Skip to main content

Days 66-72 "Milk Allergy road to health"

Food allergies require people to read labels, learn what 6 syllable ingredients really are, and look into manufacturing and handling practices on foods to avoid cross contamination. Food allergies initiate the science of knowing what you are eating, where it is coming from, and who is handling the food before you touch it and it goes into your mouth. With all of this knowledge we are transformed out of the chronic stage of blissful food ignorance and into the enlightened stage of being terrified about what we are really eating and annoyed at the false advertising! With food allergies aside we are eating some pretty scary things! We are chemically wired (literally) to want  unhealthy high fat, high sugar, and over processed foods. The thought of having to remove these convenient comfort foods from ones diet stirs up some defensive responses in the general public. People struggle with this "sacrifice" so much that, even though the majority of these foods are unsafe around a child with a life threatening food allergy, people have a hard time putting the needs of others before the wants of themselves.

I recently visited a vegan cafe called Happy Healthy Human with very little expectations. My little darling is so allergic to milk proteins that we cannot (ever) go to a restaurant because she will break out into a case of hives escalating into more severe reactions. We choose not to take reckless risks on her behalf and, therefore, never put her into obviously dangerous environments. I found this vegan cafe with the hopes of taking Sophia out to eat in public where she can order anything off the menu---something she has NEVER been able to do. I expected this place to have a full assortment of fruits and veggies but what they had to offer blew my mind. The food was truly exquisite. It was beautiful, fresh, full of flavor, and creatively delicious. They have the most wonderful cheeses made from nuts and gluten free crackers made entirely from vegetables and legume proteins! The portions are very generous as well. For the first time in her away from home dining experience, she was never in danger of having an allergic reaction. She was able to be carefree in public and, as her mother, it was a very special moment to see her in this light unmodified by her condition.

There are so many misconceptions in the mainstream American diet. My daughters food allergy has triggered me to learn about foods and what their health properties are for us. I've known vegetarians and always wondered if they get enough of what a body needs. I've always thought that they must be deficient in protein getting it only from beans and nuts. I'm learning a whole new world of protein dense foods full of nutrients instead of toxins and fat. I am inspired by creative Chef's that use all natural, fresh ingredients to nourish body and soul. I am grateful that we can eat out together as a family without fear of anaphylaxis all while enjoying super healthy meal options. Vegan foods feed the heart, soul, and belly for those affected-- and the families living with milk protein allergy!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Going Global With Food Allergies

Have you ever looked at a map of the world, all laid out in front you, and thought, "hmmm...where to go?" Even if you are an adventurous, free-spirited person, food allergies have a way of paralyzingly our curiosity through fear. The constant need to have to be aware of all of our surroundings, naturally develops into taking less unnecessary trips; Always packing our own food and knowing the specific details of the environments we plan to enter ahead of time. The lack of general knowledge of food allergies in the public can force us into creating our own safety bubble. It's a cause and effect reaction that can force families with very severe food allergies to first, find themselves excluded, and then inevitably, because of their previous absence, not given any consideration.  People and the public, in general, can become a safety hazard. To make matters even more difficult and suspect, food itself becomes a weapon because of cross contamination, poor labeling, and very l...
Post a Comment
Read more

Can We Really Have It All?

We Can All "Have It All" So do you believe women can have it all? Can anyone? Isn't there an opportunity cost to everything? Do some people "have it all", or is it just the opportunity cost playing a lesser role in their priorities. I don't really think anybody "has it all". I think everything is a matter of perspective, and subject to your value system.   We are raised within this capitalistic, media driven perception that we want to be rich, famous, beautiful, have "things, be "someone" etc. Aren't we already someone? In our own little world's, aren't  we are all of those roles to someone? We are wealthier than someone, idealized by someone, have a "better" job than someone, everything is a perception we either value and hold onto tightly, or we don't and we develop an attitude of complaining that, I've seen, last a lifetime. What's real? Shouldn't we seek the blessings in our circumstances ins...
Post a Comment
Read more

Overcoming death & Living With a Life Threatening Allergy

  I recently read a great post by one of the founders of Hello Mamas http://www.hellomamas.com, Christa. Check out her well-done piece that I'm referring to here: http://dish.hellomamas.com/index.php/things-people-need-to-stop-saying-to-mothers-going-through-a-miscarriage/  This is a great example why HelloMamas is so great! It really embodies so many elements of being a mom,  that there really is something for everyone!    Christa shed some important light onto a topic that's usually not discussed- at least properly and humanely. And, so it inspired me to share my personal experiences with losing pregnancies. My hope is that some readers can relate, and can find support knowing they definitely aren't alone.   These experiences with loss & death have affected my perception of raising my children with food allergies. There can be an unhealthy balance that develops with any loss or death, and with little support it's almost unavoidable. For me, I also...
Post a Comment
Read more