Would love this but with a different ending...

The link to purchase the item is HERE

Keep in mind, I am not affiliated with this company in ANY way.  I simply found the hoodie interesting.

I would love for it to end with "Food Allergy Super Hero"

Calling Before You Head to the Restaurant...

Have you ever called a restaurant in advance? You want to find out if you are able to eat at the restaurant prior to going, correct? You ask to speak to a manager. You ask all of the right questions. The responses seem great and you are excited about going!  Then it happens... the odd comments. Your hopes crushed. You shake your head and realize that they don't have a clue how to service FA patrons. You decide to stick to the house salad and fresh lemon wedges to play it safe.

I am traveling out of state next week. Friends want to take me to a particular restaurant. They know I have special dietary needs, and found this great restaurant that has a number of vegetarian meals as well as gluten free menu items. I know they mean well. However, vegetarian restaurants often concern me since they tend to use a lot of dairy and/or eggs in their kitchen.

I called, asked to speak to the manager… after being questioned about who I was and what I wanted (common to get rid of potential sales calls), the manager eventually answered in a very cheerful manner.

Manager: Hi. This is So and So. How can I help you?

Me: I’ll be traveling next week, and friends want to take me to your restaurant. I have a number of allergies and was wondering if the kitchen was able to accommodate. Three of my allergies are milk, eggs and wheat. I know you use dairy and eggs in many of your dishes. Is any of your food able to be made without cross contamination?

Manager: Yes. We cook for people with food allergies all of the time. This is not a problem. For example, the chicken is baked (there are maybe 5 to 7 dishes that contain meat or fish).

Me: The chef will know to use different utensils, gloves, etc?

Manager: yes. But we cook lasagna in the same kitchen as the chicken.

Me: That isn’t a problem unless the lasagna is placed above the chicken in the oven with potential cheese falling onto chicken

Manager: ***nothing said***

Me: Is the lasagna cooked above the chicken?

Manager: All you have to do is tell your server you have a severe allergy to whatever it is and they will make sure your food is cooked safely. Tell them if it is cheese, butter, etc.

Me: **becoming more suspicious by the moment** Are you saying that I need to tell the chef that I’m allergic to milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, cream, etc… I can’t say I’m allergic to milk and that be sufficient?

Manager: It is best to tell them everything. We had a guest say they were allergic to cheese. We made their toast and it had butter on it. They weren’t aware they needed to leave the butter off.

Me: I’ll stick to the house salad with some lemon wedges

Manager: You don’t need to do that. We have…. **all I hear is blah blah blah**

Me: Thank you for your time and answering my questions. Have a good night

If I have to explain every ingredient in their kitchen that I cannot have, not just the actual original ingredient before it is transformed then that is a kitchen that doesn’t understand how to handle food allergies. Frankly it makes me have other concerns as well. How do you not know that butter comes from milk??

Sigh…  I’m grateful that the manager gave examples and further explanations. Made it easier for me to realize that are not equipped to handle cooking for FA patrons.

It isn’t’ a surprise that I’m not excited about eating out anymore. 

Back on the elimination diet... Hooray!

It is me again... Who else would it be?!

Once again, I started the elimination diet. Took me a couple of days fumbling around with food to get myself there, but I did it! Hooray!

I reminded myself the purpose of what I'm doing. Truly, that is what worked for me to get back on the horse (so to speak... I'm highly allergic to horses!!).

I did have any desire to not be able to eat other foods. That thought kept me from wanting to take the steps necessary to take this venture on in full force. I'm keeping in mind that I will be traveling to CA to visit friends and family soon. I began to think that I should wait until I returned to start. However, for the short time I did it last month, I felt incredibly better! I decided that even if I do not get off the elimination diet as well as I should, that it was wiser to start now. I'll be eating out a great deal while gone for those 9 days... and then there is the holiday to consider!

When I return, I'll probably need to get back on this path, but it won't be as long since my frame of mind is where I need it to be. Plus, I won't go crazy while on vacation and eating out all over southern CA. Taking steps now to do what I know is best for my body helps remind me that foods I've been eating have had a negative impact on how I feel. Are they allergies? Intolerances? Sensitivities? Give it a name... doesn't really matter. Result is the same.

When I eat certain foods (not sure what yet... I'm working on that!), I feel one or more of the following ways:

• Lethargic
• Exhausted to the point where I have to sleep
• Grouchy / irritable
• Moody
• Itchy
• Unclear thinking 
• React instead of respond

Things like that and more. You might be thinking... what does reacting instead of responding have to do with food issues? Well, it CAN have a major impact on all that goes on in your body.

I'm in a few Facebook groups. The vast majority of adults discussing their allergies also discuss other medical problems. I believe they are related. Do I have proof? Scientific evidence? No. It is my gut feeling considering all that I've been learning about having ADHD. I know that a person with ADHD that has food issues (allergies, sensitivities, etc) have a much harder time (ADHD is amplified) while eating those foods. Since the reaction isn't a "stereotypical" allergic reaction, they don't know the food is a contributing factor. They think an allergy only means that you break out in hives and might need to see a doctor.

As much as I want to be annoyed with the fact I'll be eliminating for foods from my daily life... I can't be. I'm incredibly grateful to learn that I have control of what is going on with me. I know that by eating whatever I feel like eating, that the way I act and/or feel will be undesirable. Thank goodness I have a chance to change that... as annoying as it may appear some moments in time. :)

What's Your View Point?

Remember this...

It is YOUR responsibility to make your world work for you. No one else's. Being willing to accept that you are 100% responsible for all that happens in your life will give you a unique perspective. Try it... see if you can stand in that thought. Watch how your view of what is happening around you changes.

Perhaps you'll get lucky and make different choices from your new view point. What's the worse that could happen if you gave it a try?

Wheat Allergy

I want to be clear. I will be covering wheat allergies. Celiac's is a MUCH more extensive conversation. All of the items discussed below will apply to Celiacs. Note that this post does NOT include all you need to know for Celiacs... Yes, I'm being repetitive. However, it is crucial to know the difference

When I was first diagnosed with food allergies, I was told I was allergic to milk, eggs and rice. (I'm allergic to 13 known food allergies at this date). A year went by. I researched, diligently avoided allergens, and still had problems. I had a nagging suspicion I was allergic to something else... in a major way.

If you know me at all, you know that I have a needle phobia. I can be a functioning phobic, but my doctor had to prescribe me valium in order for me not to cancel my allergy testing appointments. My GP talked to me for 3 years before agreeing to that appointment... all in major fear of needles. I was almost hysterical at my consultation and I KNEW there wasn't going to be needles near me. It was sitting in that lobby for 40 minutes while patients constantly went in and out to get shot therapy for some environmental allergen. Sigh...

A year later, and a couple more valium, I went into the doctor's office. I explained they made a mistake. Said to test me for only food this time. Made sure they did the best test to find out once and for all. At the end of it, they said, "you were right. You're allergic to wheat not rice." Seriously?! 

Life became better once I found this out. 

Wheat is everywhere! Believe it or not, just about everything around you is composed of wheat (with regard to food!). I was shocked to learn about how much wheat was in food and beverages. Yes. You heard me correctly. I have found wheat in beverages!! Makes me shake my head.

Variety of Wheat:

All Purpose Flour

Bread — any type made with white flour, wheat flour; bread crumbs

Bulgur
Cereal extract
Couscous
Cracker meal
Einkorn
Emmer — also known as farro Farina

Flour — atta, club, common, durum, einkorn, emmer, farina, graham, kamut, maida, semolina, spelt, triticale, triticum

Flour — all purpose, bread, bromated, cake, enriched, high gluten, high protein, instant pastry, phosphated, plain, soft wheat, steel ground, stone ground, self-rising, unbleached, white, whole wheat 

Fu

Gluten — wheat gluten, vital gluten, vital wheat gluten, fu

Kamut® — khorasan wheat Malt, malt extract

Matzo — Matzo meal (also spelled as matzoh, matzah, or matza)

Noodles, Matzo

Seitan

Semolina

Spelt

Tabbouleh

Triticale

Triticum

Wheat, whole wheat — wheat berries, wheat bran, whole wheat bread, whole wheat flour, wheat germ, wheat germ oil, wheat protein isolate, wheat starch, wheat sprouts, sprouted wheat

Wheatgrass  - this might be the ONLY item a person with Celiac’s can have that a person with a wheat allergy cannot have.

Wheat can be found in other items & Has Other Names

Artificial flavoring, natural flavoring

Caramel color

Dextrin

Food starch*, gelatinized starch, modified starch, modified food starch, vegetable starch

Glucose syrup
Hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP) Maltodextrin
Monosodium glutamate, MSG
Oats**
Soy sauce, shoyu, tamari, teriyaki sauce Surimi
Textured vegetable protein
Vegetable gum

Gelatinized Starch

Licorice

Jelly Beans

Hard Candy

Dairy Products

Meat products (fresh meat as well as hot dogs and cold cuts)

Condiments

Hydrolyzed vegetable protein

Beer

When doing your own research on wheat allergies, note that most information online talks about gluten. If you remained gluten free (with one exception), then you will be okay.

I can hear what’s going through your mind right now. Wheat in dairy? Come on. That has to be a joke. I took the following from a Healthy Eating website. “Sometimes food companies add gluten-containing ingredients to processed food. They act as flavoring, thickeners, stabilizers, coloring or binding agents. It's important to read the label on any type of flavored or otherwise altered milk before drinking to ensure it's gluten-free. Some cheese, yogurt, whipped cream and other processed dairy products may contain gluten from food additives as well, so be sure to check the label. According to the website Celiac.com, ingredients that may contain gluten have names such as malt, caramel color, dextrin, fat replacer, food starch, flavoring or stabilizers.”

The following is new to me. I haven’t read much on this. Yet, I’ve read the same information multiple times over the past handful of years.

Wheat-dependent, exercise-induced anaphylaxis

“Some people with a wheat allergy develop symptoms only if they exercise within a few hours after eating wheat. Exercise-induced changes in your body either trigger an allergic reaction or worsen an immune system response to a wheat protein. This condition usually results in life-threatening anaphylaxis.”

The above I took from the same Healthy Eating website. I do not know anything about this. I have not met anyone who has had this happen. Wanted to be sure to pass on the information, though. The more you know, the better prepared you will be to take care of your body.

If you have a wheat allergy and not a gluten intolerance, you area able to eat barely, rye and oats without issues. That doesn’t mean these foods won’t cause you grief on occasion. It isn’t common to be allergic to all in the gluten group with a wheat allergy. Will it hurt you to not eat the above items? No, but why give it up, if you don’t have to??

Elimination Diet... Peace of Mind

I started my elimination diet again last week at some point (odd I have no recollection of what day I started!). Been feeling amazing! It is easier to not worry about when I will finish and introduce other foods this time around (I completed 2 weeks last time).

What I remind myself each day is the level of gratitude I have for feeling better not eating certain foods. I have no idea which foods are causing me grief, but there isn't a doubt that something doesn't agree with me now that I have greater energy, clearer thoughts, no digestive issues, and the like.

May not be an allergy. It could possibly be an intolerance. Either way the result will be the same... elimination of the food from my diet. No sense in not feeling 100% over food. I think I've come to peace with the fact that I can't eat whatever I want, whenever I want.

I'm sure that most people would have assumed that I should have already come to peace with that fact. Unfortunately, I've struggled with it ever since I found out about my allergies. Here it is about 15 years later, and now is when my brain has cut me some slack. LOL

I read posts from 1000s of others about how strict they are with the food they eat, and don't falter. I was envious. Other than tree nuts (there are a few I cannot eat and my reaction necessitates Epi and ER), I have not always been as careful when eating out. It became a chore. Eating out is usually a social event and all the stress of worry if I could eat there wasn't worth it to me at times.

After working at a restaurant for the past 3 years, I know that every time I eat out, it is a gamble. That thought is less than exciting to say the least. The past couple of months, I've eaten out a couple of times. Sushi (I know what to stay away from, but still had minor reaction), one place where all I ate was a cucumber and onion salad... and a local mexican restaurant. I found out the hard way what not to eat there!

I keep a busy lifestyle. Losing convenience of eating out or packaged food has been depressing and frustrating at times. Now, I don't care as much. I nibble on what makes me happy (avocados, variety of lettuce, tomatoes, pears...)

Too bad I couldn't talk my brain into learning this lesson 15 years ago. ;)

Egg Allergy ~ What To Avoid

One of my 13 food allergies is eggs. Oh joy! When I was in my 20s, I opted to be a pesca-vegetarian (sort of). 95% of the time I did not eat meat other than fish. About 5 to 10% of the time I would eat meat. meaning if I went into a restaurant, I did not ask if they used chicken or beef stalk when cooking potatoes, rice, etc. Additionally, I would crave red meat. I would eat red meat about once a 3 to 6 months.

I didn't eat eggs by themselves that often. However, I liked eating egg whites of hard boiled eggs. a couple of years before I found out about my allergy to eggs, I started cooking them for my daughter. Became fairly adept at egg cooking. It was easier to maintain a mostly pesca vegetarian lifestyle for 7 years. 

Once I learned of my egg allergy, I started eating meat on a regular basis (it was due to finding out about being allergic to milk, eggs and wheat that instigated this moment). It wasn't fun considering being a vegan who didn't eat wheat.

Onto what to look for with an egg allergy!

You would think that it would simply be listed at egg, right?! Not always the case. Although, the newer FDA labeling laws dictate that it must be listed for consumers to know of the top 8 allergens. Yet... what if the product wasn't made in the US? What if the company forgot to label is separately? You NEED to be aware of other names for egg.

Here is the list I have at the moment:

Albumin


Apovitellin


Cholesterol free egg substitute (e.g. Eggbeaters®)


Dried egg solids, dried egg


Egg, egg white, egg yolk


Egg wash


Eggnog


Fat substitutes


Globulin


Livetin


Lysozyme


Mayonnaise


Meringue, meringue powder


Ovalbumin


Ovoglobulin


Ovomucin


Ovomucoid


Ovotransferrin


Ovovitelia


Ovovitellin


Powdered eggs


Silici albuminate


Simplesse


Surimi


Trailblazer


Vitellin


Whole egg

Eggs are often found in :

Artificial flavoring

Baked goods

Lecithin

Natural flavoring

Nougat

Pasta

Meatloaf / Meatballs / Hamburger patties

Fried Rice 

Drink foams (yes! Not kidding!! Some root beers use egg whites to create the foam. Check all drinks! You would probably have to contact the manufacturer because the amounts might be small enough to not have to list)

When I found out about my allergies, I was told I'm allergic to egg whites. I do not think the doctor tested me for egg yolks. The dietician I was sent to was telling me it was okay to have egg yolks. However, how do you make sure none of the whites are still there? I never ate just yolks. 

Do I recommend you eating yolks only? No. However, if you have a mild allergy to eggs and you don't mind trying it out, then go for it! Not everyone is the same. I will say one definitive remark regarding consuming any amount of allergen... If you have a child, I would keep a strict NO tolerance policy.  My daughter's pediatrician believed in that philosophy. I kept to it for 4 years, and she grew out of some of her allergies. She only had a couple of mild ones left after that.  I was crazy, over the top, strict about it. It worked exactly the way he said it would.

Does that mean it would work for you the same? Of course not. People claim a multitude of methods that worked or did not work. Yet, I think that a strict no tolerance policy of keeping poisons out of your body is ideal. Yes, I consider allergens poison. It wreaks havoc on your body over time. Why chance it? I blog about this topic another day.

Other Eggs?

Are you able to eat eggs from other poultry sources? From all I have read, the answer is no. I haven't attempted to eat other types of eggs. I think after finding out I'm allergic to all animal milk, I took the same stance with eggs.

Reactions?

There are a multitude of reactions from egg allergies. I will cover this in another blog post. I probably could write a book on the subject matter. Not kidding! You would be amazed (or maybe not if you have lived through this or are a parent of a kid who lives with this) what I have found out over the pats 15 years.

One reaction I want to point out now... lowered blood pressure. It IS a sign of a food allergy. Did not know that was one of my issues for so many years. My reaction became exponentially worse depending on what I ate and how much of it. Please be careful. If you have lower blood pressure on a regular basis, take a look at what food you are eating

Nerdy Girl Wisdom :)