ALLERGY/FOOD SENSITIVITY DIETS

PURPOSE

The diet is individually tailored to omit those foods that cause an immediate or delayed allergic reaction.

DESCRIPTION

The diet may be recommended once a recognized relationship has been established between a particular food or foods and a symptomatic reaction. Common signs and symptoms of food allergies include skin reactions (itching, erythematic, hives, eczema, edema) or reactions of the gastrointestinal tract (vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain). Systemic anaphylactic reactions could include sneezing, wheezing, conjunctivitis, palpitations, cardiac arrhythmia, shock, or collapse. Reactions can be immediate or take up to 72 hours to appear.

BASIC INFORMATION

This information describes some of the more common food allergies (wheat, eggs, milk, corn). Other food allergens include: Seafood, nuts, legumes, chocolate, caffeine, citrus fruit, strawberries, beef, white potatoes, pork, chicken, oatmeal, rye, mustard, garlic, tomatoes, and cucumbers. The wheat-, egg-, corn-, and milk-free diets commonly use an "elimination" approach to assess potential food allergens and intolerances. Elimination diets must be planned carefully and monitored regularly.

NUTRITIONAL ADEQUACY

If planned carefully, allergy diets are generally adequate in all nutrients. The exception would be the milk-free diet, which is inadequate in calcium and possibly vitamin D and will likely require supplementation. The elimination diets can be deficient in calories, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals; therefore, long-term use is not advised, and monitoring of nutritional sufficiency is essential. NOTE: These diets should be utilized under the prescription and careful guidance of a health care provider and/or dietitian.

WHEAT SENSITIVITY

Avoid foods containing wheat and wheat products. These include:

• Milk/Dairy: Flavored milk drinks: malted milk, chocolate milk, Ovaltine.
• Meat/Meat Substitutes: Meat loaf, croquettes; meats, fish, and poultry, breaded or prepared with wheat flour; hot dogs, sausage, luncheon meats; canned meat dishes with sauce; casseroles made with wheat-based ingredients.
• Breads and Grains: All dry or cooked wheat cereals, wheat germ, wheat bran; graham flour; all commercial breads, crackers, muffins, and biscuits (unless 100% rye), soy, corn, or specifically labeled "wheat-free"; French toast, waffles, pancakes; flour tortillas; pasta, except those specifically labeled "wheat-free."
• Fruits and Vegetables: Breaded, fried vegetables; scalloped tomatoes.
• Desserts/Sweets: All commercial cookies, cakes, pies, doughnuts, pastries; commercial pie fillings, custards, puddings thickened with wheat flour; commercial ice cream, ice cream cones; prepared cake and cookie mixes.
• Beverages: Coffee substitutes, flavored instant coffee mixes; instant coffee (unless 100% coffee); beer, gin, whiskey.
• Miscellaneous: Pretzels, seasoned potato and corn chips; cream soups; cream cheese dips, salad dressings (thickened with wheat); commercially prepared baked beans; soy sauce; commercially prepared gravies and sauces (usually thickened with wheat flour).

EGG SENSITIVITY

Avoid foods containing whole eggs, egg whites, or egg yolk. These include:

• Milk/Dairy: Eggnog, Ovaltine, malted milk.
• Meat/Meat Substitutes: Meatloaf, meat balls, croquettes; breaded or batter-dipped meat, fish, poultry; egg substitutes containing eggs or egg whites; soufflé, quiche.
• Breads and Grains: Breads and rolls with glazed crust; muffins, sweet rolls, doughnuts; French toast, pancakes, waffles; some commercial cake, cookie, muffin mixes; egg noodles.
• Fruits and Vegetables: Batter-dipped fruits or vegetables; fruit fritters.
• Desserts/Sweets: Cream pies; meringues, custards; french ice cream; commercially prepared cookies and cakes; candies made with almond paste or egg whites (such as divinity or commercially prepared chocolate-covered peppermint candies), cream, chocolate, fondant, marshmallow; macaroons.
• Beverages: Some root beer; malted drinks.
• Miscellaneous: Salad dressings and mayonnaise unless egg-free; egg-based sauces such as hollandaise; broth, consommé, bouillon, egg-drop soup, noodle soup, stocks clarified with egg.

MILK SENSITIVITY

Avoid all products containing milk. These include:

• Milk/Dairy: Cow's milk in all forms: fresh, dry, evaporated, condensed, buttermilk; chocolate milk, cocoa, milkshakes, malted milk, eggnog; Ovaltine; flavored instant coffee mixes; yogurt; whey.
• Meat/Meat Substitutes: Meatloaf, cold cuts, hot dogs/sausages; creamed meats, fish, poultry; scrambled eggs, quiche, souffles; all cheeses.
• Breads and Grains: Commercial breads or rolls made with milk; muffins, pancakes, French toast, waffles; prepared mixes made with milk or milk products; macaroni and cheese; pasta in cream sauce.
• Fruits and Vegetables: Mashed, scalloped, au gratin potatoes; vegetables with cheese or cream sauce.
• Desserts/Sweets: Custards, puddings; cream pies; ice cream, sherbet, frozen yogurt; candies made with chocolate, caramel, or milk ingredients; cakes and cookies made with milk or milk ingredients; whipped cream.
• Beverages: All milk-based beverages as noted above.
• Miscellaneous: Butter, margarine; sour cream; milk gravy, cream sauces, cheese sauce; salad dressings made with milk or milk-based ingredients; egg substitutes made with milk-based ingredients; Simplesse.

CORN SENSITIVITY

Avoid food containing corn, corn syrup, and cornstarch. This includes:

• Milk/Dairy: Chocolate milk, milkshakes, milk substitutes, cheese spreads, soy milk.
• Meat/Meat Substitutes: Bacon, ham, cold cuts, sausage, enchiladas, tacos, tostados, tamales, commercial entrees except those specifically labeled corn-free, commercial peanut butter.
• Breads and Grains: Cornbread, muffins, or rolls; English muffins, corn chips, corn tortillas, graham crackers, hominy, grits, packaged mixes of all types, corn fritters, pizza crust sprinkled with cornmeal, Cheerios, Corn Chex, Toasties, presweetened ready-to-eat cereals.
• Fruits and Vegetables: Sweetened fruit juice and juice products; fruits canned in heavy syrup, fruit desserts thickened with cornstarch, Harvard beets, corn, mixed vegetables, succotash, potatoes fried in corn oil, polenta.
• Desserts/Sweets: Cakes, candied fruits, cream pie, ice cream, pastries, sherbet.
• Beverages: Carbonated beverages containing corn syrup, presweetened ice tea, sweetened fruit punch, ale, beer, malted beverages, whiskey, gin.
• Miscellaneous: All commercial soups, homemade soup thickened with cornstarch, cane sugar, corn syrup, imitation maple syrup, Karo syrup, confectioner's (powdered) sugar, jam, jelly, and preserves, corn oil, corn oil margarine, baking powder, corn starch, chewing gum, distilled vinegar, MSG (monosodium glutamate), popcorn, yeast.

WHEAT, EGGS, MILK, CORN-FREE DIET— SAMPLE MENU

Nutrient Analysis

Special Notes: