Peanut allergy

kimmiedunne
kimmiedunne Posts: 82 Member
edited December 2024 in Food and Nutrition
This year I developed a peanut allergy...it hasn't been officially diagnosed yet but I have self diagnosed it seeing as how I break out in hives every time I eat peanuts. Some of my favorite snacks contain peanuts - and I love peanut butter so I've given all that up. Even some of the snacks that say "May contain peanuts" seem to bother me. I'm looking for some suggestions as to alternates to peanuts. I know of the basic snacks but like alternate peanut butter and things like that that can be found at a health food store. Appreciate the suggestions!

Replies

  • chicadejmu
    chicadejmu Posts: 171 Member
    Avoid anything that says "may contain peanuts". My son's allergist said anything that says "may" actually does contain peanuts, they are just trying to protect trade secrets (maybe not always true, but better to be safe than sorry). BUT most things that say processed on equipment that processes peanuts are usually okay because they have to clean the equipment to certain standards. McDonald's sundaes are supposed to be peanut free yet trigger a reaction. Plain M&Ms contain peanuts (in the candy shell).

    If you are reacting at all to peanuts, you really ought to be carrying an epi pen and benadryl with you at all times in case of an accidental exposure. Just because you react with hives this time doesn't mean you won't react w/ anaphylaxis (sp?) next time.

    Sunflower seed butter is a delicious alternative to peanut butter. Also, if you are not allergic to other nuts, try cashews, almonds and pecans. Not sure what else you were really looking for... It's all about reading labels unfortunately.
  • Jester522
    Jester522 Posts: 392
    Funny story. Working in transfusion medicine the only time I had a blood transfusion reaction with my signature on it I freaked out because we couldn't understand why and I thought I crossmatched the patient incorrectly. Turns out the patient was allergic to strawberries and the donor of the unit had strawberries that day. Sorry, completely unrelated, I digress...

    So for the time being avoid anything peanuts. This doesn't necessarily mean "tree nuts" as peanuts are actually legumes. Fun fact.

    Alternatives? I like almond butter. You could make your own sunflower seed butter its not that hard. I would jump on Google and try searching.
  • Danied13
    Danied13 Posts: 117 Member
    Sunflower seed butter is much closer to peanut butter than almond butter. Not that almond butter isn't delicious, but it's just not the same.
  • JustJennie1
    JustJennie1 Posts: 3,749 Member
    Honestly I say go to your doctor and get tested to make sure there aren't any other nuts that you're allergic to. I knew a woman who was severely allergic to all nuts. If you are allergic you'll probably get an epi pen to carry around with you in case you accidentally consume peanuts.

    It sucks because peanuts are one of those foods that you can eat for years and then wake up allergic to them.
  • Angie__1MR
    Angie__1MR Posts: 388 Member
    My husband will go into anaphylactic shock if he eats anything w/ peanuts. He loves cashew butter (it's damn expensive though!)
  • jrbb03092
    jrbb03092 Posts: 198 Member
    My daughter was allergic to peanuts when she was younger and for years we gave her "no-nut butter" on her sandwiches and I used it to bake cookies/squares:

    http://www.peabutter.ca/
  • SyntonicGarden
    SyntonicGarden Posts: 944 Member
    If it IS an allergy, watch out for fried foods in restaurants too. A lot of places use peanut oil.
  • ravenchick
    ravenchick Posts: 345 Member
    My daughter is allergic to peanuts also. She breaks out in hives if they just touch her skin. She uses Soy Nut butter. She says it tastes just like peanut butter. She gets hers at Wal Mart. It has about the same calories as peanut butter.
  • jfrog123
    jfrog123 Posts: 432 Member
    I like almond butter (Justin's is the best), and sunflower butter (Sun Butter) is good too. Some health food stores sell single serving packets so you can try them without buying a whole jar.
  • alliejoberry
    alliejoberry Posts: 35
    Blue Diamond almond butter is really good, and unlike some other almond butters there are no traces of peanuts. The Blue Diamond brand never has any traces of peanuts in their products.
  • momtokgo
    momtokgo Posts: 446 Member
    Almond butter and sunflower butter are both pretty good. And someone already mentioned it, but definitly ask before eating any fried food to make sure they didn't use peanut oil.

    And I have to address the M&M thing from a few posts back....they do NOT contain peanuts in the shell. They cannot "hide" peanuts under the guise of "may contain peanuts" If they are in the food, they will be in the ingredient list. The "May contain" is to cover their butts in case cross contamination happens. This is from the M&M website:

    1) We will always declare the presence of any of the top allergens (peanuts, tree nuts, milk, egg, soy, wheat, fish and crustacean shellfish) whenever they are part of the recipe regardless of the source (e.g., flavors, spices, colors, other minor ingredients, etc.)
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