Cookery lessons for parents of children with multiple allergies?

[cantthinkwontthink]

Hello

I have a DD with multiple food allergies and I have been struggling with food ideas. I'm not at all a good or inventive cook, and have struggled along for a few years in the hope that the whole allergy thing was just a bloody awful phase.

As DD is showing no signs of outgrowing her existing allergies and also seems to get new ones diagnosed every year, I really need to take control and just accept that this is for the long haul and need some practical help with learning to cook.
I can cook the foods I grew up with but DD seems to be allergic to most of them which means I need to learn some new skills.

Has anyone ever been on a specific cookery course, aimed at coping with a diet with many restrictions?
Or can anyone recommend someone whom I could contact about getting some ont to one lessons?

I have experimented, bought and returned many many books and still feel like I don't know what I'm doing. Most things I've tried have gone straight into the bin so it's been a bit depressing trying.

I have looked at alot of food blog sites like piginthekitchen, which I just love, but I think I need more basic help first with maybe understanding how various ingredients function and how to adapt recipes, and also just learn a few dishes that could become a staple part of our diet as a family.

Many Thanks and sorry for the long post.

That should read one to one. Sorry. [embarrassed]

What is it that she is allergic too?

Which allergies so we can know what you can subsitute for them?

Hi cantthink, do not despair - if you PM me I can set you in the right direction!

Hello. sorry for the delay in replying.
DD is allergic to:
wheat
eggs
legumes inc Peanuts, soya, lentils, peas, mung beans, chick peas, kidney beans etc.
Tree nuts
sesame
ginger
oats
Celery

we also avoid foods like kiwi.

TIA
:)

So, meats, vegetables, fruit (some!), rice, potatoes, fish is ok?

Meats that we have: beef, lamb, chicken and pork
Fish : haven't tried yet but cod s/b ok
veg: butternut squash, sweet potato,carrots, brocolli
she wont eat potato other than in crisps. sweet potato if its hidden.
Fruits: apple, pears, banana, grapes. i think shes ok with plums. Ned to try her with mango.
Also need to try her with onions, garlic and leeks so recipes where i can gradually add these would be good.

Thanks again.

Wow that's quite a list isn't it? and I thought DS was hard enough.

Have you tried making corn bread so that you have something bread-like to use? - Actually is corn OK?

With cakes you can substitue eggs with lots of things some of which you can use - eg oil and baking powder, ground linseeds,

It looks like you can have a good (if limited) diet on meat and vegetables. Eg using Gluten free pasta making bolognaise and sneaking veg in. Standard meat and several veg etc.

Is Dairy OK?
I think that you need to find a way to get her to eat starch veg - have you tried swede, parsnip etc as well as sweet potato and potato - don't forget you can use potato to thicken soup so sneaking in extra nourishment that way as long as the soup is pureed it wont be noticed.