What Life is Like With a Food Allergy
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

What Life is Like With a Food Allergy

It's no picnic.

16
What Life is Like With a Food Allergy
Alternative Doctor

Some food allergies are worse than others. For instance, a peanut allergy is almost always more severe than any other food allergy. But I'm here to tell you that even though the rest of us with non-nut food allergies may not (usually) face death when we come in contact with an allergen, it still can be pretty limiting or debilitating, even.

Now, I'm not totally in the know. I'm not personally allergic to any food that I know of. But my young son is either allergic or intolerant to both milk and eggs, and he is breastfed, which means that anything I eat has the potential to pass on to him – including allergens. We haven't tested it, but he may grow out of these reactions, or he may not. For now we have a constant battle with nourishing our bodies and avoiding a reaction.

My son's reaction to milk is sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes for days after he consumes a milk product, and his reaction to eggs is diarrhea for a couple days. Neither are life-threatening, but both are extremely concerning and inconvenient. So when I say that I can't have milk or eggs, it's not a cute, trendy bender. I'm legitimately concerned about the health of someone very close to me.

I am constantly checking labels. If something doesn't have a label, I have to gauge whether a certain food would be likely to contain milk or eggs. Sometimes it's impossible to guess, so I will more than likely refuse altogether.

Free food means nothing to me anymore. Going to an event and snacking on free goodies used to be the pinnacle of my existence. Free food was better than Christmas and Halloween combined. I exaggerate.... However, when I hear the words "Free Food" I now say internally, "A buffet of food items I can't eat." Baby showers have fruit, at least. Anything baked is automatically off-limits. Chocolate is a usually poisonous gamble. But every other event I go to has to be one that I'm actually interested in or obligated to. Free food has so little hold over me it's pathetic.

Going out to eat is an absolute nightmare. I always worry that the restaurant I visit isn't going to have an allergen menu, or that it won't be clear enough to tell what is safe to eat. And with multiple allergens to avoid, it quickly crosses a whole lot off the list.

I'm thin, but not necessarily by choice. If I could pig out on every kind of chocolate and fudge and cake and ice cream imaginable, I would. I'm naturally thin, so maybe it wouldn't have any effect on me. But right now I am so thin that I sometimes look unhealthy, depending on what I wear. I have to avoid so many different kinds of food that I don't always get as much as I need. That doesn't mean you need to tell me, either. I am aware of my weight.

I'm scared of coming in contact with my son's allergen. Although it won't cause him serious lasting harm, I feel super guilty every time I accidentally eat something with milk or eggs in it. I will turn down an entire meal if it's been prepared with butter or cheese. It's more important that I be temporarily hungry than my son having to suffer the next few days because of my food choice.

I have the skills and self-discipline to go on any diet imaginable. Dieting out of necessity is really hard, but if there's one thing I've learned, it's that I can have total control over what I eat. There is no excuse for being unhealthy. It just has to be something I would die for, like I would die to protect my son. If I can care enough about my son to give up my favorite foods, I can certainly care enough about myself to be healthy even beyond this time when I am providing his main nutrition. And I know that you can to.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

85609
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

51521
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments