I Need HELP - Please! Peanut Free Foods for Kids B'day Party

Hi A.

Your safest bet would be to contact the mom's of the boys with the allergies. This will accomplish two things. You will know for sure what they can eat, and the mom's will feel that their children's allergies are being taken seriously.

I used to nanny for a child with many life threatening food allergies and he rarely was invited anywhere due to no-one wanting to ask what he could eat. He ate very healthily. A lot of fresh food, fruits, veggies and a lot of meat. He had to be careful of meat though as he was also allergic to hormones in some meats! Yeah, he was a tricky kid to feed but he was a great kid.

Well done to you for wanting them to feel as though they are normal and will be safe at your son's party.

Hi A.,

You're in RC. There is a Henry's up off of Day Creek I believe just above Victoria Gardens. It has all kinds of organic foods...but the best part is you can find all kinds of healthy snacks. Snacks that not only don't contain peanuts, but chips that have no hydrogenated oils, and all those other 'bad' ingredients that make snack foods a nightmare. They have the organic cake mixes, cookies, candies, etc that have only natural ingredients so you don't have to worry so much about what you are feeding the masses.
You can even buy turkey deli meat without nitrates(cancer causing preservative).
You can get seltzers and vitamin waters instead of the sugary sodas. You can get organic juices, fruit leathers....just cruise through - look at the ingredients of various items and I don't think you'll be disappointed.
They have the frozen stuff too. We like the Tyson chicken nuggets from Costco....over many others we've tried. And we always stick with the chicken corn dogs in the box from Wienerschnitel...you can put them in the toaster oven and bake them instead of frying them.

If you want even a bigger selection of healthier foods...you'll need to drive out to Whole Foods Market on Rosemead Blvd./210 frwy in Pasadena. But Trader Joes also has a variety of other foods that Henry's might not have.

Anyway, check those places out and I think you'll have a lot of luck finding what you're looking for.

Good luck and God Bless...

Hi A.,

Yes, there are plenty of peanut-free foods out there. They are called fruits and vegetables. My daughter's friends always loved the "finger" foods that we served at her parties. Lots of different veggie slices and spears on a tray with homemade dip. Fruit slices or pieces with a nice yogurt dip. What kid doesn't like string cheese? Cut in halves or thirds. Piggies in a blanket (big hot dogs and buns are many times wasted) served with little pots of Ketsup and mustard. To drink, serve fruit flavored sparkling water or fruit juice diluted with unflavored sparkling water. They love the fizz without the excess sugar calories of punches or soda. Then you are free to serve cupcakes and a small scoop of ice cream without so much of the sugar overload and hyperactivity that accompanies it. Or better yet, make those cupcakes in a icecream cone and the top with the scoop of ice cream and do without all that fattening sugary greasy frosting. Remember to plan plenty of active activities and they will have a great time. Happy Birthday to the birthday boy.

M.

Dear A.,

I think you typo'd that the mom's are in a position to help, meaning that that they are NOT able to help - but what I am wondering is if you asked them for ideas on what they do and brands they use? Who would know better?

Good luck!
B.