RECIPE: Lydia von Biljon's Allergen-Free Mug Brownie
We struggle trying to come up with a menu which is both healthy and fun for our little ones. Imagine having the extra criteria of allergies!
Our guest writer, Lydia van Biljon, is a mom with a lot to consider when doing her meal prep, and there is a lot that we can all take from her story and her tips below.
Elana
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MY ‘ALLERGY MOM’ STORY
Hi, I’m Lydia, exhausted and blessed mum of two beautiful girls!
My firstborn has multiple food allergies, giving me the additional title of ‘allergy mom’.
At 2 months, she developed a rash on her scalp, quickly spreading down her face, chest and entire body. By 4 months, my baby’s body was covered in a blistering rash. Every waking moment was a nightmare as she thrashed, scratched and cried. We took turns around the clock holding her hands down and bathed her in cold water every 4 hours.
We chased after every remedy for eczema, spent thousands on unsuccessful ‘miracle creams’ and saw a homeopathic doctor who made her condition much worse.
My baby was suffering and I couldn’t help her.
When she was four-and-a-half months old, I stumbled across some information about food allergies. Was my baby allergic to my breastmilk? I eliminated the top eight allergen foods from my diet over the next weeks. Two long months passed before her skin finally started to clear up. We took her for blood tests, and confirmed her allergies to gluten, dairy, eggs and peanuts.
I am now practising allergen-free breastfeeding as a precaution for my second baby and I’m beyond grateful to be able to spare her the pain that her sister had to endure in those first months.
Living with food allergies has been a lifestyle change for us with no option of eating out or ordering a quick pizza. Healthy home-cooked meals are our norm and I enjoy creating safe and affordable recipes for our allergen-free home.
It’s been a journey of tears, frustration, patience and perseverance, but when I miss chocolate too much, I whip up my favourite allergen-free mug brownie and reflect on how blessed I am to have two healthy babies!
My Allergen-Free Mug Brownie:
Firstly, combine the following ingredients in your mug:
3 tablespoons coconut oil
3 tablespoons rice milk
3 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Next, add the following ingredients to your mug and stir briskly with a fork to remove lumps:
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
3 tablespoons gluten free flour
1 chopped marshmallow
Place your mug in the centre of the microwave. Microwave for 90 seconds. Brownie should be molten in the middle and firm on top.
Let cool and enjoy!
Love,
Lydia van Biljon | @newbieparents