My son has never had an allergy to anything in his 13+ years. However, recently over a six-month period he was experiencing ongoing hives and swelling, and it took some time before we could get to the bottom of it.

We tried everything: From antihistamines and a low-histamine diet, to excluding all the major food allergens – gluten, dairy, eggs, peanuts, corn – you name it, we took it out. We also looked at potential environmental allergens – I’ve always been very careful to use only natural personal care and household products, and we could not identify anything that we had changed.

After conducting a series of blood tests and allergy prick tests, it was revealed that he had an allergy to dust mites and pollen – which is interesting, as in all our years of travel in different places, he had never showed any symptoms of itching or sneezing. Nevertheless, it was out with the old mattress, in with the new – including new expensive coverings; but still, no change in symptoms as he continued to experience severe hives and itching.

Eventually, we discovered that the underlying cause was mycoplasma, which he had apparently picked up along the way in the previous months, but unknown to him or us! Sometimes, this is apparently how mycoplasma manifests itself, but is very unusual. So thankfully, there was no need for antibiotics or serious medication, and now all is well as it has run its course.

On the positive side, over the course of the six months I experimented more with new recipes and ingredient substitutions, in our efforts to avoid the main food allergens. I try to give my kids a varied diet anyway, as I believe this ensures a wider range of nutrients – but when avoiding certain foods and trying to find the healthiest options, we had fun introducing even more ingredients.

During this phase, my kids declared that I had found the ‘perfect’ pancake, and that it’s actually better than what they used to enjoy every Saturday morning before we were hit with so many ingredient restrictions.

What’s in this ‘perfect pancake’? Gluten-free flour, coconut milk, flaxseed & water (instead of an egg), small cubes of banana – which I think is the secret in getting that coveted fluffiness, as opposed to using mashed fruits.

If you or your kids have allergies, many of the recipes in our Deliciously Healthy workshops are allergen-free, and we will also outline further options so that you can enjoy each and every recipe.

Signs That Your Kids May Have A Food Allergy:

1. Hives, eczema, rash, and other skin disorders.

2. Sneezing, wheezing, sinusitis, runny or blocked nose.

3. Puffiness or dark circles around the eyes

4. Stomach aches, bloating, IBS symptoms.

5. Diarrhea, constipation, and poor absorption of food.

6. Frequent ear infections.

Best Things To Do:

1. Maintain a health journal to try make associations between food and symptoms arising from them.

2. Eliminate any possible culprits to see if the symptoms improve.

3. Get blood or prick tests carried out to try and determine potential allergens.

4. Improve overall diet to strengthen immunity.

5. Supplement where feasible.

6. Introduce pro-biotic food to build up immunity.