[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/09\/allergen-free-snacks\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/09\/allergen-free-snacks\/","headline":"Preparing Allergen-Free Snacks for Kids","name":"Preparing Allergen-Free Snacks for Kids","description":"Providing classroom parties or back-to-school potlucks with allergen-free snacks can be tough. This means avoiding dairy, wheat, eggs, and nuts.","datePublished":"2018-09-05","dateModified":"2021-10-11","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/pediatrics","name":"Pediatrics","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/pediatrics","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/pediatrics\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/allergen-free-snacks.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/allergen-free-snacks.jpg","height":327,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/09\/allergen-free-snacks\/","about":["Pediatrics"],"wordCount":945,"keywords":["back to school"],"articleBody":"When your kids get together with friends or have a party at school, you want to give them a yummy, fun snack everyone can enjoy. Because many kids are allergic to certain foods, providing worry-free snacks can be tough.Fortunately, now there are lots of great recipes available for allergen-free snacks. By changing just a few ingredients, you can make safe snacks for school and play dates. For instance, Rice Krispies Treats\u00ae made with dairy-free margarine are free of most major allergens.Learn more about the services at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.Kids with Food Allergies, a division of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, provides resources to help you navigate kids’ food allergies. Their recipes commonly avoid allergens \u2014 substances that may cause an allergic reaction \u2014 like milk, gluten, fish, nuts, and eggs. They offer dozens of recipes for allergen-free treats on their website, and we\u2019ve included a few of our favorites.Preparing Allergen-Free SnacksMaking safe snacks requires avoiding cross-contamination, or cross-contact. This means making sure the food you’re preparing doesn’t touch food that may contain allergens. Even tiny amounts of certain allergens can cause allergic reactions in kids and adults, according to Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE).FoodAllergyAwareness.org provides these tips to prevent cross-contact when making allergen-free treats:Don’t use any utensils unless they’ve been washed in hot, soapy water (simply wiping them off is not enough).Clean all food-prep surfaces thoroughly with hot, soapy water.Purchase a cutting board, knife, and other utensils to use only when making allergen-free foods, and keep them separate from other equipment.If you’re preparing several meals or snacks, prepare the allergen-free version first and keep it away from all other foods.Wash your hands with hot, soapy water after working with foods that contains allergens.If you see a child having an allergic reaction (such as having trouble breathing or breaking out in hives), call 911 immediately. If your child has a food allergy, the Allergy and Immunology Division at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh can help. Make an appointment to learn more about testing and managing allergies.Apple CrispThis recipe is free of eggs, fish, shellfish, soy, sesame, peanuts, wheat, and tree nuts. You cut make this gluten- and\/or dairy-free by using gluten-free flour and dairy-free margarine.Ingredients7-8 medium baking apples1 tbsp margarine1 cup brown sugar1 cup all-purpose or sweet rice flour1\/2 cup margarine1\/2 tsp salt1 tsp cinnamonDirectionsPeel, core, and thinly slice the apples. Use some of the margarine to lightly grease a baking dish; add the apples to the prepared dish. Dot with apples with the remaining margarine.In a medium bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Mix well. Cut in 1\/2 cup margarine and work until coarse crumbs form; then spread evenly over the apples.Bake at 375 F for about 30 minutes or until the apples are soft and the crumb topping is brown and starts to caramelize.Coconut and Caramel PopcornThis recipe is free of eggs, gluten, milk, fish, shellfish, soy, sesame, peanuts, wheat, and tree nuts.Ingredients1\/3 cup coconut milk creamer10 cups popcorn (prepare stovetop using \u00bd cup of unpopped kernels, or use your favorite microwave brand)1\/2 cup vegan butter3 tbsp agave nectar, amber1\/2 cup dark-brown sugar1\/2 tbsp cinnamon1\/4 tsp salt1\/4 cup dried coconut flakes, unsweetened, toasted1 tsp vanilla**Although classified by the FDA as a tree nut, coconut is not a common allergen and is not related to tree nuts. If you have a\u00a0tree nut allergy, ask your doctor if you need to avoid coconut.DirectionsSpread 10 cups of prepared popcorn on a baking sheet and set aside.In a saucepan, melt vegan spread; add the agave, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt, and stir until dissolved.Remove the pan from heat and slowly whisk in the creamer until well combined. Return pan to heat and whisk for 10 minutes or until the sauce becomes amber-colored and thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.Stir in the coconut flakes and vanilla. Let mixture cool slightly; then drizzle over the popcorn and blend it in with a spatula. Serve immediately. DIY Cheese CrackersThis recipe is free of eggs, gluten, milk, fish, shellfish, soy, peanuts, wheat, and tree nuts.Ingredients1\/2 cup red lentils2 cups water3 tbsp olive oil1 tsp salt2 tbsp cider vinegar1 tbsp tahini (or other nut or seed butter)1\/2 tsp onion powder1\/2 tsp garlic powder1\/4 tsp dry mustard1\/4 tsp turmericDash hot sauce6 tbsp gluten-free flour blendDirectionsRinse lentils; then combine with water and soak overnight. Drain, reserving liquid.In a large non-stick frying pan, heat oil and fry lentils until dry and crispy, stirring frequently.Transfer lentils to a blender jar (this did not work in a food processor). Add remaining ingredients (except flour) and 4 tbsp of the reserved soaking liquid.Process on medium-high until it becomes a smooth sauce. Add more soaking liquid if it’s still too thick.Then add flour and process on low speed until well combined. If it’s too thick, add more reserved soaking liquid. (It may require quite a bit depending on how dry the fried lentils were.)Transfer the mixture, which should be the consistency of pudding, to a pastry bag fitted with a wide, flat tip (a ribbed tip gives the crackers a nice texture). Pipe squiggled ribbons about 1 inch long onto parchment-lined baking pans. Sprinkle lightly with salt.Bake at 350 F for 15 minutes or until just brown.Turn off the oven and leave crackers for 30 minutes with the door closed until they get crisp. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. Store crackers in an airtight container."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2018","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"09","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/\/09\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Preparing Allergen-Free Snacks for Kids","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/09\/allergen-free-snacks\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]