If you are a person who has been diagnosed with food allergies or cooking for a family member with food allergies, you know how challenging it can be to make quick and easy meals. A food allergy is an immune system response to a food that the body mistakenly believes is harmful. There are eight foods that account for 90% of all food-allergic reactions. These are: milk, egg, peanut, tree nut (walnut, cashew, etc.), fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat. If these foods are eaten by someone with a food allergy they could experience anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a sudden, severe, potentially fatal, systemic allergic reaction that can involve various areas of the body (such as the skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and cardiovascular system).

Meijer has an extensive list that includes the top eight common food allergens and gluten that is conveniently located here on our Meijer Healthy Living website under "Healthy Living Products."

This menu includes four delicious recipes that are free of the common allergens and gluten. All recipes can be prepared using simple, everyday ingredients available at Meijer!

Apricot-Mustard Grilled Pork Tenderloin
Serves 4

1 pork tenderloin, about a pound
3 T Meijer apricot preserves
¼ c Meijer mustard

1. Season tenderloin with salt and pepper.
2. Stir together the preserves and mustard in a small bowl. Place pork over a medium-hot fire and grill for about 15 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F., brushing with mustard mixture in the last few minutes.

Adapted from www.theotherwhitemeat.com

Easy Potato Casserole
Serves 8

1 Meijer (32 oz) thawed shredded Western style hash browns (with onions and green peppers)
1 T garlic, finely chopped
1 T crushed sage
1 T thyme
Fresh ground black pepper
4 tomatoes sliced
½ c Meijer pitted black olives, sliced in half
Fresh parsley

1. In a medium-sized bowl, mix the potatoes, garlic, sage, thyme, and fresh ground black pepper.
2. In a casserole, begin layering the ingredients. First, place half of the potato mixture on the bottom of the tray. Cover this with the tomatoes and olives.
3. Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes with a loose tinfoil cover. Uncover the mixture and cook for another 20 minutes or until brown on top. Garnish with the parsley.

Cucumber-Basil Salad
Serves 8

1 c Meijer white vinegar
¾ c water
¾ c Meijer granulated sugar
1 t Meijer salt (optional)
¼ t Meijer black pepper
3 large cucumbers, peeled, thinly sliced
2 T fresh basil, chopped

Combine all ingredients except cucumbers and basil in a microwave safe dish; heat until sugar melts. Pour warm mixture over cucumbers. Store covered in refrigerator. Just before serving sprinkle with fresh basil.

Creamsicles
Serves 8

1½ c Meijer calcium enriched orange juice
1 c Meijer vanilla soy milk or rice milk
1 T Meijer powdered sugar
¼ t Meijer vanilla

Place all ingredients in a blender, blend until smooth and pour into 8 popsicle molds.

For more information on food allergies visit or call:

www.foodallergy.org

www.food-allergy.org

For a list of doctors in your area, contact:

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

800-822-ASMA

American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

800-842-7777

American Academy of Pediatrics

800-433-9016

Resources available for people following a gluten free diet are also available on our website under "Healthy Living Products".