Ohh! So Good: Allergen-Friendly Food Blog
#Ohhmoments - Noreen Okarter shares how she grew up with Food Allergies during the early and mid 80s
Noreen Okarter, Food Allergy Coach – Founder of Food Sitch, Allergic to Tree nuts, peanuts, sesame, coconut, wheat and grew up with an allergy to eggs. I have had food allergies since babyhood. While I outgrew my egg allergy in my twenties, my allergies to tree nuts, peanuts and sesame turned anaphylactic in my twenties too. I grew up during the early and mid 80s when the concept of a food allergy was relatively unknown. I also was usually the only person in my class to have a food allergy. As a result, I had to constantly educate people about what a food allergy was and the full implications of having a food allergy life. I learned to explain my food allergies to others at school and college, at the work office, at parties, while travelling, etc. As my allergic reactions became more severe in my early twenties, I took charge of my health. I began to take inventory of what foods I was putting into my body – even those to which I was not allergic. Determined to feel confident about my body’s strength after multiple emergency room visits, I began working out and eating healthier foods. These lifestyle changes led to me to lose 40 pounds and to become a 5 time marathon runner. My challenging experiences managing my food allergies and having to go through scary emergency room visits have motivated me to take my coaching skills and passion for helping me in order to become a food allergy coach. As a certified health coach and wellness coach, I help people with food allergies manage everyday life, build confidence in living a food allergy life and make sure they accomplish their health and life goals along the way. What you hope to see in the future as fat as inclusive snacking or food allergies as whole? I would love to see a change of consciousness in our society where people are open to including people who eat differently than they do. My dream is to have people with different dietary preferences eating at the same table and establishing connections with one another. With an open heart, open mind and preparation, this dream can happen. Want to share your Ohh! Moment with us? We would LOVE to hear from you! Send us an email at Marketing@OhhFoods.com!
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#OhhMoments - Bethany shares her struggle growing up with Food Allergies
"My name is Bethany and I’m 19 years old. I’ve been anaphylactic to dairy and allergic to nuts since I was born. Also, 4 years ago I went gluten-free because of digestive issues" Growing up with food allergies is hard. I missed out on treats at school, I have to be selective of who’s house I eat at, I only eat at 1 restaurant I know is safe for me, I bring my own food when I go out and when I go on holiday. My Mum’s closest friends make an effort to see what I can and can't eat when I go to theirs. This makes me feel included and means I can enjoy social activities. People who are supportive and accommodating are key. Safe food and snacks make it easier to eat out. Food Allergies Not Being Taken Seriously There is one time that really stands out to me regarding my food allergies not being taken seriously. I was at secondary school (year 8 (UK) or 7th grade (US)). We went over my allergies and they said they understood and all the lunches would be fine as I would get a different meal. Then one day I was given a bake-well tart that they said was dairy-free, nut-free and gluten-free. I checked with them and they rechecked the packet and they said they were safe for me to eat. So, I ate it. At the weekend, we went to get some of the bake-well tarts. When we checked the ingredients, they contained almonds. When I went back to school on Monday, we had a meeting with the school cooks and the nurse/first aider. The cooks didn’t take it seriously. After that, I always took a packed lunch. This was good as I knew the food would be safe. But it was also bad because I was the only one in the entire school doing it. It made me feel embarrassed and singled-out. To this day, I still struggle with eating my own food when I go out. Lessons Learned Always check the packet yourself even if it seems silly and you’ve eaten it a thousand times before. A good way to do this is to check the ingredients when you buy it and when you go to make it. Only recently, I ended up checking the recycling to check the ingredients on potato waffles. I’ve had them all my life but I still check them each time I buy and eat them. They were safe and it gave me such peace of mind knowing I could eat them without any problems. In The Future In the future, I would love to see… People with food allergies to feel included when they’re eating out and eating at home. People with food allergies to enjoy eating, cooking and baking food. People to have knowledge about food allergies. People with food allergies to be able to buy food on the go and safe snacks that they can take with them. This is why I’ve started my blog Allergy Bakes. So that I can help people with food allergies enjoy baking again and feel included. How You Can Help You can help by: Asking people you know who have food allergies or celiac disease how you can help them Educating yourself on food allergies, there are lots of great information on all these sites: FARE - Food Allergy Research & Education Allergy UK Anaphylaxis Campaign (UK) Allergy Facts (Australia) Food Allergy Canada If you want an allergy baking substitutions guide for eggs, dairy, gluten and nuts, sign up to my newsletter here. Want to share your Ohh! Moment with us? We would LOVE to hear from you! Send us an email at Marketing@OhhFoods.com!
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#OhhMoments: Tracy Bush- Nutrimom shares how her son reacted to a food he ate for years
“Tracy Bush is a Food Allergy Consultant, Author, Blogger, Mother & Self-professed “Kitchen Geek”. Her website AllergyPhoods and media pages are a mixture of product reviews, recipes and advice mixed with a tinge of humor. Her mission- “I write, I cook and I laugh and I aim to make everyone else do the same.” My son is 17 now but he has had food allergies all of his life. He is allergic to eggs, peanuts, uncooked dairy, watermelon and shellfish. Although I thought about sharing how we began our journey with food allergies, I decided to fast forward to raise awareness about something else. We are always told what to watch for when introducing new foods but what happens when a food you have been eating all of your life suddenly pops up as a new allergy? Watermelon is a typical food that is shared during many holidays, picnics and family get together. My son liked watermelon and being a picky eater, I was excited that he enjoyed a fruit. A few times, I noticed that he would get a few red marks on his chin but I was told it was probably just the juice on his skin. No other symptoms emerged so I didn’t worry about it. Until Fourth of July a few years ago. It was a hot day and the water slide was up. The kids were playing, and one of the foods I had was watermelon. We were talking at the table and I noticed that my son began to clear his throat. Then again. And again. I asked if he was ok and he said “It feels like I have a potato chip stuck in my throat.” I gave him some water. He sipped slowly but still kept trying to clear his throat. Then, he spoke. But it wasn’t his normal voice. It was as if someone had given him a little bit of helium. After he spoke, I saw his eyes change and fill with fear. I stood up and said I was getting his epinephrine. He just kept saying “No, I want my inhaler. Get my asthma inhaler.” I ran into the house and grabbed everything- the telephone, his inhaler, Benadryl and epinephrine. He used his inhaler and swallowed a dose of Benadryl. My heart was pounding but I tried to remain calm to keep him calm. After a few minutes, it subsided. Now this is why I wanted to share this moment- I know parents are told not to use Benadryl and to go straight to epinephrine. I know that we are told if there is tightening of the throat to use epinephrine. Inside of my head, I knew. I had it in my hand, waiting. But in the moment, this was a food that he had not reacted to before. It wasn’t a new food, it was a familiar food. In the moment, I did not freeze but instead was trying to decide what would be the very best way to handle the situation. It was a moment when I was torn between what I was told I should do and what I felt I should be doing. Would I do the same thing again? No. It could have been worse. But if it happened again, I would have a clearer picture- I would already understand that an allergic reaction can happen, even with foods he has eaten. It was an odd place to be in and not know if my choice of action would be the right choice. His doctor suggested that his reaction to the watermelon might have been due to the high pollen levels that day. He also suggested that we try giving it to him again to see if that was correct. I did know that I did not want to do that. My son and I both agreed he can live without watermelon rather than test a theory that may endanger his life. I cannot help but wonder how many people are not informed about concomitant/synergistic foods. Does your physician or allergy specialist explain these terms to you as an added measure of safety? Concomitant reactions may not happen to everyone but for some, an allergic reaction may occur when you eat certain foods while the pollen levels are high. Synergistic foods are foods that may cause an allergic reaction when they are eaten together when they otherwise cause no reaction when they are eaten alone. “Food can both harm and heal. Becoming knowledgeable about all aspects of food allergies can seem overwhelming but there is so much love and support within the food allergy community. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and know that everyone makes mistakes. Do not use mistakes to feel guilty but instead, use it to empower yourself. Above all, remember that food allergies do not stop you from living. They simply show you a new path that you did not expect”- Tracy Bush Want to share your Ohh! Moment with us? We would LOVE to hear from you! Send us an email at Marketing@OhhFoods.com!
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#OhhMoments: Meet mommy and blogger Danielle Mikulak and her daughter Olivia Reese
Danielle Mikulak, mom to allergy warrior Olivia Reese, shares her daughter's story and her family's experience with food allergies.
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How to be Mindful of Food Allergies this Easter
The holidays can be a stressful time, especially for the parent of a child with severe food allergies. Make things easier for those living with allergies by practising mindfulness and using our helpful tip guide!
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