Dear Overstimulated Mom,
I get it. You are doing everything. You keep your kids fed, clothed, and sheltered, but it does not feel like enough. When I decided to go dairy, egg, and gluten-free, as I breastfed my baby for a year, I knew it was going to be a lot. Cue a violin and some sad music. I was working 40 hours a week as a helpdesk and system specialist. Being a mom to a toddler and a sickly baby caused me to develop migraines from lack of sleep, which caused me to quit my job. With my husband’s and my incomes reduced, I decided to look at every single expense and reduce it significantly. One of those expenses was buying allergy-friendly snacks.
Now, I make many of my own snacks, but when the oven decides to malfunction and not turn on, I must have some snacks on hand. Below is a list of snacks that I buy monthly to stock up on goodies that are actually good for you, because, let’s be honest, breastfeeding a baby takes a lot of energy, and breastfeeding moms need the calories that don’t make us feel like crappy.
Chips: Boulder is my favorite brand when it comes to chips. They either use avocado oil or olive oil. Both are great alternatives to vegetable/canola/sunflower/etc oils.
Cookies:I don’t have a favorite brand. I am a baker by trade (I am licensed), and I will forgo any cookies if I can’t make them myself. Send me a message if you want me to ship some to you. Partake is a brand that I have tried, and it excludes all common allergens. Again, nothing compares to homemade.
Gummies: Surely it’s my go-to snack when it comes to gummies. The only ingredients are the fruits used. I have known to eat the entire box, so be forewarned.
Seaweed: My kids love seaweed. It has a very distinct flavor, but it is jam-packed full of nutrients, including iodine.
Granola: I usually make my own, but when I don’t have the time, I buy Purely Eliabeth. I never buy the cereals because of the additives, but they are high in protein and yummy.
Cereal: My top cereals are Lovebird and Seven Sundays. I love the story behind Lovebird. Nuts and SeedsI like to make a trail mix of nuts, seeds, raisins or craisins, and chocolate nibs.
Veggie Straws: Thrive Market makes theirs with coconut oil and no random ingredients.
Dates: These are great to have on hand when you’re craving something sweet but don’t want sugar.
Popsicles: Not necessarily great for when you’re hungry, but I am notoriously dehydrated, and GoodPops offers an electrolyte option.
Chocolate: My favorite brands are Alter Eco and HoneyMama. Alter Eco uses cane sugar, and HoneyMama sweetens their chocolate with honey.
Hummus: Hummus is easy to make, but my favorite brand is Baba’s Hummus, which is the most authentic-tasting hummus I have ever eaten. Move over, Sabra, Baba’s Hummus has you beat with fewer ingredients.
Chicken Nuggets: Applegate Farms Gluten-Free Chicken Nuggets are surprisingly egg-free. Yay!
Sardines: Thrive Market sells Sardines in Olive Oil; so stinky, but oh so nutritious. It is high in protein, calcium, and selenium. You really can’t go wrong with sardines. I usually add it to my garlic tomato sauce and serve it over noodles.
Carbonated Beverages: To keep hydrated, Spindrift is your best bet. It’s just fruit and carbonation. Sanzo is also a yummy drink, with very different flavors from your run-of-the-mill soda.
Popcorn: Lesser Evil is my all-time favorite. It’s popped with coconut oil, and the ingredients are great.
Nut Spreads and Jams: I go for anything with no added sugar. It’s not necessary to spike cortisol levels when we are already on high alert.
Breads: I have yet to find a gluten-free bread that does not use gums. I hate gums. If you want to know why I think gums are evil (there is always an exception), here is my post. In the grand scheme of things, eating a tiny amount won’t disrupt your gut, supposedly. Before I knew about gums, I would eat Northern Bakehouse, but why use cellulose gums, which are undigestible? I’m not crying, it’s you! Ha!
Butter: When was the last time you read the ingredients on butter from the store? What in the world is all of this? It just needs to be cream and maybe some salt. I buy Irish Butter. They are so expensive; I need to make my own.
Fruits and Veggies: The OG of allergy-friendly snacks. You cannot go wrong here. Just be sure to wash them properly because who knows what chemicals they use to grow them.
Most of these snacks listed above can be found at Thrive Market. If you are new and use this code http://thrv.me/TuSSEt, we both receive $40 off.
Happy eating on these allergy-friendly snacks!
Love from Mama Rose