https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 17 May 2026 20:04:39 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elimination-diet-for-food-allergies-need-help#post-2204884 Thu, 11 Jun 2015 08:07:03 +0000 yin 2204884@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For over a year I avoided dairy, egg, soy, wheat, tree nuts, and peanuts. From my experience, my two kids had really bad eczema, and eliminating foods from my diet greatly improved their skin. With LO1 he showed less symptoms (bad eczema and occasional streaky blood), and I only eliminated dairy, egg, and wheat. He ended up being allergic to dairy, eggs, and peanuts. With LO2 he showed more symptoms (eczema, reoccurring bloody stool, mucousy green stool, and excessive spit up), and he is allergic to 8+ foods. I breastfed LO2 for 18 months and was on my diet for most of that time. I really hoped that I was crazy for eliminating so many foods, but an allergy test at 10 months old confirmed my suspicions. :( While I am finally free to eat to my heart's content, I continue to cook allergen free for my kids. It's difficult, but there are a lot of products and resources out there that make it a little easier.</p> <p>Some great companies to look out for -- So Delicious (coconut products), Enjoy Life (cookies free of the top 8), Daiya or Teese (vegan cheese), select Kind bars, and Earth Balance (vegan butter - look for the red container/box for soy free). </p> <p>Some snack ideas - chia seed pudding (chia + can coconut milk), rice cake with sun butter, roasted chickpeas (oh she glows has a great recipe), homemade granola (gf oats, honey, pumpkin puree, chocolate chips, raisins), coconut yogurt, hummus without tahini (check Trader Joe's)</p> <p>Some sweets -- Enjoy Life chocolate chips, Enjoy Life cookies, So Delicious coconut ice cream, So Delicious ice cream bars, banana swirl (frozen bananas mixed in a food processor or blender, add cocoa powder or sun butter), sorbets, water ice</p> <p>Some good replacements - brown rice noodles, sun butter, arrowroot powder (in place of corn starch), flax + water (egg replacer), Food for Life gf bread (much harder than normal bread but it works), Daiya and Teese cheese, Earth Balance butter and mayo, coconut aminos (tastes like soy sauce but less salty)</p> <p>Make sure to check your vitamins and supplements. I've found that a lot of them have soy, but it takes a bit of investigating to find out. Rainbow Light does a great job of listing allergens. </p> <p>Chipotle is one of the few places you can eat at. Just make sure to let them know you have a food allergy (easier than explaining elimination diet) and request for them to change their gloves. Watch them carefully, especially around the cheese. Whole Food is also another good option because ingredients are listed in their hot food bar. </p> <p>I do agree with others that an elimination diet might be too drastic of a step just for eczema. Maybe just try to avoid dairy and soy at first to see if there is an improvement. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elimination-diet-for-food-allergies-need-help#post-2204268 Wed, 10 Jun 2015 14:53:50 +0000 raintreebee 2204268@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.Pinecone316: Our allergist said that eczema is most commonly not food related. The fact that my son had it all over did not change that. I was off dairy, eggs, soy, and nuts. After a month, I added back in eggs and nuts. I then started eating dairy and soy a few months later. I don't think the eczema ever got any better with the diet.</p> <p>Before the diet, they had me try alimentum formula as an experiment while pumping. He wouldn't drink it, and my supply permanently crashed. Next time, I am going to just ignore it all unless there is blood in the stool (his stool was just green, no blood). We spent so much time at specialists, and so much worry. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elimination-diet-for-food-allergies-need-help#post-2203838 Wed, 10 Jun 2015 09:48:09 +0000 anbanan15 2203838@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.Pinecone316: I did a TED (total elimination diet) with both of my kids, where you go down to a few foods from key food groups and slowly add foods in one at a time noting any symptoms in your LO. With my son I went from 3 to 15 foods over a year and with my daughter I was not able to add any foods in and ate the same 3 foods for almost a year. Your restrictions can be done, but you have to commit to it and get creative. I would also encourage you take make sure you are getting all the common and hidden sources of the foods are are trying to avoid. The hidden ones can be tricky (food allergy network has a good list that lists all the hidden ones for the top 8). When you grocery shop try to stick to the parameter of the store and avoid prepared foods when you can. If you do go after prepared foods try to stick to as few ingredients listed as possible and check labels everytime you shop because they may change ingredients without notice. I would try to stick to cooking whole foods. I ate a TON of quinoa daily with whatever veggies and fruits my son could tolerate cooked in there with it. Lots of olive oil to keep fats up for milk production (shots of olive oil are amazing. Sounds gross but totally works). Try things like like using sunflower seed butter for snacks to help keep fats up and make snacks more filling. Coconut aminos (fermented coconut, only ingredient) is a great alternative to soy sauce and flavoring. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elimination-diet-for-food-allergies-need-help#post-2203789 Wed, 10 Jun 2015 09:18:26 +0000 Anagram 2203789@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.Pinecone316: My doctor suggested I eliminate foods one at a time--but starting with dairy and soy together, since that is the most common intolerance for babies. She said there's no point in eliminating everything if one or two might do the trick. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elimination-diet-for-food-allergies-need-help#post-2203711 Wed, 10 Jun 2015 08:29:34 +0000 catlady 2203711@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.Pinecone316: Yes, definitely try to get a second opinion or at least try to find out your doctor's logic. The main reason I caution you is because I did the exact same thing (but on my own, stupidly) where I took out a ton of foods at once with the hopes of adding them back in quickly. However, when my LO's issues didn't fully get resolved, our pediatrician basically made me stay on the full elimination diet until my LO outgrew her sensitivities because she thought if I added anything back in, it would make things worse (I've never really understood the logic but I was emotional at the time and willing to do it). If I go through this again with another LO, I am going to slowly remove foods one by one instead of committing to a huge list all at once. I'm fairly certain that I was avoiding foods that my daughter was perfectly fine with, and I regret that. </p> <p>So sorry you are going through this. I hope your LO's issues clear up quickly! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elimination-diet-for-food-allergies-need-help#post-2203545 Wed, 10 Jun 2015 00:04:28 +0000 Mrs.Pinecone316 2203545@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gentlelunette: Thank you for the suggestions, the quinoa salad and mashed potatoes are a great idea. I do have gluten free oatmeal that I have to force feed myself because I am not a fan but my supply has been good so far so I should thank it for that!</p> <p>@hellobeeboston: I just looked up the bread. I must have forgot to mention I can't have EGG either and thats in it :sad: Thats for the cook book recommendation!</p> <p>@catlady: I agree that it is really extreme.. I wanted to cry when he was writing everything down. I think he thought it was doable because he feels like it will only be a couple weeks and once her skin clears up then I can start adding things back into my diet and see if she reacts to it. But when I started researching more online when I got home I haven't come across any lists as long as mine.. (other stuff I forgot to say in the post was no eggs or tomatoes too) If things don't get better in the next week where I feel like I can start adding things back into my diet I will def seek a second opinion. Oh, and you are super women for sticking with that diet for 10 months!! Its barely been a week and I have to keep talking myself off the ledge. </p> <p>@Pancakes: Thank you, it is nice to hear things can get better when your child has eczema. </p> <p>@raintreebee: I agree it is strange that her stool has never been bloody or mucousy but he is really convinced it is a food allergy because of the extent of her eczema/rash. What did your elimination diet consist of? Others i have seen online aren't as severe either.</p> <p>@FliegepilzHut: Thank you for your suggestions, It sounds like a second opinion might be my next move. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elimination-diet-for-food-allergies-need-help#post-2203496 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 21:43:00 +0000 FliegepilzHut 2203496@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You poor thing! :sad: I don't know much about elimination diets...but second the idea of oatmeal with fruit being tasty and filling. Rice with vegetables would be good...and more pork or possibly buffalo? I second getting a second opinion before you cut EVERYTHING out...maybe a pediatric dermatologist? Hope you both feel better soon! :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elimination-diet-for-food-allergies-need-help#post-2203493 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 21:39:57 +0000 raintreebee 2203493@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was on an elimination diet for months, and it was way less extreme than that and my son had more symptoms than your LO. I would also seek a second opinion or ask your pedi for a referral to a specialist. Personally, I am starting to think the food intolerance thing is being over diagnosed in infants these days. Blood in the stool is a hallmark sign, and if that isn't there...eczema is often just eczema. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elimination-diet-for-food-allergies-need-help#post-2203487 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 21:28:23 +0000 Pancakes 2203487@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.Pinecone316: Both of my girls have eczema. With LO1, my pediatrician told me I didn't need to eliminate anything from my diet, and subsequent dermatologists and pediatricians have also advised me not to cut anything out of her diet.<br /> LO2's eczema was pretty bad starting around 2 months. She was even on a course of antibiotics because her scalp was weepy and oozy. My pediatrician did suggest cutting out dairy but I found that managing her skin with moisturizer (we use a prescription called Prumyx) and occasionally desonide or triamcinolone was just better for everyone's sanity. Her skin got a lot better around 6 months, and for us that also coincided with spring. People that saw her as a newborn comment all the time about how much better her skin looks. Summer is tricky because when her arms and legs are bare they get irritated more easily but it's still manageable without me cutting anything from my diet.</p> <p>I would probably seek a second opinion. That just seems like a lot to be cutting out all at once. I might try just eliminating dairy to see if that helps before cutting everything else out. Good luck!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elimination-diet-for-food-allergies-need-help#post-2203452 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 20:35:19 +0000 catlady 2203452@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The first thing I would comment is that your list is incredibly long. It was really your pediatrician who asked you to remove all those things at once? That is really extreme and you may want another opinion. That being said, I was off dairy, soy, eggs, nuts, peanuts, and corn for about 10 months due to my LO's issues (blood in stool, not eczema). Your diet is even more restrictive than mine was, but here were some of my staples:<br /> - Burrito bowls with rice, beans, guacomole, and fresh salsa (you can even eat Chipotle on your diet)<br /> - Green smoothies with coconut or hemp milk as a base<br /> - Sushi rolls with coconut aminos (soy sauce substitute) - watch the fillings but you can do things like salmon and avocado<br /> - Sandwiches made with sourdough bread (no dairy usually but check ingredients), lettuce, tomato, "Just Mayo" (egg-less) and some lunchmeat (can you have ham?)<br /> - No sure it will work since you can't have beef, but we found chili, stew, and curry recipes that all worked<br /> - Junk food - potato chips and dark chocolate (watch for soy, it's very common in chocolate but you can find it without)</p> <p>Btw, I saw that you are not supposed to eat sesame but you have been eating hummus...just fyi, hummus is made with sesame (tahini). </p> <p>Good luck! Elimination diets are so hard! But know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elimination-diet-for-food-allergies-need-help#post-2203418 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 19:54:11 +0000 hellobeeboston 2203418@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Udi's bread is dairy, gluten, wheat, soy and nut free! <a href="http://m.udisglutenfree.com/udis-products/?cat=4&#038;cid=61&#038;lbl=Breads%2C+Rolls%2C+%26+Buns&#038;pid=1015" rel="nofollow">http://m.udisglutenfree.com/udis-products/?cat=4&#038;cid=61&#038;lbl=Breads%2C+Rolls%2C+%26+Buns&#038;pid=1015</a></p> <p>And it actually tastes pretty good!! They have a ton of stuff but I'm not sure if it all covers all of your bases. </p> <p>Roasted garbanzo beans are delish and filling! Gwenyth Paltrow has a cookbook with some good recipes that work for elimination diets. Hmm, trying to think of more, will write back if I think of anything! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elimination-diet-for-food-allergies-need-help#post-2203408 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 19:44:41 +0000 gentlelunette 2203408@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Omg. You poor thing... I would starve! I don't have a lot of suggestions for you, but here goes!</p> <p>Maybe a quinoa salad? (I like to make one with quinoa, homemade greek salad dressing, red pepper, kalamata olives, cucumber, green onion. I add chicken, but you can easily omit this and still get some protein from the quinoa) </p> <p>Also, potatoes? Maybe makes some mashed potatoes and use veggie broth instead of butter/milk? They might help you feel full. </p> <p>Can you eat oatmeal? You could make it with coconut milk and add in fruit, coconut flakes, cinnamon, etc to vary it up. Plus it might help your supply of you're finding its dipping due to weight loss. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elimination-diet-for-food-allergies-need-help#post-2203399 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 19:34:28 +0000 Mrs.Pinecone316 2203399@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 2 month old came down with bad eczema that the pediatrician believes is from a food allergy. Because I am BF/pumping he put me on an elimination diet. No Dairy, Wheat, Soy, Nuts, Sesame, Corn, Citrus fruits, and even Chicken or Beef.. I am finding it so hard to find things to eat, especially snack foods in between meals that will fill me up. All the snack foods I found at health food stores may be gluten or vegan but has dairy, or might be dairy and gluten free but have nuts or soy. The few things I did find I might as well be eating air I just feel like I am starving all the time. I can only eat so much hummus. I am naturally thin and I am loosing weight I don't want to be from this so if you have an meal ideas or snack ideas please let me know. Or just any knowledge or experience with eczema related to food allergies. </p>