Healthy Holiday Recipes for Families with Food Allergies

Day-to-day cooking for a family with food allergies can be quite a challenge in itself, but the holidays are a time of tradition, and sacrifice should be out of the question!  Here are a few simple ideas for making holiday food a pleasure for gluten-free and dairy-free diets:

Dairy-Free Pumpkin Pie:

1. Make a homemade dairy-free pie crust following a traditional pie crust recipe: 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¹/₃ cup shortening, 3-4 tablespoons of ice cold water. 
2. Combine the dry ingredients and then gradually fork in the shortening until it is completely mixed in.  Then, add the ice-cold water one tablespoon at a time, pushing moistened dough to the side, until all the dough is moistened.  Form the dough into a ball, and roll out on parchment paper.  The parchment paper is the KEY to a hassle-free pie crust, since the crust will easily transfer to the pie dish from the parchment paper.
3. Follow the directions on the back of a 15 oz. can of Libby’s 100% Pure Pumpkin, but reduce the amount of sugar to ½ cup and substitute the evaporated milk with plain Silk brand soy milk. 
   

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Cookies:

The best recipe I have ever come across for gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, and many other gourmet gluten-free main dishes, side-dishes and desserts, comes from The Wheat Free Cook, by Jacqueline Mallorca.  I highly recommend purchasing this book for holiday dishes that are sure to please those on a gluten-free diet. Within the book, Jacqueline also includes a delectable gluten-free cornmeal pie crust.

Prevent Gum Disease During the Holiday Season
The holidays are a time when we tend to eat a lot of sugary foods.  If you are prone to gum disease, consider the Hydrofloss Oral Irrigator as your best defense against plaque buildup, while you enjoy all of your favorite holiday foods without sacrifice.  Save money on periodontal maintenance, perio scaling and root planning with a Dental Savings Plan from DentalPlans.com!

“Agent Advice” is a feature guest post from Lynne Erickson of Erickson Financial Services, Inc., www.efsbenefits.com. Lynne has been assisting individuals and families with the purchase of personal health, dental and vision coverage for more than 10 years. Her primary objective is to help her clients procure suitable health benefits that offer the best value for the price. Lynne is a member of the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU).