Eat a Mile In My Shoes

[rae_beta]

In honor of Food Allergy Awareness Month (who knew?), Food Allergy Initiative is challenging people to give up a favorite food for a week as an exercise in awareness-raising and solidarity.

I, on the other hand, am taking it a step further. I'm challenging you to avoid a food for a week, as if you're actually allergic to it

Comments

[knastymike]

For as long as I've known about your allergy issues, I have had a tremendous respect and sense of awe for you. I do not know if I can pull of participation in this event, but I wanted to share that, anyway.

[rae_beta]

Thank you, so much.

The people who really floor me are parents of young kids dealing with this stuff. I can't even begin to imagine being responsible for this stuff on someone else's behalf, let alone a wee kid.

[kadymae]

If you feel that you have something to prove, pick corn.

Cackles wickedly.

[rae_beta]

That one's your fault.

[shadowedge613]

sometimes, I wonder about cooking a meal for all of my friends with dietary restrictions, and what that might be like.

No peanuts, nuts, sesame seeds, sunflower, safflower, or nut oils. No seafood. No gluten. No eggplant, onions, or tomatoes. No meat. Very little dairy. No MSG. No alcohol.

Salad: Greens, cucumber, carrots (no dried fruit or nuts, because of cross contamination.)Homemade oil (olive oil only) and vinegar dressing.

Crust-less (cause can't use gluten, or nut flours) Quiche(eggs are ok, and I'll reduce the cheese): broccoli, summer squash, fresh herbs. Pepper.

Dessert: homemade sorbet. (commercial ice creams often are cross contaminated, chocolate is almost never safe, and I've already used my dairy ration).

So, I have a plan: but notice how much of that is homemade, from scratch and fresh ingredients? I don't have time to cook like that every day. And I'm just lucky that I don't need to.

[rae_beta]

It's kind of crazy. The only people I know who plan as much of their lives around food as those of us with multiple food allergies are either passionate foodies or severely eating-disordered.

On the upside, I've gotten to be a much more efficient and versatile cook in the last three years.

food allergy month! hm.

[maria_sputnik]

that stuff about "peanut-free" not being regulated is crazy town. also the asthma drug that contains peanuts -- insane!

i'm not trying to pick the peanut bits out of this story, i guess they just pop out at me. this is a good post.

Re: food allergy month! hm.

[rae_beta]

That's the Cocktail Party Effect! Basically, your attention automatically perks--regardless your focus otherwise--on the threads in articles or conversations that apply directly to you. I love that there's actually a name for it.

Yeah, the lack of regulation of "free" boggles my mind. I'd think it would at least fall under false advertising laws.

[noveldevice]

Oh hai, it's my life.

(Uncooked fluid milk, corn, shrimp, soy, bananas, tuna, red dye, bubble gum flavouring, peaches, aspartame, sucralose, chicken, turkey.)