[SavaAngel]

I didn't know you were allergic to tomatoes - how bad is your allergy? Did you have it since you were a child or what?

The reason I ask is because AJ is allergic to tomatoes (watermelon, cantaloupe, citric acid, and even a low allergy to PB - but he doesn't have problems with it if he eats it, etc) - he breaks out in hives anytime tomatoes (watermelon, cantaloupe, or anything with citric acid in it) touch him in the least. And with tomatoes - it is with raw or cooked. I had to quit feeding him his favorite meals unless I have the Allegra and the Epi pen nearby. We haven't had to use the epi pen - it is just in case he stops breathing. He can't have margarine on noodles - it has citric acid in it, real butter only for my boy. If he is really careful - uses fork, no fingers, etc it doesn't bother him, but asking a 3 yr old to not shove his favorite meal (spagetti) in like it is going out of style is like talking to a wall. We tried the super small bites and fork with the watermelon but he lost juice between his lips and was splotchy and had hives beginning within seconds.

I have been picking the brain of anyone I find out is allergic to tomoatoes because it seems like a weird allergy to me - so any info you can give would be great!

[snsgirl336]

Oh no Poor AJ! I haven't met too many people who were allergic to tomatoes either! I have had it since I was a child and it really depends on how much exposure I have to them as to the reaction I'll have.

When I was a kid, if I ate them (raw or cooked), my hands and feet would swell and I'd get nasty hives all over my body. The swelling would get so bad that I couldn't walk! The hives turn to black and blues (it looks like I've been beaten up) before they go away and there was always some residual swelling. Oh and the itchiness! Yikes!

Now that I'm older and did some research, I know how much I can eat. If my Mom or I make tomato sauce, we put a pinch of baking soda in it. It neutralizes the acid and makes it more tolerable for me. If there's no baking soda in the sauce, I can only have tomatoes/sauce/ketchup/bbq sauce etc 1-2 times a week- sparingly! If I do get a reaction, my allergist said to drink baking soda and water to neutralize that acid. It's the nastiest thing in the world, but it works and makes my tummy sound all weird (think homemade science project volcano). This was before all the good stuff came out like claritin and allegra. I've also been in far too many Benadryl induced sleeps because of tomatoes.

I can touch them with no problem, but I have always washed really well after just in case. It seems that AJ's allergy is more severe than mine- with the melon and margarine too. The poor little guy! It's good that you figured out what he's allergic to so early... I didn't know my allergy was tomatoes until I was like 5 or 6- they just chalked it all up to "mystery rashes"

You could maybe try the baking soda in the sauce to see if that helps... it is literally a tiny pinch for a big pot and really doesn't effect the flavor at all. Bring the sauce to a boil first, stir in the tiny pinch (it'll bubble up and foam) and stir until it calms down. Bring it up to a boil again. It's a little time consuming, but if it can help AJ eat his favorite Spaghetti, then it might be worth it! Oh yeah- if you add too much baking soda, the sauce will turn a little darker in color. I haven't tried it with jarred sauce, because we don't eat it, but I imagine it might work there too!

He might outgrow the allergy a little like I have. It used to be Terribly bad, but now it seems to be a bit better (then again, I am watching how much I eat). I hope that he outgrows it! It's definitely not a fun allergy since tomatoes seem to be in everything!

[SavaAngel]

Wow - that was great info. We are going to try the baking soda sometime soon. We usually used jarred, but I would love to make my own. I may be hitting you up for a recipe soon! LOL My mother won't divulge any of her secret recipes and my MIL doesn't make homemade sauce.

[snsgirl336]

Well I'm glad that some of the info was helpful! I know I ramble a lot! I'm surprised that your Mom wouldn't share her recipe! Doesn't she want AJ to have the good stuff? LOL... I don't really have a recipe, but I'd be happy to share how my Grammy taught my Mom and I! Hopefully the baking soda will help AJ so he can enjoy his spaghetti more often!!!

[KDD]

Oh wow! Having a tomato allergy must suck! I love tomatoes! I'm glad you have some tips to help out.

Christina, I'm sure I have a few sauce recipes kicking around that I can share (I don't really use one either). It's really easy!

[SavaAngel]

Send them my way ladies - I could use any I can get. Do you freeze or can it?

Oh, and Cris - I don't think my mom really cares - about me or AJ. I haven't seen her in 6 years and she has never seen AJ (nor has she ever met DH). She couldn't make the trip (she won't fly and wouldn't take extra time off to drive) for the wedding and we haven't been able to go back to NY since AJ was born. This is a really sore spot for me, but oh well - life goes on, right? I am just glad I have great IL's!

[snsgirl336]

Oh no! I'm so sorry about your Mom! That must be so hard! I'm glad that you have your in-laws though!

We really only make our sauce as we need it and if I make a ton, I'll freeze it in a tupperwear. I don't have the patience to can/jar the sauce, though my Grandma would have loved me to!

I'll type out a "recipe" and PM you later with it!

[SavaAngel]

Sounds great - thanks! Oh and don't feel bad about my mom - I moved out when I was 16 for reasons she has never wanted to accept and 10 years (almost 11) later she still won't get over it.

[snsgirl336]

So I never got to the recipe, but I'll do it by tomorrow- PROMISE!!! We ended up getting ice cream with my nephews and that turned into a 3 hour ordeal LOL. Lets just say that my youngest nephew and I wore most of his ice cream!