My friends would never have described me as a poster child for healthy eating. So, I am often asked why I started FreeYumm. And the answer is a combination of things, best described as a journey…

When my son was 1 ½ he suffered from terrible eczema and digestive issues. After rejecting advice from doctors to use steroidal creams, we discovered that he was intolerant to dairy, egg, wheat, soy, and citrus. Allergy test results also came back positive for peanuts. I remember the day I found out. Stunned, I stared at the food in my pantry, wondering “but what else is there?”

With much effort and research, my family adopted a new normal, which resulted in a healthier lifestyle for all of us (and yes, our son’s health blossomed!) But, I admit I was frustrated by the lack of allergen-friendly grab and go snacks in the market. So, I started making my own (of course, right?!).

For my son’s second birthday I made a “special” cake that he could eat…. and he was soooo excited! I loved watching him dig in and enjoy it. But as I looked around at his “normal” friends, their expressions said it all... One kid was actually scraping the cake off his tongue (hey, kids are honest!) As my son recognized what was happening he looked at me… and I watched the excitement drain out of his eyes…

That’s when I realized, it wasn’t enough to make food that he could eat… I needed to make delicious food that he could also share. Why? Because sharing food is a universal social ritual - especially important amongst kids.

The next step in my journey was realizing how many other kids had allergies… many different than on my son’s list. So, my challenge became making food free of the Big 8+ Major Allergens, which would cover the needs for 99% of people.

So, the simple answer to why I started FreeYumm? Because I don’t want anyone to be left out. And my way of supporting such a culture of inclusion is by bringing the fun back to food – making safe, yummy snacks that are perfect for sharing! Or as we like to say… Share The Yumm!