Some of us just can't have it easy, can we? Having a food allergy is rough--you either grow up not knowing the deliciousness of your friends' favorite foods or you have to give up your own favorites for the sake of being able to function properly. But, you know what the only thing we hate as much as not being able to eat ALL the food ALL the time is? Answering the same questions over and over and over again about why we aren't eating Aunt Gertrude's casserole on Easter. So here, for the sake of the sanity of food allergy sufferers everywhere, is a list of responses to the most common comments and questions people we tend to hear.

1. What’s it like not being able to eat dairy (or gluten, peanuts, shellfish, etc.)?

I know for me, not being able to eat gluten and being mildly lactose intolerant has gotten easier over time; there are so many more alternate options now than there were five years ago, ten years ago, etc.. It still makes me a little sad though; there are times where I’d honestly commit a crime if it meant being able to eat a big bowl of ice cream without getting sick.

2. What happens if you eat something you’re allergic to?

This depends on the person. Food allergies can range in severity from minor rashes and upset stomachs to life threatening reactions that require hospitalization. In my case, I’ve come up with a pretty accurate description. Imagine muscle cramps/period cramps/whatever kind of cramps. Now, imagine having that feeling all over your body every time you eat pasta, and for several days afterwards. Oh, and your joints are stiff too, so you can barely move.

3. DOES CAKE HAVE WHEAT IN IT?

Have you ever baked a cake? Or cooked anything, really?

4. Can’t you just eat a little bit? A little bit won’t hurt you!

No, we can’t eat just a little bit. See number two.

5. Are you REALLY allergic, or are you just doing this as a diet/to feel special?

Yea, I’m totally faking my allergy! It’s absolutely fantastic to be judged by random strangers for asking about ingredients in meals at restaurants, and I just love not being able to go places with my friends because of the lack of an allergy menu!

6. “You must be super healthy from not eating that!”

In the words of one of the greatest professors I have ever had, “Like the best-selling brand of adult diapers, it depends.”

In some cases, eliminating certain foods from your diet can be incredibly beneficial to your health; go out and avoid bread, pasta, cake, etc. all you want! It's when you want to eat the allergen-free replacements for these things that it stops being healthy. Particularly in the case of gluten-free foods, replacement foods often have to be pumped full of extra sugar and fat to improve the product's taste and make it stick together correctly.

7. Do those (whatever allergen)-free foods actually taste good?

Yes! Some of them are better than others, but food engineering has now progressed to the point that you can find an allergen-free alternative for just about any food, and most of them taste like the real thing. I know I personally prefer gluten-free pretzels to glutenous ones!

In Summary...