Earlier in the week we posted some “Food Allergy Back to School Tips from Allergy Moms and Enjoy Life Foods” and “Top Back to School Cookbooks for Vegan, Dairy-Free, and Food Allergy-Friendly Recipes.” Since both articles were quite popular, we wanted to help busy moms and dads find even more useful information for back to school with food allergies and special diets:

• "School Planning for Food Allergic Children," from Kids with Food Allergies
  
• "The Role of Allergists in Back to School," from Kids with Food Allergies
• "10 Things Children with Food Allergies Want You to Know," from AllergyMoms
• "Dr. Robert Wood’s Back to School with Food Allergies Tips," From Allergy Moms
• "Attack of the Killer Peanut Butter Sandwiches," from Linda Coss
• "Unexpected Sources of Danger in School" (Food used in lesson plans), from Kids with Food Allergies
• "Finding the Right Preschool or Day Care for Your Food Allergic Child," from Kids with Food Allergies

We’ve all seen them; those one-page stories that grace nearly every health-oriented women’s magazines. A person’s triumph over a health struggle, whether it is weight loss, cancer, or an autoimmune disorder, is summed up in a few short paragraphs. I am always left wondering, was it really that easy for them? And, did they actually find the answer, or are we catching them a moment too soon, when perhaps their true satisfaction with life is yet to be attained?

Over two years ago I came across a blogger known as The Healthy Cookie online, Meghan offline. Meghan seemed to be on one of these health journeys, but I could tell from reading her posts that she wasn’t there yet. She was learning, but like so many of us, there was still so much frustration. Yet, she persisted, and grew, and persisted, and changed, and persisted, and won.

Over the past five years I have had the chance to review and test dozens upon dozens of dairy-free cookbooks. Below are the ones that have received my five-star rating, and are perfect for the busy times of back to school. This quick list should have you covered for filling lunchboxes, tricky classroom parties and events, portable foods, and quick and easy family meals ...

Title: Lunchbox Bites: A Dozen Delicious Recipes for On-The-Go Vegan Eats
Price: $5.00
Format: e-Book (immediate download upon purchase)
Free-From: Eggs, Dairy, Meat, and Animal Products
Focus: Homemade sweets and snacks to stash into lunchboxes for loved ones, or to grab and go during the morning rush. Each recipe has a full color photo. From the author of My Sweet Vegan, Hannah Kaminsky.

This sweet summer dessert may be a bit too perishable to travel to picnics, but it is perfect for wowing friends and family at your next backyard barbecue. Plus, all of your dinner guests should be able to partake, since this delight is dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, optionally soy-free (see the note I have added in the recipe), and of course, vegan.

Chef Jason Wyrick (the recipe creator, and founder of the VCE) says, "You’ll love the cooling refreshment that these super-tangy molds provide after a grilled meal!" He suggests that you garnish the molds with fresh mint and berries, topping them with the berries if the berries are small and light, such as wild blueberries. See the full recipe below ...