101 Good Things About Dealing With Allergies

[Chinese Pistache]

Come on, friends! I know we can find them. I'll start. . .

#1 Cleaning up gluten-free flours is so much easier than the gummy wheat sludge I used to have to scrub out of mixing bowls. Gf flour just rinses right out.

#2 We have an excuse not to eat that nasty-looking green bean casserole at Thanksgiving.

[tanyalynn]

Originally Posted by Chinese Pistache

#2 We have an excuse not to eat that nasty-looking green bean casserole at Thanksgiving.

Now the guilt's gone, because I wouldn't even try the stuff at our recent Thanksgivings before, at least now I have a great excuse!

#3 Quinoa is pretty cool stuff, and it makes a pretty good stuffing (vs what I've also been avoiding at Thanksgiving since I got married).

#4 Coconut ice cream is really, really, really good. (I feel guilty writing that since I know a fair number in the forum can't partake yet).

#5 Cutting out my allergens has un-warped my palate, and food tastes more real, and a lot better, than it used to. So I'm willing to consider things like herbal infusions and green smoothies.

#6 Living with dietary restrictions of my own has made me much more aware of other peoples' dietary restrictions, whether it's kosher eating, or vegetarianism/veganism, or other forms of allergies. The world needs more compassion and consideration, and this has been good for me.

[AllyRae]

7. Being forced to read labels makes us eat healthier...I am more aware of what's in my food and so I know what crap is in regular food as well.

8. Being allergic to so many things requires us to elminate processed foods and only eat whole fresh healthy foods

9. We have a good excuse the kids understand when I tell them that no, they can't eat at McDonalds. Apparently "it's not healthy" wasn't good enough to keep them from whining..."it will make you very sick" is easy to comprehend for them.

10. It makes us really creative--I get to experiement with different recipes and be creative in making meals instead of looking to processed foods.

[tanyalynn]

#11 Extending what AllyRae wrote, my kids are not picky eaters--that's not genes, cause I was horribly picky. They try new foods, maybe they like them and maybe they don't, but they aren't picky and whiny at mealtime. Huge blessing!

[Chinese Pistache]

#12 I eat more mindfully (which has been a problem in the past) because our food is more expensive, harder to acquire and sometimes more time consuming to prepare. I see this as a good thing (mostly).

#13 All the research I've done (and the piles I intend to do in the future) keeps my mind sharp. Allergies make you smarter:

[kjbrown92]

12. It forced me to learn to cook.
13. I've made a lot of new friends here, whom I never would have found without allergies.
14. I've learned to appreciate new foods that I never would have tried before.
15. I like the green bean casserole at Thanksgiving!! But it gets me out of eating the "broccoli jello mold" (don't ask) also served at Thanksgiving.
16. My kids are healthier than most kids I know (never have ear infections or strep, and usually get 1 "virus" a year or less).

[mbbinsc]

17. My DD, who has never had dairy, has less exposure to hormones in her food, hopefully delaying puberty!

[BeantownBaby9]

18. Shorter grocery store trips. If I can only shop the perimiter, and about 1/2 of that, I don't dilly dally an hour and pick up crap I don't need. Produce section, GF cracker aisle, meat counter, seafood counter, DONE, 20mi max. Sweet!

19. I feel like I know my baby at a deeper level than maybe other mommas b/c I have to pay attention to every little rash, bump, scream, cry, meltdown and nightwaking to interpret what food's implication is.

[ASusan]

#20 He doesn't have to eat the day-care food, where pop-tarts are a snack that meets state nutritional guidelines for toddlers. And I don't have to be "that mom" who restricts what her todder can or can't have at school. It all comes from home.

#21 DS eats healthier and a wider variety of foods than most other toddlers (and older children) we know.

Originally Posted by Chinese Pistache

#2 We have an excuse not to eat that nasty-looking green bean casserole at Thanksgiving.

In our family, we all worked to come up with a recipe for the green-been caserole that DS and I could eat!! (hint: bacon to the rescue!)

[dannic]

20. I feel like we're healthier with the allergies than we'd be without them.

21. We eat a more varied diet than SAD--not just two or three flours, but 6 or 7, more adventurous about trying new things--who knew I'd LOVE collards, chard, and beet greens???: (my 2 yr old loves them too, but I bribe my other dc by allowing them to smother the greens with raw local honey, hehe.)

[Chinese Pistache]

#22 Fiddling around with recipes is fun and entertaining.

#23 The science behind gf baking is interesting.

#24 Many GF and allergy blogs are pretty to look at

[Theloose]

(there are two 20's and 21's)
27. We *can't* eat the junk food at parties that looks gross anyway.

28. I get to learn all this biochemistry and health stuff and discover what I want to do with my life.

29. Learning all the health history stuff, I can hopefully help my family and friends dramatically improve the quality of their lives.

30. An excuse/motivation to buy local whenever possible, which can only be good.

31. Seeing the connection between food and nutrition and health and behavior really illustrates the disconnect between mainstream parenting practices and what's healthy for our kids. It makes it easier to see and accept the alternative parenting practices that will be much more sustainable/beneficial long term.

[kjbrown92]

I was typing up the snack list yesterday for nursery school (for next year) and they have letter days where you're supposed to bring a snack for the letter they're studying that day. The suggestions were jello jigglers cut out in the letters or cheese whiz on triscuits. How are either of those healthy? Ick. I'm so glad DD2 can't participate in those (I make her stuff that fits the color/letter criteria).

[FairyRae]

32. Unexpected Weght Loss (ok, I'm sure it was not great for my ds that I lost 50-so lbs. in the first 6 mo. of our elimination diet--but since dropping processed foods I do.not.gain.weight (and I am one who struggled w/ weight/food issues throughhout my life).

33. I have a greater knowledge of myself, my body, my food related wants/needs--a connection to what I eat has developed in ways that didn't exist for me b/4. I also no longer have binge eating cravings, or tummy aches after a big meal, etc. I eat what I want, when I want, and feel very satisfied. I no longer feel guilty for ANYTHING I eat, and just enjoy and savour everything. I LOVE eating!!

34. I have learned SO MUCH a/b nutrition in a pretty short amount of time, and have let go of vegetarianism (which is a good thing for me and my ds) and now am learning the wonders of grass fed meats and other animal products!

35. I learned a/b fermented foods on allergy forums, and I LOVE them.

36. Since dropping gluten/dairy/corn + (and esp. processed forms of them) I have never felt healthier!

37. Our diet is far more varied than it ever was b/4, after dropping just 4-5 foods.

ETA: I sometimes say that learning a/b food sensitivities is one of the *best* things that's ever happened for our family, as our lifestyle and diet have changed dramatically, for the better, in many many ways!

[FairyRae]

Oops double post!

[Therese's Mommy]

Originally Posted by FairyRae

32. Unexpected Weght Loss (ok, I'm sure it was not great for my ds that I lost 50-so lbs. in the first 6 mo. of our elimination diet--but since dropping processed foods I do.not.gain.weight (and I am one who struggled w/ weight/food issues throughhout my life).

I agree with so much already posted, but this one really caught my eye (plus, I don't know how to quote multiple things in one post ) I started my ED at the beginning of my pregnancy (just a coincidence) and figure I have lost probably 20 pounds. I had plenty to lose, so this is not a bad thing. I look like a fairly healthy pregnant woman now. And I feel great! I figure I will come out of the pregnancy with much less (if any) to lose which will make me a more energetic mom. And like the PP said, I have struggled with weight my whole life. I have learned to only eat when hungry because eating is such a PITA most of the time

38. Pride. The pride in knowing I made a sacrifice that was really hard for me that made a huge impact on all of our lives and especially on the life of my lo. The pride of figuring out the puzzle. I feel so much more pride in this accomplishment than I do in completing my PhD.

[rileyscoutmom]

39. I never have to mow

40. I never have to pull weeds

41. I always have an excuse for not eating something I don't want to

42. I have indeed learned a lot and it is forcing us to make radically more healthy lifestyle changes.

[Chinese Pistache]

43. Dealing with allergies has caused me to move away from chemicals altogether which is better for my family's health.
44. Chem free cleaners are cheap (vinegar and baking soda).

[tanyalynn]

45. When my kids saw that I was making asparagus, a new veggie for us and the first time they tried it, my daughter jumped up and down with excitement, and both kids liked it! So much that I gave away every piece on my plate.

46. I now recognize just how little real food used to be in our diet, and how our culture has moved away from eating real food and instead processed, manufactured, sometimes barely recognizeable foods are the norm. When I'm feeling blue about a nutritionally not-great day, I remind myself how far we've come.

[FairyRae]

Originally Posted by TanyaLopez

46. I now recognize just how little real food used to be in our diet, and how our culture has moved away from eating real food and instead processed, manufactured, sometimes barely recognizeable foods are the norm. When I'm feeling blue about a nutritionally not-great day, I remind myself how far we've come.

:

I always thought I ate pretty 'healthy', and that I tried to eat mostly 'whole foods'. Once I felt super compelled to drop almost all (factory/modern) processed foods (due to ds's reactions) I was in AWE of how un-whole foods my former 'healthy' diet was.

It is thrilling to crave, cook and eat whole/real foods for me now! I think this is probably the #1 thing I am grateful to the food sensitivities for!!