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[momto2sweetboys]

Hi Everyone,

We just did the LEAP/MRT test on my 5 yr old and found that he is allergic to 24 different foods (out of 100 that they tested for - we still need to get more blood drawn to test for the last 50 items).  He is supposed to never have the following foods again, for the rest of his life:   Apple, Avocado, Black Pepper, Broccoli, Buckwheat, Carrots, Cocoa, Coconut, Corn, Cow's Milk, Egg, Hops, Lemon, Millet, Olive, Rye, Sole, Spinach, Tea, Turkey, Turmeric, Watermelon, Wheat, & Zucchini 

Of course, almost all of his favorites are on that list.  I feel so bad for my little guy.  He has a short list of things he can eat this week, but a lot of them are not very child friendly (basil, dill, cabbage), one of the grains is tapioca, but I can't find a single recipe I could use to make it, they all call for things he can't have for the next few weeks (or forever).  There was no sweetener on the list at all, but our dietician allowed us to switch in maple syrup instead of mustard for the week.  I am a huge believer in organic local foods and grassfed local meats, and we eat very little processed food and avoid genetically modified foods as much as possible, and I'm really struggling with finding ways to feed him healthfully on the short list of things they have allowed him for this week.   He doesn't want to eat any of the things he is allowed, and keeps asking for all of the things he can't have and it is just heartbreaking.  On top of this, we're all battling some kind of bug so he is feeling lousy on top of having to deal with this dietary change (I thought about waiting, but figured it was better to go ahead and start now so we can get this tough week over with while he is not eating much anyway (after this week, we get to start adding in one new item a day for a few weeks). 

I guess I'm really just looking for support and maybe some recipes that don't include anything on his list above.  I probably wouldn't be able to use the recipes right away due to how restricted his diet is while we calm down his immune system, but I am hoping to build up a repertoire for him.  He is being so stoic about it and I just feel so terrible for him.  I feel like we have taken away almost everything that he loves to eat (and he was rather picky to begin with - I've read that is common for kids with food sensitivities?).  I'm not willing to take most of those foods away from my other two children without just cause, so I'm having to cook all separate meals for him (which I never believed in) and it is rather overwhelming.  Also, thinking of him having to go the rest of his life without ever having those foods that bring him joy again is very upsetting for me.  After the 5 week intro period to the LEAP plan, he is supposed to go on a 3 day rotation diet for the rest of his life, where he can only eat any given food once out of every three days.  I understand the reasoning behind this but it sounds so daunting and restrictive for a child to look at for his entire future, kwim?  Have any of you done this test?  Are you finding that the LEAP plan they made for you worked out? 

I so want to find answers for my little guy, but I am wondering how we can make this work for him long term.  It is daunting to think that that list could grow even further after he gets the rest of the test done.  It seems really unfair that any small child should have such a long list of foods to worry about. 

Thank you for any support you might have for me and my sweet little guy! 

[kjbrown92]

What is LEAP/MRT? I've never heard of it. Is it IgE allergic? or an intolerance? If it's an intolerance and you can heal his system, it's possible that he can get some things back, no? What are his symptoms? What kind of doctor are you seeing? I've only heard of 4-day rotation diets because that's how long it's supposed to take to get out of your system. We were on a rotation diet (4 days) for 2 years, then we were able to eat things more often. We have intolerances though.

[momto2sweetboys]

It is a mediator release test, it tests for your reaction to 150 different foods and chemicals.  When we got the last of the results back, he was allergic to a total of 35 things.  We have definitely seen some results in the two weeks since we started his new diet, but I am still having a hard time seeing how this could be sustainable over the course of his life.  We have never been frequent diners-out, but he could seriously never eat at any other person's house or restaurant for the rest of his life with these dietary restrictions (much less cafeteria food at school/college, etc). 

I guess i will have to look elsewhere for support, it doesn't look like this thread registered with many people here and the test is not very well known.  Thanks anyway.