Semi-vent... "Food Allergies" is a BIG budget buster.

[SDSorority]

So I just found out that I need to be gluten-free and soy-free, not just in my FOOD, BUT IN THE PRODUCTS THAT I USE, TOO. Like, everything- dish soap, dishwasher detergent, clothing detergent, hand soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc.etc.etc.etc.




Agh. Soy is in EVERYTHING. EVERY-THING. And what's super annoying is that companies can HIDE soy with really wacky names. So, I have been calling and emailing company after company to try to find products that I can keep in the house.

So, I just dropped $80 on new bath/body/shower products from California Baby and $50 on cleaning products from Sun and Earth. Merry Christmas. These are our stocking stuffers this year. Hurray- dishwasher detergent in my stocking.....

Good news is, clutter will be cleared from my bathroom because I have to throw out ALL of the products I have been using. The bad news is, I have to throw out all of my products I have been using....

Oye. Oh well, here's to a healthy body! I'd much rather spend money on products that won't cause me to end up in the hospital I guess!

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Oh honey, I feel your pain! Truly I do. I've been gluten free for nearly a year and a half. At first, I resisted changing out my beauty products because I figured there was no way it could be causing issues. Wrong. I got sick and ended up with rashes. So now everything I use is gluten free. Here's a couple of products I love and I thought could maybe be of use:

Desert Organics: They have lotions, shampoos, conditioner, toothpaste, face cleansers, etc. Wonderful stuff and if you join their email loop, you get an immediate 10% off and lots of email coupons.

Method Products: They sell these in Target. Everything you need to clean your home with. Love this stuff! Also, they have dishwasher tablets that are gluten free AND hand soap too.

Wholefoods: Expensive but wow, what a huge selection of gluten free food and cosmetics.

Wegmans: Less expensive than Wholefoods and has some decent gluten free options too.

Softlips: Awesome lip gloss! Again, sold in Target.

Quick Tip: Read every label. For instance, we bought some frozen broccoli without checking, got it home and wham, it's processed on the same equipment as wheat!

Good luck! It gets easier with time and your body will thank you for it. Hang in there.

 

[Evi]

I wouldn't consider your allergies to be a budget buster. Perhaps something that you need to learn but honestly throwing out all your products is extreme. Most shampoos and conditioners dont' have soy. I think your confusing parabens, if your avoiding parabens and sulfates there are a few available in the pharmacy that are not overly expensive.

I have major enviromental and food allergies. I suggest that you visit an allergist and check out the web there are a few very dedicated food allergy websites. I think the biggest inconvience is going to be eating out but otherwise as long as you check your ingredients and your willing to give up proccessed foods you will be fine.

I also suggest you start simple. A large container of white vinegar and baking powder can clean almost anything. You could buy castile soap and its gentle enough to wash a baby but you can also use it to clean. Dishwashing detergent doesn't have soy unless your buying a moisturizing forumla.

Sorry I think you jumped the gun and really need to do some research there are lots of great products out there but you can build up your supplies slowly. You don't need to toss everything and then go out and buy specialty products. I can say its deffinetly worth checking ingredients even after you find a product to be safe because you'll never know when a manufacturer changes there formula.

I wish you the best of luck.

 

[tripplanner2]

I feel your pain. My daughter is gluten free and her bread is $7.99 per loaf. And it is not even a large loaf. It is the only one she will eat so we spend it.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

I feel your pain. My daughter is gluten free and her bread is $7.99 per loaf. And it is not even a large loaf. It is the only one she will eat so we spend it.

Aren't the bread prices ridiculous? And it's tiny sandwich bread too. Have you tried Pamela's gluten free bread mix? I believe it's only $4.99 (maybe less) for a bag and it makes a delicious large loaf of bread.

 

[tripplanner2]

We have not tried Pamela's. I bought a couple that you have to bake and we just never seem to get around to it. She likes Scharr. I believe it is imported from Italy. We find all the Italian products to be the best tasting. But expensive.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Yep--we are making a dietary change soon. It won't be pretty.

But it means we can enjoy what we always did as long as we make it from scratch according to the rules.

Oh--and I bought a basket of CB when my daughter was born. She is 18 months old and I haven't had to replenish it. It really stretches! Don't use big ol' glob amounts. There won't be suds (or much of them) due to the lack of those additives. Unfortunately, when we want to do a bubble bath--we do use more than suggested so that we have actual bubbles. (Of course, she doesn't take a bath daily--so that has something to do with it. I bought their large bottles directly from them.)

 

[disfan07]

I wouldn't consider your allergies to be a budget buster. Perhaps something that you need to learn but honestly throwing out all your products is extreme. Most shampoos and conditioners dont' have soy. I think your confusing parabens, if your avoiding parabens and sulfates there are a few available in the pharmacy that are not overly expensive.
I have major enviromental and food allergies. I suggest that you visit an allergist and check out the web there are a few very dedicated food allergy websites. I think the biggest inconvience is going to be eating out but otherwise as long as you check your ingredients and your willing to give up proccessed foods you will be fine.

I also suggest you start simple. A large container of white vinegar and baking powder can clean almost anything. You could buy castile soap and its gentle enough to wash a baby but you can also use it to clean. Dishwashing detergent doesn't have soy unless your buying a moisturizing forumla.

Sorry I think you jumped the gun and really need to do some research there are lots of great products out there but you can build up your supplies slowly. You don't need to toss everything and then go out and buy specialty products. I can say its deffinetly worth checking ingredients even after you find a product to be safe because you'll never know when a manufacturer changes there formula.

I wish you the best of luck.

Yup yup yup. That is VERY expensive. I am severely allergic to parabens, lanolin, and a mild allergy to sodium benozate. I am also sensitive to a lot of other chemicals that we are testing for next week.

I also have severe eczema, the only moisturizer and soap I can use is vanicream. Vanicream moisturizer is $14/tube and I go through 2-3 tubes per month. Vanicream Sunscreen is also $14/tube and I go through about 2 of those a month. And now the vanicream sunscreen has been causing problems but we live in California so I need it and we have yet to find an alternative.

Food and chemical allergies stink...chemical especially. I itch constantly from things that are "supposed" to be safe but they still make me react and we have no idea why and we are never 100% sure what is causing the problem.

 

[Carina]

Here in Canada, gluten-free ( if you are diagnosed celiac or allergic) is tax deductable.

You must keep all your reciepts, but it's well worth it. All special procucts pre-made or ingredients to make them ( rice flour, potato starch, GF Muffins etc etc)

 

[FINFAN]

Here in Canada, gluten-free ( if you are diagnosed celiac or allergic) is tax deductable.

You must keep all your reciepts, but it's well worth it. All special procucts pre-made or ingredients to make them ( rice flour, potato starch, GF Muffins etc etc)

Dang! Our DD almost went to college in Canada, (which would've been a lot cheaper) but since she isn't a Canadian citizen probably wouldn't have been able to get the deduction. That's great tho, honestly, my tiny 90lb 21 year old DD has a food bill that is nuts...we comment that she could be making a used car payment if she didn't have to eat GF. Tough choice, food or car...gotta go with food.

 

[hsmamato2]

don't I know this!!! do you have a Trader Joes near you? I buy ds's bread there for 4.99 a (tiny) loaf....still cheaper than 6-8.00 elsewhere, or Bobs red mill mixes are pretty good,I make him the sandwich bread from that too,which costs around 3.00 per mix...you can buy a lot of gf food on Amazon with sales,and buy in bulk!
Trader Joes also has a LOT of cleaning supplies that are natural,plus shampoos and soaps and toothpaste for cheap without the junk added....and it's cheap,like 1.99 for t.paste and 2.99 for the shampoo bottles......
also check into the possibilities of white vinegar and baking soda for cleaning,etc.

 

[Juliah]

We avoid gluten, soy, sugar, and a lot of chemicals, like parabens, as well as most canned food, because of the BPA in the lining. Shopping is a little crazy, but I have had good luck finding specialized products at better prices at vitacost.com. They sell everything from foods to personal care products to cleaning products. I get soy-free vitamins there, too. I just searched "gluten free" on their site and got 1098 products, including a loaf of bread for $2.47 (no idea if it's edible!)

Also, for anyone trying to figure out the chemicals in products and how safe they are, I highly recommend the Environmental Working Group's cosmetics database:

http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

 

[kkandaj]

I wouldn't consider your allergies to be a budget buster. Perhaps something that you need to learn but honestly throwing out all your products is extreme. Most shampoos and conditioners dont' have soy. I think your confusing parabens, if your avoiding parabens and sulfates there are a few available in the pharmacy that are not overly expensive.

I disagree. I have several shampoo/conditioners that contain soy. I buy many natural products for my bi-racial children, because it is better for their kinky, curly hair and gives more moisture. I know they contain soy because I read ALL ingredients on everything. DS has life threatening food allergies to dairy, soy, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts. Thankfully, the amount of proteins from the soy in the products have not effected his skin--and I only use products with soy that will be washed off quickly, that won't stay on his skin. He is contact reactive to egg, so I would never buy any type of product with egg in it and put it on his skin.

Food allergies are a huge budget buster--especially avoiding soy and dairy at the same time. Soy IS in everything--especially if you have to avoid soy oil/lecithin like DS does. We make his bread from scratch because other than the gf breads, there are no store bought breads without soy--and he doesn't like any of the gf breads. I am SO thankful DS can have gluten, because with the lack of processed foods for his allergies (soy, really), we rely heavily on wheat flour.

OP--I feel for you. There are several specialty foods now, even compared to when DS was diagnosed 3 years ago. Those specialty foods are very expensive. To make food allergies a little more budget friendly, we make everything from scratch.

 

[SDSorority]

I disagree. I have several shampoo/conditioners that contain soy. I buy many natural products for my bi-racial children, because it is better for their kinky, curly hair and gives more moisture. I know they contain soy because I read ALL ingredients on everything. DS has life threatening food allergies to dairy, soy, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts. Thankfully, the amount of proteins from the soy in the products have not effected his skin--and I only use products with soy that will be washed off quickly, that won't stay on his skin. He is contact reactive to egg, so I would never buy any type of product with egg in it and put it on his skin.

Food allergies are a huge budget buster--especially avoiding soy and dairy at the same time. Soy IS in everything--especially if you have to avoid soy oil/lecithin like DS does. We make his bread from scratch because other than the gf breads, there are no store bought breads without soy--and he doesn't like any of the gf breads. I am SO thankful DS can have gluten, because with the lack of processed foods for his allergies (soy, really), we rely heavily on wheat flour.

OP--I feel for you. There are several specialty foods now, even compared to when DS was diagnosed 3 years ago. Those specialty foods are very expensive. To make food allergies a little more budget friendly, we make everything from scratch.

AMEN. Soy is in EVERYTHING. Every single product I pick up has some sort of soy derivative in it.

Eating gluten-free and soy-free isn't too bad because I make 99% of what we eat from scratch (I'm in the kitchen when I'm not at work or sleeping...)- it's finding the safe products that's killing my wallet!! Spending HOURS on the computer contacting companies to see if their products have gluten or soy in them. Gluten isn't found in TOO many products, but the soy... MAN!!

 

[SDSorority]

I wouldn't consider your allergies to be a budget buster. Perhaps something that you need to learn but honestly throwing out all your products is extreme. Most shampoos and conditioners dont' have soy. I think your confusing parabens, if your avoiding parabens and sulfates there are a few available in the pharmacy that are not overly expensive.

I have major enviromental and food allergies. I suggest that you visit an allergist and check out the web there are a few very dedicated food allergy websites. I think the biggest inconvience is going to be eating out but otherwise as long as you check your ingredients and your willing to give up proccessed foods you will be fine.

I also suggest you start simple. A large container of white vinegar and baking powder can clean almost anything. You could buy castile soap and its gentle enough to wash a baby but you can also use it to clean. Dishwashing detergent doesn't have soy unless your buying a moisturizing forumla.

Sorry I think you jumped the gun and really need to do some research there are lots of great products out there but you can build up your supplies slowly. You don't need to toss everything and then go out and buy specialty products. I can say its deffinetly worth checking ingredients even after you find a product to be safe because you'll never know when a manufacturer changes there formula.

I wish you the best of luck.

I'm not even gonna go there.

 

[SDSorority]

Ok I said I wasn't gonna go here, but I will.

For those that are gluten free, soy free, dairy free, whatever free, everyone is different in regards to the severity of their allergy. Some do not need to do anything different with their products, some do. I do. I am very estrogen dominant and my Dr. said GET THE SOY OUT OF YOUR DIET AND OUT OF YOUR PRODUCTS. Breast cancer runs in my family, and the xenoestrogens in soy products that I eat and use on my body (the skin absorbs everything you put on it...) is causing my estrogen level to go sky high (blood test...). Hence, the need for getting the crap OUT of my house.

So, I'm trying to find products (shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, deodorant, makeup, you name it) that don't have the following ingredients listed.

GLYCINE SOJA (SOYBEAN)EXTRACT
GLYCINE SOJA (SOYBEAN)FLOUR
GLYCINE SOJA (SOYBEAN) OIL
GLYCINE SOJA (SOYBEAN) PROTEIN
HYDROGENATED LECITHIN
HYDROGENATED SOY GLYCERIDE
HYDROLYZED SOY PROTEIN
LECITHIN
MIXED SOY PHOSPHOLIPIDS
PEG-5 SOYA STEROL
PEG-10 SOYA STEROL
PEG-16 SOYA STEROL
PEG-25 SOYA STEROL
SOY PHOSPHOLIPIDS
SOY STEROL
SOYBEAN EXTRACT
SOYBEAN OIL
SOYBEAN PHOSPHOLIPIDS
SOYBEAN STEROL
TOCOPHEROL
TOCOPHERYL ACETATE
TOCOPHERYL LINOLEATE
VITAMIN E
FRAGRANCE
AMINO PEPTIDE COMPLEX
BARLEY EXTRACT
HORDEUM VULGARE (BARLEY) EXTRACT
PHYTOSPHINGOSINE EXTRACT
AMP-ISOSTEAROYL HYDROLYZED WHEAT PROTEIN
DISODIUM WHEATGERMAMIDO PEG-2 SULFOSUCCINATE
HYDROLYZED WHEAT GLUTEN
HYDROLYZED WHEAT PROTEIN
HYDROLYZED WHEAT PROTEIN PG-PROPYL SILANETRIOL
HYDROLYZED WHEAT STARCH
HYDROXYPROPYLTRIMONIUM HYDROLYZED WHEAT PROTEIN STEARYLDIMONIUMHYDROXYPROPYL HYDROLYZED WHEAT PROTEIN WHEAT AMINO ACIDS
WHEAT BRAN EXTRACT
WHEAT GERM EXTRACT
WHEAT GERM GLYCERIDES
WHEAT GERM OIL
WHEAT GERMAMIDOPROPYLDIMONIUM HYDROXYPROPYL
HYDROLYZED WHEAT PROTEIN
WHEAT PROTEIN
WHEAT (TRITICUM VULGARE) BRAN EXTRACT
TRITICUM VULGARE (WHEAT) FLOUR LIPIDS
TRITICUM VULGARE (WHEAT) GERM EXTRACT
TRITICUM VULGARE (WHEAT) GERM OIL
AVENA SATIVA (OAT) FLOUR
AVENA SATIVA (OAT) KERNEL PROTEIN
OAT (AVENA SATIVA) EXTRACT
OAT BETA GLUCANOAT EXTRACT
OAT FLOUR
SODIUM LAUROYL OAT AMINO ACIDS


Fun. Trying to find products that don't have Vitamin E, Lecithin, Tocopheryl, or Fragrance has been a real joy........ I'm destined to never wear lipstick again.

 

[mjbaby]

We're wheat-. soy-, and beef-free at our house, too, with big reductions in dairy, to boot. If you do a search under my name, you'll find a few posts where I share advice and thoughts on the subject.

My biggest recommendation: don't try to replicate all your favorite things. In my experience, that's where significant expense comes into play. Instead, try to find things you like that meet your needs. For example, my husband likes to eat crackers with soup. Most crackers are off-limits (although those by Mary's Gone Crackers are excellent treats), although papadums (usually made with lentils and bought an the Indian grocery) are easy to prepare, inexpensive, and just as cracker-y.

Also, if you're a scratch baker, you might be tempted to load up on all the specialty ingredients needed for gluten-free baking. Been there, done that (and have the pantry full of expensive, unused ingredients to show for it). Instead, I recommend "The Cake Mix Doctor Bakes Gluten-Free". Box gluten-free cake mixes are expensive, there's no way around it, but this book shows you how to use them to best advantage to maximize the "investment" and you don't need to keep guar gum on hand to do it!

Good luck to you! Try not to worry too much, things will settle down and so will your grocery bill once you figure things out.

 

[SDSorority]

We're wheat-. soy-, and beef-free at our house, too, with big reductions in dairy, to boot. If you do a search under my name, you'll find a few posts where I share advice and thoughts on the subject.

My biggest recommendation: don't try to replicate all your favorite things. In my experience, that's where significant expense comes into play. Instead, try to find things you like that meet your needs. For example, my husband likes to eat crackers with soup. Most crackers are off-limits (although those by Mary's Gone Crackers are excellent treats), although papadums (usually made with lentils and bought an the Indian grocery) are easy to prepare, inexpensive, and just as cracker-y.

Also, if you're a scratch baker, you might be tempted to load up on all the specialty ingredients needed for gluten-free baking. Been there, done that (and have the pantry full of expensive, unused ingredients to show for it). Instead, I recommend "The Cake Mix Doctor Bakes Gluten-Free". Box gluten-free cake mixes are expensive, there's no way around it, but this book shows you how to use them to best advantage to maximize the "investment" and you don't need to keep guar gum on hand to do it!

Good luck to you! Try not to worry too much, things will settle down and so will your grocery bill once you figure things out.

Awesome- I've never heard of Cake Mix Doctor!!

 

[kkandaj]

Soy is also in medication. Medical companies are not required by law, like food, to show their ingredients. DS reacted to CVS chewable pain meds--and after contacting them, there was soy in it. More drug companies are starting to voluntarily add their ingredient list.

It is rare for a person to react to medical grade soy (or milk) but it is something that people with very sensitive allergies need to be aware of.

 

[disfan07]

Ok I said I wasn't gonna go here, but I will.

For those that are gluten free, soy free, dairy free, whatever free, everyone is different in regards to the severity of their allergy. Some do not need to do anything different with their products, some do. I do. I am very estrogen dominant and my Dr. said GET THE SOY OUT OF YOUR DIET AND OUT OF YOUR PRODUCTS. Breast cancer runs in my family, and the xenoestrogens in soy products that I eat and use on my body (the skin absorbs everything you put on it...) is causing my estrogen level to go sky high (blood test...). Hence, the need for getting the crap OUT of my house.

So, I'm trying to find products (shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, deodorant, makeup, you name it) that don't have the following ingredients listed.

GLYCINE SOJA (SOYBEAN)EXTRACT
GLYCINE SOJA (SOYBEAN)FLOUR
GLYCINE SOJA (SOYBEAN) OIL
GLYCINE SOJA (SOYBEAN) PROTEIN
HYDROGENATED LECITHIN
HYDROGENATED SOY GLYCERIDE
HYDROLYZED SOY PROTEIN
LECITHIN
MIXED SOY PHOSPHOLIPIDS
PEG-5 SOYA STEROL
PEG-10 SOYA STEROL
PEG-16 SOYA STEROL
PEG-25 SOYA STEROL
SOY PHOSPHOLIPIDS
SOY STEROL
SOYBEAN EXTRACT
SOYBEAN OIL
SOYBEAN PHOSPHOLIPIDS
SOYBEAN STEROL
TOCOPHEROL
TOCOPHERYL ACETATE
TOCOPHERYL LINOLEATE
VITAMIN E
FRAGRANCE
AMINO PEPTIDE COMPLEX
BARLEY EXTRACT
HORDEUM VULGARE (BARLEY) EXTRACT
PHYTOSPHINGOSINE EXTRACT
AMP-ISOSTEAROYL HYDROLYZED WHEAT PROTEIN
DISODIUM WHEATGERMAMIDO PEG-2 SULFOSUCCINATE
HYDROLYZED WHEAT GLUTEN
HYDROLYZED WHEAT PROTEIN
HYDROLYZED WHEAT PROTEIN PG-PROPYL SILANETRIOL
HYDROLYZED WHEAT STARCH
HYDROXYPROPYLTRIMONIUM HYDROLYZED WHEAT PROTEIN STEARYLDIMONIUMHYDROXYPROPYL HYDROLYZED WHEAT PROTEIN WHEAT AMINO ACIDS
WHEAT BRAN EXTRACT
WHEAT GERM EXTRACT
WHEAT GERM GLYCERIDES
WHEAT GERM OIL
WHEAT GERMAMIDOPROPYLDIMONIUM HYDROXYPROPYL
HYDROLYZED WHEAT PROTEIN
WHEAT PROTEIN
WHEAT (TRITICUM VULGARE) BRAN EXTRACT
TRITICUM VULGARE (WHEAT) FLOUR LIPIDS
TRITICUM VULGARE (WHEAT) GERM EXTRACT
TRITICUM VULGARE (WHEAT) GERM OIL
AVENA SATIVA (OAT) FLOUR
AVENA SATIVA (OAT) KERNEL PROTEIN
OAT (AVENA SATIVA) EXTRACT
OAT BETA GLUCANOAT EXTRACT
OAT FLOUR
SODIUM LAUROYL OAT AMINO ACIDS


Fun. Trying to find products that don't have Vitamin E, Lecithin, Tocopheryl, or Fragrance has been a real joy........ I'm destined to never wear lipstick again.

everyone has their own opinions about wearing makeup, but for me, IMO, I don't find it to be that big of a deal. I can't wear any make up. Even the vegan makeup. It all makes me break out and we don't know why.

I haven't been able to wear makeup since I was about 16. I'm 22 now. Yes it's annoying but it's not the end of the world.

I will say though, be glad that you know what you are looking for. We have spent hundreds of dollars on products that we "thought" were safe because they were free of parabens, lanolin and sodium benzoate but they still made me break out. It's much easier when you know the ingredients.

And with medications, yes, as a PP said, make sure that YOU always check the ingredients. Ironically, the majority of skin products that should HELP my eczema will send me to the hospital because they have parabens or lanolin. Also, I learned that xanax has sodium benzoate, Depo BC has parabens, cough medicines have lanolin and parabens.....it's not easy and allergies are not easy for anyone.