Talking Allergies

I have a 4 year old daughter who is allergic to peanuts and almonds. I just recently got my hands on a jar of Sunbutter. I was admittedly a little excited to introduce a replacement for peanut butter into the house, hoping to expand the options for toast and sandwich spreads. While my husband and I were excited to try it, and quite liked it, we were a little disappointed that our daughter REFUSED to try it. She was not interested in trying it at all, and even got a little annoyed with the fact that we were trying to give it to her in the first place.

At least my husband and I and our other daughter can enjoy it. I can only hope that my allergic child continues to be wary of trying new things....I think her reluctance is a good thing!

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Melanie
Mom to 4 year old girl, allergic to peanuts and almonds and Mom to 1 year old girl with no known allergies yet

Isn't Sunbutter amazing?! We love it. Make sure that you don't refer to it as peanut butter, as that can increase your DDs resistance to trying it. My daughter has always called it sunflower butter. Kiddos at her age frequently balk at trying new things, but especially so when they have food allergies. Keep offering, and assure her that you would not offer it if it were not safe. Someday she will try it, and hopefully she will love it too!

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Daughter #1 eczema, asthma, and allergic to eggs, dairy, beef, nuts, soy, wheat, dogs, cats, and grass
Husband intolerant to dairy, allergic to grass and dust
Daughter #2 "outgrew" allergy to dairy and egg

We want to be able to give our children as normal a life as possible. To be able to offer something that we grew up with is so important to us.

For a child who is aware of the seriousness of their condition it takes a lot sometimes to trust a new food or something that looks so very much like a dangerous food.

Remember that this is life enhancing. You have it and she is welcome to try it...when she's ready. Meanwhile, enjoy it and let her know that this is a safe version of the type of food that you enjoyed when you were her age.

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Moderator
Daughter: asthma, allergies to egg, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, most legumes (not soy and green beans) & penicillin. Developing hayfever type allergies.
Husband: no allergies
Me: Oral Allergy Syndrome, Allergic to Birch trees

My son doesn't like any of the substitutes straight up either - it's a mental block . . .why would I like something that tastes EXACTLY like something that could kill me . . .

I can, however, put it IN things and he likes that.

We like Peabutter best and have put it in Brownies, Chocolate Rice Krispie Squares, Cookies, etc.

Margaret

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adult son allergic to peanuts, most tree nuts, eggs and penicillin.

Hi I am allergic to peanut butter and have never tried the real deal. I have tried peabutter and sunbutter my favorite is I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter It comes four different ways, regular (Blue lid), Honey (yellow lid), Chunky (red lid), and Chocolate (also red lid). I love the Honey (this is just a little sweeter than the regular it is not filled with honey) and the Chunky, I found the Chocolate to vanilla in flavor.
Their web is www.soynutbutter.com
It also took me a while to feel comfortable eating any of these products they so look like the real thing! I found this product at Wal-mart and Sobeys.

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Me-Allergic to Peanut, Tree Nut, Coconut, Shellfish, ASA and Asthma
My Husband and Children No Allergies

I have tried Peabutter (didn't like it at all and it separated) and sunflower butter (it's grey!!!) and didn't like either. We love, love, love Freenut butter. It is the closest in texture and taste to peanut butter that we've found. Sobey's sells it as well as some Walmarts.

I would definitely not push your child to try substitutes. It's a personal choice. My DS1 (allergic to peanuts) has tried "Freenut butter cookies" that I made and liked them but he doesn't want to try freenut butter on toast/crackers etc. I respect that. It's hard to get them to eat something that looks and tastes like a food that could kill them, kwim? The Freenut butter is more for DH and I to eat at home as a safe alternative to PB.

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SAHM of 3 children. Oldest DS (1999) is anaphylactic to peanuts.

Shortly after our diagnosis, I bought a jar of peabutter to try at home. My husband thought it was a terrible idea to give my DD something that looks like and whose name sounds very similar to something that she is anaphyactic to. After he mentioned this, it really made sense to me, but it just depends on your comfort level, like anything else related to allergies. I just don't want people to see her eating it, or her telling people she eats 'peabutter', but have them think she just said 'peanut butter', and then they think it's not a severe allergy because she's eating PB, or that they don't even notice that she has an allergy.

I would consider using it as a substitute for the non-allergic members of the household, though.

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DD 2004 Allergy to peanuts, egg, sesame, and new: lentils and chick peas
DS 2006 Allergy to peanuts, tree nuts, milk, egg, kiwi fruit, eczema

What's Freenut Butter made from?

We tried Peabutter and hated it. On top of that, it's made with a legume, and DS has to avoid all legumes. Soybutter was a bust here too. But we LOVE Sunbutter. Too bad we can't cook with it. It turns green.

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11yo boy - peanuts nuts chickpeas
8yo daughter - peanuts, nuts, mustard, eggs, sunflowers (new! ), oral allergy syndrome
husband - pollen of all kinds
me - seafood,, oral allergy syndrome

To each her own, I guess.

I love the Peabutter, was so happy when I found it.
But then I don't have issues with other legumes.

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Allergic to all tree nuts, peanuts

Before confirming the specifics of our son's allergy, we were avoiding peanuts to be on the safe side. I bought Soy Nut butter but have just realized that it may contain traces of tree nuts and sesame. Onwards...

I love having an option! Thanks for mentioning all of these different alternatives. Surely most people will be able to find someting that they can enjoy.

I must say that amoungst my friends, both with and without allergies, it is the adult who ends up eating it. I think this new generation will look at all nut butters suspiciously .

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Moderator
Daughter: asthma, allergies to egg, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, most legumes (not soy and green beans) & penicillin. Developing hayfever type allergies.
Husband: no allergies
Me: Oral Allergy Syndrome, Allergic to Birch trees

Freenut Butter is made from soy nuts. It has no trans fats, no cholesterol and has omega-3 and omega-6 in it as well. We love it.

Check it out at: totallynutfree.ca.

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SAHM of 3 children. Oldest DS (1999) is anaphylactic to peanuts.

I feel the same way, but would be interested to try it myself.

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DSs 12, 12, 14 all PA

Our school would never allow nutbutters and their substitutes as it is too confusing about which is real and which is not.

I do like to have it available for cooking with as well as a quick meal particularly when travelling.

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Moderator
Daughter: asthma, allergies to egg, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, most legumes (not soy and green beans) & penicillin. Developing hayfever type allergies.
Husband: no allergies
Me: Oral Allergy Syndrome, Allergic to Birch trees

FreeNut Butter is amazing! Bought it at Highland Farms in the organic food aisles. My son with the PA is not interested in trying it which is fine however my hubby and I are having a great time eating it on toast and spread over rice cakes! 2 thumbs up!