Food Allergy Survival Guide

Vegetarian Journal, Jan-Feb, 2005 by Reed Mangels

by Vesanto Melina, MS, RD, Jo Stepaniak, MSEd, Dina Aronson, MS, RD

Up until now, it was difficult to find a book that addressed the needs of vegetarians with food allergies. Certainly vegan cookbooks could be used for those with dairy and egg allergies, but what if you were also allergic to soy or wheat? Food Allergy Survival Guide provides extensive information and an excellent recipe collection for those with allergies or sensitivities to dairy products, eggs, gluten, nuts and peanuts, soy, yeast, fish and shellfish, and wheat.

The book begins with basic information on food sensitivities--what they are, what can trigger them, and how they are tested for. Subsequent chapters include practical cooking and shopping information, nutrition planning, and a discussion of coping emotionally with food sensitivities.

The last half of the book features more than 100 recipes for everything from gluten-free baked goods to soy-flee entrees and spreads. All recipes are devoid of common allergens, such as dairy products, eggs, soy, peanuts, and gluten. I'm looking forward to baking for a friend's daughter who can't tolerate gluten. This is the first time I've seen so many tasty recipes that are both vegan and gluten-flee. A detailed nutritional analysis follows each recipe. The book also includes an extensive resource list that will be helpful for tracking down less common ingredients, as well as for learning more about specific allergies.

If you or someone you care about has food allergies or sensitivities, this is the book to go to.

Food Allergy Survival Guide (ISBN 1-57067-163-X) is published by Healthy Living Publications. It can be ordered from VRG by sending $25 to PO Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203. Reviewed by Reed Mangels, PhD, RD.