Lisa...I found chocolate...

[lisa]

Holy cow. That's great! I'll let you know how it goes once I pick some up. Is it a solid or a liquid? He's been asking me for chocolate ice cream lately, but has been really understanding about the fact that it's bad for him - no tantrums over it. I was just thinking that fudgecicles would taste good if I could figure out the mixture so it didn't just taste like chocolate ice. Anyone got any hints?

He's so funny. Tells everyone that "sugar-sugar" gives him "owie tummy and owie poo-poo". Questions most everything you hand him to eat if it is sweet. Of course, on the other hand he also ate half of Ashley's banana last night before anyone noticed, so I'm sure things will be horrible tonight and tomorrow from that.

I found out yesterday that his daycare provider had recently started feeding him cheerios. I was wondering why he was having BM problems because he hadn't eaten anything iffy that I could tell and then found that out.

Another funny thing: Strawberries are now causing problems, though blueberries still seem to be OK.

He is up to 29 pounds now, so we're doing great despite a few setbacks. 8 lbs gained in 8 months! Can't complain about that.

[lisa]

I'll have to look for the O's. With this hot weather we are having lately, he just doesn't want to eat cooked food for breakfast and I think he's getting tired of puffed rice. (At one point on Saturday, my husband read the temperature at 135 deg. F , though the formal high for the day posted at 117. Yuck!!!)

I've been giving Nate a multivitamin for toddlers - Poly Vi Sol (by Enfamil). Someone mentioned it on the site a while back and the pharmacist recommended it as well. He says it tastes like cheerios and reminds me to give it to him every day.

Are you still using barley malt syrup? I have some in the cupboard and am wondering about using it. Oh, speaking of which, does anyone know if carob is OK? I found carob chips in the market sweetened with barley malt syrup (I think) and am wondering if they might be OK. If anyone's had a good trial with it, maybe I'll go check the brand and verify ingredients.

[Benjamins mom]

I think it was me that suggested to Debbie on the yahoo listserve to try carob chips. I had given them to Ben....though only 2-3 and it's a treat maybe 2 times per month. He seemed fine, but Debbie said her son did awful with them. A couple months ago Ben was begging for more than his usual 2 carob chips so I gave him a small handful. The next day he had a hotdog that seemed all safe except for 'natural flavorings' That was his first hot dog, ever, but I thought it seemed safe. The next day he woke up lethargic with low blood sugar. I don't know if it was the natural flavoring in the hot dog, or the carob chips....or a combo of both. His reactions are usually delayed,which would point to the carob chips. Thought I should just post this for heads up to everyone about them!
carrie

[Benjamins mom]

No, we've stayed clear of carob since then, but I jumped from 2-3 carob chips that day to probably 20 chips. I should have known better...but when he begs and begs, I sometimes give in only to feel bad later. A lot of times I offer the food to him, but say it may make him so sick that he will need to get a needle in his arm, and that it is his choice to whether or not he still wants it. 9x/10 he stops begging....I think with the carob chips he continued to beg for more despite my warnings and I gave in. But, perhaps it was the natural flavor in the hot dog. Who knows, he hasn't had either since! I've made cocoa cookies/muffins and he's been fine...but then again, there isn't that much in the recipe and he gets 1 serving. Let us know if you brave the brewed cocoa beans, that is an interesting idea! carrie

[lisa]

So Ben has bad reactions to cocoa as well or you're not sure? Even with 1 serving Nate has problems so I'm definitely concerned about trying things that are closely related. Don't think I'd even brave the brewed cocoa with him. Are the carob chips you got the ones made with barley malt or some other sweetener? I am thinking it is a no for us to try with Nate, but being such a chocoholic myself, I can't imagine never being able to have it. Guess that's my motivator more than anything else.

Kristen, I have been offering veggies since day 1, but he has never touched them - except for maybe a bite of mushroom or a single baby carrot. He usually won't eat anything on his plate until I take the veggies off. He used to eat veggies just fine before restriction, so I guess it's just one of those mysteries. Dietician says keep offering and maybe someday he'll take a bite, but don't stress if he doesn't. Yeah right, no stress!!

Reason I asked about the barley malt syrup is that I can't remember if he reacted to it or not back at Easter. Guess if I don't remember it couldn't have been that bad, eh? Maybe I'll try making a small batch of those crunchies again. He really liked them and it'll be nice to have a different snack.

[lisa]

I guess I'll try it out and see what happens. I'm talking about 1 tblspoon of barley malt that he'll probably consume over the course of a week. I think I'll discontinue the berries for that week, just out of general caution. If everything works out OK, I'll bring back the blueberries in small amounts the next week. Cross your fingers.

I don't recall any stinky pee issues from Nate, but will watch for behavior, BM, and energy level changes which are his usual indicators.

[Benjamins mom]

Lisa, I'm not sure how Ben does with cocoa. I think okay, but he's never had too much so I could be wrong. He won't drink hot cocoa when I make it with rice milk and dextrose. I don't blame him though, it's quite different than the real thing. He seemed to tolerate the chocolate cookies listed on page 5 of the recipe list. They are made with sugar free chocolate instant pudding. I don't have one on hand to check the ingredients. He had 2 with a roasted marshmallow in between, so he was getting a lot of dextrose that could have prevented any issues. I'm not sure....sorry. I am somewhat convinced that the many carob chips he ate helped cause his hypoglycemic reaction. It could have been in combo with other foods, but I think it had a role. As for barley malt, I've used it to make baked beans. Ben LOVES it. However, he has had tummy aches afterwards and I always assumed it was the beans, maybe it was the barley malt!?? It's such a guessing game, isn't it?? Good thing we can rely somewhat on others experiences...both good and bad! :-) carrie

[Benjamins mom]

Lisa, I'm cleaning out my freezer and found my bag of carob chips with ingredients: carob powder, partially hydrogenated palm kernal and/or coconut oil, soya lecithin (emulsifier) That's it. I got it from my local health food store. The brand is Neshaminy Valley Natural Foods....Unsweetened Carob Chips (non-dairy) Don't know if that helps...but I had the info so I thought I'd pass it on! :-)carrie

[lisa]

Thanks, that does help. I think I will stick with trying the Loranns imitation chocolate for now and leave the carob alone.

[debbie]

Hi Lisa and KJ,
I was reading your posts about carob and cocoa. My son Derek does poorly with both, and I had assumed it's because they are both legumes, and he has a severe peanut(legume) allergy, but now I really think it is the fructose in them. I'm happy to hear about the artificial chocolate powder, I will be ordering some.
Thank you
Debbie

[lisa]

Debbie,
I wouldn't discount the legume allergy or even another separate allergy. So far, Coley and Nate are the only ones I can think of with issues eating cocoa (well, besides your Derek), so my opinion is that this is probably separate from the fructose intolerance.
I had tried baking chocolate, which is supposed to be lowest in fructose of the chocolate varieties (according to one diet list) and even one cookie made with that caused a reaction. Nate's issue, whatever it is, does not involve peanut butter so far, but does involve any other nut he's tried (cashews, pecans, filberts, macaroons, almonds). He hasn't tried any other sort of legume and also has not gone through any allergy testing. I'm trying to wait on that until he's 5 since the doc says it'll give more conclusive results then. We'll see what happens.
Good luck with the LorAnns.
Lisa

[ArtC]

Hi KJ,

I just looked up the LorAnn chocolate flavorings but wasn't able to find an ingredient label. I was wondering if these would also be gluten free (no wheat, barley, rye, or oats). It sounds like a great product to bring flavor back to food. Can coley have any of the flavors or just the chocolate? Thanks for the links.

[CK]

Thanks KJ, I'll contact them since I am unsure about the artifical flavorings.

[CK]

I just heard back from LorAnn's and all of their fountain flavors are fructose/sugar free and gluten free (wheat, barley, rye & oats- for those who also have problems with these foods too.) I am excited to try the caramel. It is hard to imagine that you can get all these flavors without the sugar. I noticed you said that you can only use them in cold items. Do you know what happens if you bake with them? Do they lose flavor?

[CK]

Hi Kristen,

For some reason the link didn't open to a food product and I only got an error message. What is the name of the product that you ordered? I think I can find it that way. Thanks.