#AllergicToEverything?

I’ve been a risk taker my whole life.

I wasn’t taking a risk when I wrote #AllergicToEverything.  It started out as a little journal of recipes that were working for me.  It was a notebook I kept in my Kitchen.

This is my friend Phil on his 30th birthday (along with a few of the best people ever).  He saw my journal and said I should publish it. It was in that moment that I began to see #AllergicToEverything as a book.

A long, long time ago. At least it feels that way. Circa 2011.

This is the original cookbook – with “recipes” misspelled and all.  This is also an illustration of why an editor is important to this project.  I am dyslexic and tend to spell phonetically.

Yes, I did spell “recipes,” “reciPIES”

I sat down that summer and typed up the recipes.  The next summer I sat down and decided I should Kickstart it.  Then the summer after that I rented a cabin in Willits to finish the recipes.  And once I’d finished the recipes, I dreamt of a little more and the guide was born.  From shopping to symptoms, to where allergens like corn hide, one-third of the book became a bible of sorts. To write the intellectual stuff I needed a change of scenery so this past summer I sat down and wrote the lifestyle guide, from hotels in London and Germany with my boyfriend.   And here we are, in this new summer of 2018, the summer that I finally launched the Kickstarter to fund the first print run.

The book is written.  The backers are backing.

#AllergicToEverything is my book-baby.  It took me nine months to plan for this Kickstarter and six years to write.

It is over 200 pages long and includes 115+ recipes (from food to beauty to cleaning supplies).

At first, the book was recipes that would work for me, and then it became recipes that would work for anyone avoiding the “top 8.”  I grew to have an appreciation for the bold indicators on the labels of our food (required by the FDA to indicate the top 8).  I will note that I believe corn should be included on the list and that one day (in our near future) I believe it will be.  At the rate at which we pump it into our diets (even feeding it to our cattle), it’ll be no surprise.  Perhaps there is a correlation to the way we introduced wheat into our diets with the rates of gluten intolerance, allergy, and sensitivity.

In the end, each recipe will be tailored to be friendly to all of the top 8 food allergens (milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, shellfish, fish, wheat, soy).  The book is now 90% complete, I am still working on the top 8 modifications.  My recipes are also free of oats, corn, sesame, and gluten.

I am a Food Allergy Collector, a real live human living with multiple food allergies. I am #AllergicToEverything. #AllergicToEverything was once upon a time something I made for me, and now my dream is to bring it to life for you.

Support the project on Kickstarter here.

Packing My Snacks for a Film Premier in LA

With photographs by Karrie Kwong

One of the best things about the online food allergy community is how incredibly supportive people can be. One of my online pals, Natalie, produced a film called Risk At First Bite, about living with food allergies. And after a long period of waiting the premier weekend is finally here! How could I miss it? I had to fly down from Toronto for the occasion. It's so rare to see food allergies in the spotlight in this capacity. And also a great excuse for my friend Karrie and I to get to sunny LA. 

I never eat airplane food and always bring my own snacks with me as you know from my previous travel posts. This time I brought a banana, an orange, and a pack of MadeGood Apple Cinnamon Granola Mini's. I often tire of eating safe snacks that are full of empty calories when I travel, so I love that these have the nutrients from a full serving of vegetables in every bag. I also kept them with me for a sweet treat when we hit the beach, and for a nutritious snack when we went for an afternoon hike. Having safe snacks in my purse lets me relax, and when they're both healthy and delicious too,  I'm one happy traveler!

5 Ways To Support Your Marriage After Your Child Has Been Diagnosed With Food Allergy(ies)

You go through a lot when your child is diagnosed with a life-threatening food allergy.  There’s stages of grief and loss of a “normal” life, and a definite learning curve for feeding your family safely.  I know from experience the inevitable strain food allergies put on parents and the marriage. Food is an integral part of our social lives.  It’s used to bring people together and I call it the centrepiece of social living. With a food allergy diagnosis, it’s sometimes hard to find our place, socially.  I’m not saying this happens in EVERY case, but when it does, it can be really hard. Here are a few ways we’ve learned to keep our marriage strong after our kids were diagnosed with food allergies.

1. Look for blessings, even when it’s hard.  This is something that’s taken me WAY too long to finally put into practice (and I’m definitely still not perfect).  But it helps SO much, in everything I do. Which is why I highly recommend looking for things to be thankful for AS A COUPLE regularly, especially if your kid(s) are newly diagnosed with food allergies.  It goes a long way to get you through those first days after diagnosis and then in the years ahead.

2. Plan for financial impact on the family.  I know you didn’t want to hear that. ANOTHER thing to budget for.  But yes, it’s proven that severe food allergies cost an extra $3500 per year (and this doesn’t account for more than one person with an allergy in the family)*.  These costs encompass buying more expensive “safe” groceries (many times we are forced to buy from the expensive organic or natural food sections), as well as sick days and days away from work due to appointments or complications with food allergies.

3. Leave extra time to grocery shop & do food related errands.  I used to think that grocery shopping took a long time before we had food allergies in the house.  Wow. Grocery shopping with a food allergy takes even longer because you need to read EVERY label, EVERY time.  

I know this is hard, but you’ll also want to avoid bringing your kids with you (if you can).  It’s important to focus on what you’re reading, especially in the beginning or if you have more than one food allergy in the family.  PLAN for these requirements together as a couple. Work this into your task delegations so that whoever grocery shops has more time to do it properly.  Whoever doesn’t grocery shop may need to take another home chore from the grocery shopper to lighten the load.

4. Work with friends & family as a team. There will inevitably be at least one family member (or more) who don’t understand the severity of food allergies or why you need to be extremely careful about the food your child eats.  I speak from experience when I say that if not dealt with properly, this can go on for years.

Come up with a plan for dealing with family members. Start by agreeing on: Do you want to teach family the in and out of food allergies or just bring your own food?  Who will address issues with each family member (i.e will he deal with “his” side and you with “yours”?), and how will the spouse support the other in this process? Also, decide what the plan will be if family members NEVER “get” food allergies and your action plan for keeping your child safe at family events in spite of the misunderstandings.  Some ideas could be; hosting more events in your home, bringing safe food to family events or going to events after food is served. Whatever you choose, decide as a team and make the best of it, together.

5. Get help before you need it and learn from mistakes.  The stress of avoiding foods that could potentially kill your little one or you is real.  And it can definitely leave a mark on your marriage and family relationships if you aren’t on the same page.  If you’re dealing with marriage issues because of food allergies, please seek help from a registered Psychologist early.

It’s always a great idea to know how to handle day-to-day food allergy stress as a pre-emptive measure. There are several great food allergy groups on Facebook which can improve your day-to-day life by connecting you with other families in similar situations.  Seek them out for daily support.

*From American National study by Dr. Ruchi Gupta published in the Sept. 16, 2013 edition of JAMA Pediatrics.

___

Corinna is a food allergy consultant and blogger for food allergy mamas from Calgary, AB, Canada, where she lives with her 2 daughters & wonderful husband of 17 years.  Corinna loves improving food allergy awareness and helping moms with food allergic kids adjust and thrive in their new reality. You can find her blog and other helpful printables at www.friendlypantry.com

NIU BODY Founders Laura and Connie Cook with Coconut

For those of you who have been searching for a line of natural skincare products that work effectively, smell naturally beautiful, and won't break the bank, look no further! NIU BODY is a skincare company that puts coconut in the spotlight; it's the central ingredient in all of their products. Founders Connie and Laura visited my kitchen to blend up two delicious recipes using different forms of coconut, and to talk about the brand. 

Why did you choose to create a skincare line around coconut?

 "We love coconut because a) it tastes absolutely delicious, b) there are so many beauty and health benefits of coconut and coconut oil, such as clearer skin, improved immunity, and shinier hair, and c) it reminds us of tropical vacations and long walks on the beach!" - Connie & Laura

Berry Oat Coconut Yogurt Bowl

Ingredients
1 portion of coconut Yoso
a dash of pure vanilla extract
a drizzle of maple syrup
a squeeze of lemon juice

Add all the ingredients to a small bowl and mix well.

Top with oats, fresh berries, hemp seeds, shelled pumpkin seeds, and any other fruits that look ripe and delicious

Serves 1

Coconut and Pear Zinger Smoothie

Ingredients
1 pear, core removed
1/2 cup coconut mylk
The juice of 1 orange
The juice of 1/2 a lemon
a drizzle of maple syrup
5 ice cubes
1 inch cube of ginger, peeled
a dash of pure vanilla extract

Add all the ingredients to a blender and pulse until smooth.

Serves 1

Why are you excited for your products to be sold on Handled With Care?

"As our products are 100% natural, vegan, and gluten-free, a partnership with Handled With Care made perfect sense! We are so excited to be carried in the allergen-free shop!" - Connie & Laura

Why is healthy eating critical to achieving glowing skin?

"What you ingest has a direct impact on skin health; the best way to achieve glowing skin is to eat foods that nurture your skin and drink lots of water to stay hydrated." - Connie & Laura

Choose from a selection of NIU BODY skincare products at
Handled With Care

Dragon Fruit, Mango, and Grapefruit Smoothie

Here's a recipe for a tropical smoothie that's shimmering with summer vibes!

Free from the top 8 food allergens (excluding coconut). Be sure to read the label on the mylk before use as ingredients can vary by brand

Ingredients
1/2 a dragon fruit
the juice from half a grapefruit
the flesh of one mango
one Bartlett pear
2 handfuls of ice
1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup coconut, oat, or rice mylk

Add all the ingredients to a blender and pulse until smooth. Serve immediately

Makes one big smoothie