We’re Moving!
Dear Bottles2Backpacks Readers,
Beginning June 1st, we will have a new address: http://blogs.douglascountylibraries.org/bottles2backpacks
We hope that you’ll join us there! Have a wonderful summer!
Learning More About Food Allergies
We’ve all heard how school districts take strict precautions to protect children that have peanut allergies. But there are other foods that can cause allergic reactions as well such as eggs, soy, wheat and even fish. As a parent, one of the greatest challenges is figuring out what has made your child ill — is it the flu, is it food poisoning, is it an allergy, etc.
Fruity Frog Snack
Ingredients:
Green apple (such as Granny Smith)
Cream Cheese
Chocolate Chips
Green Grapes
Directions:
Cut the apple into quarters and remove the core. Cut a thin wedge from one quarter for a mouth. For the eyes, shape cream cheese into two half-inch balls and set them in place. Insert a chocolate chip, point-side in, into each cream cheese ball.
Use the grapes, cut in half for the legs and feet. Slice four halves to create toes. Arrange the pieces as shown and serve on a paper lily pad.
Hot Reads for Living with Allergies
Allergy-Free Cooking : How to Avoid the Eight Major Food Allergens and Eat Happily Ever After : Milk, Egg, Wheat, Soy, Peanut, 
Tree Nuts, Fish, and Shellfish by Eileen Rhude Yoder
Food allergies are on the rise, and the update of this classic cookbook provides more than 180 fantastic recipes to help those with restricted diets! With this cookbook, they’ll be able to eat well every meal of the day while conquering the most common food allergies. Including more recipes, more tips, more cooking suggestions, more resources, and more information about recently passed laws designed to protect consumers.
Flourishing With Food Allergies : Social, Emotional and Practical Guidance for Families With Young Children by A. Anderson
Anderson, who has two sons with food allergies, offers a guide for parents and other caregivers, sharing her experiences as well as those of other parents and doctors. Anecdotes comprise a large portion of the book. Readers will find information on dealing with social situations; the effects of allergies on diseases such as asthma and autism; the impact of pesticides, antibiotics, hormones, and genetically modified foods; international statistics; and some specifics regarding peanuts, dairy, soy, shellfish, and other allergans.
The Princess and the Peanut Allergy by Wendy McClure
Regina must find a solution when she learns her best friend has peanut allergy and cannot eat Regina’s fabulous planned birthday cake. Includes note from a pediatric allergist.
A-a-a-a-a-choo!
According to a national survey by AAAAI (the American Academy of 
Allergy, Asthma & Immunology), up to 40% of children suffer from nasal allergies. The biggest challenge for parents is trying to determine if the runny nose and watery eyes are from a cold or an allergy. What’s the difference between the two? The number one difference is the length of time that the child has the symptoms and the presence or lack of a fever.
With a cold, there is usually a low grade fever, body aches and a thick nasal discharge. These symptoms will generally fade as time goes by. But with allergies, the nasal discharge (which is usually more watery), itchy nose and watery eyes can last for months. Typically, there isn’t a fever associated with allergy symptoms either.
Once it’s been determined that it’s not a cold, then a parent needs to look at what may be causing the allergic reaction: is it seasonal such as in the springtime when trees and grasses release pollen into the air? Is it year round? Year round reactions can be caused by pet dander, dust mites, mold, etc.
What about allergies to food? Milk, nuts, shellfish and wheat are the most common foods that cause problems in families today.
Other common triggers to be aware of in terms of allergies are: fragrances, medications, latex and cockroaches!
Cockroaches secrete a protein in their droppings that can create a strong reaction in humans. There are more than 50 species of cockroaches in the United States. There are five species that may be found in Colorado: American, Brownbanded, Oriental, German and Wood. Though cockroaches are associated with filth and unsanitary conditions, they have been known to invade the best-kept homes.
Our blog is changing and we will now be posting new information weekly. Anticipate more information about allergies, great snack recipes for kids and more in the upcoming weeks!
Did You Know…?
Did you know that it takes aluminum cans and some plastics 500 years to break down in a land fill? Paper and cotton only take 6 months to break down.
Rice Krispies Earth Recipe
1/4 cup margarine
40 regular marshmallows
1/2 tsp. vanilla
6 cups of Rice Krispies
Green and Blue Food Coloring
Melt margarine and marshmallows over medium heat in a large pot. Stir in vanilla and rice krispies.
Add a few drops of green food coloring to one bowl and blue food coloring in the secound bowl.
Divide the rice krispie mixture in half between the two bowls and stir.
Allow your children to take a scoop from the blue bowl and a scoop from the green bowl and mash them together in a ball (the earth).
Set the ball aside until they cool.
What Does Your Family do to be Green or Recycle?
Alex D. (age 9): Recycle newspapers, boxes & papers
Keeley (Age 6): Share clothes with my sister
Rebecca L. (Age 4): Recycle plastics
Sofia T. (Age 8): Recycle glass
Colette B. (Age 7): Composting
Ava L. (Age 9): Gardening
Jakob Z.(Age 7): Carpool
Autumn Z. (Age 5 1/2): Pick Up Litter
Tiffany L. (Age 6): Use Green Light Bulbs
Kaalee B. (Age 8): Reuse Wrapping Paper
April 2010
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
~ Dr. Seuss, from The Lorax 
