A New Normal
I started off writing this blog about seven weeks ago. I’d had a cold, was getting over it, and felt discouraged because it didn’t seem like I could keep up with life. There are so many people out there promoting their writing better than I do, turning out more stuff, and some how keeping their lives in ship shape order. I shared my insights with a friend who reminded me that my family lived at a different level than maybe other people’s families do. I didn’t understand what she meant. She reminded me that in the past few years, we’ve gone through a lot with all our different health ailments. She took me down a long list of things we’ve survived and it took me aback. It seems, over the course of time, we’d adjusted to...
Read MorePerspectives
I studied interior design in college. I had to learn very quickly to communicate my ideas visually with the class—and especially to the instructor. We learned to draw in perspective, to use vanishing points to make what was really a one dimensional view look three dimensional. I grew especially good at drawing from the top down (as if you’d taken the roof off the building and looked inside like, like taking the top off a dollhouse). But, that came with a lot of practice and many mistakes. We recently took our first trip as a family who is limited by food allergies. Two years ago, we were not that family. We spent one year in diagnosis with my son, and we’ve had one year to adapt to a lifestyle that is not friendly to our day to day conveniences of food. Or...
Read MoreEner-G Foods (my new ally)
We had an ALMOST bad experience the other day. That’s not proper English, is it? But, that best describes it! We have used many Ener-G brand products over the past year. Breads, egg replacer (I prefer flax meal now–seems to make things rise better), crackers, pretzels (yummy sesame seed covered ones) and the like. We can only get their brand through our local grocer, and the items they carry are all gluten, dairy and egg free. So, when I glimpsed their brand on Amazon, and saw the word “donuts” I didn’t hesitate to order. I’m not a baker (except cookies)–and when I fry foods, they often come out oily, so I avoid frying. Anyway, my son has asked many times if gluten free, egg free, dairy free donuts exist,...
Read MoreThat’s not cheese?
If you’ve ever shopped for a cheese replacement because of dairy allergies, you were probably as dismayed as I was to find that most all the products out there-soy cheese, rice cheese, almond cheese-contain DAIRY in some form. Why eat those other cheeses, you wonder? We did too. They certainly don’t taste all that great. And most are NOT low in fat. That’s a mystery I still haven’t solved. Onward and upward! I searched and searched and heard rumor of ONE company that did indeed, make a dairy free, gluten free ‘cheese’ replacement. Yesterday, much to my joy, Daiya Cheese landed at our local health food store. I’ve been waiting for months after reading rave reviews on the product. Previously, they only sold...
Read MorePlaces Part 2
I unlocked a new piece of the puzzle with my son’s allergies this week. It’s taken a long time to get this particular piece. He’s been having a flare up with his tummy lately (intestinal bleeding), and we couldn’t figure out what it was. We’ve been avoiding gluten for a year, and eggs and all dairy for about nine months. We’ve read books and articles, but there didn’t seem to be an answer. So I’ve been praying that God would lead us to what might be causing this. His biggest reaction happened around his birthday. We’d had hot dogs (all organic, no preservatives, no nitrates, really expensive ones), and lunch meat (gluten free, dairy free). His stomach was upset, but the ingredients listed in...
Read MoreShirataki Noodles and Cabury
I mentioned I’d be sharing about our quest for allergy safe foods for us on occasion. It’s a challenge to find our SOLID information from companies. It’s like they don’t want to commit all the way. Very frustrating for people like me who want the answers clearly written in stone! So, I contacted Shirataki Company about their products because a friend recommended them. It took two phone calls to get the answer, but they are gluten free and vegan, so we can eat them. I haven’t tried them out on my son yet-they are a bit crunchy and do have just the slightest touch of a tofu flavor. Very slight, though. I haven’t eaten them with any Italian sauces, but I did make an Asian soup and they were quite good with...
Read MoreComing in June
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