Eating Well's Guide to Food Allergies and Special Eating Needs summarizes the basic info you need to help you prepare allergy-safe meals. Aside from listing the top eight food allergens - milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat - the guide also tabulates what items to avoid if you have allergies to one of these items, where these ingredients are commonly hiding, and alternatives you can use to substitute for that item which you are allergic to.

I find the column on "common hidden sources" especially useful. Food manufacturers are now required to label their products in such a way that they explicitly indicate if a food allergen is present, but we all know that not all food products we buy are properly labeled. For example, did you know fish may be present in some preparations of cesar salad dressings? Or that wheat may be found in ice creams, hotdogs, french fries and even ketchup? Well, now you do, so knowing that these may possibly contain something that would trigger your allergies, next time you go shopping, read the labels more carefully, and seek a brand that specifically indicates that it's free from the substances you're allergic to.

For recipes, you may also want to check out these recipes from Eating Well:

• Jicama-Apple Slaw


• Roasted Vegetable Enchiladas


• Dairy-Free Banana Rice Pudding