Which One Wednesday: Pretzel Answer

If you chose Mike-sell's Mini Twists... you were correct!

While I used to love Snyder's pretzels, Mike-sell's was an easy switch for me.  These pretzels are pretty similar in taste.  But, it is still always important to check the labels because you never know when there might be a change.  For example, I recently needed to buy pretzel sticks to cover in chocolate.  After looking at the different brands and ingredient lists, I realized Snyder's were peanut-friendly.  This means that the pretzel sticks were made in a different factory, without any peanut butter.  While I won't know the reason for the switch, I was able to enjoy the sticks from Snyder's!

Keep out of the nut house!

Which One Wednesday: Pretzel Edition

Everybody loves a salty snack, especially with the Superbowl just around the corner!  

What brand of pretzels do you think I will be enjoying during the game?  Mike-sell's Mini Twists or Snyder's Mini Pretzels?  

Comment below with your best guess!
a. Mike-sell's Mini Twists
b. Snyder's Mini Pretzels
c. Both 
d. Neither

Keep out of the nut house!

No ifs, ands, or NUTS!

EpiPen is the most prescribed epinephrine injector, used to treat the life-threatening symptoms of anaphylaxis.

EpiPens are dispensed as a two-pack because health professionals believe that people who are at risk for anaphylaxis should always carry two doses of epinephrine as an emergency back-up.

An EpiPen should be administered when there are visible signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction. 

NOTE: Epinephrine injections are ALWAYS given in the outer thigh.  Epinephrine injections are not a substitute for emergency medical care. ALWAYS call 911 when you or someone you know has been exposed to a life-threatening allergen.

Watch this blog for upcoming training seminars to learn how to safely administer an epinephrine injector.  Learn to save a life!

Keep out of the nut house!

Poll Answer

The correct answer is D!  All of the top 10 candy bars contain peanuts or peanut butter or have a “made in a factory that processes peanuts”!  These included Reese’s, M&M’s, Snickers, Hershey (some sizes), Kit Kat, Twix, 3 Musketeers, Hershey Cookies & Cream, Milky Way, and Almond Joy.

Come back on Sunday for a new poll!

Keep out of the nut house!

NUTS and Bolts of Food Allergies

Did you know…

 

Friends and family can make coping with food allergies much more manageable. How can you help?

• Food allergies are serious and should never be taken lightly. Don’t make jokes regarding anyone dealing with food allergies.
• Don’t force people with food allergies to try new foods. These folks have to be very careful with what they eat. If you are unsure about the ingredients or the preparation methods of an item, don’t suggest that allergy sufferers try it.
• Wash your hands after eating. You may have had something that contains peanuts, and any residue left behind on your hands could be transferred to someone else.
• Ask your friends about their allergies so you can be prepared and can help them make proper choices. Encourage them to carry their epinephrine injector. 
• Be willing to seek emergency help. If a friend suffers a severe allergic reaction, call 911. 
• Learn how to use an epinephrine injector. If your friend becomes unconscious or unable to self-inject, you must know how to properly use the injector.

 

Keep out of the nut house!

 

 

Which One Wednesday: Snack Cake Answer

If you thought the Little Debbie Swiss Rolls were peanut-free, you were incorrect.   

Little Debbie Swiss Rolls may have peanuts and tree nuts present.  Thank goodness Hostess is back in business!  Without Hostess, I wouldn't get Ho Hos of any kind! 

Don't forget to check back again next Wednesday.

Keep out of the nut house!

Which One Wednesday: Snack Cake Edition

Ever struggled to find the perfect snack for your lunch?  Or maybe wanted a small treat after school?  Believe me when I say I am a sucker for snacks.  However, which packaged cake do you think I can eat?  Little Debbie Swiss Rolls or Hostess Ho Hos?  

Comment below with your best guess!
a. Little Debbie Swiss Rolls
b. Hostess Ho Hos
c. Both 
d. Neither

Keep out of the nut house!

No ifs, ands, or NUTS!

Auvi-Q will talk you through it!

Auvi-Q is the only self-injector of epinephrine that calls out the instructions of how to use it!  When followed, the oral directions explain how to operate the injector, where to place the injector, and how long the injector needs to be in place.  The Auvi-Q is compact in size, comparable to a cell phone, so conveniently fits into a pocket, purse or backpack.

NOTE: Epinephrine injections are ALWAYS given in the outer thigh.  Epinephrine injections are not a substitute for emergency medical care. ALWAYS call 911 when you or someone you know has been exposed to a life-threatening allergen.

Watch this blog for upcoming training seminars to learn how to safely administer an epinephrine injector.  Learn to save a life!

Keep out of the nut house!

Poll Answer

There are enough peanuts in one acre to make HOW MANY peanut butter sandwiches?

If you voted for 30,000 sandwiches, you were correct!

Stop back on Monday for another poll.

A Few of My Favorite Things: Doscher's

Ever since I can remember, my family has been nuts about Doscher's French Chews.  I can recall eating them with my cousins when we had to go to my sister's soccer games.  While our parents pretended to give the French Chews to us as a treat, I also think they knew the foot of delicately pulled "taffy" would keep us quiet and entertained. 

Not only are French Chews tasty, they are also peanut-free!  French Chews are available in vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and banana.  Besides the bars, French Chews are also available in minis.  Below is a video on French Chews from "Unwrapped" on The Food Network.

Also, Doscher's makes peanut-free candy canes, so remember that for next Christmas!  I guarantee it's the best candy cane you will ever taste!

Which One Wednesday: Cheese Cracker Answer

The correct peanut-free answer to yesterday's Which One Wednesday is the Keebler cheese crackers.  

While these two packaged crackers don't taste too differently, it wouldn't be a good idea to get them mixed up.  It is crucial for me to look at the packaging of EVERY product!  

Keep out of the nut house!

Which One Wednesday: Cheese Cracker Edition

You can only have so many turkey and cheese sandwiches, Hot Pockets, and salami roll-ups in your lunch before you need to mix it up a little.  On occasion, especially when I'm in a hurry to get to school, I throw a pack of cheese crackers in my lunch bag. 

Which cheese crackers are peanut-friendly?  Vote for Ritz Cheese Crackers or Keebler Pepper Jack Crackers and stop back tomorrow to see if your guess was correct!

Comment below with your best guess!
a. Ritz Cheese Crackers
b. Keebler Pepper Jack Crackers
c. Both 
d. Neither

Keep out of the nut house!

No ifs, ands, or NUTS!

Ana-phy-what??

Anaphylaxis, that’s what!

The Mayo Clinic defines anaphylaxis as a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. It can occur within seconds or minutes of exposure to something you're allergic to, such as a peanut or the venom from a bee sting.  Anaphylaxis generally begins within minutes after the person comes in contact with an allergen.  Systemic allergic reactions, or anaphylaxis, occur when multiple body functions are involved in the reaction to an allergen. 

But what is involved in a “potentially life-threatening reaction”?

o   Body tissues may swell in the mouth, tongue, and the throat making it difficult for the person to breathe.

o   Blood pressure may drop drastically cause the patient to lose consciousness

o   Hives may appear over the entire body.

o   The person may experience dizziness or shock.

It is the combination of these symptoms that make severe allergies life-threatening and access to treatment plans so critical. For these types of reactions, administration of an epinephrine injection may be the person’s only chance for survival.

Watch this blog for upcoming training seminars to learn how to safely administer an epinephrine injector.  Learn to save a life!

Keep out of the nut house!

NUTS and Bolts of Food Allergies

Did you know…

Food allergies are a major issue with almost 6 million kids affected in the U.S.  But what does this number mean to you?

·       Six million kids means that about one in every 13 kids in the U.S. has a food allergy.
·       This means that approximately two kids in every classroom have a food allergy.
·       If all of these kids were moved to one state in the U.S., that state would be the 19^th largest (based on population).

Wow!  That’s equal to the population of Maryland!

Food allergy numbers are growing…

Keep out of the nut house!

Which One Wednesday: Ice Cream Answer

If you chose UDF's Homemade Chocolate Chip ice cream as peanut-friendly, you were correct!

It's great that I can eat Homemade Chocolate Chip ice cream by the pint or half gallon.  Unfortunately, it gets a bit tricky when trying to order by the scoop.  It's hard for those with peanut allergies to get ice cream by the scoop because the ice cream scoopers are used in all the ice cream flavors (including Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip).  So, if it's a brand new Chocolate Chip tub and a newly-cleaned ice cream scooper, I can buy ice cream by the scoop.  It's definitely easier to just buy the pint or half gallon!

While Graeter's Vanilla Chocolate Chip doesn't necessarily contain peanuts, it's produced in the same factory as the baked goodies Graeter's sells, and many include peanuts.

Keep out of the nut house!

Which One Wednesday: Ice Cream Edition

Say you want to grab a scoop of Cincinnati's famous ice cream after your delicious burger at Red Robin, the winner of last week's Which One Wednesday.  Which pint of ice cream do you think is peanut-friendly, UDF's Homemade Chocolate Chip or Graeter's Vanilla Chocolate Chip? 

Comment below with your best guess!
a. UDF's Homemade Chocolate Chip
b. Graeter's Vanilla Chocolate Chip
c. Both 
d. Neither

Keep out of the nut house!

No ifs, ands, or NUTS!!

 "It’s nothing, I just have allergies”.  Living in Cincinnati, this generally means that you experience seasonal allergy symptoms of runny nose, itchy eyes, and headaches.

But, what about food allergies?  What are the risk factors that make you more likely to have a reaction to certain foods?

While there is no one definitive cause for food allergies, there are common factors that link these allergy sufferers.  If you say yes to any of the following, you may be a candidate for a food allergy:

o   Does your parent have any type of allergy – this could include asthma, eczema, food allergy, or environmental allergy such as hay fever?

o   Do you have asthma or any type of non-food allergy?

o   Do you have atopic dermatitis, eczema, or gastrointestinal diseases?

Know the risks…food allergies affect all races, sexes, and ethnicities.  They can begin at any age!

Keep out of the nut house!

Surrounded By Nuts (Guest Blogger)

I am so excited to introduce this post!  A good friend of mine, Matt, had his first peanut-free experience recently, and he wanted to share his story with you.  Thanks Matt!

________________________________________________________________

There I was at the Cintas Center one cold December afternoon.  My Musketeers were not playing well and I was distraught; they hadn't scored in 10 full minutes!  Out of the corner of my eye, I see my uncle offer my friend Kendall some peanuts.  She declined, and then he offered me.  I was only being courteous as I reached into the bag to grab some peanuts.  It then dawned on me why Kendall declined the peanuts.  I had forgotten about her nut allergy! AHHH!!!  I then declined the peanuts! Whew! Close one! The Muskies ended up pulling through for us as they trounced the Red Storm of St. John 70-60.  I did not realize until that day what the pains of living in a nut-filled world truly are.

Which One Wednesday: Hamburger Joint Answer

Thanks for participating in the first Which One Wednesday!  

The peanut-free restaurant is Red Robin.  My family and I always enjoy eating our favorite burgers at Red Robin!  A favorite of mine is the Guacamole Bacon Burger with a side of bottomless fries!

There are many obvious reasons as to why I cannot eat at Five Guys.  Not only are shelled peanuts available to customers in bulk, but they also fry with peanut oil.  While I am sure many people find their meals delicious, I cannot personally give any recommendations.  

To see Five Guys statement on this topic, click here.

Don't forget to come back next week for a new edition of Which One Wednesday.

Keep out of the nut house!

Which One Wednesday: Hamburger Joint Edition

Happy New Year and welcome to the first Which One Wednesday post!

Every week, YOU will get to vote which restaurant or food item is peanut-friendly.  Come back on Thursday to find out if you were correct!

Which do you think is the most peanut-friendly restaurant?  Five Guys Burgers and Fries or Red Robin? 

Comment below with your best guess!
a. Five Guys Burgers and Fries
b. Red Robin
c. Both 
d. Neither

Keep out of the nut house!