Planning a Nut-Free Birthday Party

[EmilyAnn]

My oldest son is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts. He is turing 5 in June and I am planning his birthday party. There will be 2 other kids there with peanut allergies, but no other known allergies. My list of snacks so far includes Pirate Booty, Veggie Straws, Pop Chips, and Goldfish crackers. I have tried googling, but there is something wrong with my computer and none of my searches are working. I guess it is a virus, but no matter what I search for, when I click the link it goes to a random page and not the one I need. Anyway, does anyone know if these snacks are all safe? Also, if I make the cake is there anything I should watch out for? I bake from scratch, not mixes. Are things like cocoa powder safe? I also want to make dessert cups, some with blue Jello, whipped cream, and swedish fish and others with vanilla pudding, "sand" made from crushed vanilla waffers or graham crackers, and Teddy Grahams. Are there safe brands of all those things? Brands that are known to NOT be safe? I am still getting used to reading labels (it has been 2 months now, when will this get easier???) and it seems like most do not give enough information. I was going to make a list of everything then go to the store and check labels for everything and then call about any I am still not sure about, but I thought I would check here first and go ahead n check a few items off my list as safe or unsafe.

[CMdeux]

EmilyAnn, first-- the most important thing-- happy birthday to your DS! 

Next, yes, it sounds to me as though sticking with Kraft/Nabisco and Keebler brands for most of the things you have listed would be safe for most people with peanut and tree nut allergy-- assuming, as you already know, that the labels read safe.  The prepackaged snacks you've got listed are things that I've heard others refer to as "go-to" snacks-- I'd ask about them up in manufacturers, but presumably you use them regularly, yes?  Another idea for pudding is Kozy Shack.

I'd ask the two nut-allergic families what their comfort is with the food, though-- just make a note that your DS is also nut allergic, and ask if they plan to have their kids eat the party food, and if so, should brands X, Y, and Z be okay with them.

As for when this gets easier, it's sort of an asymptotic curve-- I found that the steepest improvements were in the first six months, and about that much over the next two years, and about that much over the next six years...

I hardly notice it now, honestly.  DD was recently AMAZED when we ran into some friends at the grocery store-- "Mom-- it's WEIRD, they look at the prices but not the labels!!  We spend a ton more time looking at the labels on everything!  Is that how everyone else shops??"  She's never known another way. 

[SkyRibbons]

EmilyAnn - regarding your google searches that bring you to some weird page, first scan your whole computer with your antivirus software.  If you don't have an antivirus software, you can download Microsoft Security Essentials or Avast.  Both are free and very good.  Then download and run a free program called 'Malwarebytes."  You can get it on either download.com or pctools.com.  If you still have problems, then you should download and run "Combofix."  I work for a computer company; we do these all day long.

I only have a pa daughter who is almost 18 (not tna), but cocoa powder is safe.  Your snacks sound fine to me.  We've relied on labels for 15 years.  She's off the charts allergic, but hasn't had a reaction since she's 3.  It takes me longer to go grocery shopping because of all the label reading, but that's the deal.  I bought an ice cream maker, and we make our own.  I make most desserts from scratch, but my daughter really never developed a sweet tooth because she couldn't have much in the sweets department besides tootsie rolls.

Have you checked out Peanutfreeplanet.com (they also have tree-nut free stuff) or Vermont Nut Free Chocolates?  You could order some special birthday treats from them.

[EmilyAnn]

My dad bought some attachment for my mom's kitchen aid mixer so they can make ice cream. We won't be serving ice cream at the party b/c there will be way too many people, but David enjoys getting special ice cream at Mimi and Papaw's house

I guess I just worry the most about labels that do not mention nuts at all. I don't know if that means they are nut free or not. Like the box of Ritz crackers says "Contains wheat and soy" and that is all, but I swear there was a glob of somethng on one of the crackers that looked and smelled just like peanut butter!

[rebekahc]

I've heard of that happening with Ritz before. We had a thread about it at one of our previous sites. If I remember correctly, the company investigated and determined that it was cracker dough. I trust full sized Rits, but not the mini ones and definitely not any of the sandwich ones.

[SweetandSour]

I've seen that on Ritz. They said its dough. I can't bring myself to eat them.

I agree that you should check with the other families to get their comfort zones. Happy birthday to your.son!!!