Discovering Allergy Friendly Foods At The Online Nourished Festival

Discovering food that is safe for me to eat

      I received samples of the mentioned food to facilitate this post.

 A couple of weeks ago I attended an amazing online allergy-friendly festival and it was the perfect way to discover food that I can enjoy with my food allergies. Many brands came together and showcased their allergy-friendly foods at the Online Nourished Festival so people like me could discover food and other products that are safe for them. This online event was created since the real events of the Nourished Festival had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 virus pandemic. Yes, you read that right, I said events as the Nourished Festival has several expos throughout the United States at different times of the year. If you have never attended a Nourished Festival event, you need to as it is the best way to discover and taste foods that are allergy-friendly, gluten-free, and made for specialty diets.

 The Online Nourished Festival was three days of discovering new foods, gathering new information and recipes, and meeting with brands that understand folks who have to avoid certain foods and follow special diets. This was an incredible event and the only part that was missing was being able to sample the foods. 

Discovering my food allergies

 In the past, I have attended a Nourished Festival and I enjoyed sampling the foods that were allergy-friendly and learning new information about how to manage your diet when you have food intolerances and food allergies. When I attended the Online Nourished Festival in 2018, in Phoenix, Arizona, my purpose was to learn about how I could better serve my readers who had gluten intolerances but little did I know that the conference was going to help me manage my own food allergies. It was a month after I attended the expo that I discovered that it was a dairy allergy that was causing my severe asthma flare-ups. My food allergy elimination diet and a food allergy blood test confirmed that I was allergic to dairy, soy, and mushrooms. 

  All my life I thought I had a dairy lactose problem but was really a dairy allergy. It was my use of a whey protein powder that triggered my dairy allergy to go from moderate to severe. What I thought were bad symptoms from seasonal allergies and things like mold and dust were in fact being made worse from my food allergies. Once I eliminated milk, soy, and mushrooms from my diet, I was better able to manage my asthma naturally without prescription drugs. Of course, I had to learn how to eat dairy-free, soy-free, and mushroom-free. That meant a trip to the grocery store meant reading labels. Eating out meant I had to speak up about my food allergies as one bite of the food that I was allergic too would cause me to have a bad asthma attack and leave me feeling sick to my stomach. 

Attending the Online Nourished Festival as a blogger

 So I was excited to be able to attend the Online Nourished Festival as a blogger so I could discover not only new products that I could safely eat but also learn new information about serving my community that had food allergies and food intolerances like gluten. It also meant that I could sample new allergy-friendly food and let others know about how they tasted. I was more than happy to have packages of dairy-free and gluten-free foods arrive at my house. While I don't have gluten issues, I like eating gluten-free foods as they can be healthier, and that way I can give my readers my opinion about how the food tastes when compared to food that has wheat in it. 

Checking out the allergy-friendly food

1. So Delicious ice cream

~ So Delicious was not at the Online Nourish Festival but I included them as they are my favorite dairy-free frozen treat. This frozen treat tastes just like ice cream as it is so creamy. I love that So Delicious comes in many delicious flavors and varieties so even those with nut allergies can enjoy a dish of yummy deliciousness. 

I recently tried Snickerdoodle Cashewmilk and I love that it has real bits of cinnamon sugar cookies in every bite.

~ I also tried So Delicious Sandwiches made from coconut milk and I was so happy to enjoy a dairy-free ice cream sandwich. I can't remember the last time that I ate an ice cream sandwich since eliminating all dairy from my diet. These frozen treats are so yummy and they only have 100 calories per serving. 

2. Grab The Gold Bars

~ Grab The Gold Bars are amazing! They taste like oatmeal peanut butter cookie dough before you bake the dough. The best part is they are healthy and dairy-free. They are also gluten-free.

3. Immune Boost Shot - Berry Drink Mix

~ Grab The Gold Immune Boost Shot is a delicious way to boost my immune system this winter, It was sweet and had a nice berry flavor. I like that it was loaded with vitamin C, Elderberry, and other immune-boosting nutrients.

4. Barilla Red Lentil Pasta

~ I am excited to try Barilla Red Lentil Pasta as it is loaded with protein. I also like that it is gluten-free and the color is so pretty!

5. Wasa Gluten-free Crispbread

~ I have always been a fan of Wasa Crispbread and I am happy that they make a gluten-free option for my friends who can't have gluten. They have always been made without milk products and this gluten-free crispbread tastes just like the original Wasa.

6. Flax4Life muffins and brownies

~ Flax4Life muffins and brownies were amazing and it was hard to believe that they were gluten-free and made without dairy. These treats were moist and full of sweet flavor. The chocolate ones were my favorites.

7. Metta Gluten-Free Flour

~ Metta Gluten-free flour is made from healthy ancient grains and promises to work in all my baking goodies like cookies and pancakes. I will be using this flour when I make gluten-free treats for my friends.

8. Path of Life Quinoa Blends 

 ~ These quinoa blends were so delicious and I loved the big pieces of kale that were blended in.

9. Hungry Harry's Baking Mixes

~ I just love the bright yellow bags that Hungry Harry's makes. This company sent me lots of yellow goodies with their baking mixes. I can't decide which baking mix to try first. They are all dairy-free and gluten-free so now I can enjoy cake and muffins from mixes instead of having to make it from scratch. All the baking mixes are allergy-friendly and free from 16 food allergens.

10. Josie's Best Gluten-Free Mixes 

~ I loved that these gluten-free mixes baked up like real waffles and they tasted so good. They were fluffy and crisp like how a waffle should be.

11. Love Corn

~ Love Corn was a big hit with my teenager. He kept sneaking the sample packs that came with this cool looking box of samples. He also liked the winter hat that was in the box. I liked that these corn nuts were made from corn and had a crunch that was not super hard. This was a healthy vegan snack. The flavors were so delicious and I loved the barbecue one along with the habanero flavored corn nuts. 

12. Homefree Cookies

~ Homefree cookies were bite-sized and delicious. They were dairy-free and gluten-free as well as nut-free and soy-free. They came in many flavors like chocolate chip, lemon, ginger snap, and many more. I loved all the cookies and enjoyed them with my coffee. It was nice to enjoy a cookie that I did not have to bake myself.

13. The Good Crisp Company

~ My boys have enjoyed The Good Crisp before and were happy to see samples of these chips. They love all the flavors and that they come in a can that keeps them from breaking. I had to hide a can so I could enjoy one as my boys can eat these up quickly.

 

14. Sauce Goddess Gourmet

~ I am excited to try these sauces and seasonings from Sauce Goddess Gourmet. I love that they are made with real ingredients and that the allergens are clearly listed on the label. These are dairy-free and contain no gluten. The products also have no additives or preservatives. The Big and Tangy sauce is a delicious tomato-based sauce that has a kick of heat. While the Jamaican Jerk seasoning is perfect to sprinkle into recipes and on my veggies.

15. Olive Your Heart®, Lemon

~ A delicious way to add heart-healthy nutrients to your diet.  This premium Greek extra virgin olive oil is loaded with omega-3 marine oil and provides 1,480 mg of omega-3s per serving.  It’s mild and smooth and makes it easy and promotes cardiovascular health.

  I was amazed at all the delicious allergy-friendly food that the companies, that had exhibitor booths at the Online Nourished Festival, sent me. While I only spoke of the snacks and products being dairy-free and gluten-free, they were also soy-free. Many of the foods were also free of the top 8 common allergens. I was happy to sample them and I liked that I did not have to worry about my food allergies as all the food was vegan. Of course, I still read the labels of all the food products that were sent to me to make sure they did not contain soy or mushrooms, common ingredients in vegan food. While I can trust that vegan food does not contain dairy it can contain mushrooms and soy which can make managing my food allergies hard, especially when eating out. To get more information about the products that I sampled and other allergy-friendly products, make sure to visit this link. 

 I felt like a kid in a candy store as I had so many healthy snacks and foods that tasted so good. I enjoyed having treats like brownies and cookies that I did not have to bake myself. My boys who don't have any food issues helped me sample the goodies and they quickly discovered some new snacks like Love Corn and Good Crisps. When my teen tried the waffles that I made from Josie's Best Gluten-Free Mixes, he could not believe that they were gluten-free as he reached for a second waffle. Discovering new foods that are safe for people with food allergies means my time at the grocery store is easier. I can now select foods that taste good and are safe for me to eat. I still have some brands sending me some items and I will update the list as I receive them. I am very thankful for companies that make allergy-friendly food so those, like me, can enjoy food without having to worry about an allergic reaction.

Which allergy-friendly/gluten-free are you excited to try?

   

Dairy Free Sun Dried Tomato & Artichoke Pizza

Artisan Oils add great flavor to dairy-free pizza!

       I received several Artisan Oils from Latourangelle to facilitate this post.

  The one thing that I miss the most after having to eliminate dairy from my diet is cheese. I have been craving pizza and while dairy-free "cheese" makes a great substitute for cheese on my pizza, it tends to lack the flavor of real cheese. The secret to the great flavor on my pizza is the right toppings and Artisan Oil. It is amazing how using quality oil in cooking can make a difference in flavor. Since my allergy blood test also revealed that I have soy allergies as well as dairy allergies, I have been paying attention to the cooking oils that I am purchasing. Did you know that vegetable oil could contain soy? Even if you are not avoiding soy like me, many vegetable oils also have corn or canola oil in them and those are often loaded with GMO's. So to me, it just makes sense to use quality oil for health reasons and amazing flavor.

The flavor is in the oil

  I discovered LaTourangelle oils and I am loving all the flavors that they carry. It is like having an art studio of oils in my kitchen. I use these oils for more than cooking. The other day I made popcorn in my air popper and drizzled the Avocado oil over the popcorn. The flavor was amazing, even my husband loved it and said: "it does not taste like avocados." This is the guy who hates when I use coconut oil on my popcorn as he says it tastes like coconut flakes, so he was happy that I was out of coconut oil.

French Infused Oils are amazing on pizza

  It was hard to decide which oil to use on my dairy-free pizza so I combined two oils into a bowl. I used a mixture of the French Infused Basil Oil and French Infused Garlic Oil. These two Artisan oils had delicious flavors of garlic and basil, both are great pizza flavors. I spread the oil on my dough instead of using a tomato sauce as I wanted to have the flavor of my sun-dried tomatoes to stand out, I also did not want the soggy crust from using tomato sauce. Did you know that you can make sun-dried tomatoes at home? This Recipe makes it so easy. Make sure to spread some French Infused Garlic Oil on the tomatoes before roasted for great flavor.  I also use sunflower seeds on this pizza as it is a great low-cost alternative for pine nuts.

Homemade pizza crust makes all the difference

 When I make pizza, I also make my own pizza dough. Making pizza dough is so easy and I make it in my bread machine. Check out the recipe for Sweet Potato and Corn Pizza that has my easy recipe for pizza dough. Once you make your own pizza dough you will never buy store bought pizza dough again.

          Dairy Free Sun-Dried Tomato & Artichoke Pizza 

     one batch pizza dough (get the recipe HERE )

La Tourangelle French Infused Garlic Oil

La Tourangella French Infused Basil Oil

1 cup of sun-dried tomatoes

1 tablespoon fresh Rosemary, finely chopped

1/2 cup (about a half can) sliced artichoke hearts

1/4 cup roasted sunflower seeds

4 ounces dairy-free "cheese", I like this brand 

sea salt

1. Place your dough on an oiled stone on a pizza pan and form it with your hands into a circle. Then poke the dough with a fork all over the dough. This is so your dough will not be puffy when it bakes. 

2. Drizzle the two French Infused oils on the pizza dough and spread around with a pastry brush. Start with a small amount so the oil lightly coats the dough, you can always add more if needed. 

3. Place the sun-dried tomatoes evenly all over the pizza dough. Then sprinkle the Rosemary over the tomatoes. 

4. Add the artichoke hearts and sunflower seeds. Then lightly sprinkle salt all over the pizza. 

5. Sprinkle the dairy-free "cheese" over the toppings.

6. Bake at 400F for 20 minutes or until the crust is crisp and golden brown.

For those that can enjoy dairy, this pizza tastes amazing with mozzarella cheese.  So you can add about 1 cup of mozzarella cheese on top of the ingredients before baking.

My next recipe to use these amazing Artisan oils in is Vegetarian Egg Foo Young. I know that the Toasted Sesame Oil will give this dish amazing flavor. I have never cooked with Walnut oil so if you have any recipes using this oil, feel free to leave the link in the comments.