and be sure to have low sodium would be very difficult. I know it takes a lot of time to learn all the different ways to avoid those allergens, but once you do, it gets so much easier. :) I am so glad we can have a place to all share recipes.

I am with Mike. I would also love your Brownie recipe. :)

And Mike, I have the Gluten-Free Apple Cake recipe. We used it in place of making an Apple Pie in the Aa Apple Unit for MFW K. I did try the pie, but it was a nightmare! :) I'm not real good with making pastries. :)

Anyway....Here is the recipe: http://board.mfwbooks.com/viewtopic.php?t=47

Blessings!
Amy Lynn

Unread post by **Cyndi (AZ)** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 12:48 pm

Hi Mike --

I don't have a recipe for gfcf brownies. I use Pamela's brand mix, and they always turn out great. I don't have the package to look at now, but I'm fairly sure it's guaranteed to be 100% dairy free.

For the chocolates, I use Ghiradelli's semi-sweet chocolate chips. I melt a cup of chips and with 1 tsp of coconut oil and either put it in a mold or dip strawberries in it. Set in the fridge for a few minutes, and they're awesome. Ghiradelli's does not guarantee to be free from cross-contamination from dairy, so I don't think you could use them. We don't have any trouble with my dd's dairy intolerance (no crazed behavior or eczema) from it, but I don't want to recommend it for someone with a true dairy allergy. There are gfcf chocolates available online, but they are very pricey and I haven't tried them.

Not much help here. We ended up with a tense Valentine's Day with my MIL in the hospital, but I did have a nice evening with my dh and dd and chocolate covered strawberries.

Mon May 25, 2009 11:37 pm

This thread has links to many posts made by users adapting MFW for specific food allergies:
http://board.mfwbooks.com/viewtopic.php ... 714#p43714

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