Update Your Subscriptions and Settings (Pardon Our Dust As We Update!)

We have a new post up at FABlogCon.com, please be sure to update your feed readers but in the meantime, here’s a link to the latest (including a video from last year’s event!):

http://fablogcon.com/2014/04/2013-fablogcon-keynote-by-henry-ehrlich-one-more-speech-id-like-to-write-one-day/

#FABlogCon is excited to announce…

With HUGE thanks to Don’t Go Nuts,  (who are sponsoring our special guest) that we are SO EXCITED and pleased to announce one of our speakers for the 2nd annual Food Allergy Bloggers Conference this year is none other than Ms. Robyn O’Brien!

Robyn O’Brien authored “The Unhealthy Truth: How Our Food Is Making Us Sick and What We Can Do About It.” A former financial analyst, author, TEDx speaker and mother of four, Robyn brings detailed analysis to her research into the impact that the global food system is having on the health of our children. She founded Allergy Kids, www.allergykidsfoundation.org,  and was named by Forbes as one of “20 Inspiring Women to Follow on Twitter.” The New York Times has described her as “Food’s Erin Brockovich.” Watch Robyn’s TEDx Austin talk here or learn more at www.robynobrien.com.

Last year our conference theme was connection, this year it is celebrating others and Robyn has been cheering us on and supporting our event for the past year. She is thrilled to be coming and participating this year, and she is looking forward to meeting everyone!

Pre-Sale tickets will be available February 1 to the 15th, for $75 off regular price. Sale tickets go on sale 2/16 until 3/31 and will be $50 off regular price. We look forward to seeing you in September!

 

 

Open Call for Speakers

We are beginning to plan for the second annual Food Allergy Bloggers Conference. As part of this we must organize the agenda and speakers for #FABlogCon 2014. We are asking for you to participate in sharing your ideas for who you want to hear from, and what you want to learn about! The Call for Speakers and Ideas will be open for 3 weeks, closing on January 24th, 2014. You may submit your ideas for topics or speakers that YOU want to hear! You can submit yourself, or someone you would like to hear from, as a speaker, a fully outlined presentation, or just a wishlist.  We look forward to creating another memorable conference, strengthening our friendships, support networks, and making new connections!

Open “Call for Speakers”  please fill out our submission form:  FABC14 Call for Speakers

We will also accept names for Moderators for panels: so if you have prior experience, and want to participate, please email us.

We thank you for your interest in becoming a presenting speaker at the second annual Food Allergy Bloggers Conference, September 26, 27, 28, 2014. *Please note: No prior speaking experience is necessary for consideration. Submission of form does not guarantee acceptance. All entries will be reviewed and selected participants will be contacted regarding interest and availability in participating. If you are submitting as a single speaker, please be aware we may add complementary speakers to a panel for a rounded out presentation. We only have select number of open topics available, and will chose those we find with widest appeal, importance of topic, and strong or original content. We will keep submission ideas for future conference planning if unable to use all this year as there are only so many agenda sessions available.  Further, be advised that we do not pay speaking fees though speakers do receive free conference attendance.

We will review all submissions and notify you via email by February 15, 2014 or before if your proposal moves to the next phase of planning.

Save the Date for 2014!

We are pleased to announce that we will be returning to the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada for the 2nd annual Food Allergy Bloggers Conference!  We will be holding the conference on September 26, 27, and 28th of 2014.  As you know, we feel very personally responsible for getting the food right- and to do so for over 100 people with differing dietary restrictions is no small feat! We were very pleased and impressed with the South Point, and Chef Keith Norman‘s passion in making sure we were all well fed and safe!

For 2014, we hope to have some new topics and speakers as well as some returning favorites too! We will be announcing an open call for speakers and topics to be submitted January 1st- January 20th, 2014 so if you have an idea, want to be a presenter, or want to hear about or from someone else- get those ideas to us ASAP! We will then look the submissions over, along with the exit survey results from 2013, to put together our agenda for 2014.  Stay tuned for more exciting updates and announcements, we are securing a discounted room block and other details that we’ll share here and on our e-newsletter.  You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter – have a great and safe New Year!

South Point Vegetable Soup Recipe

The South Point Hotel saw that we had a couple of our conference attendees request the property’s allergy-friendly Garden Vegetable Soup recipe following the event.

The chefs had to revise the recipe for smaller portions, but we finally have it. None of the requesters had a direct email in their Twitter profiles or blogs, so they figured they’d just share it with me to post on the event’s website. How sweet was that?! These guys are top-notch! This was served to us Monday at lunch!

Garden Vegetable Stock Soup

Serve 6-8 Servings

1 cup white Onions
2 cups peeled and chopped Carrots
1 cup washed and chopped Celery
2 tablespoons chopped Garlic
1 sprig of fresh Thyme
1 sprig of fresh Rosemary
4 cups peeled seeded and chopped Tomatoes
2 quarts fresh chicken stock for allergen friendly soup or allergen friendly stock purchased

For fresh stock add 2 pounds of fresh chicken bones to the above mix, bring mixture to a boil and then reduce to a simmer and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove from heat and strain stock.

Add Roasted or sauté Vegetables to Stock: Vegetable can be tossed in olive oil and placed in the oven to roast or can be sauté until tender.

1 cup peeled and diced Carrots
1 cup dice Yellow Squash
1 cup dice Zucchini
Choice of Pasta optional

Now we all have a little bowl of comfort food to nourish us until Next Fall! I know I won’t make and eat this without thinking of our wonderful weekend together! 🙂

#FABlogCon Review Round-up

We have been reading everyone’s wonderful reviews and posts from the #FABlogCon, and enjoying seeing your photos! If you don’t see yours listed please email us or leave it in the comments and we will get yours added too! This event would not have been possible nor been as wonderful without each and every one of you who came and participated! Once again we are humbled and grateful for all your support. Thank you! ~ Jenny & Homa

 

Joel Warady of Enjoy Life Foods: “You are truly the best community of passionate consumers with which any company could ever hope to align itself.”

 

FARE:  “This remarkable group proved that although our community is spread across the country and diverse in many ways, we are all united by a common cause: to make the world a safer and better place for those living with food allergies.” 

 

Elyse Hahne of Live Learn Everyday Life: “For the first Food Allergy Bloggers Conference, the expectation was set extremely high. Not only is this a must attend event, it supports, encourages, and motivates you to keep at it. It was a wonderful conference that has left me motivated and willing to do more in the food allergy community.”

 

Get Allergy Wise: “The conference was as rich with information as it was with passionate and creative attendees.”

 

Michelle Palin, My Gluten Free Kitchen:  “It was so fun to just get away for the weekend and join other gluten-free or allergy bloggers and companies.”

 

Sunbutter: “The one big thing we learned at FABlogCon? You’re not alone.”

 

Colette Martin, of Learning to Eat Allergen-Free blog, wrote “We are all united by the desire to drive awareness, acceptance, and accommodation of severe food restrictions.”

 

Rachel Hayden, Mom versus Food Allergy [wrote my personal favorite analogy- must read!] : “FABlogcon attendees, as we go back into our communities think of yourselves as part of a quilt that when stitched together across the world can make a difference by educating, informing, and advocating on behalf of food allergic individuals everywhere.”

 

Sarah Norris, of Gluten Free Dairy Free at Walt Disney World :”Perhaps my most favorite part of the conference was meeting other people like me. People who have a special diet because of allergies, intolerances, or other health reasons–each person was so amazing.”

 

Amy Tracy, Adventures of an Allergic Foodie: “How do you feed a conference full of food allergic people?”

 

Kim Pebley, The Cheeky Celiac, said, “these ladies not only united food allergy bloggers of every kind but provided them a chance to learn, socialize and truly appreciate each other.”

 

Henry Ehrlich of Asthma, Allergies, Children writes: “If nothing else, the conference was a reminder that Facebook is no substitute for Face-to-Face.”

 

Jessica Martin, Food Allergy Sleuth, [also wrote a lovely analogy!]: “There is something powerful about meeting others like you and then combining forces toward common goals.”

 

Keeley McGuire, Keeley McGuire blog, detailed the conference and writes: “We all have different stories, different experiences, different allergies… but one thing is constant: We all face challenges with food and advocating our, or our children’s, rights each and every day.”

 

Caroline Moassessi of Grateful Foodie wrote “The only way I can explain the Food Allergy Bloggers Conference (FABLOGCON) is to say it was like being in a grown up Disneyland.” “Words to describe this event: inspiring, motivating, somber, intellectual, practical, thrilling and exhausting.”  

She also writes about the SWAG here.

 

Erica Dermer, Celiac and the Beast, “we ALL eat differently, and we all have to be so careful in our lives with food. We all have a very unique relationship with food that others outside the community don’t really understand.”

Do NOT miss her FABulous video clips on YouTube! 🙂 

 

Andy Weissman, wrote on Nov 7, 2013 “Liberate, Animate, Cooperate, Instigate” with a nod to #FABlogCon

 

Elizabeth DiBurro of EBL Food Allergies said: “If I had to pick one thing that was my favorite about attending #FABlogCon (which is how it is known on Twitter), it would be the ability to meet and reunite with so many like-minded individuals who all share the same passion.”

 

Donna DeCosta of Food Allergy Mom Doc said: “From the venue to the overstuffed swag bags ( yes plural), to the exceptional food prepared by Chef Keith Norman (who knew gluten free could be so delish? ), to the exceptional speakers to the author signing reception, to the amazing door prizes…it was a lovely event.”

 

Wendy Lazor, Allergy Free Kitchens said: “my eyes were opened to see the power inherent in that gathering.  Individually, we are a story.  Collectively, we can move mountains.”

 

Jo-Ann Rogan of Punky Mama, said: “I hope the word spreads and people who are home and feeling lost and alone while managing food allergies and reach out to the internet get to attend this conference.”

 

Pam Jordan of I’m a Celiac said:  “These events are so amazing due to the people.  It is such a gift to be in a room filled with 150 other people who get it!”   

Also check out her photo slide show, here.

 

Brynn Hadler Allergy Bytes said “Walking in to the Food Allergy Blogger’s Conference was like coming home to a family I had never met, but to whom I clearly belonged.”

 

Elizabeth Goldenberg Onespot Allergy said “I was privileged to “know” these friends before in an online way, and I’m graced to know them now in a real world way. We truly support each other, and I look forward to meeting with my friends again at the Food Allergy Blogger Conference next year.”

 

Selena Bluntzer Amazing & Atopic says: “”This community has been building and growing over the years, and Jenny and Homa “built” a city in which our virtual community was able to live for a few days. Sometimes we might feel like The Sims, interacting online, but we’re obviously real people and this gave us a 3D space to inhabit. These industrious city planners found a location with safe food (no easy task!), entertainment, education, and accommodations.”

 

Kelly Kurzhal of Raising Jack with Celiac said: “Our common bond of raising awareness, sharing recipes and resources for the gluten-free and food allergy community has truly brought us together and we encourage one another, swap recipes and make each other laugh along the way.”

 

Jenny Sprague, Multiple Food Allergy Help said: “The best part has been the connections that were forged. I see relationships on social media now that are there because of this event, friendships that were just formed, or made stronger.  All these links and connections weaving together, creating a stronger, more unified food allergy community.”

 

Cheryl Viirand, Freedible says: “we custom eaters are indeed a tribe.  A tribe defined not by the particulars of our individual eating requirements and restrictions, not by their severity or even by the stakes they put on the table for ourselves and our kids. No, what defines our tribe is that we are problem solvers. We are a tribe of future-creators who are not satisfied to wait in the hopes that a safer, more inclusive future will create itself.”

 

Senator Debbie Smith, Nevada, addressing audience opening night – Part 1; Part 2

 

Dr Eric Edwards, Co-inventor of Auvi-Q addressing audience at opening night – Part 1; Part 2 

 

#FABlogCon Blog Roundup

We truly are still processing the experience but wanted to say a very big thank you to all of you on this day after the first Food Allergy Bloggers Conference!  We’d love to gather posts about the conference in one space so please comment here with links to your blog posts and we will work on a fun way to maybe share them in our newsletter and/or future posts.

In the meantime, Erica Dermer of Celiac and the Beast blew us away with her video interviews posted in “Food Allergy Bloggers Conference Wrap-Up” (be sure to watch all ten minutes).  Such a surprise this morning to see the post go up and we have to say Erica may have a future on the talk show circuit, she’s a natural.

Joel Warady, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer at Enjoy Life Foods (one of our fantastic sponsors for the conference and on our advisory team) wrote a touching blog post on the Enjoy Life Foods Blog entitled “An Embracing Community.”

We have an exit survey coming your way shortly so watch for it in the next week or so.

Congratulations to Angie Morris (Conscious Eatery) for raising the most funds on our FARE walk team, she won a free stay at the South Point Hotel and Casino.  Coming in a close second was Jo-Ann Rogan (Punky Mama – she has already posted several posts about the conference!) who won a dinner for two at Don Vito’s at the South Point.  David Lurie of Sun Cups (one of our sponsors – if you are reading this David be sure to check out the video link mentioned above for some rave reviews of your products!) won a free conference ticket thanks to his fundraising effort.  Donations are still open though the contest is over (Food Allergy Bloggers Conference 2013 Walk Team).

Again, we are so humbled and privileged to be a part of your lives and to look around the room this weekend and see friendships form.  Thank you all and may your continued journey include a little more support than you knew you had before.  Most of all, thank you for believing in us.

Warmly,

Homa & Jenny

Brynn Hadler Q & A

We will be introducing you to the speakers and attendees of the Food Allergy Bloggers Conference by sharing their responses to a few questions. We have asked them to choose to answer 3-5 of these questions:

1. Who do you look forward to seeing/meeting most at FABC and why?
2. Which of your blog posts are you most proud of and why?
3. Which panel topic do you look forward to hearing most and why?
4. What is the best thing about food allergies?
5. What motivated you to start blogging about food allergies?
6. What is the best thing about the online food allergy community?
7. What other blogger would you most like to meet and why?
8. What other blogger has inspired you?
9. What is one of your favorite posts written by another blogger and why?
10. If you didn’t have or deal with food allergies, what would be your 3 favorite foods to eat/try?

Hello, I’m Brynn Hadler, and I was not a blogger until I heard about the Food Allergy Blogger’s Conference. Because one of my children has multiple life threatening food allergies, I had followed and read the blogs of many of the attendees and speakers. Such fantastic people all gathered together? I knew I had to attend! But I couldn’t very well attend a blogger’s conference without being a blogger, right? So just in time for this conference, I published my first blog at www.allergybytes.com. Looking forward to meeting you!Brynn

#4  What is the best thing about food allergies?

The best thing about food allergies is that you can use them to amplify health. It’s such a great way to avoid so much of the junk that is peddled to children these days. Having a food allergy teaches children that being different is okay. Being different can make you even healthier than most people. And maybe, by having to be aware of food and food ingredients, it can be used as a catalyst to turn a child or adult down a path of healthy eating. With obesity, diabetes and other disease rates skyrocketing for both children and adults, having a food allergy may inadvertently help people – especially little people – avoid these other health issues.

#7 What other blogger would you most like to meet and why?

The blogger I’d most like to meet is Jessica Martin, the Food Allergy Sleuth. She is amazing!! When I read her “Getting Schooled” post deconstructing a scientific article on gut bacteria and food allergy, I felt like I’d discovered a kindred soul. I too, comb the scientific literature for clues to the food allergy puzzle, and I was over the moon to find another mother who did this. A unique and wonderful thing about Jessica is that she combines a gift of words with a strong scientific background to help explain complex jargon and concepts in a way that makes them understandable to everyone.

#10 If you didn’t have or deal with food allergies, what would be your 3 favorite foods to eat/try?

If I didn’t have to deal with food allergies, I would definitely fill my house with whole nuts in Autumn, eat coconuts and coconut-based dishes, and cook lots of Thai and Asian food with fresh prawns – mmmm! It would be so wonderful. But I can live without all that. Most of all, what I really want is for my son to not have to fear food. To be able to go anywhere and eat anything he wants and not have to fear for his precious and beautiful life.

Claudine Phillips MS, RD Q & A

We will be introducing you to the speakers and attendees of the Food Allergy Bloggers Conference by sharing their responses to a few questions. We have asked them to choose to answer 3-5 of these questions:

1. Who do you look forward to seeing/meeting most at FABC and why?
2. Which of your blog posts are you most proud of and why?
3. Which panel topic do you look forward to hearing most and why?
4. What is the best thing about food allergies?
5. What motivated you to start blogging about food allergies?
6. What is the best thing about the online food allergy community?
7. What other blogger would you most like to meet and why?
8. What other blogger has inspired you?
9. What is one of your favorite posts written by another blogger and why?
10. If you didn’t have or deal with food allergies, what would be your 3 favorite foods to eat/try?

I am Claudine Phillips and am a Registered Dietitian/Exercise Physiologist and creator of www.glutenfreegreenbean.com.  I look forward to meeting you all in the next few days.

 

4. What is the best thing about food allergies?

Living with food allergies can create a problem, but I find the challenge exciting. It is an opportunity to exercise my creativity and practice “kitchen chemistry”. Finding substitutions for eggs and dairy has been interesting to say the least. I find that cooking allergy free can be alot of fun!

 

5. What motivated you about blogging about food allergies?

My daughter was diagnosed with a severe peanut allergy  when she was 4 then celiac disease at age of 7. As we have adjusted her diet (and our kitchen), I found others wanted to know what we were doing. So, my daughter and I naturally started a blog to discuss products, recipes, and how we travel gluten and peanut (and now dairy) free.

 

10.  If you didn’t have or deal with food allergies, what would be your 3 favorite foods to eat/try?

I actually enjoy eating allergy free. There are no foods I miss to the point of missing them. There is a time or two that I will smell something and it brings wonderful memories with it, but I am trying to re-create that trigger with the new foods we eat. I make killer cinnamon rolls and fry up eggplant like nobody’s business! All gluten, peanut, and dairy free!

 

 

See you in a few days!

Tiffany DeSilva Q & A

We will be introducing you to the speakers and attendees of the Food Allergy Bloggers Conference by sharing their responses to a few questions. We have asked them to choose to answer 3-5 of these questions:

1. Who do you look forward to seeing/meeting most at FABC and why?
2. Which of your blog posts are you most proud of and why?
3. Which panel topic do you look forward to hearing most and why?
4. What is the best thing about food allergies?
5. What motivated you to start blogging about food allergies?
6. What is the best thing about the online food allergy community?
7. What other blogger would you most like to meet and why?
8. What other blogger has inspired you?
9. What is one of your favorite posts written by another blogger and why?
10. If you didn’t have or deal with food allergies, what would be your 3 favorite foods to eat/try?

 

Hello, I am Tiffany deSilva of www.FantasticallyFree.com.  I am a Social Worker and Certified Coach for children, families, and individuals with food allergies and related conditions.  I am also the mother of 3 daughters with multiple food allergies. In addition to the blog, Fantastically Free provides educational resources, coaching and hands-on services to help people live safe, healthy and happy lives despite food allergies.

 

 

 

1. Who do you look forward to seeing/meeting most at FABC and why?
I love connecting with people, especially those in the food allergy community. I know there is going to be a fabulous group in attendance, so I am really looking forward to meeting everyone (or at least as many people as possible)!

4. What is the best thing about food allergies?
The best thing about food allergies is that we eat a well-balanced and healthy diet.  Instead of defaulting to the typical american diet of unhealthy processed foods, we focus on eating whole foods.  I also feel that we are more in tune with our bodies and how food affects us, both positively and negatively. We focus on eating well and ejoying life, not mourning foods that make us ill.

5. What motivated you to start blogging about food allergies?
I created the Fantastically Free site because there is a huge gap between being diagnosed with a food allergy, being told to avoid certain foods, and actually living a safe, healthy, and happy life with food allergies.  My goal is to help people bridge that gap.

6. What is the best thing about the online food allergy community?
The best thing about the online food allergy community is the support.  Dealing with food allergies can feel very isolating sometimes, but it doesn’t have to be that way when you have a community.

10. If you didn’t have or deal with food allergies, what would be your 3 favorite foods to eat/try?
Despite having 3 kids with multiple food allergies and my own dietary restrictions, we don’t really long for any foods.  The 3 greatest things would be: (1) Not worrying about cross-contact (2) Going to baseball games without the peanut-free zone (3) Traveling with greater ease.