Peanut Butter Jelly Time

Today I shared one of my favorite indulgences for the first time with my precious daughter, Reese peanut butter cups. This scintillating melt in your mouth tasty treat is a long time favorite of mine, dating back to my early childhood. My childhood was a time when peanut butter was a lunchtime staple. Modern day has eliminated the traditional PB&J and has introduced “wow-butter”! Say what? Wow-butter. Give me a break. Is it really necessary to eliminate peanut butter from public schools. Are peanut allergies that prevalent that we need to deprive all children of that satisfying protein rich, sticky, crunchy, creamy goodness. I grew up on the traditional Kraft peanut butter. I had it for lunch and sometimes as an after school snack, along with my 2% cows milk. As an adult, I made the switch to the all natural PB. No added sugar or the dreadful hydrogenated oils. I have also made the switch from white bread to whole wheat. Sure, there was the rare friend of a friend with a peanut allergy back in my day. But it wasn’t common enough to warrant a ban on all peanut products at my school. I can’t imagine my childhood without peanut butter sandwiches for lunch and Reese peanut butter cups at recess. Why are so many children developing this allergy? Is it fear, perhaps? If I’m afraid that my child could potentially be allergic, then I might raise her in a peanut free bubble in order to prevent an allergic reaction. What if I told you that keeping your child away from the potential allergen would increase the odds of her immune system as seeing the potential allergen as a hostile intruder and launching into anaphylactic shock. Any child with a sever PB allergy should carry an epi-pen at all times. If the child with the allergy is equipped with an epi-pen, then why all the fuss. Chances are that the teacher and classmates are also aware of the severety of the reaction and would take measures to avoid exposure to the afflicted child. The entire school needn’t be affected. A friend of mine is convinced that he has a peanut allergy. He has never shown any signs of an allergic reaction when exposed to peanuts and products containing peanuts. He has never been tested for allergies. However; his mother told him that he is allergic. His sister is deathly allergic and carries an epi-pen on her at all times. So, I can see where fear may have played a role in my friends “peanut allergy” but, wouldn’t it have been better to have educated him on his sister’s allergy. Shouldn’t he, in his adult years, have consulted a doctor and taken an allergy test. Tried as I may to describe to him the sheer delight that I feel when sinking my teeth into a Reese peanut butter cup. The only thing better than the PB cup is a Reese PB egg, available at Easter. The PB filling of the egg is extra fluffy and the ratio of PB to chocolate is slightly greater.
I’ll admit that as a first time mama I too was hesitant to give my precious daughter a potential allergen. Hesitant yes but, encapsulating her in a peanut free bubble? No. As I said I am an avid peanut butter lover. The nuts on their own, not so much. I consumed peanut products on a regular basis throughout my entire pregnancy, as well as while I was breast feeding. Did I outright feed peanuts to my daughter? I certainly did not. However; I did rub peanut butter on her back, neck, and arm in order to expose her to it. There was no reaction. So, when my sister in law asked if she could feed my daughter some of her hot fudge sundae with nuts, I said sure. My internal dialogue thinking that if my darling daughter did have a reaction I could blame it on my SIL and not myself and at the same time telling myself that the likelihood of my offspring having a nut allergy was slim to none. Now, I am delighted to be able to share my sinfully delicious treat of choice with my little one. I find that sharing it with her is equally as satisfying as taking the first bite out of a Reese PB cup. My second favorite chocolate bar, you might ask? Hershey skor bar! I love me some chocolate !
So, before you go ahead and act out of fear, do a little research before you decide whether or not, and when to give your child peanut products.